I've been this morning to my usual appointment at the diabetic clinic. I brought away with me the "NHS Carbohydrate Counting Reference Tables." Has anyone had or used one of these and if so is it any good??????
It's about taking responsibility for our diabetes and doing what we can to avoid the long term complications of diabetes.
All those starchy slow burning carbohydates (rice, pasta, bread, potato) recommended to diabetics as good for us turn in to glucose/sugar in the body. This slowly poisions us and gives us all those long term complications. Some of us do not follow the NHS recommended diet.
Carb counters reduce the carbs they eat to minimise the medication they take to manage the high levels of glucose bombing around our body. Carb counters are more likely to have blood glucose levels approaching normal non diabetic levels.
There is more than one dietary apporach, but succesful diabetics (those with HbA1c levels below 6%) reduce their carbohydrate intake. Look at the success stories threads in the diet forums.
If you are testing regularly, as your other posts imply, you will be eating to your meter and reducing and removing from your diet the things that make you spike. This means that you are reducing carbs at the very least.
Carb counters reduce the carbs they eat to minimise the medication they take to manage the high levels of glucose bombing around our body. Carb counters are more likely to have blood glucose levels approaching normal non diabetic levels.
That is the first time I've ever seen this particular explanation for carb counting?
The primary purpose of carb counting is to effectively manage medication levels according to the amount of carbohydrate eaten, to achieve better overall glycemic control.
It has nothing to do with reducing carbohydrate intake, that is a separate and personal decision, also quite divisive and polarising in this forum!
The primary purpose of carb counting is to effectively manage medication levels according to the amount of carbohydrate eaten, to achieve better overall glycemic control.
You have phrased the medication thing so much better than I have in your correction, kegstore. It's hot, it's late and I have had a hell of a week!
I manage my carb intake because I want to achieve normal blood sugar levels and my meter tells me that it is those healthy carbs that send my levels though the roof.