There’s no one diet that works for everyone with type 2 diabetes — there are just too many variables: Age, weight, level of physical activity, medications, as well as daily routine and personal preference need to be taken into account. So here’s where your diabetes care team comes in: Talk to your dietitian or diabetes educator to determine the right carb-counting number for you so you’ll be able to provide your body with a steady flow of energy throughout the day, maintain a healthy weight, and manage your blood sugar. Counting carbs is an effective way to monitor your carb intake and keep sugar from building up in the blood. You can use these basic tips to help manage your carb consumption:
Foods that contain carbohydrates include starches, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, beans, and sweets. Most people with type 2 diabetes should stick to eating around 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal.For foods that have nutrition labels, add up the grams of carbohydrates per serving and, generally, stick to one serving size. If you eat more than one serving, you’ll have to take this into account.For foods without nutrition labels, estimate the amount of carbohydrates by using a diabetic exchange chart. For example, one small piece of fresh fruit has about 15 grams of carbohydrates.Remember carb counting for beverages. Fruit juices and alcoholic beverages in particular add lots of carbs.
You can check the carbohydrate count in any food by using Everyday Health’s Calorie Counter tool any time. Next step: Make Fitness Work for You
