Carbohydrates, or carbs, provide energy to fuel your brain and body. Carbs impact your blood glucose (sugar) the most compared to fat and protein. When people eat food containing carbs, the digestive system breaks down the digestible carbs into sugar and releases it into the bloodstream. This can lead to a faster rise in blood sugar than other foods. So, it’s important to monitor the types of carbs and the portion sizes you consume.
Foods made with refined flours (bread, pasta, cereals) or added sugars (muffins, cakes, cookies, soda, fruit juice) can cause blood sugar to spike. Chips, white potatoes, and white rice also can cause blood sugar spikes.
Non-starchy, fiber-rich vegetables, beans, sweet potatoes, and whole fruits are less likely to cause your blood sugar to spike. Foods made with whole grains (whole grain or 100% whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta) also are less likely to cause blood sugar spikes.
Think ahead and time your meals appropriately with your medications and blood sugar testing. Portion control and limiting snacks are important. Start your day off right by eating breakfast. Healthy snacks between meals can help keep blood sugar at a normal level. Never skip meals!
Portion size and serving size are not always the same thing. A portion is the amount of food you choose to eat at one time, while a serving is the specific amount of food listed on a food label to help describe nutrition information. Studies show that people tend to eat more when served large portions at a meal. Getting a good grasp of portion sizes enables you to choose how much you want to eat, which will impact your blood sugar.
To help determine your nutrition needs, ask your healthcare provider and use serving sizes on food labels to help you decide what portions are appropriate. For help measuring and tracking portions, try an app with features for portion estimation.
For example, if you need 3 oz of meat, you can imagine 3 packs of dental floss sitting side by side on your plate. This visualization will help you put portion sizes into practice!
| 1 cup cooked pasta = 1 baseball | ½ cup fruits or veggies = ½ baseball | 1 ounce lean meat = 1 pack of dental floss | 1 ounce cheese = 3 dice |
Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of diabetes care. Learn more about eating right for diabetes to help keep your blood sugar in check.
Every choice matters. Learn tips on how you can make smarter beverage choices everyday to help you make a big difference in managing diabetes.
Enjoy the holiday festivities and manage your blood sugar levels with these easy tips, tricks and swaps.
Glucerna® is the number 1 selling diabetes nutritional supplement in the Philippines*. It contains 35 nutrients, slow-release carbohydrates and 4x more inositol vs previous formulation, that delivers a dual action for tight blood sugar control.
* NielsenIQ Retail Index, Dietetics-Adult Segment-Diabetes Subsegment, July 2020 – June 2021
You are about to exit for another Abbott country or region specific website.
Please be aware that the website you have requested is intended for the residents of a particular country or region, as noted on that site. As a result, the site may contain information on pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other products or uses of those products that are not approved in other countries or regions.
The website you have requested also may not be optimized for your specific screen size.
Do you wish to continue and exit this website?
Stay Connected