Bread units for diabetics

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

How many people adhere to proper nutrition and maintain a normal balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates? Not many. But among there are those who are forced to do this due to certain circumstances. For example, people suffering from an illness, diabetes, are simply obliged to monitor their diet, especially the amount of carbohydrates they consume. If you keep counting carbohydrates in your mind, then this is a very difficult task for a person who has never done this before. But there is always a way out, so for ordinary people they came up with a generalized analogue - bread units. They allow a person to more easily and with less difficulty count carbohydrates. This article will provide a detailed analysis of this non-systemic unit of measure.

Bread units for diabetes: definition

The birthplace of this unit of measure is Germany. Then this method conquered the whole world due to its simplicity. German nutritionists over it wellworked hard.

Bread units (XE) is an off-system measure of the consumption of carbohydrates contained in certain products. Today, these units are used everywhere, not only for sick people, but also for people who lead an active lifestyle and watch their diet. Building an ideal figure first of all begins with counting BJU and calories.

So what is this interesting bread unit equal to? The generally accepted number is twelve grams of carbohydrates. This number was chosen so that about one and a half units of insulin were spent on the assimilation of this XE.

Surely a well-read reader of this article will think: “Why did the choice fall on bread units, and, for example, not on meat or dairy?” Ask yourself the question, what product is most often on the table of an ordinary person? Of course, bread. In almost every family, he is constantly in circulation. Therefore, the choice of XE is considered more universal. The basis was taken a piece of bread weighing 25 grams, which just contains 12 grams of carbohydrates. Yes, and the bread itself contains the largest number of them, not counting sweets and muffins.

Counting bread units for type 2 and type 1 diabetes

For diabetics, counting the total daily number of carbohydrates that he ate is simply necessary. Moreover, they must be distributed evenly so that there are no terrible consequences. Carbohydrates are important for the body of such a person in the first place, as they are most easily absorbed, causing a sharp increase in blood glucose and insulin response. Since in such people the body reacts poorly to the release of insulin,then in their case, an increase in glucose concentration can exceed the critical value and lead to death. And it does not matter what type of diabetes a person has, first or second.

To control their he alth, namely maintaining an acceptable level of sugar in the blood, patients with diabetes use products containing insulin and drugs that will lower the concentration of glucose. Dosing for each person is selected individually, depending on the carbohydrates consumed, since without knowing this value it is impossible to correctly lower the sugar level. Failure to follow such simple rules can lead to the fact that a person will suffer enormous damage in terms of he alth, as there is a high probability of entering a hypoglycemic state.

It is necessary to have information about how many bread units are in products in order to properly develop a nutrition plan that will have the required number of carbohydrates. Of course, the numbers for each product are different.

Today, methods for calculating how many bread units are available in products have been simplified to the maximum level so as not to tire a person with tables. There are special online calculators for diabetics. They are so simple that even a child can understand them. In addition, they take into account the individual characteristics of each person, including height, and weight, and age, and gender, and even daily activity and the type of work that this person performs throughout the day. This is extremely important because physical activityand depends on the number of carbohydrates needed. For sedentary people leading a sedentary or recumbent lifestyle, the amount of XE should not exceed 15. For those who constantly play sports, have hard training or hard work, the number of bread units increases by 2 times. For workers with an average workload, the value is 25.

Important fact! One XE causes an increase in blood sugar by a concentration of about one and a half mmol per liter. This data will help to correctly calculate the dosage of insulin in relation to the carbohydrates eaten.

Table data

As mentioned above, in addition to the total amount of XE, the amount consumed at a time is also important. Because the production of insulin in each person is individual, the body simply cannot neutralize everything. If we take the total number of meals equal to six as recommendations, then we can observe the following approximate distribution of bread units in diabetes by meal:

• Breakfast: 4.
• Lunch: 2.
• Lunch: 6-7.
• Snack: 2.
• Dinner: no more than 4. Late evening: less than 2.

That is, based on the above, at one meal you can eat no more than 7 bread units for diabetes. Also, more than half of the carbohydrates received should be in the first half of the day, since the production of all enzymes and the digestibility of all products are maximum during this period of time. The rest of the time it is better to give preference to protein foods. Below will be shown the amount of dairy product that contains oneHE:

• 250ml milk or one glass;
• 250 ml of kefir or one glass;
• 250ml yogurt or one glass;
• 400 grams of fat-free cottage cheese.

Dairy products are especially important in the diet of diabetics, and indeed in any diet, as they contain high-quality protein and a minimum amount of carbohydrates. Dairy products are also a storehouse of calcium, vitamin B2, and vitamin A. Skim or low-fat milk is best, as these are all extra calories. If for some reason you do not like this class of products, then you can diversify them with fruits or berries, as a result you will get a pleasant milk drink with hints of fruit.

