Carb Counting 101Presented by Liberty Medical

Measuring your carbohydrate intake, or

“carb counting,” is a meal planning tool

that many people with diabetes use to

help control blood glucose (sugar).

Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

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What are carbohydrates?

They are your body’s main source of fuel and energy.

Since the carbohydrates you eat turn to glucose in the

body, it’s important to pay attention to the amount of

carbohydrates in your diet.

Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

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Higher post-meal blood sugar

More carbs =

Exercise, medications and other factors can also affect blood sugar.

Work with your health care provider to set a maximum

amount of carbs to eat (per meal or per day) to help

keep your blood sugar level on target.

Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

1-877-793-5199

Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

Nutrition labels list the carbohydrate count.

The labels list amounts for ONE SERVING of the food.

1 serving = = 15 grams of carbohydrate

For foods that don’t have a label, you can estimate the carb content using standard portion sizes (look online or in a carb-counting book).

When the serving size listed

is 1/2 cup and the total carbohydrates are 15 g.

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Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

If you’ll be eating a portion that is more than one serving, adjust the nutrition numbers accordingly.

When the serving size listed is 1/2 cup and and your portion is double that (1 cup), the total carbohydrates are 30 g.

1 cup =2 servings =

= 30 grams of carbohydrate

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How do I know how many carbs I’m eating?Look at the grams of total carbohydrate (which includes sugar,

starch and fiber). Then add up the total carbs for the entire

meal. Here’s a sample breakfast:

If your recommended limit is 60 g per meal,

you’ve stayed within the guidelines with this

breakfast.

If your limit is 45 g, you might consider

skipping the blueberries or the milk, or eating

half the amount of cereal.

Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

1-877-793-5199

Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

Here are some examples of foods with 15 grams of carbohydrate per portion:1 small piece of fresh fruit (4 oz.)

1/2 cup of canned or frozen fruit

1 slice of bread (1 oz.)

1 (6-inch) tortilla

1/2 cup of oatmeal

1/3 cup of pasta or rice

1/4 of a large baked potato (3 oz.)

2/3 cup of plain fat-free yogurt

4 to 6 crackers

1/2 English muffin

1/2 cup of black beans or

a starchy vegetable

2 small cookies

1/2 cup of ice cream or sherbet

1 Tbsp. of syrup, jam, jelly, sugar

or honey

6 chicken nuggets

1 cup of soup

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Don’t Forget!

• Include some protein and fat

in your meals.

• Keep other recommendations from

your health care provider in mind, such as

low calories, low saturated fat or low sodium.

• Cutting back on other carbs at a meal so that you can have dessert

usually means you will need to get crucial vitamins and minerals

elsewhere.

Discuss your nutritional goals with your health care provider to determine how certain foods and beverages may fit into your overall diet plan.

1-877-793-5199

For more information about healthful meal planning and blood sugar control,

Visit www.LibertyMedical.com and join our Facebook community at www.Facebook.com/LibertyMedical

Copyright © 2010 Liberty Medical Supply, Inc. All rights reserved. Liberty Medical Supply, Inc., a Medco Health Solutions, Inc. company. Liberty and We Deliver Better Health are registered trademarks of PolyMedica Corporation. The third-party trademarks and service marks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. This communication is not affiliated with Medco client programs or communications.

The information contained in this presentation is meant to be strictly for informational and educational purposes. It is not to be considered as advice, including medical advice, from Liberty Medical Supply, Inc. None of the information presented here is intended to serve as a substitute for diagnosis from, or consultation with, a health care professional. Always consult your doctor regarding any medical questions that you have, as well as before starting or changing your exercise or diet program, and before adjusting any medication.

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Call Liberty at 1-877-793-5199