Carbohydrate Counting: A Simple Method of Dietary Management for Glycemic Control in Japanese Diabetic Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Carbohydrate counting used in dietary therapy for diabetes is based on the concept that the postprandial rise in blood glucose levels is primarily affected by ingested carbohydrates. This method has been widely accepted and used since 1993, when its usefulness was demonstrated in the United States, largely due to the ease with which patients can understand the method. However, in Japan, there is a common misunderstanding that energy intake determines postprandial blood glucose levels.

Summary: We examined the effectiveness of using basic carbohydrate counting and advanced carbohydrate counting with Japanese diabetic dialysis patients. With both methods, predialysis blood glucose and HbA1c levels were significantly decreased at the final follow-up compared with preinstruction values. There were no significant changes in other parameters. The carbohydrate counting method was able to be applied independently of, but concurrently with, the control of potassium and phosphorus intake, which is the basis of dietary therapy for dialysis patients. Moreover, those patients who completed the basic carbohydrate counting instruction sessions had a mean relative carbohydrate intake (% of total energy) of 51.0 ± 4.7% per meal, indicating they did not consume a low-carbohydrate diet. Key Messages: At present, there is no literature on carbohydrate counting performed by dialysis patients. Carbohydrate counting is a useful method of dietary management for glycemic control that can be applied independently of, but concurrently with, the control of potassium and phosphorus intake in dietary therapy for dialysis patients.