Carbohydrate counting can really be a nuisance, especially when you are new to it. I’m sharing my tips to make it easier. Recently a lady said to me ” I resent having to do a math lesson every time I eat”. I get that! Like anything that is new, with practice it becomes easier. For many, with time, it can become almost second nature.
But first, let me explain. Carbohydrate counting is one diabetic meal planning method that people use to control their blood sugars. It can be a strategy used to eat a consistent amount of carbohydrate each day. It is important for most people to get carbohydrate at every meal…enough, but not too much. For others, carbohydrate counting helps in determining how much meal time insulin to take to their control blood sugar. They use an insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio. For instance, they may take 1 unit of insulin for every 15 grams of carbohydrate. The ratio varies with each person (some may use 1 unit for 2 grams, others 1 unit for 20 grams).
Here’s how to determine the carbohydrate amount in foods……….
Carbohydrate Counting Tips
- If there is a food label, look at the serving size under NUTRITION FACTS and the amount of total carbohydrate. The grams are at the end of the word “Carbohydrate”. The sugar listed underneath is included in the total, so no need to count it twice.
- If there is no label, try looking foods up on www.calorieking.com. Type in the search box the name of the food you want to look up, adjust your portion size at the top of the food label, and look at the total carbohydrate on the label.
Hint: Make a list of your favorite foods with the carbohydrate amount per serving. It’s much easier to look at your favorite foods list than looking them up again.
- Before eating out, check the restaurant’s website, for nutrition info. It will help you make the best choices for your health!
- If you have a smart phone or tablet, try an app. Two free apps to consider are calorieking and gomeals.
And now, for my favorite gadget…..The Perfect Portions Scale
With this kitchen scale you can weigh your food and see how much carbohydrate it has all in one step. The scale has a food label on it, and you simply look up the 4 digit code in a code book that comes with the scale, enter the code and weigh your food. It is especially handy for fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s hard to be accurate when guessing how much carbohydrate is in a potato. Most people use the WAG method (Wild Ass Guess). Sometimes the WAG method is necessary, but the more you are accurate in your carbohydrate counting, the better chance your glucose will be controlled. Plus, when guessing is necessary, you can be more accurate the more you know about the carbohydrate content of foods.
The best price I’ve seen for this scale is $39.99 and then use a 20% off coupon at Bed, Bath , and Beyond.
Disclosure: I was given this scale at an AADE Annual Meeting several years ago. I have not profited in any other way in regards to this scale. I like it and find it helpful for people who want to count carbohydrate accurately with less steps.
By the way, sometimes, blood sugars are not in range even when someone is counting carbohydrate accurately. If your blood sugars are not where you want them to be, or you are not sure how much carbohydrate you should be eating, or need help with any aspect of your diabetes. please reach out to me.
Leave a Reply