Diabetes, Carbs & Fat Gram Information

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will arrange for you to visit a dietitian. It is important for the diabetic to understand the disease, as well as how different foods affect your blood sugar and other organs of the body. Carbohydrates must be counted and fats must be limited. Once you understand how to monitor carbohydrates and fats, planning meals will be easier and healthier for you and your whole family.

Identification

• Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all ages. Type 1 diabetics are unable to make insulin and, therefore, are insulin dependent. They make up 5 to 10 percent of the population who are diabetic. Type 2 diabetics do not use insulin effectively and may eventually not produce insulin. Type 2 diabetics make up 90 to 95 percent of the population. Gestational diabetes occurs when some women are pregnant and usually disappears after they give birth.

Carbohydrates

• The body uses carbohydrates for energy. Within two hours of eating, the carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which enters the blood in order to travel to muscle cells. Insulin moves the sugar or glucose into your cells. Type 2 diabetics are insulin-resistant. They have difficulty moving the glucose into the cells. Type 1 diabetics have no insulin to move the glucose into the cells.

Significance

• High levels of glucose can build up in the blood. If you monitor the carbohydrates throughout the day, you can help control the amount of glucose that stays in your blood. The American Diabetes Association recommends that the diabetic eat approximately 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal to help stabilize the sugar. Your age, sex and physical activity will determine the exact amount of carbohydrates you need to eat. Your dietitian will suggest the amount of carbohydrates you need.

Fats

• Because glucose or sugar wears down the walls of the blood vessels, it is imperative that diabetics watch the amount of fat intake. Fat can collect on the walls, causing blockage and possibly heart disease as well as strokes and neuropathy in the extremities. You should eat lean meat and limit red meat to no more than three times a week. Avoid foods that are more than 3 grams of fat per serving. Eat low fat and non-fat dairy products.

Benefits

• If diabetics watch their carbohydrate and fat intake, some may not need medication or insulin. Type 1 diabetics will need insulin, but they may not need other medication. Type 2 diabetics may avoid medication their whole life.