Cheese is not listed in the table for calculating bread units for diabetes mellitus, since it is consumed in its pure form and counting carbohydrates in it does not make sense, because 100 grams of cheese contains a meager amount of carbohydrates.

Bread products

It is also equally important to know in case of diabetes how much baking is per bread unit. Below will be shown, by analogy with dairy products, the mass of bakery products per XE:

• twenty grams of white bread;
• twenty-five grams of rye bread;
• fifteen grams of cracker;
• fifteen grams of crackers;
• fifteen grams of breadcrumbs.

Many attentive readers have noticed that the above does not explain the amount of XE in meat products and fish. The answer is simple: it is not necessary. Meat and fish are high protein foodscarbohydrates in which it is extremely low, and in some it is completely absent. A simple conclusion follows from this: it is better to pay attention to high-carbohydrate foods, on the use of which the life of people with diabetes depends. Special attention should be paid to cookies, rolls, sweets, sugar, jam and similar products.

Amount in cereals

For people with diabetes, cereals are a product of special attention. It is possible to calculate bread units in such a product, regardless of the method of preparation. And the consistency of cereals practically does not affect the content of carbohydrates in them. This parameter is of interest to a person only when the absorption of carbohydrates obtained during digestion is important. If a person is in a state of hypoglycemia, then he simply must eat liquid porridge. If there is an increased concentration of glucose in the blood, the choice should fall on the crumbly version. Below are the data on the amount of product per bread unit for both type 2 and type 1 diabetics:

• tablespoon of buckwheat;
• one hundred grams of boiled corn;
• 60 grams of canned corn;
• fifteen grams of corn flakes;
• 15 grams of oatmeal;
• 15 grams barley;
• 15 grams of millet;
• 15 grams of rice;
• 15 grams of flour.

All figures shown are for dry product calculation. If the product is boiled, then the mass of the product per XE must be doubled.

Potato boiled mass of about seventygrams has one bread unit. Mashed potatoes are exactly the same with a slight error. But fried potatoes have as many as 2 units for the same number of product.

For fruits and berries

In this section, we will talk about the masses of products with a bone and a peel for one XE. So, the weight of the products will be as follows:

• 110 grams of apricots;
• 140 grams of quince;
• 140 grams of pineapple rings;
• 150 grams of oranges;
• 270 grams of orange slices;
• 70 grams of bananas;
• 70 grams of grapes;
• 90 grams of cherries;
• 170 grams of pomegranate;
• 90 grams pear;
• 160 grams of raspberries;
• 120 grams peach;
• 90 grams of plums;
• 70 grams of persimmon;
• 90 grams of apples.

This section is more descriptive, as the amount of carbohydrates in these products is not too high. But counting should not be neglected, if you eat a kilogram of apples at a time, then the body will not thank you for this.

Now let's talk about juices. Half a glass of freshly squeezed juice, which contains only its own sugar, has about ten grams of carbohydrates, that is, a little less than 1 XE. Thus, after drinking a glass, the body receives two bread units. Therefore, it is better to eat fruits and berries themselves than juice. In general, juices, especially store-bought ones, are concentrated mixtures with a high sugar content. If you still want juice, then the best option would be carrot, beet or cucumber juice, cabbage and other vegetables. That is, vegetable juices are the best option. To get pleasantnotes, you can add a little fruit juice.

It is worth remembering that carrots and beets have a small amount of sugar, that is, they are sweet vegetables. Eating them is due to the high content of dietary fiber.

Berries are easier to count not in units, but in glasses. There are about two hundred grams of berries in a glass, that is, about one and a half to two bread units.

The taste characteristics of berries do not affect the fact how many carbohydrates they contain. Therefore, do not think that you can eat more sour berries than sweet ones, or vice versa.

Two hundred grams of carrots contain one XE. Also, one bread unit has about one hundred and fifty grams of beets, one hundred grams of peas, 50 grams of beans and about 80 grams of nuts.

People who are diabetic are constantly tempted to the forbidden fruit. They are subject to permanent restrictions. They understand that they can’t have sweets and need constant control. But you can control any product. Therefore, knowledge about bread units for type 2 and type 1 diabetes will allow many patients to please themselves with their favorite treats. For example, a sweet bun or whipped cream.

For 100 grams of ice cream, two bread units are calculated. When choosing this dessert, diabetics need to take into account its composition. Popsicles contain more sugar due to the presence of concentrated juices, which means that such a dessert will be more dangerous than regular ice cream. Creamy ice cream is more caloric, but there is lesscarbohydrates, and they are absorbed much more slowly than those of fruit. This means that there will be no jump in blood sugar.

