Carbohydrate counting
Count on it
Carbohydrate counting is a way of matching the amount of insulin you take with the amount of carbohydrate you eat. You're likely to learn how to carb count if you take insulin with each meal and you'll certainly have to learn it if you want to go on a pump.
There are two main types of carbohydrate:
- starchy carbohydrate
- sugary carbohydrate
Starchy carbs include foods like bread, pasta, chapatti, potatoes, yam, noodles, rice and cereals.
Sugary carbs include sweet foods such as cakes and biscuits, and there's also a different type of sugar that is found naturally in fruit and some dairy foods.
If you carbohydrate count, you will learn about which foods and drinks contain carbohydrate, and how to adjust your insulin dose depending on how much of these foods and drink you have. You'll need to be prepared to monitor your blood glucose levels frequently. Carb counting does take some time and effort, especially at first as you're learning about it.
To learn more, talk to your nurse or dietitian. Some centres run courses about carb counting especially for young people.
Carbs Count e-book
Developed by qualified diabetes dietitians and professionals working in the field of carbohydrate counting and insulin dose adjustment, this e-book provides background information on carbohydrates and how to carbohydrate count. It also covers the different types of insulin available, how they work and how each one should be adjusted according to what you eat, drink and the amount of physical activity you do.
Available as a PDF e-book, Carbs Count can be downloaded for use on your home computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You can also test your knowledge by working through the examples featured throughout the ten chapters.
Visit our Online Shop to download the PDF for free.