Monitor carbs while taking insulin

1. Insulin Instructions Insulin is a hormone secreted by the cells of the pancreas. In a normal person, insulin is secreted continuously throughout the day, depending on the body's glucose level. Specifically, increased blood glucose (after eating) will stimulate the pancreas to increase insulin production and vice versa. However, with diabetes, you may not make enough insulin or your insulin may not work as well. Therefore, some patients with insulin-dependent diabetes will be prescribed daily additional insulin injections.
Based on the duration of action, insulin can be divided into the following types:
Rapid-acting insulin: Acts 5 - 10 minutes after subcutaneous injection and lasts 3 - 4 hours, usually taken right before meals 5 - 10 minutes Regular insulin: The effect is 30 minutes after subcutaneous injection and disappears after 4-6 hours, usually 30 minutes before meals Semi-slow insulin: Only injected under the skin and takes effect after 1 hour, lasts 12 - 10 minutes. 16 hours Long-acting insulin: The effect lasts up to 20-24 hours, often used as a pre-mixed base insulin: Use as directed by your doctor. Patients may have to take more than one type of insulin throughout the day, so it's important to know which insulin or syringe you're injecting to avoid confusion. In addition to the popular insulin pump, today in a number of countries the mechanism of oral insulin has been studied.

2. The relationship between carbohydrates and blood sugar Carbohydrates - for short, carbs, are present in many foods. Whether carbs are starch, sugar, or fiber, they provide the body with energy for immediate use or to store for later. The body breaks down carbs from food into sugar (also known as glucose) for energy. This increase in blood sugar stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, which helps the body use or store glucose.
Different types of carbs will affect blood sugar in different ways. There are 2 main types of carbs:
2.1. Simple Carbs The body breaks down simple carbs very quickly, leading to blood sugar spikes. Simple carbs are found in table sugar - sugar added to processed foods; as well as natural sugars in fruit and milk.
2.2. Complex carbs The body has to work harder to break down complex carbs. These carbs are considered good because they take longer to digest. Complex carbs provide a steady source of energy and fiber. You can find complex carbs in spinach, watercress, buckwheat, barley, brown rice, beans, and some fruits.

3. Carbs Tracking and Diet Control Guide 3.1. Counting Carbs Pay attention to serving sizes and food labels to see how many grams of carbs are in your food. You can check the "total carbohydrate" grams on the outside of a food's nutrition label. In some cases, you may have to estimate. Some people aim for 45 - 60 grams of carbs per meal. Let's say you eat a chicken sandwich with half a plate of fruit, where 2 slices of bread have 30 grams of carbs and fruit has 15, for a total of 45. (Chicken has no carbs.)
3.2. The Food Glycemic Index (GI) This index ranks foods based on how much they raise blood sugar, helping you distinguish "good carbs" that work more slowly from "bad carbs". Each food will have its own GI, the smaller the number, the less impact the food has on blood sugar. However, in addition to a low GI diet, you also need to count the grams of carbohydrates and split your meals.
3.3. Balanced Diet A balanced diet can help you lose weight and control your blood sugar. Try to eat at least 3-5 servings of vegetables per day. Cooked, non-starchy vegetables like okra, turnips and eggplant have only 5 grams of carbs in 1/2 plate. While taking care of counting carbs, you also need to eat enough protein and healthy fats. Don't skip meals and eat nutritious snacks to help control blood sugar.

3.4. Whole grains Choose whole grains instead of regular varieties, as the “refining” process loses the grain’s fiber, vitamins, and minerals. When buying breads and cereals, look for products that say whole grain as the first ingredient on the outside of the label.
3.5. Reduce sugar Not only do snacks like soft drinks, cookies, and cakes add more sugar, but so do healthier options like yogurt and cereal. That's why it's important to read nutrition labels and carefully consider foods that list sugar as the first ingredient. Some added sugars have "ose" in the name - like dextrose, sucrose, maltose, or fructose corn syrup.
3.6. Wine Alcohol can cause blood sugar to drop, so ask your doctor if you should drink alcohol to keep your blood sugar under control. Don't forget to measure your blood sugar before and after drinking. If you do drink alcohol, drink it in moderation with some food and when your blood sugar is under control. Re-measure your blood sugar before going to bed to make sure it's still within the allowable range.
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Reference source: webmd.com