Carbs are measured in grams. On packaged foods, you can find total carb grams on the Nutrition Facts label. You can also check this list or use a carb-counting app to find grams of carbs in foods and drinks.

For diabetes meal planning , 1 carb serving is about 15 grams of carbs. For example, most people would count a small baked potato as 1 serving. However, at about 30 grams of carbs, it counts as 2 carb servings. Lunch 2 slices whole wheat bread 24g 4 oz.

low-sodium turkey meat 1g 1 slice low-fat Swiss cheese 1g ½ large tomato 3g 1 TBS yellow mustard 1g ¼ cup shredded lettuce 0g 8 baby carrots 7g 6 oz. plain fat-free Greek yogurt 7g ¾ cup blueberries 15g Total carbs: 59 grams, about 4 carb servings.

Dinner 6 ounces baked chicken breast 0g 1 cup brown rice 45g 1 cup steamed broccoli 12g 2 TBS margarine 0g Total carbs: 57 grams, about 4 carb servings. Snack 1 low-fat string cheese stick 1g 2 tangerines 18g Total carbs: 19 grams, about 1 carb serving. The amount you can eat and stay in your target blood sugar range depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors.

A dietitian or diabetes care and education specialist can help you create an eating plan that works for your unique needs and lifestyle. You can also visit the Find a Diabetes Education Program in Your Area locator for DSMES services near you.

Talk with your dietitian about the right amount of carbs for you, and be sure to update your meal plan if your needs change for example, if you get more active, you may increase how many carbs you eat. Ask about tasty, healthy recipes that can help you stay on top of your carb intake—which will make it easier to manage your blood sugar levels, too.

In both types of diabetes, when glucose can't get into the cells, the blood sugar level gets too high. High blood sugar levels can make people sick and are unhealthy. Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet.

Everyone needs carbs, including people with diabetes. Carbs provide the fuel you need to get through the day. Making smart choices when it comes to carbs and following your diabetes care plan can help keep blood sugars under control.

Use these tips to guide you:. Understanding how carbs fit into a balanced diet makes it easier to keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. If you need help counting carbs or have questions about what to eat, talk to the dietitian on your care team.

KidsHealth For Teens Carbohydrates and Diabetes. en español: Los hidratos de carbono y la diabetes. Medically reviewed by: Cheryl Patterson, RD, LDN, CDCES. Listen Play Stop Volume mp3 Settings Close Player.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Carbohydrates? Sugar, Starch, and Fiber Are All Carbs Carbohydrates come in three forms: sugar, starch, and fiber. It helps to know that: Added sugars raise the blood sugar quickly.

Foods with added sugar like cake, cookies, and soft drinks make blood sugars spike. You might see sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, sucrose, or fructose listed on the food label.

You are not on a carb-restricted diet, and it is important that you do not avoid eating carbohydrates to avoid taking insulin. What types of carbohydrates should I eat?

Not all carbs are the same. Eating healthier carbs such as whole grains, fruit, vegetables, low-fat milk and yogurt are healthier for the heart. Try eating brown rice instead of white or whole wheat bread instead of white bread.

Unhealthy carbs you should choose less often, such as deserts, cakes, pies, cookies, sugar-sweetened beverages and candy. These foods contain added sugars, which is not heart-healthy. How many carbs should you eat?

Your nutritionist can help you figure out how many carbs you should eat every day to stay healthy. Topics Covered: Type 1 Diabetes , Type 2 Diabetes , Cystic Fibrosis-related Diabetes.

Appetite and hunger also play a role. This service, when provided by a dietitian, is known as medical nutrition therapy.

Diabetes self-management education DSME sessions also may include creating an eating plan. During the sessions, you'll determine your carb needs and how to divide your carbs among your meals and snacks. Everybody's insulin response is going to be different, and we don't want to make the diet more restrictive than it needs to be to manage blood sugars.

Find a diabetes education program. Tracking your food intake and your blood sugar before and about hours after your meals for a few days can provide useful information for you and your diabetes care team to see how different meals impact your blood glucose so you can determine the right amount of carbs for you.

You can find how many carbs foods have by reading food labels. For example, the U. The good news is, the longer you practice carb counting, the more you'll remember the carb content of the foods you commonly eat. Carb counting would be simple if we only ate carbohydrate foods, but meals are usually a mix of carbohydrate, protein and fat.

A meal high in protein and fat can change how quickly the body absorbs carbs, which impacts blood sugar levels. Continuous glucose monitoring CGM or self-monitoring of blood glucose can also help, especially for insulin dosing. Whether you count each carb gram or use one of the other meal planning methods, you'll want to choose foods that are rich in nutrients.

Opt for whole foods that are unprocessed and in their natural state, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins.

Glucose is the most common sugar unit in our food and in our bodies. What about fiber? Fiber is a complex carbohydrate found in fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

However, while you can eat fiber, you do not digest it. It will not cause your blood sugar levels to rise, so you do not need to take insulin to cover the fiber. We have compiled resources for you to use to learn more about carbohydrates and their role in managing your care.

Here is a list of topics in print-friendly PDF format ready for your download:. Self assessment quizzes are available for topics covered in this website. To find out how much you have learned about Understanding Carbohydrates , take our self assessment quiz when you have completed this section.

The quiz is multiple choice. Simple carbs include fructose and glucose, and can contain some vitamins and minerals. Foods that contain fructose may include fruit juice concentrate, which contains simple carbs. On the other hand, complex carbs will slowly elevate blood glucose levels.

These foods can contain other vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, complex carbs can include starchy foods, such as white bread or white potatoes, which contain fewer other beneficial ingredients. Learn more about simple vs. complex carbs here. According to UW Health , the total grams of carbohydrate a person eats will affect their blood sugar and will help them understand how much insulin they need to receive.

Learn about how a person with high blood sugar might feel here. Therefore, if a person eats 1, calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, — of those calories could come from carbs.

The CDC explain that this equates to around — grams a day. The American Diabetes Association ADA breaks carbs down into three categories, including:. Lastly, the ADA recommends that people avoid foods with refined sugar as much as possible.

These foods include candies, soda, and juices. A person with diabetes will need to keep an eye on their carb intake as part of their blood sugar monitoring. Fiber can provide several benefits, including :.

The CDC add that fiber does not raise blood sugar levels. Starch is found in several vegetables, whole grains and fruit. According to the ADA , the slow speed at which starch releases glucose into the blood can help prevent blood sugar spikes.

They suggest a person should wait 15 minutes, then check their blood sugar levels. If their blood sugar is still under 70 milligrams per deciliter, they can have another serving. There are several foods that provide fiber or starch.

The ADA recommends including the most amount of carbs from non-starchy vegetables, including:. The ADA also recommends including some of the following foods in a daily meal plan:. According to the ADA , eating more than planned or exercising less than planned can result in hyperglycemia.

Left untreated, hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose, can cause a serious condition called ketoacidosis. There are some foods a person with diabetes, or a person looking to lower their risk of diabetes, should avoid as much as possible.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases NIDDK recommends limiting or avoiding the following foods:. A person should work with their healthcare providers to determine the best dietary plan for them.

A person should also talk to their doctor before making a radical change in diet since it can affect how much insulin or medication they may need to control their blood sugar levels.