I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last month. I’m having difficulty understanding how many carbs and sugar I can have each day. I’m finding that nearly everything contains carbs and sugar! Can you help me with this?
Everyone has different needs for calories and carbohydrates. It's crucial to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal to keep your blood sugar at an acceptable level. Keep in mind that you also want to eat a moderate amount of protein and a reasonable amount of fat in each meal as well. The bottom line is, you have to keep your carbohydrate intake consistent at each meal.
So to do this, look at the label on the foods you will be eating. Pay attention to "total carbohydrate". This gives the collective amount of carbohydrate in the food including the sugar that you mentioned. Don't focus only on the sugar content, it's the total carbohydrate content that you should care for. Ultimately, the total carbohydrate is what effects your blood sugar level. Now, when you read these numbers and you have no idea whether it is a desirable total carbohydrate number or not, this is where you'll have to do your homework. I suggest looking at the Glycemic Index, this is a chart that tells you how each food affects your blood sugar. For example, regular white potatoes can have a glycemic index of 69 and sweet potatoes have a GI of 44. You would think sweet potatoes would raise your blood sugar level quicker than white potatoes, but no, this isn't true. You don't have to memorize the index, but you can print out a small 3 by 5 version to carry with you that won't consume your entire pocket.
Be sure to find out the recommended total carbohydrate intake for you with the help of your dietitian or physician. You can also reference the recommended dietary allowance of 130 grams.
I hope this helps, best of luck to you!
To good health,
Priyanka
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