Diabetic Carb Counting & Exchanges

I am a diabetic. I love peanut butter. What is in peanut butter that you have to give up one fat exchange? The usual ingredients in peanut butter are peanuts and salt. Some brands add hydrogenated vegetable shortening or sugar. Hydrogenated vegetable oil is a saturated fat which may be added to prevent the peanut...

I'm a new diabetic and I would like to hear from you as to what you would suggest. Occasionally I like to have a brandy and seven. Since I can't drink regular pop, I've changed to diet pop. What about the brandy? How many can I have? While I do not recommend that anyone drink...

How do you exchange soup with the Exchange List? I cannot find it listed in my booklet. I make both canned and homemade soup for my husband who is a diabetic. Most canned soups can be exchanged as follows: one cup reconstituted broth soups equals one starch; one cup reconstituted cream type soups equals one...

I am a little confused about cheese and I am a diabetic. I know that 1/4 cup of low-fat cottage cheese is permissible, but what about the hard cheeses like cheddar, American and so on? What is in them that we cannot have? You can have hard cheeses and exchange cheese for meat in your...

I am a diabetic. Is it safe for me to eat honey graham crackers? Yes, people with diabetes can eat honey graham crackers. The amount of honey or sugar in most brands of graham crackers (other than chocolate covered) is not considered significant. Three graham crackers measuring 2 1/2 inches square is equal to one starch...

Why is the meat group in the Diabetic Exchange List separated into three groups? Do I have to have so many meals from each one each week? The meat exchanges are divided into three categories: lean, medium fat and high fat. All meat groups have the same amount of protein, which is seven grams. The...

I have been trying to follow the Exchange List diet, but am tired of dragging along a food scale to weigh my meat. When I eat out, I try to stick to chicken, pork chops or steak, but this is the time of year for banquets with roast beef and turkey. Do you have...

My husband was just diagnosed as having diabetes. He's not taking any shots or pills. His doctor suggested we see a registered dietitian to get a diet. The hospital dietitian gave him a book called "Exchange List" and explained it. The list is pretty complicated and so different from the way we eat. Couldn't...

I love your website and think you're doing a great service for the dietetics profession. I am also a registered dietitian with a Masters in Health Science. I work at a 600-bed hospital in a major southeastern city. My clinical emphasis for the last four years has been in nutrition support. Here's my question: a...