When yo have diabetes, your body has trouble using the energy circulating in the form of glucose in your body, which is why blood sugar level may rise above average values.
Glucose circulating in the blood comes mainly from the carbohydrates that you eat, which are contained in many foods:
- They are found naturally in plain milk and yogurt, grain products, legumes, fruits and vegetables and their juices.
- They are added to cookies, sweetened drinks, candies, cakes, granola bars, flavored milk and yogurts, etc.
If you have diabetes, this does not mean you should eliminate all carbohydrates from your diet since carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy. You should instead keep a close eye on the amount of carbs you eat and spread them out over at least three meals to control your blood sugar level.
What amount of carbohydrates do you need?
The amount of carbs that people need every day depends on various factors such as age, gender, height, weight, and level of physical activity.
In general, most people need:
- 45 to 75 grams of carbohydrates per meal
- 15 to 30 grams of carbs per snack, if required
The sugar cube method allows you to visualize the amount of carbohydrates in each food group. Making it easier to estimate the total amount in your meals and snacks. Each sugar cube represents 5 grams of carbs, which is about one teaspoon or one sachet of sugar.
Blood sugar level targets
To avoid or delay complications affecting your eyes, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels and heart, blood sugar level should normally be between:
- 4 and 7 mmol/L before meals
- 5 and 10 mmol/L 2 hours after meals
So, next time you buy something, check how many grams of carbs are in the food, and if you put sugar in your coffee, now you know how many grams you’re eating.
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Source: Diabetes Quebec
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