Carbohydrate counting for people with diabetes who do not use insulin

Why do I need to count carbohydrate?

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 if you take insulin. For more information on carbohydrate counting when you use insulin, see:

Carbohydrate counting for type 1 diabetes.

Spreading carbohydrate throughout the day can help keep your blood sugar levels within a safe 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:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: February 22, 2007
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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