For many years, the most recommended dietary approach for controlling diabetes was the exchange diet.
In the exchange system foods are grouped together based on the amount ofcarbohydratesthey contain.
The plan allows you to swap one food for another that had a similar “carb count.”
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This jot down of diabetes diet is no longer the standard for all people with diabetes.
In addition, exchanges are now called choices.
Instead, nutritionists and healthcare providers work to provide nutritional information to help people create personalizedmeal plans.
What Is the Exchange Diet?
The list of foods was updated several times.
In 2008, the dietary approach was revised again and renamed Choose Your Foods.
There’s no one-size-fits-all diet.
But it also helps people with diabetes meet other goals.
It makes it easy to control how many calories and the amount of fat you consume.
The American Diabetes Association recommends a simpler approach for those who find the exchange diet challenging.
“The guide focuses on helping you track the carbohydrates in specific foods.
It divides foods into six categories:
Choose Your Foodsprovides a series of lists.
Each list has foods that share a specific amount of carbohydrates.
Self-monitoring can help you understand how certain foods impact your blood sugar.
The purpose is to allow people with diabetes to easily plan meals.
How Many Carbs Do You Need?
Men usually need 60 to 75 grams, which equals about four to five choices.
However, exactly how many carbohydrates are right for you may vary.
You should speak to a nutritionist and your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
Most people with diabetes eat about 45% of calories from carbohydrate.
Not all foods can be easily compared, though.
Many are listed without a specified serving size, meaning they can be eaten in any quantity.
These lists cover carbohydrates as well as other important nutrients.
Starch/Bread List
Each of these items represents a single serving of about 15 grams of carbohydrate.
Each serving counts as one carbohydrate portion.
These and similar vegetables are generally regarded as non-starchy vegetables.
For example, 1/3 cup of rice equals one carb exchange.
With this kind of flexibility, using the exchange method can be simple, straightforward, and effective.
Using the exchange lists, it’s possible for you to swap one food for another.
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