Download Carbohydrate Counting for Caregivers

Carbohydrate Counting for Caregivers
Presented by: Kathryn Kangos, RD, LD.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Carbohydrate Counting for Caregivers

Basics of carbohydrates

Counting carbohydrates

Insulin to carbohydrate ratio

Communication between parents and
alternate caregivers
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Counting Carbohydrates

What are carbohydrates?


Why do they have to be counted?


The body’s main source of fuel and energy
Type 1 diabetics must have insulin coverage to help metabolize carbohydrates
correctly
How do I count carbohydrates?
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Carbohydrate Counting

Know which food groups have carbohydrates




Starch
 Breads, tortillas, and cereals
 Pasta, rice, and grains
 Beans and lentils
 Starchy vegetables
 Crackers, pretzels, and snack chips
Fruit and fruit juices
Milk and yogurt
Sugar, sweets, and desserts

Know approximate portion sizes

Know how to read a food label
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Carbohydrate Counting Methods

Carbohydrate Choices/Exchanges


Food lists and serving sizes for helping us learn to estimate carbs
Carbohydrate Gram Counting

Label reading, looking up grams of carbs
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Counting Carbohydrates: CHO Exchanges
1 grain/starchy
vegetable or
1 fruit or 1 milk
=
=
15 grams of
carbohydrate for
each
=
One carbohydrate
serving/exchange
each
=
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Sample Foods
15 Grams of Carbohydrate
Starches
Fruit, milk, and sweets

1 slice of bread

½ glazed donut

½ English muffin

½ cup ice cream

6 saltine crackers

2 inch piece unfrosted cake

½ cup potatoes, beans, corn, and
peas

1 small piece of fruit

1 cup milk

½ cup orange juice


¾ cup unsweetened or ½ cup
sweetened cereal
1/3 cup cooked pasta or rice
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Carbohydrate Counting: Label Reading
Look at your serving size!
Look at your total carbohydrate
amount.
Divide the total carbohydrate
amount by the child’s carb ratio.
Example: the ratio is 1:10. 31
divided by 10 would equal 3
units.
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Marketing Misconceptions

“Sugar Free” labeled products

“Net Carbs” on packaging
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Type 1 Diabetic Meal Planning

ALL foods can fit into a healthy
diet by focusing on balance,
variety, and moderation…even
sweets!
10
What if We Are Eating Out?

Ask restaurant for nutrition information or visit website

Can use pocket-sized guides such as Calorie King or Nutrition in the Fast
Lane

Tips for estimating portion sizes

Example: 1 cup = 1 fist
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What if We Are Eating Out? (cont’d)


Smartphone Apps

Calorie King

GoMeals

My Fitness Pal
Can use a similar food to estimate

Example: if you eat sandwiches at home and you know that each piece of bread
is 15 grams (for a total of 30 grams), then you could also know that if the child is
eating a hamburger that each piece of bread on the bun is 15 grams.
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What if I’m Using a Recipe?

Can weigh or use nutrition labels for each ingredient

Can use websites to enter each ingredient, and it will calculate the
nutrition information.

Example: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp
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Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for Carbs
Per Meal for Type 1 Diabetics
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Insulin to Carb Ratio

How much insulin is needed to return my blood sugar to normal range
after eating carbs

Individualized for each person

General rule: 1 unit of rapid insulin to cover

Example scenario:
?
grams of carbohydrate.
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Alternate Caregiver and Parents

Open line of communication.

Example scenario: Fast food meal eaten (high carb/high fat) which takes longer
to digest will cause late rise in child’s blood sugar.
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