Diabetes and Nutrition- How Carbs Impact Diabetes

When it comes to maintaining a healthy diet that is will rounded enough to include the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals, most people know that following the government's food pyramid is at least a good starting point. However, following the food pyramid is not enough to ensure that you are getting the best out of the food that you consume. Instead, it's important to understand exactly how different foods impact your overall health and react with your body.

Carbohydrates are complex sugars that are found in many foods, including sugars, alcohol, milk, vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, and other starchy foods - such as breads. Diabetes need to be especially aware of how carbohydrates work with their unique bodies because carbohydrates can quickly and easily convert to sugars that the body will have to find a way to digest.

If you are a diabetic and are trying to learn more about managing your blood glucose levels, then it's important to be aware of the glycemic index, which basically measures the amount of sugar in foods. All carbohydrates are, in essence, a type of sugar in that they are used as energy sources - even if they are not raw sugar.

When diabetics manage their diabetes, they are often required (or it is recommended) to count their carbohydrate consumption. Remember: all foods have carbohydrates in them, even really health foods like milk, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, beans, and more. Balancing foods that are high in carbohydrates with the right amount of medicine and low carbohydrate foods is an important part of managing diabetes. (source: http://www.diabetes.org/food-nutrition-lifestyle/nutrition/meal-planning/carbohydrate-counting.jsp)

How many carbs should a diabetic have each day? This amount varies - and may vary a great deal depending on the methods that you use to manage your diabetes. However, it's generally recommended that you consume about 45-60 grams of carbohydrates at each meal. If you do not consume enough carbs, you will simply not have enough energy to function efficiently throughout the day.

What are good carbs? Depending on a circumstance, any carb can be a good cabs. For example, even candy bars can be a good carb during a tough race or hiking trip, even though they are not necessarily healthy to eat on a regular basis if you are not being active. The trick to consuming a healthy amount of carbs is to be sure that you are balancing your carbohydrate intake with your outtake. Your outtake is the simple energy that you use throughout the day, which may include the energy your body needs simply to function, or it could include the energy you need to make it through a sporting event.

Sources:

http://www.diabetes.org/food-nutrition-lifestyle/nutrition/meal-planning/carbohydrate-counting.jsp

http://imtypefree.com/diabetes-diet-guidelines-and-the-Diabetes-food-pyramid.html