Sugar belongs to a category known as simple carbohydrates. Simple carbs have one sugar molecule monosaccharides or two sugar molecules disaccharides. Sugar is found naturally in foods and beverages like whole fruit, juice, milk products, and honey. Starches and fiber are both complex carbohydrates.

Complex carbs have at least three sugar molecules. Fiber is found in foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Many factors, including exercise, stress, and illness, affect your blood sugar levels. That said, one of the largest factors is what you eat.

Of the three macronutrients — carbs, protein, and fat — carbs have the greatest effect on blood sugar. This occurs with all digestible carbs, including refined sources like chips and cookies as well as whole, unprocessed sources like fruits and vegetables.

When people with diabetes eat foods high in carbs, their blood sugar levels can surge. High carb intake typically requires high doses of insulin or diabetes medication to manage blood sugar. Given that people with type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin, they need to inject insulin several times a day, regardless of what they eat.

However, eating fewer carbs can significantly reduce their mealtime insulin dosage. Your body breaks down certain carbs into sugar, which enters your bloodstream. People with diabetes who eat a lot of carbs require insulin or diabetes medication to keep their blood sugar from rising too much.

Studies have shown that many different levels of carb intake may help manage blood sugar, and the optimal amount of carbs varies by individual.

However, the ADA now promotes an individualized approach in which your ideal carb intake should take into account your dietary preferences and metabolic goals 7.

This is equivalent to grams of carbs per day 8. A severely restricted intake of less than 50 grams of carbs per day appears to produce the most dramatic results and may reduce or even eliminate the need for insulin or diabetes medication. When tracking carb intake, experts sometimes recommend focusing on your net carbs instead of the total amount of carbs you eat.

Net carbs is total grams of carbs minus grams of fiber For people who eat 2,—2, calories a day, this is equivalent to — grams of carbs Since carbs raise blood sugar, reducing them to any extent can help you manage your blood sugar levels.

Therefore, figuring out how many carbs to eat requires some testing and evaluating to find out what works best for you. To determine your ideal carb intake, measure your blood sugar with a blood glucose meter before a meal and again 1—2 hours after eating. However, you may want to aim for an even lower ceiling To achieve your blood sugar goals, you may need to restrict your carb intake to less than 10, 15, or 25 grams per meal.

Also, you may find that your blood sugar rises more at certain times of the day, so your upper carb limit may be lower for dinner than for breakfast or lunch. Determining the optimal carb intake for diabetes management requires testing your blood sugar and making adjustments as needed based on your response, including how you feel.

Many studies support the use of carb restriction in people with diabetes. Research has confirmed that many levels of carb restriction can effectively lower blood sugar levels. Very low carb diets typically induce mild to moderate ketosis , a state in which your body uses ketones and fat, rather than sugar, as its main energy sources.

Ketosis usually occurs at a daily intake of fewer than 50 grams of total carbs 9. Very low carb ketogenic diets were prescribed for people with diabetes even before insulin was discovered in 8. Several studies indicate that restricting carb intake to 20—50 grams per day can significantly reduce blood sugar levels, promote weight loss, and improve cardiovascular health for people with diabetes 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 15 , For instance, in a small 3-month study, people consumed either a low carb diet containing up to 50 grams of carbs per day or a calorie-restricted low fat diet.

The low carb group averaged a 0. In fact, in several studies, participants have reduced or discontinued use of insulin and other diabetes medications due to improvements in blood sugar control 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 , Diets containing 20—50 grams of carbs per day have also been shown to lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of disease in people with prediabetes Another study found that the diet might actually improve kidney function in people with type 2 diabetes and normal renal function or mild kidney disease Although there are very few studies on carb restriction in people with type 1 diabetes, those that exist have reported impressive results 20 , 21 , 22 , One of the biggest concerns for people with type 1 diabetes is hypoglycemia , or blood sugar that drops to dangerously low levels.

In a study in people with type 1 diabetes who restricted carbs to 70 grams per day, participants saw their HbA1c drop from 7.

A person was considered in remission if their HbA1c was under 6. A few studies examining such diets have reported good results in people with diabetes 25 , Over the course of 12 months, HbA1c dropped 2. Studies demonstrate that restricting carbs may benefit people with diabetes.

