The American diabetes association 2000 calorie diet recommends carbohydrate counting as it is important to focus on balancing food intake, keeping sugar levels in check and physical activity. If diabetics opt for healthy foods each day theses have long term benefits in controlling their diabetes.
Diabetics get their main source of energy through carbohydrates which are in starch, fruits, vegetables, sugars and dairy products. Carbohydrates are not present in meats and fats and it directly affects the blood glucose. Consuming carbohydrates in limited amounts at each meal time controls blood sugar levels. There are various means to knowing how much carbohydrate is present in each meal through carbohydrate counting. The amount of carbohydrate needed by an individual is determined by a dietician depending on their body weight, insulin levels, eating patterns and activity. 45 to 65 percent of a day’s calorie requirement should come from the carbohydrates consumed. Carbohydrate counting is considered to be the best means of calculating to keep blood sugar levels in control by the American Diabetes Association. One can determine the carbohydrate content in foods by the nutritional labels or some reference books.
In calculating carbohydrate one has to keep track of servings and grams of fiber consumed, if more is taken this would increase calories eaten and the dose of insulin taken for that meal will also have to increase. When carbohydrate content has to be calculated just multiply number of serving by carbohydrate consumed. If insulin dose has to be calculated the grams of fiber is subtracted from grams in carbohydrate only if the serving of meals consists of more than 5 grams fiber. Insulin pumps can calculate and adjust the dose depending on glucose levels before meals. A dietician can calculate the insulin to carbohydrate ratio and hence one can adjust and change the insulin required to cover a meal.
If the insulin ratio is between1 to 10, it means 1 unit of insulin is taken for 10 grams of carbohydrate consumed. If food consists of 70grams of carbohydrates, then 7 units of insulin would be the ideal dose. Before meals insulin doses are adjusted according to the before meals glucose levels and can be calculated by a dietician. In an exchange plan a single serving of carbohydrate (1 apple) is exchanged for another carbohydrate (1/3 cup pasta) as these two helpings consist of 15 grams of carbohydrate. In the exchange plan food items consist of good fibers and food items that have high sodium levels. Only an experienced dietician can chalk out how many servings of all groups can be consumed at each meal time.
The American Diabetes Association 2000 calorie diet recommends carbohydrate counting as this diet helps in maintaining good health, however, one can search for better options if one wants to. In essence the 2000 calorie diabetic diet is nothing but following an accurate and regular carbohydrate diabetic meal plan.
Diabetics should remember that a single serving of pasta or rice should only be the size of a tennis ball. In order to lower the carbohydrate count one just has to minus the total fiber grams from the total grams in carbohydrates if more than 5 grams are present in the foods.
A little care taken can go a long way in maintaining a disease free healthy lifestyle.
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