What you need to know about carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are your body's main energy source. During digestion, sugar (simple carbohydrates) and starches (complex carbohydrates) break down into blood sugar (glucose). If you consume too much carbohydrate-rich foods at one time, your blood sugar levels may raise too high, which can be problematic. Monitoring your carbohydrate intake, as you probably know by now, is a key to blood sugar control for people with diabetes. Carbohydrates are found in a variety of foods, such as cereals, grains, breads and flours; fruits and fruit juices; dairy products such as milk and yogurt; vegetables (especially starchy veggies like corn and potatoes), alcohol and all types of sweets.
Because carbohydrates are important sources of energy, it's important for people with diabetes to include nutritious carbohydrates at each meal and snack. But keep in mind that the healthiest carbohydrate choices are whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, and low-fat dairy products. About half (50%) of your daily calories should come from carbohydrates—even when you have diabetes. A general recommendation is to eat about 2-3 carbohydrate servings (30-45 grams) at each meal for women and 3-4 carbohydrate servings (30-60 grams) at each meal for men. Both men and women should limit carbohydrates at snacks to 1-2 carbohydrate servings (15-30 grams).
Carbohydrates are your body's main energy source. During digestion, sugar (simple carbohydrates) and starches (complex carbohydrates) break down into blood sugar (glucose). If you consume too much carbohydrate-rich foods at one time, your blood sugar levels may raise too high, which can be problematic. Monitoring your carbohydrate intake, as you probably know by now, is a key to blood sugar control for people with diabetes. Carbohydrates are found in a variety of foods, such as cereals, grains, breads and flours; fruits and fruit juices; dairy products such as milk and yogurt; vegetables (especially starchy veggies like corn and potatoes), alcohol and all types of sweets.
Because carbohydrates are important sources of energy, it's important for people with diabetes to include nutritious carbohydrates at each meal and snack. But keep in mind that the healthiest carbohydrate choices are whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, and low-fat dairy products. About half (50%) of your daily calories should come from carbohydrates—even when you have diabetes. A general recommendation is to eat about 2-3 carbohydrate servings (30-45 grams) at each meal for women and 3-4 carbohydrate servings (30-60 grams) at each meal for men. Both men and women should limit carbohydrates at snacks to 1-2 carbohydrate servings (15-30 grams).
