You may have heard of carb counting and the 1500 calorie diabetic diet, but chances are you are not sure what it is or how it works. The carb method for the 1500 calorie diabetic diet is a way to calculate the number of carbohydrates you consume in your 1500 calorie diabetic diet, without worrying about proteins and fats. Carb counting is similar to the exchange diet method, which was formerly known as the ADA diet.
When counting carbs while following the 1500 calorie diabetic diet, you will have a set amount of carbohydrates, in grams, that you are allowed to consume each day. By using a food table, you can figure out how many carbs will be ingested per meal. Again, there is no need to keep up with the amount of protein or fat.
So instead of being allowed two starches, one milk, and and one fruit, for example, when you follow the exchange diet, you are given a certain amount of carbohydrates to consume during a single meal. When you are counting carbs on the 1500 calorie diabetic diet, each food you choose will need to be included in your carbohydrate tally.
Carbohydrate counting for a 1500 calorie diabetic diet is a more exact method than the exchange method because the dieter will count every carbohydrate included in every meal. For those people who need to take insulin shots, they can match up their does to their carb consumption, making insulin users more able to level out their blood sugar number.
Because the carb counting method and exchange method are similar in nature, it is important to understand how the exchange method works. For dieters on the 1500 calorie diabetic diet who do not want to make radical changes to their diet, the lets these people eat just about any food they want as long as they control the portions as outlined in the 1500 calorie diabetic diet.
However, there are some differences between counting carbs and following the exchange method. In the exchange method for the 1500 calorie diabetic diet, every food is put into a category of protein, starch, milk, fruit, vegetables, or fat. During the course of following the 1500 calorie diabetic diet, the follower will be given a certain amount of exchanges for each food group everyday.
Similar to counting carbohydrates on the 1500 calorie diabetic diet, the exchange method requires lower fat intake and higher carbohydrate intake. And because there is a level of calorie control on the 1500 calorie diabetic diet, diabetics can carefully manage their blood glucose levels. Even if you decide to dine out at a restaurant, you can still enjoy the foods you like as long as you adhere to the 1500 calorie diabetic diet guidelines.
Before you give the 1500 calorie diabetic diet a try, talk it over with the medical professional who oversees your diabetes treatment. You can keep track of your blood glucose for the next several months of following this diet in order to see how your levels of blood sugar react to your dietary changes.
