Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025

'Boden Food Plate': Novel Interactive Web-based Method for the Assessment of Dietary Intake
Published on: September 18, 2018
Simplifying carb counting: A randomized controlled study - Feasibility and efficacy of an individualized, simple,
Shulamit Witkow1, Idit F Liberty1,2, Irina Goloub1
1Diabetes Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to introduce and test a simple, individualized carbohydrate counting tool designed for persons with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in order to determine whether the tool improved A1C levels for participants with age, education or language barriers.
Methods:
In a randomized controlled trial, 85 participants were offered six diabetes instructional sessions free of charge over a six-month period. Forty-one received guidance using the regular carbohydrate counting (RCC) method. Forty-four received guidance using an individualized 'Simple Carb Counting' (SCC), involving two customized tables prepared for participants.
Results:
The simple, individualized SCC tool for carbohydrate counting was non-inferior to the standard method of RCC. The SCC tool was more effective among participants aged 40 and older, while no differences were found when comparing participants by education level. Irrespective of intervention group, all participants improved their A1C level (9.9% = 13.2 mmol/L vs 8.6% = 11.1 mmol/L, p = .001). A greater improvement in A1C level was seen in newly diagnosed participants (-6.1 vs -0.7, p = .005, -3.4 vs 0.9, p = .032) in both the RCC and SCC groups. All participants expressed improved emotional level per their PAID5 questionnaires (Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale-PAID), (10.6 (±5.7) vs 9.5 (±5.7), p = .023), with women reporting greater improvement than men.
Conclusions:
SCC is a simple, individualized, feasible, low-tech tool for carbohydrate counting, which promotes and enables accurate insulin dosing in people with T1DM. It was found more effective among participants aged 40 and older. Additional studies are needed to corroborate these findings.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
Carbohydrates: Dietary Sources and Requirements
Carbohydrate Absorption
After being swallowed, the partially digested carbohydrates mix with gastric secretions in the stomach. However, the acidic environment...
SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...

