[TRexAnd]

Can anyone help me in understanding how one determines how exchanges from each food group are calculated.....

[Harold]

Thought they stopped teaching the exchange system somewhere around the turn of the century.The system, in the way many people used it, had a flaw that many used to rationalized to eat the wrong type of foods. As an example some people would exchange all of their vegetable carbs/calories equivalents for a large baked potato or desert. Although the carb/calorie count is the same the essential nutrients are not. The system was dropped in favor of teaching people to eat a balanced diet. Unfortunately they thought everyone should eat the same diet regardless of age or metabolism.

[xMenace]

Man, I haven't used exchanges since the early 90's.

We count carbs now, in grams, and even Americans can do it

[CoffeeLizard]

Originally Posted by Harold

Thought they stopped teaching the exchange system somewhere around the turn of the century.

Unfortunately, some doctors still give it out and say "here, use this."

[mho357]

Originally Posted by CoffeeLizard

Unfortunately, some doctors still give it out and say "here, use this."

When I had my consult with the nutritionist and DE, they were talking exchanges. This in spite of the fact that I told them I count carbs and I don't do exchanges. My mother-in-law is in the hospital and her diabetic menu uses exchanges.

I think they are confusing - count carbs instead.

Mark

[BrianSCohen]

The exchange diet is obsolete. In the old days, when the medical establishment argued that fat caused diabetes, they invented the exchange system. Today, we are slightly more informed and many of us have come to realize that it is carbs that primarily effect blood sugar (I hope the ADA understood this last part). Drop the exchange approach. Count your carbs, either using the carb counting method or by tracking the number of grams of carbs. Either way works, you just need to set appropriate targets per meal/snack and per day and work towards those goals. If I encountered a CDE or nutritionist that still advocated exchanges I would probably report them.

[CNSR4500]

Outstanding and thank you for the information. I am supporting my SO who was recently dx. Her nutritionist gave her the exchange system because "it is easier".

She explained to the nutritionist that she was successfully low carbing and counted grams. She never got an answer about what this phantom unit "exchange" was... Okay, is that a pound, an ounce, a gram, a tonne, an ounce, what? How much food is an exchange of protein, fat, carb? A teaspoon? A bucket? Everything the nutritionist gave her was in "exchanges", so she had no idea how to follow this diet plan nor how to measure her food. She bought a food scale, but it measures in grams and ounces, but not "exchanges".

After three queries for the information, and after being told to "read the labels on the food packages", which are in grams, the nutritionist finally told her what her diet should be in grams, but still hasn't defined what an exchange is. I don't think she knows. Until I signed up in these forums, I couldn't find it, either.

[fgummett]

I've heard folks on TV talk about how from this generation onwards we need to become "lifetime learners"... but sadly it seems there are still people who continue to spout what they were taught 30 years ago. You are so right to question such people, if for no other reason than to see the startled look on their faces

[cyberus]

Originally Posted by CoffeeLizard

Unfortunately, some doctors still give it out and say "here, use this."

Its still handed out to diabetics in hospitals as of one month ago, as I can well attest to.

When I brought up low carb to my doc (a younger guy) he was not only supportive, but informed. When I asked why then the hospital and even the clinic still used the servings and exchange handouts he said that "alternative" and "non-approved" therapies were "frowned upon" but once I had brought it up he was free to discuss it. In short, from the tone of that discussion I came to the conclusion that straying from the One True Way ™ could jeopardize funding ... a sad state of affairs IMO

[Noturningback]

You can find exchanges HERE.

However, like others, I wouldn't go that route. I would count carbs.

~Danielle