Carbohydrate Management is the Best Method of Controlling Diabetes

If you are diabetic it is important to avoid high carbohydrate meals . You can plan meals with the right amount of carbohydrates with a few simple steps .

Carbohydrates are the starches and sugars in food , they give energy and should be included in every meal . For diabetics it is important to control the amount of carbohydrates consumed through the day . Diabetics need the carbohydrates but should avoid getting too many .

Carbohydrates are found in fruit , fruit juices , vegetables , dairy products and whole grain foods . These foods contain carbohydrates in varying amounts that are used by the body at different rates of speed giving energy to the body .

You can take the guess work out of planning meals and determine the right amount of carbohydrates needed to give you energy and control blood sugar with a few simple guidelines .

Generally people need 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal . A good method of keeping track of carbohydrates is to count each 15 grams as one carbohydrate choice . Counting in this way helps you make healthy choices . Allow three to four carbohydrate choices per meal and one to two carbohydrate choices for snacks . You should have three meals and two snacks per day .

Read nutrition labels on packaged foods for serving size and grams of carbohydrates to determine the number of grams per serving . Foods labeled "sugar free or '˜no sugar added" does not necessarily mean it is carbohydrate free . When reading food labels , the Total Carbohydrate line , shows the sugars are already included in the number carbohydrate grams for 1 serving .

It is helpful to learn what carbohydrate amounts look like so you will know how to make menu selections when dining away from home . When serving meals at home use a food scale to measure your favorite foods to determine what a carbohydrate choice of 15 grams of carbohydrates looks like . For example :

A portion the size of your fist would equal about 1 cup of cooked pasta .

A portion of meat , poultry or fish would equal the size and thickness of your palm .

A handful of snacks such as nuts , popcorn or chips would equal about 1 to 2 ounces .

A portion of fruit the size of a tennis ball would closely equal 1 serving .

Before shopping , read the food labels in your kitchen and compare the content based on serving size . Your local library or bookstore will have a selection of books containing the carbohydrate amounts in most foods and some may include menu items in popular national restaurants .

Consult your health care provider before making changes in your diet .

Source : www . OneTouchGold . com