Diabetes: Counting carbs if you don't use insulin

Why do I need to count carbohydrate grams?

Carbohydrate counting helps you know how much carbohydrate you are eating. The more carbohydrate you eat at one time, the higher your blood sugar level will rise. You also can count carbohydrate grams if you take insulin. For more information on carbohydrate counting when you use insulin, see:

Diabetes: Counting carbs if you use insulin.

Spreading carbohydrate throughout the day can help keep your blood sugar levels within your target range, preventing low or high blood sugar. Both low and high blood sugar levels can cause emergencies. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage many body tissues and organs. If you have gestational diabetes, high blood sugar levels can increase your risk for complications that can affect your health as well as your baby's health.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: February 10, 2008
Medical Review:	Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Diabetes Educator
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