For people with Type 1 diabetes
What is carbohydrate?
Carbohydrate can be classified in a number of different ways, but essentially there are two main types:
- Starchy carbohydrates include foods like bread, pasta, chapattis, potatoes, yam, noodles, rice and cereals.
- Sugars, which can be categorised as:
- natural sugar, eg fruit sugar (known as fructose) and milk sugar (known as lactose)
- added sugar, which includes table sugar (eg caster, granulated), glucose, glucose syrup, invert syrup and honey.
Sugars can often be identified on food labels as those ingredients ending in –ose.
Both the amount and type of carbohydrate you eat and drink will have an effect on post-meal glucose levels.
Another type of food that can affect blood glucose levels is nutritive sweeteners, including polyols. If you are unsure what these are, they tend to end in -ol, eg sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol and mannitol.
Why does my body need carbohydrate?
Carbohydrate is the body’s preferred source of energy in the diet. All carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is essential fuel for the body – especially the brain. High-fibre carbohydrates such as wholegrains and fruit play an important role in the health of the gut.
How much do I need?
The actual amount of carbohydrate that the body needs varies depending on your age, weight and activity levels.
For good health, most of the carbohydrate you eat should be from starchy carbohydrate, fruits and some dairy foods. Carbohydrate from added sugar or table sugar should be limited.
If you are on a fixed insulin regime, you may find it beneficial to have consistent amounts of carbohydrates on a day-to-day basis.
Work with your dietitian or diabetes healthcare team to find the right balance for you.
Reviewed: May 2012
Next review: November 2013