The lower your carb intake, the greater the effect on your blood sugar levels and other health markers. Many tasty, nutritious, low carb foods raise blood sugar levels only minimally. You can enjoy these foods in moderate to liberal amounts on low carb diets. Keep in mind that not all of these foods are unhealthy.

On a low carb diet, you should avoid or limit foods and beverages like beer, bread, potatoes, fruit, and sweets. Low carb diets have consistently been shown to lower blood sugar and improve other health markers in people with diabetes.

For example, some studies suggest that low fat vegan or vegetarian diets may lead to better blood sugar control and overall health 28 , 29 , 30 , In a week Korean study, a brown-rice-based vegan diet containing The Mediterranean diet likewise improves blood sugar control and provides other health benefits in individuals with diabetes More research on these diets is needed.

Studies suggest that certain higher carb diets may aid diabetes management. Still, additional research is needed. Testing your blood sugar and paying attention to how you feel at different carb intakes can help you find your ideal range for optimal diabetes management, energy levels, and quality of life.

Try to avoid processed foods like baked goods, crackers, pasta, chips, soda, and alcoholic beverages , as these often contain added sugar. Use the nutrition label to find out if there is added sugar. If you are struggling to control your blood sugar levels by making changes to your diet, or if you feel you need additional support in managing your type 2 diabetes, ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician.

Type 2 diabetes is a health condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. It can lead to serious complications if left untreated. One of the best ways to manage type 2 diabetes is by making dietary changes, including limiting the amount of carbohydrates you consume each day.

Your body breaks down carbs and turns them into glucose which raises your blood sugar levels. This means consuming less than grams of carbs per day if you typically eat 2, calories.

Try to eat complex carbs which take longer to break down, versus simple carbs like those found in table sugar and baked goods. Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet rich in lean meats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is a good place to start.

If you are struggling to manage your blood sugar through dietary changes or want additional support, working with a registered dietician may help.

Diabetes incidence and prevalence Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Nutrition and healthy eating Mayo Clinic. Low blood glucose Hypoglycemia National Institute of Health. Carb counting Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Get smart on carbs. American Diabetes Association.

The new nutrition facts label U. Food and Drug. Fooddata central U. Department of Agriculture. Low carbohydrate diet Statpearl. Adapting diabetes medication for low carbohydrate management of type 2 diabetes: A practical guide Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data How many calories are in one gram of fat, carbohydrate, or protein?

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Content Overview Understanding how carbs affect type 2 diabetes How do I count carbs for type 2 diabetes? How many carbs should I eat in a day if I have type 2 diabetes? Foods to eat and avoid The lowdown. Have you considered clinical trials for Type 2 diabetes?

How carb counting can help your blood glucose control depends on your treatment regimen and whether or not your body makes insulin. Carb counting at its most basic level involves counting the number of grams of carbohydrate in a meal and matching that to your dose of insulin.

If you take mealtime insulin , that means first accounting for each carbohydrate gram you eat and dosing mealtime insulin based on that count. You will use what's known as an insulin-to-carb ratio to calculate how much insulin you should take in order to manage your blood sugars after eating.

This advanced form of carb counting is recommended for people on intensive insulin therapy by shots or pump, such as those with type 1 and some people with type 2. While people with type 2 diabetes who don't take mealtime insulin may not need detailed carb counting to keep their blood sugars in line, some prefer to do it.

Still others use the Diabetes Plate Method to eat a reasonable portion of carb-containing foods at each meal by limiting whole grains, starchy vegetables, fruits or dairy to a quarter of the plate. As for the ideal number of carbs per meal, there's no magic number.

How much carbohydrate each person needs is in large part determined by your body size and activity level. Appetite and hunger also play a role.

This service, when provided by a dietitian, is known as medical nutrition therapy. Diabetes self-management education DSME sessions also may include creating an eating plan. During the sessions, you'll determine your carb needs and how to divide your carbs among your meals and snacks.

