A bread unit is a parameter that makes it easier to control the dose of insulin needed in diabetes mellitus. In the presence of this disease, the body requires regular injections of the hormone insulin since it cannot independently process carbohydrates from food.
An average piece of bread, a glass of milk, or a tablespoon of cereal (before cooking) equals one bread unit. The higher the glycemic index and glycemic load of a particular product, the more insulin is required in the end.
Bread unit – what is it?
A bread unit (or carbohydrate unit) is a parameter for estimating the carbohydrate content of a particular food item. German nutritionists introduced the term in the 1990s to assess the diet of diabetics, but the insulin index is gradually replacing it.
One bread unit equates to 10 g of simple carbohydrates in the product, or 12 g of carbohydrates, including fiber. In terms of bread, one unit is a slice of white bread weighing 20-25 g. This amount of carbohydrates increases the level of glycemia by an average of 2.77 mmol / l.
By knowing the total amount of carbohydrates in the product, one can calculate the content of bread units, which helps determine the required dose of insulin for administration. At one meal, people with diabetes are recommended to eat no more than 7 bread units.
One bread unit:
- 10 g simple carbohydrates
- 12 g carbohydrates including fiber
- increases blood sugar by 1.5-3 mmol/l
Daily rates
Note that in the presence of diabetes, health experts recommend adjusting the rate of bread units (BU) based on a person’s daily activity level and body mass index (BMI). The higher the activity level and the lower the body weight, the more carbohydrates you can eat:
Norms:
- high level of activity – 25-30 BU
- average activity level – 20-22 BU
- sedentary lifestyle – 15-18 BU
- inactive lifestyle – 12-14 BU
- obesity (BMI above 35) – 10 BU
- obesity of the second degree (BMI above 40) – 6-8 BU
Calculation of required insulin
In the presence of diabetes, it is necessary to independently calculate the amount of insulin administered. First and foremost, this concerns the dose of short-acting insulin (commonly known as simple insulin) that a person administers before a meal to regulate blood sugar levels after eating.
By knowing the bread index of the product, one can roughly calculate the required dose of insulin – it usually takes from 0.5 to 4 units of insulin to cover one bread unit. A more accurate figure is determined based on the glycemic index of carbohydrates consumed.
What does glycemic index mean?
The glycemic index of a food is the rate at which the carbohydrates it contains raise blood glucose levels. Glucose, in turn, requires the production of the hormone insulin. Simple (fast) carbohydrates increase glucose levels dramatically, while complex carbohydrates are slow-acting.
For example, a product with a high glycemic index (such as sugar, potatoes, bread, and pastries) requires 1-2 units of insulin to cover one bread unit, while products with a low or medium GI need about 0.5-1 units. Individual sensitivity, the number of bread units consumed, and whether food is consumed on an empty stomach also affect the insulin dose.
Bread unit – product table
The convenience of bread units lies in the fact that the amount of carbohydrates used for calculation (10 g of simple or 12 g including fiber) often matches a typical serving size. For example, a glass of milk, a piece of bread, or a tablespoon of cereal contains approximately one bread unit.
Bread and pastries
| Product | Gram product for 1 BU | Serving size |
| White bread | 20 g | One piece |
| Rye bread | 25 g | One piece |
| Borodino bread | 25 g | One piece |
| sweet bun | 20 g | Half |
| salty biscuits | 15 g | Five pieces |
| Unsweetened crackers | 15 g | Two pieces |
Pasta and cereals
| Product | Gram product for 1 BU | Serving Size |
| Pasta | 15 g | Tablespoon |
| Buckwheat | 15 g | Tablespoon |
| Quinoa | 15 g | Tablespoon |
| Rice | 15 g | Tablespoon |
| Millet | 15 g | Tablespoon |
| Oatmeal | 15 g | Tablespoon |
Vegetables
| Product | Gram product for 1 BU | Serving Size |
| Potato | 65 g | small tuber |
| Carrot | 400 g | Three major |
| Pumpkin | 200 g | |
| Corn (cob) | 100 g | |
| Tomatoes | 300 g | |
| cucumbers | 300 g |
Fruits
| Product | Gram product for 1 BU | Serving Size |
| Banana | 70 g | Half |
| Grape | 70 g | 12 pieces |
| Pear | 90 g | One medium |
| Melon | 100 g | One piece |
| grapefruit | 170 g | half large |
| Watermelon | 270 g | One piece |
Drinks
| Product | Product volume for 1 BU | Serving Size |
| Milk | 200 ml | One glass |
| Kefir | 200 ml | One glass |
| Kvass | 200 ml | One glass |
| Coca Cola | 100 ml | half glass |
| Fruit juice | 100 ml | half glass |
| Morse | 100 ml | half glass |
A bread unit is a parameter that makes it easier to control the dose of insulin needed for diabetics. One bread unit equals 10 g of simple carbohydrates or 12 g of carbohydrate foods with fiber – such as a glass of milk, a tablespoon of cereal before cooking, or a medium slice of bread.