Counting carbs: An important means of blood sugar control

Sep 18, 2016 News

By Dr Zulfikar Bux

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

In Guyana we tend to eat culturally and it is leading to poor health. We inherited the rice, roti and

Dr Zulfikar Bux

sweet diet, and eating in large amounts. These foods are high in carbs and are leading to poor blood sugar levels and health. Keeping count of your carb intake is vital to controlling blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetics. Today we will discuss how to monitor your carb intake.

WHAT ARE CARBS?

Carbs (short for “carbohydrates”) are sugars that come from food. When we eat, our body breaks the food down into different nutrients. These nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The body uses carbohydrates for energy.

Foods with a lot of carbs include:

Bread, pasta, rice, roti and cereal
Fruits and starchy vegetables
Milk and other dairy foods
Foods with added sugar (such as many cookies and cakes)

WHAT DOES “COUNTING CARBS” MEAN?

Counting carbs (also called “carb counting”) is a type of meal planning that many people with diabetes use. It involves figuring out the number of carbs you eat. When people count carbs, they keep track of how many carbs they eat for each meal and snack.

People with diabetes need to know how many carbs they eat because eating carbs raises a person’s blood sugar level.

HOW DO I COUNT CARBS?

If your food has a nutrition label, you can look at the information on the nutrition label. You need to look at the:

“Total carbohydrate” number – This tells you how many carbs are in one serving size of the food. If you eat one serving, then the number of carbs you eat is the same as the number of total carbohydrates.
“Serving size” – This tells you how much food is in one serving. If you have two servings, the number of carbs will be two times the number of carbohydrates listed.
“Dietary fiber” – Fiber is a carbohydrate that is not digested, which means it does not raise blood sugar. Foods with a lot of fiber can help control a person’s blood sugar. If a food has more than five grams (g) of fiber, less insulin is needed for that food.

Many foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, don’t have a nutrition label. For these foods, you will need to learn about the usual serving sizes of different foods. You will also need to learn how many carbs are in one serving.

CAN COUNTING CARBS HELP ME MANAGE MY DIABETES?

Yes. Counting carbs can help you manage your diabetes by keeping your blood sugar level under better control. Counting carbs can help keep your blood sugar level from getting too high (especially after meals) or too low.

It’s important to keep your blood sugar level under control, because blood sugar levels that are too high or too low can lead to immediate and serious problems. In addition, having high blood sugar levels for a long time can lead to kidney, nerve, and eye problems later on.

Counting carbs can also help you plan your meals and snacks each day. Knowing how many carbs you can eat at each meal or snack can help you choose foods to eat.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO?

The following tips might help when you count carbs:

Spread out your carbs over four to six small meals each day instead of three big ones.
Eat the same number of carbs at each meal, for example, at each dinner.
Eat your meals at the same time each day.
Plan your meals ahead of time.
Check your blood sugar before you eat and one hour after you eat. This can help you learn how certain foods affect your blood sugar. You can check your blood sugar level at home using a device called a “blood glucose monitor.”
Keep a record of your meals and blood sugar levels. Show it to your doctor or nurse so that he or she can change your treatment as needed.
Remember that other things besides carbs can raise your blood sugar level. These things can include, getting sick, drinking alcohol, travelling, and stress.

The mainstay of controlling your blood sugar lies in keep check of your carb intake. Both diabetics and non-diabetics should moderate their carb use. It’s a key factor in blood sugar control and healthy living.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News