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How many carbs per day?

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domforr

Well-Known Member
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Hi, recently gone on to a lower carb/higher fat diet and so far the results seem to be working. My levels are generally lower and I'm actually feeling better, which is a big plus.

However, I'm still being quite general in the number of carbs I have per day. I'm not really counting - just generally trying to avoid carbs and making a conscious effort to buy food that is low.

Should I be aiming for a certain amount per day and if so what would that be?
 
Well done on confronting the condition, keep up the good work.

The amount of carbs per day is a very personal question. Low carb is considered to be anything under 130/150g of carbs per day. Imo that number is a good place to start with. People then lower that number to suit their blood glucose levels and find where they are comfortable. You will see members numbers ranging anywhere between 100g and 20ger day.

Testing is key. Recording your readings will show you as an individual how many carbs per day suits you.
 
Thanks! I think I need to start counting - at least initially just to get an idea of how much I'm having. Whatever I'm doing at the moment seems to be working, so it would help to know what to aim for.
 
domforr said:
Thanks! I think I need to start counting - at least initially just to get an idea of how much I'm having. Whatever I'm doing at the moment seems to be working, so it would help to know what to aim for.
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If you are seeing better levels chances are that you are close to finding your personal number of carbs per day. Very well done!
 
You really can only discover what is right for you by testing how you react to carbs from various foods.
I find that peas and beans seem to punch above their weight by the amount of carbs they are supposed to contain.
 
Guzzler said:
Recording your readings will show you as an individual how many carbs per day suits you.
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Second way is to make "small home OGTT" test. Drink about 20g of quick carbs (coca cola) and measure each 15m. This will show you the spike. With rule of three you can compute the acceptable amount of the carbs for one meal to not cross your personal limit.
 
rom35 said:
Second way is to make "small home OGTT" test. Drink about 20g of quick carbs (coca cola) and measure each 15m. This will show you the spike. With rule of three you can compute the acceptable amount of the carbs for one meal to not cross your personal limit.
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I have not yet done a home OGGT. As I keep a detailed log of everything I eat and the corresponding readingsI have found my personal, optimal (for now) level of carbs per day to suit me. An OGGT would only serve to satisfy my curiosity.

I doubt Coca Cola would serve as a good test fluid. If and when I decide to do this test I will use the Glucose drink that is used by the medics and follow the instructions given.
 
domforr said:
So you don't have a set number you aim for? Is it just avoiding certain food?
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Some people stick to a certain number of grams of carbs a day. Some people stick to a certain number of carbs per meal. Some people don't carb count, they just eliminate all the major ones and eat the others in moderation. Some people try not to eat any at all.
 
My aim is 30g per day. I can have days when that number can be slightly higher but often it is lower. As we all have different levels of insulin resistance/carb intolerance my number suits me. Yours could be double that number, testing which foods spike you will let you know where you sit on the scale that suits you as an individual. There are foods which spike some people but not others so it can be a bit of a learning curve at the beginning.
 
I started out testing how various foods affected me, but when I realized that the same foods which caused me to gain weight were those which elevated my BG levels, I worked to reduce my after meal readings to no more than 8mmol/l.
Once I did that I stuck to the same meals, but saw my numbers drifting downwards - presumably my metabolism was able to recover once the numbers reduced
 
domforr said:
So you don't have a set number you aim for? Is it just avoiding certain food?
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Usually we use our glucose meter to guide us as each of us have different threshold. A meal that stays within 2 mmol rise is considered very good.
 
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