Exchanges are the foundation of weight and blood sugar managment.

There is nothing more basic for weight and blood sugar management than the food exchanges. They are called exchanges because the foods in each group can be exchanged with each other and still supply a similar amount of calories, proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other nutrients. "Exchanges for All Occasions" is the most popular of the books describing the nature and benefits of the exchanges.

I have been a diabetic since the age of 50. It is certainly easier to use the exchange system then laboriously counting calories and carbohydrates. They give us a short hand method of coming up with close approximations.

One thing that can also be of benefit to diabetics is the glycemic index which measures the impact of various carbohydrates on our blood sugar level. Glucose is given a value of 100. All other foods are ranked according to the percentage rise they cause as compared to glucose. For example, apple juice has a glycemic index of 40. This means that a serving of apple juice containing 25 grams of carbohydrates would cause a blood sugar rise that is 40 percent of that which would be caused by 25 grams of pure glucose.

Related to the glycemic index is the glycemic load which applied the glycemic index to serving sizes. To calculate the glycemic load the grams of carbohydrates (less the fiber) is multiplied by the glycemic index expressed as a percentage. An exchange of apple juice has 15 grams of carbohydrates. Multiplying this by 40% (glycemic index of 40) yields a glycemic load of 6. Now lets compare this to 15 gm of watermelon. Watermelon has a glycemic index of 72 which is higher than table sugar. The glycemic load of watermelon is 11 (15 x .72 = 11). Thus the impact of watermelon on our blood sugar is almost twice for the same level of carbohydrates. Fortunately, a half cup of watermelon only has six grams of carbohydrates as compared to a half cup of apple juice which has 14. Measured on a volume basis the apple juice actually has a higher glycemic impact. No such luck with a baked potato which has a glycemic index of 85. A half cup of baked potatoes has 38 grams of carbohydrate. This yields a glycemic load of 32 (38 X .95 = 32).

Determining the glycemic impact of foods does require more effort than just counting exchanges. But by getting involved in the details I have been able to lose nearly 80 pounds and am able to manage my blood sugar levels with diet and exercise. This has certainly been a worthwhile effort for me. I am sure that it would be for others.

Good Eating.

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Are you getting the right "Exchanges for All Occasions?"

"Exchanges for All Occasions" by Marion Franz has been through 5 "editions" since 1983. Although these books share the same title, they have DIFFERENT SUBTITLES, different ISBN numbers, and are very different books.

The history is a little fuzzy, but the earliest editions (C1983, 1986, 1987)were called "Exchanges for All Occasions" and "Exchanges for All Occasions: Meeting the Challenge of Diabetes." They were published by different publishers and their editions and revisions overlapped. The 3rd book was titled, "Exchanges for All Occasions: How to Use the Exchange System for Healthy and Creative Food Choices-3rd Edition," and was published in 1993.

The special one is the 4th edition, titled: "Exchanges for All Occasions: Your Guide to Choosing Healthy Foods Anytime Anywhere-4th Edition." C1997, ISBN 1885115350. This book is very, very good, and also very, very rare. When it can be found, it goes for about $40.00. It is a terrific book and its exchange lists include "carb-counting," WHICH THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS DO NOT, along with extensive exchange lists and other information about meal planning, carb-counting your own recipes, and dining out. It has a salmon cover and is a 5.5" x 8.5" trade paperback. If it can be found, it is very expensive. I have one and probably wouldn't part with it for any amount of money (within reason).

There is also a great little pocket guide, that was published in 2000. It has the identical salmon-colored cover, but it is a tiny book and is called "Exchanges for All Occasions: Pocket Guide to Healthy Food Choices Anytime, Anywhere"(notice the different subtitle). This little guide, C2000, ISBN 1885115563, is the book that all the Amazon reviews, for all editions, are referring to. Notice the reviews say it is a very handy size. It has the same exchange lists, including carb counting, as the 1997 book, but none of the other information. It is a very handy pocket book with good exchange lists for everything, including ethnic restaurant foods.

All of the different Amazon sale pages for the different editions are mixed up, and they mostly show the cover of the 4th edition and the good reviews of the pocket edition.

Because the 1997 book is so valuable and so good, you often will find the 3 older editions (1983-1993)listed under the 4th edition's ISBN for a high price, or even the Pocket Guide's ISBN for a moderately high price. The earlier 3 editions of "Exchanges for All Occasions," which were published in the 1980's, do not have carb-counting and do not have the salmon-colored cover that is shown on all product pages for these books (further adding to the confusion). These old editions are readily available on Amazon at a very cheap price, and sometimes masquarade as the 4th edition at a high price. Buyer beware.

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A realistic approach to living with diabetes

Marion Franz, makes the unknown possible. Anyone with diabetes knows what it means to be restrict ed. This book, is a guide to those who chose to live their lives as normal as possible. As anyone who has a disease or has dieted, restrict ing one self too much, can lead to indulgence. Marion Franz gives us the knowledge, to use as a tool, in planning for those special occasions yet, remaining in diabetic tight control. Thank you, for giving me, more freedom of choice!

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