Post by deepagargphd on Apr 7, 2016 12:26:18 GMT
Most foods--except meat and fat--contain some carbohydrate, and carbohydrate increases blood glucose faster than any other food. The number of grams of carbohydrate that a person can eat each day or at each meal is determined by:
- Weight and weight loss goals
- How physically active an individual is (because physical activity will lower their blood glucose)
- What diabetes medication or insulin they are taking, and when
- Other factors such as age or the presence of high blood fats (or any other medical issue, for that matter)
For example, a 6' 2" tall man with diabetes who weighs 180 pounds and wants to maintain his current weight might be told he could eat 350 grams of carbohydrate spread out over the day. His goal would be to spread those grams out over the course of the day so that he doesn't send his blood glucose too high at any one time. If he is taking insulin or oral diabetes medication, he might also have to manage when he eats his carbohydrate in such a way that there is enough sugar from his meals in his bloodstream when his medication is working its hardest.
"We now know that in general, a sugar-containing food like a brownie may have 30 grams of carbohydrate in it, but that brownie will have the same effect on your blood glucose as 2/3 cup of rice or one cup of applesauce, both of which have 30 grams of carbohydrate in them," says Campbell.
"So, if this man's meal plan developed with a dietitian states that he can eat 60 grams of carbohydrate at a meal, he can decide how he 'spends' those 60 grams. One time he may have 2/3 cup of rice and one cup of peas. Another time he may decide, for his carb choices, to eat a small baked potato, a cup of milk and have the brownie for dessert."
People who develop diabetes when they are over 40 frequently develop diabetes in part because they are overweight. Being overweight makes it more difficult for their bodies to use insulin to convert food into energy.
For this reason, many patients with diabetes also have weight loss as a goal. Because each gram of fat contains 9 calories (while a gram of protein or carbohydrate contains only 4 calories), fat gram counting as a means of losing weight becomes an additional nutritional tool for many patients.
Frequently people with diabetes also have problems with high blood fats and/or cholesterol levels, and will be prescribed a meal plan that is low in fat as well. So even if they aren't overweight, some patients may be counting grams of fat eaten at each meal or over the course of the day, as well as how many grams of carbohydrate.
By
Dr Deepa Agarwal
Chief Nutritionist
9959923332
Sent from my ONE E1003 using Tapatalk
- Weight and weight loss goals
- How physically active an individual is (because physical activity will lower their blood glucose)
- What diabetes medication or insulin they are taking, and when
- Other factors such as age or the presence of high blood fats (or any other medical issue, for that matter)
For example, a 6' 2" tall man with diabetes who weighs 180 pounds and wants to maintain his current weight might be told he could eat 350 grams of carbohydrate spread out over the day. His goal would be to spread those grams out over the course of the day so that he doesn't send his blood glucose too high at any one time. If he is taking insulin or oral diabetes medication, he might also have to manage when he eats his carbohydrate in such a way that there is enough sugar from his meals in his bloodstream when his medication is working its hardest.
"We now know that in general, a sugar-containing food like a brownie may have 30 grams of carbohydrate in it, but that brownie will have the same effect on your blood glucose as 2/3 cup of rice or one cup of applesauce, both of which have 30 grams of carbohydrate in them," says Campbell.
"So, if this man's meal plan developed with a dietitian states that he can eat 60 grams of carbohydrate at a meal, he can decide how he 'spends' those 60 grams. One time he may have 2/3 cup of rice and one cup of peas. Another time he may decide, for his carb choices, to eat a small baked potato, a cup of milk and have the brownie for dessert."
People who develop diabetes when they are over 40 frequently develop diabetes in part because they are overweight. Being overweight makes it more difficult for their bodies to use insulin to convert food into energy.
For this reason, many patients with diabetes also have weight loss as a goal. Because each gram of fat contains 9 calories (while a gram of protein or carbohydrate contains only 4 calories), fat gram counting as a means of losing weight becomes an additional nutritional tool for many patients.
Frequently people with diabetes also have problems with high blood fats and/or cholesterol levels, and will be prescribed a meal plan that is low in fat as well. So even if they aren't overweight, some patients may be counting grams of fat eaten at each meal or over the course of the day, as well as how many grams of carbohydrate.
By
Dr Deepa Agarwal
Chief Nutritionist
9959923332
Sent from my ONE E1003 using Tapatalk