No Sugar-Coating: All Carbohydrates Count*

Carbohydrates are found in breads, cereals, rice, pasta, fruits, vegetables and dairy products, plus sweet foods such as cookies, cake, ice cream, soft drinks, honey and table sugar.

When managing diabetes, it’s important to monitor all the carbohydrates you eat because, regardless of the source, carbohydrates are quickly broken down by the body into glucose in your body.

This might surprise you if you thought you only needed to be careful about the sugar in your diet or that choosing “sugar free” foods was enough. But the fact is carbohydrates from any source are quickly broken down by the body into glucose.

The goal is to monitor the total amount of carbohydrates you take in and eat about the same amount at each meal and snack according to your meal plan. Your RD (Registered Dietitian) or CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) may teach you to count the grams of carbohydrates you consume to manage your blood glucose levels.

For special occasions, you can enjoy desserts and other sweet foods with some smart planning.

Your RD or CDE will help you establish a meal plan that includes:

• A variety of foods from the MyPyramid food groups, with emphasis on fiber-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean meats and low fat or fat free dairy products.
• Moderate amount of carbohydrates at each meal and snack.
• Modest portions of unsaturated fats (i.e., monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats) such as those in salmon, nuts and vegetables oil.
• Limited amounts of foods containing saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.
• Three to six planned meals and snacks a day, allowing no more than four to five hours between a meal or snack.
• Total calories and appropriate portion sizes to meet your weight management goals.

*This information gathered from: kraftrecipes.com in their Healthy Living area.

Our Class Schedule

We are able to offer a 3-part series of free education classes here at Diabetes Dayton. 

• Diabetes 101 offers you a general overview of diabetes, treating highs and lows, how to monitor properly and taking medications and insulin properly. 
• Our Diabetes 102 focuses on nutrition and the three steps of eating well. 
• Diabetes 103 rounds off the class series with content covering avoiding complications, stress management, and goal setting. 

We suggest taking all three courses to get a complete education regarding your diabetes, but each class can stand alone if you choose to only attend one.  We welcome anyone that would like to repeat a class (or classes) at any time.  Our CDE's are happy to answer any and all questions you may have during class time.