People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to watch their diet to keep their sugar levels under control. It’s beneficial for them to keep an eye on their carbohydrate intake as well. Carbohydrates are the components that can alter sugar levels faster as compared to fats and proteins. Carbohydrate counting or “carb counting” is a popular meal planning approach for managing diabetes. It is especially helpful for people using insulin to manage diabetes.
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How Many Carbs?
You can start by monitoring your current carbohydrate consumption and sugar level 2 hour after every meal. This will help you and your diabetes care professionals see the effect of different foods on your blood glucose levels. If you want to consult the best endocrinologist in Lahore visit Masood Hospital, to access best diabetes care in town.
Foods with Carbohydrates:
Some of the foods with carbohydrates are listed here:
- Grains including wheat, rice, barley
- Grain-based products like bread, pasta, cereals, crackers, and burgers
- Starchy veggies like potatoes and corn
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Fruits
- Soy products
- Snacks like chips candies, cookies, cakes and soda drinks
Idea is to count carbs in your diet and divide these evenly between meals. This should be according to insulin availability from body and medicine. If you consume more than your insulin supply can handle your blood sugar will spike and eating too less can lead to low blood sugar levels.
How to do Carbohydrate Counting for Different Foods?
Start reading food labels for packaged products. For fruits and vegetables that do not come with a label, you can use online tools. One such tool by the American Diabetic Association is Supertracker. It can be used to look up nutrition facts for foods like fruits and vegetables.
Use of Nutrition Facts:
Nutrition facts are handy for carbohydrate counting. You can look for how much carbohydrates are in a serving of food. If you plan to eat two servings double the amount given per serving.
Also look at total grams of carbohydrates it will include sugar, fiber, and starch. You can also use the diabetes food exchange list. Inquire about this from a registered dietician. You can find experienced dieticians in Masood Hospital. They can help you manage your diabetes and elevate your health with diet plans tailored to your needs.
Find the correct balance of carbohydrates, portions that satisfy you and the right amount of physical activity for you. These along with medicines can help you improve your quality of life and can inhibit diabetic complications.
