CALCULATING DIABETIC EXCHANGES AT ESHA RESEARCH

The following chart presents information from the American Diabetes Association, Inc., and The American Dietetic Association. It shows the amount of nutrients in one exchange from each exchange category. We use these values to calculate exchanges.

Group/Lists	Carbohydrate (grams)	Protein (grams)	Fat (grams)	Calories
Carbohydrate Group
1 Starch Exchange =	15	3	1 or less	80
1 Fruit Exchange =	15	--	--	60
1 Milk Exchange =	12	8	0-3	90
1 Other Carbohydrate Exchange =	15	Varies	Varies	Varies (70)
1 Vegetables Exchange =	5	2	--	25
Meat and Meat substitute Group
1 Very Lean Meat Exchange =	--	7	0-1	35
1 Lean Meat Exchange =	--	7	3	55
Fat Group
1 Fat Exchange =	--	--	5	45

Single Exchange Methods:

Some foods are very simple to calculate for exchanges. For example, hard candies naturally have a high carbohydrate value, but little to no fat and protein. These foods would then only need to have one exchange calculated for them.

Following are examples of the calculation methods for a single exchange:

Starch Example:

1 cup (195 g) Long Grain Brown Rice-Cooked = 216 Calories

44.9 g carbohydrate

Methods:

There are two ways to determine a starch exchange. The 1st method should be tried first and the 2nd method should be used only if the calorie value results of the 1 ^st method, when checked, go over the total calories of the product:

1. Using the carbohydrate grams per starch exchange:
   Divide the total carbohydrate grams by 15 grams per starch exchange
   44.9 g / 15 g = 2.99 starch exchange
   Test the calorie value by multiplying by 80 calories per starch exchange:
   2.99 x 80 = 239 calories
   Since we have a calorie value in excess of the total calories, this exchange number is incorrect. Use the 2nd method to determine the starch exchange value.
   
   
2. Using the calorie value per starch exchange:
   Divide total calories by 80 to get the starch exchange:
   216 / 80 = 2.7 starch exchange

Result: 2.7 Starch Exchanges

Fruit Example:

1 cup (145 g) Blueberries = 81 Calories

20 g carbohydrate

Methods:

There are two ways to determine a fruit exchange. The 1st method should be tried first and the 2nd method should be used only if the calorie value results of the 1 ^st method, when checked, go over the total calories of the product:

1. Divide the total carbohydrate grams by 15 grams per fruit exchange:
   20g / 15g = 1.33 fruit exchange

Test the calorie value by multiplying by 60 calories per fruit exchange:
1.33 x 60 = 80 calories

Result: 1.33 Fruit Exchange

 

If the calorie value had been in excess of the total calories, the 2nd method would then be used to determine the fruit exchange value. Using the calorie value per fruit exchange, Divide total calories by 60 to get the fruit exchange:

81 / 60 = 1.35 fruit exchange

However this example only needed to use the 1 ^st method. Using the 2nd method gave a different answer and would be incorrect. See results above.

Milk Example:

1 cup (245 g) Lowfat Dry Milk + Water = 84 Calories
11.9 g carbohydrate

Methods:

There are two ways to determine a milk exchange. The 1st method should be tried first and the 2nd method should be used only if the calorie value results of the 1 ^st method, when checked, go over the total calories of the product:

1. Divide the total carbohydrate grams by 12 grams per milk exchange:
   11.9g / 12g = 0.991 milk exchange

Test for the calorie value by multiplying by 90 calories per milk exchange:
0.991 x 90 = 89 calories

Since we have a calorie value in excess of the actual calories, use the 2nd method to determine the milk exchange value.

2. Using the calorie value per milk exchange:

Divide total calories by 90 to get the milk exchange:

84 / 90 = 0.93 milk exchange

Result: 0.93 Milk Exchanges

Other Carbohydrate Example:

52 pieces (15 g) Cinnamon Imperials Candy = 60 Calories

15 g carbohydrate

Methods:

There are two ways to determine an other carbohydrate exchange. The 1st method should be tried first and the 2nd method should be used only if the calorie value results of the 1 ^st method, when checked, go over the total calories of the product:

1. Divide the total carbohydrate grams by 15 grams per other carbohydrate exchange:
   15g / 15g = 1 other carbohydrate exchange

Test for the calorie value by multiplying by 70 calories per other carbohydrate exchange:
1 x 70 = 70 calories

Since we have a calorie value in excess of the actual calories, use the 2nd method to determine the other carbohydrate exchange value.

2. Using the calorie value per other carbohydrate exchange:

Divide total calories by 70 to get the other carbohydrate exchange:

60 / 70 = 0.85 other carbohydrate exchange

Result: 0.85 Other Carbohydrate Exchanges

 

 

Vegetable Example:

½ cup (50 g) Cauliflower, fresh, Chopped = 12.5 Calories
2.61 g carbohydrate

Methods:

There are two ways to determine a vegetable exchange. The 1st method should be tried first and the 2nd method should be used only if the calorie value results of the 1 ^st method, when checked, go over the total calories of the product:

1. Divide the total carbohydrate grams by 5 grams per vegetable exchange:
   2.61g / 5g = 0.52 vegetable exchange

Test for the calorie value by multiplying by 25 calories per vegetable exchange:
0.5 x 25 = 13 calories

Since we have a calorie value in excess of the actual calories, use the 2nd method to determine the vegetable exchange value.

2. Using the calorie value per vegetable exchange:

Divide total calories by 25 to get the vegetable exchange:

12.5 / 25 = .5 vegetable exchange

Result: 0.5 Vegetable Exchange

Very Lean Meat Example:

1 fillet (116 g) Burbot Fish, raw = 104.4 calories

22.39 g protein

This food item has too little fat to earn a fat exchange

Methods:

There are two ways to determine a very lean meat exchange. The 1 ^st method should be tried first and the 2 ^nd method should be used only if the calorie value results of the 1 ^st method, when checked, go over the total calories of the product:

1. Divide the total protein grams by 7 grams per very lean meat exchange:
   22.39g / 7g = 3.19 very lean meat exchange

Test for the calorie value by multiplying by 35 calories per very lean meat exchange:

3.19 x 35 = 111.65 calories

Since we have a calorie value in excess of the actual calories, use the 2nd method to determine the very lean meat exchange value.

2. Using the calorie value per very lean meat exchange:

Divide total calories by 35 to get the very lean meat exchange:

104.4 / 35 = 2.98 very lean meat exchange

Result: 2.98 Very Lean Meat Exchange

Fat Example:

1 tbsp Margarine, Stick = 102.13 Calories
11.4 g fat

Methods:

There are two ways to determine a fat exchange. The 1 ^st method should be tried first and the 2 ^nd method should be used only if the calorie value results of the 1 ^st method, when checked, go over the total calories of the product:

1. Divide the total fat grams by 5 grams per fat exchange:
   11.4g / 5g = 2.28 fat exchange

Test for the calorie value by multiplying by 45 calories per fat exchange:
2.28 x 45 = 102.6 calories

Since we have a calorie value in excess of the actual calories, use the 2nd method to determine the fat exchange value.




2. Using the calorie value per fat exchange:

Divide total calories by 45 to get the fat exchange:

102.13 / 45 = 2.26 fat exchange

Result: 2.26 Fat Exchanges