- How to count carbohydrates
- Foods containing carbohydrates
- Foods that should not be counted
- Step by step to calculate the amount of insulin
- Carbohydrate counting table for diabetics
- Practical example of carbohydrate counting
- Why use the carbohydrate counting technique?
Every diabetic must know the amount of carbohydrates in food in order to know the exact amount of insulin to use after each meal. To do this, just learn to count the amount of food.
Knowing how much insulin to use is important because it helps to prevent diabetes complications such as vision problems or kidney malfunction, as the disease is better controlled, as insulin is applied according to the food eaten.
How to count carbohydrates
To perform this technique, it is essential to know which foods contain carbohydrates, to adjust the amount of insulin needed. You can know this by reading the food label or weighing the food on a small kitchen scale.
Foods containing carbohydrates
Foods that contain carbohydrates, also known as carbohydrates, carbohydrates or sugars, are represented on the packaging labels by the acronyms HC or CHO. Some examples are:
- Cereals and their derivatives, such as rice, corn, bread, pasta, crackers, cereals, flour, potatoes; Legumes such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas and broad beans; Milk and yogurt; Natural fruit and fruit juices; Foods rich in sugar such as sweets, honey, marmalade, jams, soft drinks, candies, cookies, cakes, desserts and chocolate.
However, to know the exact amount of carbohydrate in a food, you must read the label or weigh the raw food. After that, it is important to make the rule of 3 for the amount you are going to eat.
Foods that should not be counted
Foods that do not need to be counted because they have a very small amount of carbohydrates are foods high in fiber, such as vegetables.
In addition, the fat in foods raises blood glucose only when ingested in large quantities and the consumption of alcoholic beverages, without food, can cause low blood sugar in both people who use insulin and those who use oral hypoglycemic agents up to 12 hours after your intake.
Step by step to calculate the amount of insulin
To calculate the amount of insulin based on what is ingested, you need to do some simple math. All calculations must be explained by the doctor, nurse or nutritionist, so that you are able to do the math yourself. The calculation consists of:
1. Take care of subtracting - After pricking your finger, to measure the blood sugar level, you need to make the difference between the glycemia obtained before eating and the target glycemia, which is the one expected to have at that time time of day. This value should be indicated by the doctor at a consultation, but generally, the target blood glucose value varies between 70 and 140.
2. Counting up to divide - Then you need to divide this value (150) by the sensitivity factor, which is how much 1 unit of rapid insulin is capable of reducing the value of blood glucose.
This value is calculated by the endocrinologist and must be followed by the patient, as it is influenced by factors such as physical activity, illness, use of corticosteroids or weight gain, for example.
3. Adding account - It is necessary to add all the foods that contain carbohydrates that you will eat in a meal. For example: 3 tablespoons of rice (40g HC) + 1 average fruit (20g HC) = 60g HC.
4. Dividing account - Then, this value should be divided by the amount of carbohydrates that 1 unit of rapid insulin covers, which in most cases corresponds to 15 g of carbohydrates.
This value is determined by the doctor individually, and can be different at each meal or time of day. For example, 60 gHC / 15gHC = 4 units of insulin.
5. Adding account - Finally, add the amount of insulin to correct the glycemia value calculated in point 1 and add the amount of insulin to the amount of carbohydrates that will be ingested to obtain the final amount of insulin that should be administered.
In some cases, the insulin value is not accurate, for example, 8.3 units, and the amount should be rounded up to 8 or 9, depending on the limit of 0.5.
Carbohydrate counting table for diabetics
Here is an example of a carbohydrate count table for diabetics that helps the patient know how many grams of carbohydrate they eat at meals.
| Foods | Carbohydrates | Foods | Carbohydrates |
| 1 glass of skimmed milk (240 ml) | 10 g HC |
1 tangerine |
15 g HC |
| 1 slice of Minas cheese | 1 g HC | 1 tablespoon of beans | 8 g HC |
| 1 shallow spoon of rice soup | 6 g HC | Lentil | 4 g HC |
| 1 spoon of pasta | 6 g HC | Broccoli | 1 g HC |
| 1 french bread (50g) | 28 g HC | Cucumber | 0 g HC |
| 1 medium potato | 6 g HC | Egg | 0 g HC |
| 1 apple (160g) | 20 g HC | Chicken | 0 g HC |
Generally, the nutritionist or doctor gives a list similar to this table in which the foods and their quantities are described.
After the calculations, insulin should be applied through an injection that can be administered in the arm, thigh or belly, varying the locations to avoid bruising and lumps under the skin. See how to apply insulin correctly.
Practical example of carbohydrate counting
For lunch he ate 3 spoons of pasta, half a tomato, ground beef, 1 apple and water. To find out how much insulin to take for this meal, you should:
- Check which foods have carbohydrates in the meal: macaroni and appleMake an account to find out how many carbohydrates have 3 spoons of pasta: 6 x 3 = 18 gHC (1 spoon = 6gHc - see label) Weigh apple on the kitchen scale (because it has no label): 140g of weight and make a simple rule of 3: 140 x 20/160 = 17.5 gHC Check the amount indicated by the doctor for the amount of carbohydrates you eat at each meal: 0.05. Do count to know the amount total carbohydrate for lunch: 18 + 17.5 = 35.5gHC and multiply by the amount recommended by the doctor (0.05) = 1.77 Units of Insulin. In this case, to make up for this meal you must apply 2 units of insulin.
However, before eating you should prick your finger to find out what the current blood glucose is and if it is higher than recommended, usually higher than 100g / dl, you should add insulin to the one you are going to apply to eat.
Why use the carbohydrate counting technique?
Carbohydrate counting for type 1 diabetics helps the patient to adjust the amount of insulin exactly that he has to take for the meal he is going to have, with adults usually 1 unit of fast or ultra fast insulin, such as Humulin R, Novolin R or Insunorm R, covers 15 grams of carbohydrates.
In the case of type 2 diabetes, it allows you to effectively control the amounts of food you eat at meals, helping to maintain calories, controlling weight and avoiding other complications, such as metabolic syndrome.
However, this technique should only be initiated at the recommendation of the endocrinologist and it is essential to follow the diet indicated by the nutritionist, applying the recommended rules.
