What diabetics should consider when planning meals

Here are a few tips that every diabetic should know when it comes to planning meals safely.

It's no secret that those afflicted with diabetes have to carefully monitor their diets. One of the most common ways that diabetics manage their blood sugar level is by counting their daily carbohydrate intake. Here are a few tips that every diabetic should know when it comes to counting carbohydrates and planning their meals safely.

Carbohydrates become glucose or blood sugar when digested. Insulin, an enzyme secreted by the pancreas, allows glucose to enter the cells. People suffering from diabetes have pancreases that are unable to secrete insulin or do not produce enough of it. When sugar cannot enter the cells, it will remain in the blood, thereby causing an elevated blood sugar level.

For diabetics who are taking insulin shots or medicine, carbohydrate counting allows them to have a better balance of their carbohydrate intake and their insulin shots or other diabetes medication.

To accurately count carbohydrates, you need to have a target blood glucose level to aim for. Set up an appointment with a registered dietitian who will help you determine your carbohydrate goals for each meal. The dietitian will create a plan that's suitable for you based on your weight, gender, physical activity level and the medications you're taking.

Once you have a plan, you should learn which food items contain carbohydrates. For accurate information, you can:

• Make it a habit to check the nutrition label of every food. Be mindful of the food's serving size when you're calculating your carbohydrate intake. Always subtract the fibre from the total amount of carbohydrates.
• Ask your dietitian for a food choice list.
• Buy a food counts book, which features a comprehensive list of food types and the amount of carbohydrates they contain.
• Ask for the restaurant's nutrition pamphlet when dining out.

To stick to the meal plan, you don't have to eat the same type of food every day. What's important is that you eat the same amount of carbohydrates specified in the meal plan. For example, if your breakfast plan requires you to eat 30 grams of carbohydrates, you can eat two slices of whole wheat toast for today and eat one cup of bran cereal tomorrow, as both have an equivalent of 30 grams of carbohydrates.

The right balance of medication, physical activity, and nutrition is essential in managing your blood sugar level. Keeping an eye on your diet and correctly counting your carbohydrate intake may take some time to get used to, but with constant practice and the help of your healthcare team, it will become second nature.