The Diabetic Diet, a Source of Confusion.

I am sure we have all heard the comments and concerns of the newly diagnosed individual, or even the self-proclaimed expertise as what to eat versus not to eat. We may have even said it ourselves, “Clara Belle is a diabetic, and she got pancakes for breakfast, she should not have gotten carbs.” Well the source of this statement is quite confused, since the diabetic “diet” is not one of eliminating all carbohydrate sources, but rather a nutrition plan being consistent in the amount served at each meal or snack, to keep the blood sugar levels within normal range.

WHY???

Why is carbohydrate consistency more appropriate than no carbohydrate for the management of diabetes?

As previously mentioned in earlier blogs, there is no cure for diabetes, but there is controlled diabetes. Meal planning using carbohydrate consistency can eliminated or decrease the experiences of the roller coaster blood sugar values (peaks and valleys). One thing to note about carbohydrates is they break down into glucose, your body’s main fuel source. So, pause and ask yourself, how well does your car run without gasoline??? Also, note as this type of sugar enters the blood stream, the level of sugar in the blood begins to rise. This is where the misconception of avoiding carbohydrates to manage blood sugar enters the picture. The most effective line of treatment is to keep the blood glucose as consistent as possible, which can be done through managing the amount of carbohydrate taken in at each meal.

If Clara Belle, were to completely avoid all carbohydrates on her plate, such as her pancakes, she would begin a cycle of blood sugar peaks and valleys for the rest of the day. As previously stated, glucose is the body’s main source of energy, by avoiding glucose containing foods, carbohydrates, her body would be under the impression energy is not going to be provided through diet, so the greatest storage form of energy in the body kicks into gear, the liver. Have you ever wondered how your blood sugar is high even though you have eaten NO CARBOHYDATES that day or very little, or maybe not eaten at all?? Hello liver. Thank you for doing your job.

So, if Ms. Belle were to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at breakfast, lunch, and dinner she could avoid the high-low battle and maintain a more consistent blood sugar pattern throughout her day, feeling better overall.

HOW???

Sounds great, but how?

The key is NOT to avoid carbohydrates, but limit the amount taken in at each meal to a recommended amount based on body size and activity level. The old saying, “if it is white avoid it” is not the way to educate the already confused diabetic. Carbohydrates are not bad if eaten in the correct portion. And there are plenty of white things I would not want someone to avoid eating.

A great starting place for most would be to limit the carbohydrate amount to 45-60grams PER MEAL NOT PER DAY. You can count the carbohydrates in a food item by reading a food label or knowing a portion size. For example, ½ cup of corn is 15grams, while ½ cup of broccoli is 5 grams of carbohydrate. Not all veggies are created equal, some have more energy (carbohydrates), than others. So removing the label of good or bad food is a great place to start. Instead of good or bad, think smaller or larger amounts. You can have larger portions of some carbohydrates containing foods than others.

In addition to counting/limiting carbohydrates, there are many other aspects of the diabetic diet which would direct a diabetic to the path of controlled. But for now, Ms. Clara Belle has a great start, knowing she should not completely avoid all carbohydrates, since they are the fuel for our bodies. She now knows, limiting carbohydrates to a reasonable amount and being consistent with her intake at each meal, will help her gain control over her blood sugar.

Learning to balance the amount so you can feel satisfied and manage the blood sugar is where a dietitian can really come into play. Being hungry is not pleasant, but high blood sugar values are quite undesirable as well. A diabetic can enjoy a myriad of foods and cuisines, as long as they know about carbohydrate consistency. Find a dietitian who is willing to meet you where you are, educate you on carbohydrate consistency, and make it achievable.

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Excuse me ma’am, is there carbohydrates in fish? Hahaha!

I hope this helped you to gain a greater understanding of the best way to manage your blood sugar, control your diabetes, and ultimately live a happier life. If you want or need more and unsure who to turn to, please know I am here to help!

Lydia Sartain, MS, RD, LD, CDE

Sartain Nutrition, LLC

"Your Local Dietitian"

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