For the diabetic, good glucose is essential. Part of achieving this can include following a diet, prescribed by a registered dietitian, and individualized to the person s needs. One form of diabetic diet includes the concept of counting carbohydrates.
Some medical centers use carbohydrate counting instead of the exchange system .
Carbohydrates are one of three primary substances in the foods that we eat, which also includes protein and fat. They include all sugars and starches in the diet. In fact, carbohydrates are actually either simple sugars or complex sugar molecules, such as starches. In a balanced diet, carbohydrates will be included, and are necessary for both energy and good health. But for the diabetic, learning to measure the amount of carbohydrate in the diet can be a useful tool in learning to control blood sugars.