Carbs

Alan22

Well-Known Member
Messages
56
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
rude people
What is the number of carbs that is considered to be low?
 

cyclist

Well-Known Member
Messages
129
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
There is no hard and fast rule.

I set myself a limit of 55g per day based on my testing of foods, weight targets and lifestyle changes that are sustainable.

Some weeks I maintain 30g per day and others I creep into the 60g range.

Try to get under 100g per day and see how you get on.
 

4ratbags

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,334
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
20-30g per day is generaly considered low low carb
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I would have thought 20 to 30g a day was Very Low Carb (VLC). I consider myself low carb at around 50g a day, which I find is sustainable for me, but my exercise is mainly walking and housework..
 

Larissima

Well-Known Member
Messages
875
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
For weight loss, anything up to 100g carbs is considered low carb, as per Mark Sisson from Primal Blueprint. See his carbohydrate curve here: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/#axzz3epEUaI5n

However, for controling diabetes, everyone has to find their own sweet spot. Mine seems to be around 30, maybe up to 40 - but that is just for controlling BG after meals. I still have elevated fasting BG, and hope that losing weight and exercise will help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

Brunneria

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
21,889
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
For weight loss, anything up to 100g carbs is considered low carb, as per Mark Sisson from Primal Blueprint. See his carbohydrate curve here: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/#axzz3epEUaI5n

However, for controling diabetes, everyone has to find their own sweet spot. Mine seems to be around 30, maybe up to 40 - but that is just for controlling BG after meals. I still have elevated fasting BG, and hope that losing weight and exercise will help.

Yes, you generally find the carb eating public flinching in horror when less than 150g carbs a day is discussed.

Some people say less than 130g carbs is 'low' while 130g+ is 'moderate'

VLC is usually taken as below 50g/day

and ketosis is ??g/day (whatever it takes to produce measurable ketones in the urine and for the body to switch to using fat as fuel - please note, this is very different from keto acidosis, which is harmful)
 

Alan22

Well-Known Member
Messages
56
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
rude people
Hi everyone thanks for the input
I am under 100g per day for sure. When I get my meter I will see how the BS stand
 

Baruney

BANNED
Messages
928
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hola @Alan22

Depends who you ask. If you are ever unfortunate enough to met an nhs diabetes specialist then unless you have more than 130 g carbs a day you will die because someone once told them that the brain needs 130g of carbs to function.

And even if they do not understand how a ketogenic or low carb or Atkins lifestyle works they are keen to label you extreme or non compliant.

Atkins himself would go from 20g to your carb threshold (it's not a set figure but personalised to your own card tolerance).

I see you like your sports - have a google on the art and science of low carbohydrate performance. That's what got me round the Brighton marathon this year.

I decided that the nhs diabetes specialists advice that you have to drink energy drinks to get you round a marathon should be filed in the appropriate place.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

Robbity

Expert
Messages
6,683
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I'd probably consider anything around 100g per day a reasonable start for a low carb diet, and going below 40-50g a day to be very low carb. I think Atkins reckoned 20-25 g a day would guarantee to kick start ketosis - this worked for me and I can stay in ketosis while eating between 30-50g carbs a day. I don't choose to try any higher as for the most part this keeps my glucose readings pretty level, and I don't feel I can go much lower for any length of time and still eat a sustainable, varied and (I believe!!) healthy diet.

But how many carbohydrates other people eat will depend on how they tolerate them, and what targets they or their doctors may have set, and the best way to discover this is by "eating to your meter". It's a matter of no one size fits all, and I think my answer to Alan's question is "However many carbohydrates you need to bring your glucose levels down to an acceptable level while ensuring that your diet remains healthy and sustainable" and for me personally the most important word here is sustainable... :wideyed:

Robbity
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people

Alan22

Well-Known Member
Messages
56
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
rude people
Hi Robbity thanks for the reply very interesting. You mention ketosis I thought this was dangerous ?
 

Robbity

Expert
Messages
6,683
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi Robbity thanks for the reply very interesting. You mention ketosis I thought this was dangerous ?

No, ketosis is quite safe and quite normal.. It's what happens with a very low carbohydrate diet when your body switches from burning carbohydrates for energy to burning fats instead. Our bodies apparently can also switch in and out of ketosis quite naturally, and the ketone levels are very much lower than in ketoacidosis - which can be very dangerous and requires medical attention. It' much more likely to be a problem for type 1 diabetics, and this can occur when insufficient insulin combines with very high glucose and ketone levels and causes the pH levels of their blood to become too acidic and out of control. Most type 2s will generally have sufficient insulin to prevent this imbalance from occurring.

Robbity
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people