How many carbs should a diabetic consume per day?

Most people should get 45 to 65 percent of their calories from carbohydrates, states the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. However, no single daily carbohydrate intake is right for every diabetic.

Controlling carbohydrate intake helps diabetics keep their blood sugar levels in check, reports the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. The right amount of carbohydrates for one person may not be right for another person. One gram of carbohydrate has 4 calories, so a person who wants to get 50 percent of her calories from carbohydrates would eat 200 grams of carbohydrates per day on a 1,600-calorie diet. Diabetics should also eat roughly the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal.