Question:
What information should I get from nutrition labels?
Reading Nutrition Labels
The Nutrition Information provided on food labels can help you make good dietary choices, and avoid some nutritional pitfalls, that can impact your diabetic meal plan.
When looking at a nutrition label:
1. Make note of the calories - this value
includes carbohydrates, fats and
proteins. It isn't just about the
calories, but about the percentage of
calories that are fats, carbs and
proteins.
2. Look at the number of calories made
up of the fat portion of the product.
If the fat content is higher then 25% of
the total food value, you may want to
skip this food.
3. For the fat calories, look at saturated
and unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats
are easier for the body to breakdown and
are, therefore, healthier.
4. Is the food product sugar-free or low-
calorie? Remember that many low-calorie
or sugar-free foods still have carbs.
Look for the carb content, and then for
the sugar content. Fruit may be
naturally sweet, but that sweetness
comes from a type of sugar, and that
counts in your carbs.
5. Pectin used to thicken foods is a carb,
and may add calories to your foods, such
as jams, jellies and fruit spreads.
Even low-sugar jams may contain pectin,
and therefore have carbs, though may
have less nutritive value.
6. Check out the fiber. Fiber is important
to combat constipation - a complication
of diabetes. Foods should contain at
least 3 grams of fiber per serving to
have an impact.
7. Sodium is also a concern, especially in
managing blood pressure. A low sodium
diet has 2000 mg of sodium. Shoot for
values between 2000 and 3000 mg to
reduce the impact on blood pressure and
fluid retention, unless your physician
directs otherwise.
Learning to get the most out of nutrition labels will help you get the most out of your foods.
Diabetes Frequently Asked Questions
How do I follow a basic healthy diet?
Is there a difference between carbohydrates?
How often should I monitor my blood sugar?
How Do I Count Carbohydrates on my Diabetic Meal Plan?
What are the causes of high blood sugars (hyperglycemia)?
What should I know about the glycemic index?
Can I drink alcohol on my meal plan?
How can I eat out without going off my meal plan?
How does alcohol effect my diabetes?
How does having neuropathy affect my exercise?
What are some tips for the person with neuropathy who exercises?
How do I get a good blood sample for checking glucoses?
What are the benefits I can expect from regular exercise?
What role does water play in my diabetic care plan?
How do I lose weight with exercise?
How does exercise affect my blood sugars?
How can I prevent hyperglycemia?
How does exercise promote weight loss in my disease?
What can cause an error in blood sugar readings with a meter?
What is hypoglycemia and what causes it?
What can cause errors in my blood sugar readings.?
How can I prevent hypoglycemia?
What is the significance of ketones in my disease?
How does smoking effect my diabetes?
Am I at risk for developing diabetes?
How do I use food exchanges in my diabetic diet?
If it's sugar-free, can I eat as much as I want?
How does insulin deficiency cause ketones?
What are ketones and how do they effect me?
What are the symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugars)?
What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)?
What are some guidelines for sick days?
What is a good recipe for chicken and vegetables?
How do I start an exercise program?
Can diabetes cause erectile dysfunction?
How much fat should my diet include?
How can I use the information I obtain from blood glucose monitoring?
What do I do if my blood sugar is high?
How is type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes treated?
What causes my blood sugars to be high?
What is microalbumin in terms of diabetes?
How does illness affect my blood sugar?
What is type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes?
What are the different types of diabetes?
What tests are used to monitor my diabetes?
What are the monitoring tests a person with diabetes needs?
What are some causes of hypoglycemia?
What can I eat on my sick days?
How can I prevent hypoglycemia when exercising?
How is type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes treated?
Are over-the-counter medications safe with my diabetes?
What are the warning signs that I may be overdoing it with my exercise?
What are some warning signs I should know about when exercising?
How do I choose an exercise thatīs right for me?
What kind of exercise is right for me?
How does exercise help my heart and my diabetes?
What are the carciovascular benefits I can expect from exercise?
What is the relationship between diabetes and anemia?
How can diabetes contribute to falls?