Everybody's insulin response is going to be different, and we don't want to make the diet more restrictive than it needs to be to manage blood sugars. Find a diabetes education program. Learn more. Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include being overweight and having high blood sugar levels.

Although fruit does contain sugar, eating it…. Common causes of diabetes fatigue include high blood sugar, depression, being overweight, and other related health conditions.

Learn more here. Researchers said baricitinib, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, showed promise in a clinical trial in helping slow the progression of type 1….

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. How many carbs per day for a person with diabetes? Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, Ph. Amount Factors to consider Too many vs. How many carbohydrates? Share on Pinterest A person living with diabetes may benefit from getting most of their carbohydrates from unprocessed carbohydrate sources.

Factors to consider. Effects of too many or too few carbs. Carbohydrates in food. How to determine how many carbs is best. When to see a doctor. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

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Atlantic diet may help prevent metabolic syndrome. We're sweet on sweet potatoes for plenty of reasons. They're tasty, versatile and loaded with complex carbs, fiber and vitamin A. They're also easy on your blood sugar.

Leave the skin on for extra fiber and nutrients. Get the Recipe: Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark. One cup of plain, low-fat yogurt provides, per the USDA :.

Yogurt delivers protein, carbs, calcium and vitamin D —a nutrient many people with diabetes need more of. Some research suggests that eating yogurt may even help with diabetes prevention.

Stick to plain yogurt—made without added sugars—and sweeten it naturally with fruit. Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Energy Balls. A must-have on your list, oats are rich in soluble fiber , which is slowly digested and absorbed, causing fewer spikes in blood sugar.

It also helps lower cholesterol, so it's good for your heart health. High in complex carbs, protein, fiber and other nutrients, quinoa has a low impact on blood sugar, making it a perfect choice if you have diabetes. It's versatile, too. Try swapping it for your regular rice or pasta—or even your morning bowl of oatmeal.

Get the Recipe: Green Papaya Salad. One cup of papaya provides, per the USDA :. This tropical fruit is loaded with fiber and water, so it aids in digestion and helps prevent constipation. It's also high in potassium, which protects the heart and helps keep blood pressure under control. One caveat: Some people with kidney issues may have problems with high-potassium foods, so check with your healthcare provider if you're not sure.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce. One cup of whole-grain pasta depending on the type provides, per the USDA :. Check the nutrition label and make sure it has 3 grams or more of dietary fiber—a good rule of thumb when shopping for any whole grains, advises Chaparro.

Some other varieties use bean flour and have extra protein that can help you avoid blood sugar spikes, which is the whole goal, according to Chaparro. Mix pasta with veggies and protein for a healthy dinner.

Get the recipe: Vegetable Barley Soup. One cup of cooked pearled barley provides, per the USDA :. This often-overlooked whole grain contains beta-glucan fiber, a secret weapon in the battle against high blood sugar oats are another great source. During digestion, beta-glucan forms a thick, viscous slurry that slows digestion, says Nicolas Bordenave, Ph.

As a result, glucose is released gradually, preventing your blood glucose levels from rising. Go with whole-grain barley when possible, since it's less refined and will digest more slowly than the pearled kind.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon Baked Pumpkin. A cup of cooked mashed pumpkin provides, per the USDA :. Starchy veggies are great options if you have diabetes.

Complex carbohydrates vegetables and beans. Whole grains found in brown rice, oatmeal, and popcorn. Try to avoid processed foods like baked goods, crackers, pasta, chips, soda, and alcoholic beverages , as these often contain added sugar.

Use the nutrition label to find out if there is added sugar. If you are struggling to control your blood sugar levels by making changes to your diet, or if you feel you need additional support in managing your type 2 diabetes, ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician.

Type 2 diabetes is a health condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. It can lead to serious complications if left untreated. One of the best ways to manage type 2 diabetes is by making dietary changes, including limiting the amount of carbohydrates you consume each day.

Your body breaks down carbs and turns them into glucose which raises your blood sugar levels. This means consuming less than grams of carbs per day if you typically eat 2, calories. Try to eat complex carbs which take longer to break down, versus simple carbs like those found in table sugar and baked goods.

Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet rich in lean meats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is a good place to start. If you are struggling to manage your blood sugar through dietary changes or want additional support, working with a registered dietician may help.

Diabetes incidence and prevalence Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Nutrition and healthy eating Mayo Clinic. Low blood glucose Hypoglycemia National Institute of Health. Carb counting Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Get smart on carbs. American Diabetes Association. The new nutrition facts label U. Food and Drug. Fooddata central U. Department of Agriculture. Low carbohydrate diet Statpearl. Adapting diabetes medication for low carbohydrate management of type 2 diabetes: A practical guide Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data How many calories are in one gram of fat, carbohydrate, or protein?

National Agricultural Library. Type 2 diabetes Nov Type 2 diabetes Oct Last updated: Oct Last updated: Sep Last updated: Aug Last updated: Jul For sponsors For sponsors.

Patient insights. SCOPE Summit DEI Report. About HealthMatch. Insights Portal Login. For patients For patients. Clinical trials. Search clinical trials.

Why join a trial? Patient login. Latest News. Women's Health. Men's Health. Mental Health. Sexual Health. Breast cancer. Prostate cancer. Skin cancer. Lung cancer. Colon cancer. Stomach cancer. Rectal cancer. Mental health. All guides. For sites For sites. Trial Site Login. About HealthMatch About HealthMatch.

Log in. Home Type 2 diabetes Carb Counting With Type 2 Diabetes. Content Overview Understanding how carbs affect type 2 diabetes How do I count carbs for type 2 diabetes?

How many carbs should I eat in a day if I have type 2 diabetes? However, the relationship between glycemic index and body weight is less well studied and remains controversial.

This measure is called the glycemic load. In general, a glycemic load of 20 or more is high, 11 to 19 is medium, and 10 or under is low. The glycemic load has been used to study whether or not high-glycemic load diets are associated with increased risks for type 2 diabetes risk and cardiac events.

In a large meta-analysis of 24 prospective cohort studies, researchers concluded that people who consumed lower-glycemic load diets were at a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who ate a diet of higher-glycemic load foods.

Here is a listing of low, medium, and high glycemic load foods. For good health, choose foods that have a low or medium glycemic load, and limit foods that have a high glycemic load.

de Munter JS, Hu FB, Spiegelman D, Franz M, van Dam RM. Whole grain, bran, and germ intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study and systematic review. PLoS Med.

Beulens JW, de Bruijne LM, Stolk RP, et al. High dietary glycemic load and glycemic index increase risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged women: a population-based follow-up study.

J Am Coll Cardiol. Halton TL, Willett WC, Liu S, et al. Low-carbohydrate-diet score and the risk of coronary heart disease in women. N Engl J Med. Anderson JW, Randles KM, Kendall CW, Jenkins DJ. Carbohydrate and fiber recommendations for individuals with diabetes: a quantitative assessment and meta-analysis of the evidence.

J Am Coll Nutr. Ebbeling CB, Leidig MM, Feldman HA, Lovesky MM, Ludwig DS. Effects of a low-glycemic load vs low-fat diet in obese young adults: a randomized trial.

Maki KC, Rains TM, Kaden VN, Raneri KR, Davidson MH. Effects of a reduced-glycemic-load diet on body weight, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight and obese adults. Am J Clin Nutr.

Chiu CJ, Hubbard LD, Armstrong J, et al. Dietary glycemic index and carbohydrate in relation to early age-related macular degeneration. Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC.

A prospective study of dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality in relation to risk of ovulatory infertility. Eur J Clin Nutr. Higginbotham S, Zhang ZF, Lee IM, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. Liu S, Willett WC.

Dietary glycemic load and atherothrombotic risk. Curr Atheroscler Rep. Willett W, Manson J, Liu S. Glycemic index, glycemic load, and risk of type 2 diabetes. Livesey G, Taylor R, Livesey H, Liu S.

Is there a dose-response relation of dietary glycemic load to risk of type 2 diabetes? Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Mirrahimi A, de Souza RJ, Chiavaroli L, et al. Associations of glycemic index and load with coronary heart disease events: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohorts.

J Am Heart Assoc. Foster-Powell K, Holt SH, Brand-Miller JC.