What Is Carbohydrate Counting?

What Is Carbohydrate Counting?

Carbohydrates are one of the three major macronutrients, responsible for providing most of the energy a person receives from food, especially in India. We consume carbohydrates in different forms every day, but with our busy schedules, we seldom find the time to keep a track of our carbohydrate intake.

Carbohydrate counting is a method to understand how carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels. For Type I diabetes patients, it is a tool to devise their respective insulin dose. For Type Il diabetes patients, it can be a tool to balance overall carbohydrate intake, to maintain blood sugar levels.

Rich Sources Of Carbohydrates

Cereals and whole grains, refined flour, rice, porridges, bread, bagel, muffins, cookies, biscuits, tortillas, pasta, noodles, popcorn, pancakes, waffles, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yam, squash, corn, fruits, vegetables, pulses, dais, dairy products, sweets, desserts, puddings, sugar, jaggery, etc.

Benefits Of Carbohydrate Counting

Carbohydrate counting can help you decide how much of what to eat, to keep a check on your blood sugar levels. It is usually recommended to include 45-60 grams of carbohydrates at every main meal and 15-20 grams of carbohydrates at every snack. It is important to count carbohydrates, since consumption of a carbohydrate-rich meal can elevate blood sugar and keep it elevated for several hours, increasing insulin requirements.

How Carbohydrate Counting Is Done

A rule of thumb is to understand that one serving equals to a portion that provides fifteen grams of carbohydrates. You can get to know this by reading nutrition facts, labels or with the use of measuring spoons, cups and weighing scales, Use this guide below, to balance your carbohydrate intake per day, to adjust your insulin requirements and keep your blood sugar in check. The following are serving sizes of commonly consumed carbohydrates.