How to Understand a Diabetic Exchange Chart
Diabetic exchange lists (or charts) help diabetics to control food intake and maintain an appropriate blood sugar level. According to the Mayo Clinic, exchange lists make it easy to balance carbohydrates, maintain a proper calorie intake, and ensure that you consume enough nutrients. The diabetic exchange lists are arranged according to basic food groups, such as fruits and meat. Each section is tailored according to how many calories you should be consuming.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Consult the appropriate food exchange list. They are categorized as starches, carbohydrates, dairy, sweets and desserts, non-starchy vegetables, meat (and meat substitutes), fats, and free foods. For example, if you want dessert, refer to the "sweets and desserts" exchange list.
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Choose a food from within the exchange list. It will list the portion size. For example a regular soda contains two and a half exchanges, the equivalent of seven and a half gingersnap cookies. That means that if you have two and a half exchanges left for the day, you can consume a can of soda, or seven and a half cookies (but not both).
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Stay within your chosen food list. If you have two carbohydrate choices, you must eat from that list. You cannot, for example, exchange two carbohydrates for two meats, or vice versa.
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Keep track of your choices during the day, so that you know how many exchange you have left and which lists you can choose from.
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Tips & Warnings
"Free" foods, which do not have a specified serving size, can be eaten in unlimited quantities.
You can double or triple portions as long as you have enough choices left for the day. For example, you can use three starch choices to eat one and a half cups of hot cereal.
Consult with a dietitian to find your correct calorie intake. Factors that affect exchanges include your exercise level and the times of the day when you inject insulin. Your dietitian will recommend a number of exchanges per group. For example, a person on a 1200-calorie diet might have five starch exchanges per day, while a 1500-calorie diet might allow you eight. Diabetic exchange lists mean that you have some freedom to make healthy choices for your body, without the restrictions of a fully planned diet.