How does my blood sugar effect my mood?
What is ketoacidosis and what causes it?
What is amyotrophy and what does it have to do with diabetes?
What is the relationship between pre-eclampsia and diabetes?
What is gastroparesis and what does it have to do with diabetes?
How is Diabetes Insipidus different from other types of diabetes?
How do I decide what type of glucometer to use?
Will my glucometer support alternate site testing?
Why should I do controls on my glucometer?
How do I maintain my glucose meter?
Is there a glucometer than can sample and test my blood in one step?
What can I do if my glucometer doesn't seem to be working right?
What kind of features can I find in a glucometer?
How do I go about getting started exercising?
How do I get started exercising?
I need more information about flexibility exercises.
What can you tell me about strength training?
How will my body respond to exercise if I am diabetic?
How do I avoid injuries when I am exercising?
What can I do to exercise, if I hate to exercise?
How does exercise impact my metabolism?
What can I do about my dry skin?
Why does my choice of socks make a difference?
How should I take care of my toenails?
Who makes the different glucometers?
is there a difference in lancets and lancing devices?
What should I see a Podiatrist
What kind of shoes should I buy, now that I have diabetes?
Why am I so sad, now that I have diabetes?
What are the different types of insulin?
I have heard about nasal spray insulin - is this available, yet?
What is the insulin pump and how does it work?
If there a way to test my blood sugar withou poking my finger?
I have trouble drawing up my insulin - is there another way?
Why should I have a Diabetes Educator?
Why do some people take insulin and oral medications for their diabetes?
What should I know about oral anti-diabetes medication?
Why is choosing the right syringe so important?
What does an Endocrinologist do?
What are some tips to manage my insulin?
What is the best way to manage my test strips?
How do I code my strips to my glucometer?
How do the diabetic testing strips work?
What is the main difference between the test strips?
Can I actually choose my testing strips?
Can you give me some tips for handling those tiny little test strips?
How do I avoid making mistakes with my test strips?
Will Medicare cover my diabetic supplies?
Will Medicare care pay for self-management training?
Will Medicare pay for screening for diabetes?
What is Medicare Health Support?
What is Medicare D and how will if effect me?
What should I consider when I choose a Part D Plan?
Will Medicare pay for my diabetic supplies?
How does Medicare D impact my Medigap coverage?
What is the Standard Medicare D Plan?
What will Medicare Part A cover?
If I have VA insurance, do I need to register for Medicare Part D?
Do I get Medicare Part D if I am already on DSHS?
What is the "Welcome to Medicare" physical exam?
When am I eligible for Medicare?
What should I look for when picking a Medicare Part D plan.
How do I compare the formularies in the Medicare Part D Plans?
Who is providing these Medicare Part D plans?
What should I look out for when choosing a Medicare Part D plan?
What are Medicare Advantage Plans?
Where can I get information about Medicare Part D?
Do carb values differ in different kinds of fruits and vegetables?
Can I balance my vegetarian and diabetic diets?
Can I eat sugar on my diabetic meal plan?
I need some help balancing the carbs in my diet. What do you suggest?
What information should I get from nutrition labels?
What are sugar-alcohols and how do they impact my diabetes?
Can Low-Calorie sweeteners be included in my diabetic diet plan?
How do I use low-calorie sweeteners in my cooking?
How can I make low-sugar jam and jellies?
Why would I want to see a Registered Dietitian if I have diabetes?
What are the benefits of keeping a food diary?
What role does protein have in the diabetic diet?
What makes for a good bedtime snack?
What are the best snack foods for me to eat?
What are the benefits of eating 6 times a day?
I need help figuring out food portions. What do you suggest?
What are the risks and benefits of using low-calorie sweeteners instead of sugar?
How does water effect my diabetes?
What is a Nutritionist and what do they do?
There are alot of new diets out there. Are they safe for me?
I s sugarfree gum okay for a brittle diabetic with no pancrease/
Why is it so important for a diabetic to have a nighttime snack?
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| Carma Spence-Pothitt |
