Basic Carb Counting

Anyone can benefit from carbohydrate counting, says Linda Yerardi, M.S., R.D., LDN, CDE, director of diabetes education at the Diabetes Center at Mercy in Baltimore. "Everyone with diabetes has to monitor their carbohydrates."

After eating any type of carbohydrate, it breaks down into glucose and enters the bloodstream. This is why your blood glucose rises after eating carbs.

"Protein and fat will not have as big of an impact on blood sugar as carbohydrate, so carbs are what we look at," Yerardi says.

Why Count Carbs?

"The purpose of carb counting is to more consistently control the amount of glucose going into the bloodstream to stabilize blood sugar levels," says Michelle Bravo, R.D, LDN, CDE, a dietitian at Johns Hopkins Diabetes Center in Baltimore.

Carb counting ranges from basic to advanced. Everyone starts with basic carb counting, no matter how long they've had diabetes or what their ultimate carb counting goal is.