How to Figure the Diabetic Exchange From Nutritional Information

Diabetes is a severe, chronic condition that affects a person's glucose, or blood sugar levels. For people with diabetes, monitoring their diet is important for maintaining a healthy blood sugar level. In order to do this, diabetics must pay attention specifically to their sugar and carbohydrate intake, as well as the balance of food groups that they consume. Eating exchange lists help diabetics control their blood sugar by helping them consume the right mix of calories, carbohydrates and other nutrients to keep their blood sugar at a steady level.

Instructions

• 1

  See a dietitian. Your doctor should be able to recommend a dietitian who can help you to decide what specific changes to make to your diet and how to implement a diabetic exchange program specific to you.

• 2

  Take inventory of your current diet. A balanced diabetic diet includes healthy carbohydrates that will have the least impact on your blood sugar level, as well as high fiber foods, good fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can lower cholesterol) and fish. Nutritional labels on food will show you the amount of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol and sodium all of which should be avoided, or eaten sparingly.

• 3

  Obtain a diabetic exchange list. This can be found easily on the Internet or in the library. Food is grouped by categories including calorie, carbohydrate, protein and fat content. Basic categories include: starch, meat, vegetables, fruit, milk and fat. Starches or carbohydrates have the most impact on blood sugar, food labels will tell you the serving size and content of each category per serving.

• 4

  Group your food according to the categories on the exchange list. Each group is considered an 'exchange.' In order to create a balanced meal for a diabetic diet, the meal should include the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat and calories. You are allowed a certain amount of food from each category per day, eaten in proportion of each other.

• 5

  Keep track of your exercise. The timing of daily exercise is part of the exchange system.