Ever wondered how that slice of bread or bowl of rice affects your blood sugar levels? Let's talk about carbohydrates, or carbs for short. When you eat carbs, your body breaks them down into glucose, a type of sugar. If you have diabetes, keeping track of the carbs you eat is crucial to control your blood sugar levels. A technique called 'carb counting' can help.

Carb counting is like a diabetes math lesson: you count the carbs in the food you eat, then adjust your insulin to balance it out. Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds, and it can make managing your diabetes simpler and more flexible.

Why count carbs?

• It helps you control your blood sugar better because your insulin dose can match the food you eat.

• It raises your food IQ by making you aware of what you're eating.

• It helps you maintain a balanced diet by highlighting your food choices.

So, which foods contain carbs? According to the American Diabetes Association, these foods are usually rich in carbohydrates:

• Grains such as rice, oatmeal, and barley.

• Grain-based foods like bread, cereal, pasta, and crackers.

• Starchy vegetables like potatoes, peas, and corn.

• Fruit and juice.

• Milk and yogurt.

• Dried beans like pinto beans and soy products like veggie burgers.

• Sweets and snacks like sodas, juice drinks, cake, cookies, candy, and chips.

Here's how you can count carbs:

Use the nutrition label as your secret weapon. It tells you how many carbs are in each serving of food. This can help you understand what you're eating and what a reasonable portion size looks like.

Remember, portion size matters. If you eat 3 servings of a food, you'll need to multiply the number of carbs per serving on the nutrition label by three.

What about home-cooked meals or restaurant foods? Don't worry, you can still count carbs. When cooking at home, measure the carbs in your ingredients. Eating out? Restaurants often provide nutritional information, or you can estimate by looking at portion size and ingredients. Websites like calorieking.com can also be a great resource.

Remember, it's all about balance. With some practice, carb counting can become a routine part of your diabetes management.