Newsletters About Diabetes 

DIABETES CARE: LOW CARBOHYDRATES IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER

3/20/2008
So how can you include carbs in your life and still maintain blood glucose control?

Diabetes Care: Low Carbohydrates Is  Not Always The Answer

These days, plenty of restaurants carry low-carb menu items. They may seem like logical options when you’re dining out and have diabetes. After all, food containing carbohydrate convert to glucose and raise after-meal blood glucose levels, so why wouldn’t low carb be a smart choice?

It’s true that a breakfast of diet cola and bacon and eggs would likely have less effect on your blood glucose 2 hours after the meal than would a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice. But let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Severely restricting carbohydrates means giving up foods that are major sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients, all of which have been shown to help lower the risk of many chronic diseases. Vitamin and mineral supplements cannot take the place of all the nutrients you get in whole foods. Severely restricting carbohydrate foods and replacing them with foods that contain fat and protein has not been shown to improve overall blood glucose control. In fact, this approach may increase your risk of heart disease.

So how can you include carbs in your life and still maintain blood glucose control? There are several ways:

· Studies have shown that many whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods have less effect on after-meal glucose levels than many highly processed foods. These are the same healthy foods that the U.S. Dietary Guidelines have recommended for everyone to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Choosing these foods more often will not only give you plenty of nutrients, but may improve your blood glucose levels.

· Space out your consumption of carbohydrates throughout the day with at least three or four meals and/or snacks, depending on the amount of time between meals and the type of diabetes medications you are taking. The amount of carbohydrate you need is based on a number of factors, but in general, adult women should eat 45 to 60 grams per meal and 15 grams per snack, and adult men, 60 to 75 grams per meal and 15 to 30 grams per snack.

· Eat smaller portions. If you’re overweight, simply eating less can improve your blood glucose levels, even without weight loss. Modest weight loss can improve blood glucose levels. Even losing just 10 pounds can lower your blood glucose by reducing your insulin resistance.

· Be physically active. A structured exercise program isn’t required. The more you move (and the less time you spend sitting or lying on the sofa) the less insulin your body requires. Your blood glucose may be lower for up to 1 to 2 days after you exercise, depending on the length and intensity of your activity.

The bottom line: If you have diabetes, a low-carb diet is not necessary or recommended for blood glucose control. You can maintain blood glucose control by eating a variety of healthy foods, balancing the amount of carbohydrate you eat throughout the day, being physically active, and adjusting your diabetes medication as necessary.