Gestational diabetes: Counting carbs
How to count carbohydrate
Here are some ways to help you count carbohydrate and spread carbohydrate throughout the day.
Eat regularly
Eat at least three meals a day to spread your intake of food, especially carbohydrate, throughout the day.
It is a great idea to get out your cookbooks and plan several main meals at the same time. You can double some recipes and freeze the leftovers to use for other meals. Try making a list of menus to post on your refrigerator using the menu ideas form
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Count carbohydrate
The following suggestions can help you count carbohydrate and control your blood sugar:
- Talk with a registered dietitian to help plan the amount of carbohydrate to include in each meal and snack.
- Get a book that lists the carbohydrate content in different foods.
- Eat standard portions of carbohydrate foods. Each serving size or standard portion contains about 15 grams of carbohydrate. You don't have to weigh and measure your food, though that may be helpful when you are first learning what makes up a standard portion.
- Count either grams or servings of carbohydrate. If you are having high blood sugar levels after breakfast, you may want to eliminate or decrease the amount of carbohydrate in that meal.
- Eat standard portions of foods that contain protein. Talk with a registered dietitian about how much protein you need.
- Talk with a registered dietitian about how much fat you need.
Other suggestions
- Read food labels for the carbohydrate content, and check the serving size on the package.
- Check your blood sugar level 1 hour after eating the first bite of each meal to see how the food affects it.
- Record what you eat and your blood sugar results in a food record. At each regular visit with your diabetes specialist, or whenever you think your meal plan needs adjusting, you can review the food record
- Get more help. The American Diabetes Association offers booklets to help people learn how to count carbohydrate, measure and weigh food, and read food labels.
Test Your Knowledge
Calculate the carbohydrate content in the following breakfast. Use the information in carbohydrate foods and foods that contain protein to calculate the carbohydrate. The breakfast includes 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1 slice of toast, and 2 teaspoons of margarine.
Calculate the carbohydrate content in the following lunch. Use the information in carbohydrate foods and foods that contain protein to calculate the carbohydrate. The lunch includes 1 cup of macaroni, ½ cup of grated cheese, ½ cup of carrots, and one fresh apple.
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: December 4, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Lois Jovanovic, MD - Endocrinology | |
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