Sugar products

Forbidden fruit is sweet, so you need to determine how much. Below are the masses of sweet and sugar-containing products per bread unit:

• 12 grams of sugar=12 grams of carbohydrates=1 XE;
• 12 grams of refined sugar=12 grams of sugar=1 XE.

One bread unit is available in 20 grams of dark chocolate, 15 grams of honey or jam. Twenty grams of dried apricots have the same value. Same for dates, prunes, raisins.

And now for drinks. Below is the number of liquid drinks per 1 XE:

• a glass of kvass;
• half a glass of sweet soda;
• two and a half glasses of vegetable juices;
• half a glass of fruit juice.

About alcohol

It's worth saying right away that drinking alcohol is harmful to your he alth and is highly discouraged for people with diabetes. However, if the craving for alcohol is stronger than the desire for a normal life, then it is also necessary to choose drinks with the least amount of carbohydrates, and also calculate the bread units for them. Of course, the percentage of alcohol also affects this, so it is better to choose low-alcohol drinks. It is of paramount importance to know how much sugar is used in a given drink. Champagne and any wines are strictly not recommended, since there is about 5% sugar. This is a very large value for a similar product.

The best option is table wine, dry or semi-dry. It is enough to drink only half a glass so as not to exceed the daily allowance. Beer is strictly not recommended, as there is a huge amount of m altose. When digested, it releases a huge amount of sugar into the bloodstream, driving the body into hyperglycemia. And then not far from a coma.

Control, control and more control. If you do not strictly dose alcoholic beverages, then the risk of death increases significantly. For strong alcohol, the maximum allowable portion of the drink is 70 grams. In no case do not exceed this dose, as this is a critical load for the pancreas, which is the most important regulator of blood sugar. Hyperglycemia is provided at high dosages. Alcohol also thickens the blood, although it is already viscous.

Scientists have done a lot of research and, based on experience, they can say for sure that a patient suffering from diabetes mellitus, after drinking a large dose of alcohol, after a certain period of time, falls into a hyperglycemic coma. The main danger comes when a person goes home after a feast, when the necessary time has already passed. There is even a coma in a dream. The most dangerous option is in winter, as a person who falls into a coma on the street is likely to freeze and die. Do not neglect these recommendations. Life should be more precious than a bottle.

Correct XE count

How to count bread units? To correctly calculate these off-system units of measure, you need to know all the ingredients, as well astheir percentage per 100 grams of the finished product. For convenience, you need to take a table of products in XE or use an online calculator.

For example, if you want to make dough, you need to count the bread units in each ingredient. In 10 st. l. flour contains 10 XE, one for each spoon. Then 250 ml of milk, which also contains 1 bread unit. Butter and eggs do not contain carbohydrates, so units are zero.

Let you make 11 fritters from this dough, that is, each fritter will contain one bread unit. That is, for breakfast, you can eat 4 pieces and drink tea without sugar. Great breakfast not just for diabetics, don't you think?

Special attention should be paid to the presence of carbohydrates in the product. In general, it is very conditionally possible to divide carbohydrates into two types: starch and sugar. Sugar is a fast carbohydrate, it is instantly absorbed, and all the energy goes into fat in the presence of insulin. For diabetics, it is dangerous because it causes spikes in blood glucose, driving the body into a hyperglycemic state. Starches are complex carbohydrates found primarily in vegetables and grains. They take longer to digest, ensuring an even concentration of sugar in the blood throughout digestion. Corn and nightshade also have high amounts of starch. Sugar hardly rises with these foods.

Especially important is the count of bread units in type 1 diabetes. And most often, such a nutrition system is offered to such patients.

Butcounting bread units and type 2 diabetes is also effective.

Generally accepted standards

How many carbohydrates does a person need at different ages (in bread units)? Answer below:

• under five years old - no more than 13;
• up to 9 years - no more than 15;
• under 15 for boys - 20, for girls - 17;
• under 18 for boys - 21, for girls - 18;
• adults - no more than 22.

Results

The question was discussed above, which concerned bread units, how to calculate them. It is explained that carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy and a way to increase blood glucose, so diabetics should strictly count their carbohydrate intake. Figures were shown that will help you figure it out and build a diet from the right foods. Also, do not forget to mention that for convenience, you can use online calculators that make life easier.

In addition, modern industry also offers a unique product, which is often called "bread unit weights". In fact, we are talking about dietary scales that are able to count not only the number of bread units in the measured amount of the product, but also its energy value, the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and even cholesterol.

We hope the article was useful and taught how to calculate bread units.