Carbs or carbohydrates occur naturally in some foods. For example, grains, sugars, starches, legumes, and dairy products contain different amounts of carbohydrates. Learn about the three carbohydrates and the foods that contain them.

 When foods and beverages containing carbohydrates are digested, the carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which nourishes the cells and raises the body's blood sugar or blood sugar levels. In people without diabetes, blood sugar levels rise after a meal, but the body's insulin response keeps them from getting too high.

 For diabetes, the process is not working as intended. How carb counting controls blood sugar depends on your treatment plan and whether your body is producing insulin.

 For Type 1: Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin, so background insulin must be taken to balance dietary carbohydrates with dietary insulin doses. To do this, you need to know exactly how many grams of carbohydrates are in your diet. The number of carbohydrates in the keyword.

 For Type 2: People with type 2 diabetes are insulin resistant and may not be able to get enough insulin, so it's important to monitor your carbohydrate intake. To avoid spikes in blood sugar, it helps to eat a certain amount of carbohydrates along with your diet throughout the day, rather than all at once. People taking oral medications may use a simpler form of carbohydrate counting than those taking insulin.

 How many carbohydrates should I eat?

There is no magic number to the ideal amount of carbs per meal. The amount of carbohydrates each person needs depends primarily on height and activity level. Appetite and hunger also play a role.

 Make an appointment with the RD/RDN or CDCES to find out how many carbs you should be eating. They make a special nutrition plan for you. This service is known as medical nutrition therapy when delivered by a dietitian.

 Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) sessions may also include diet planning. During the session, you determine your carbohydrate needs and how you divide your carbohydrates between your diet and light meals. Insulin responses vary from person to person. You don't want to eat more restrictive than you need to control your blood sugar.

 First, you need to find out how many carbohydrates you currently consume in your diet or snacks. By tracking your dietary intake and blood sugar levels for a few days before and after your diet, you and your diabetes care team will be provided with useful information to see how different diets affect your blood sugar levels. You can determine the appropriate amount. Carbs are for you.

 What about protein and fat?

Counting carbs is easy if you only eat carbs, but your diet is usually a mix of carbs, protein, and fat. A diet rich in protein and fat can affect your blood sugar levels by changing the way your body absorbs carbohydrates