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Low Carb, how Low?

Old Aussie

Active Member
Messages
32
Location
Australia
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Can you go to low with carbs? I ask because today I met another T2 and she asked me how many carbs I was consuming per day. I told her 20g or less. She told me I was 100 to 130g a day to low.

I see the dietician on Wednesday for the first time, who I probably won't take a lot of notice of. I just don't want to set her off on a rant about my carbs being to low.

I am losing weight, not hungry and feeling like I have a lot more energy. Are my carb intakes to low?

Kerry
 
IMO unless you are taking Slgt2 inhibitors there's no such thing as to low, several people on the forum are following a Carnivore diet, only meat and animal products which is almost zero carbs
 
IMO unless you are taking Slgt2 inhibitors there's no such thing as to low, several people on the forum are following a Carnivore diet, only meat and animal products which is almost zero carbs

Thanks Lessci. The only thing I am taking is one Metformin of a night.
 
The reality it that we can manage perfectly well without any carbs at all (they are not necessary for nutrition, and there is no minimum carb amount necessary for health).

So no, you cannot go 'too low'.

However, different people can tolerate different amounts of carbs.
We see it here on the forum all the time.
People often find out a level of carb intake that suits them, and then decide to recommend that amount of carbs to other people. The drawback is that we each have a body that doesn't toe the line to other people's expectations. ;) So it is important that we work out what works best for us, and then stick to it. :D

The T2 you were talking to may flourish on her chosen amount of carbs. That is wonderful. Doesn't mean that it would work for you.

Another possibility is that she has heard, and believes, the myth that 'we all need 130g carbs a day, because the brain needs 130g glucose a day, or our brain dribbles out of our ears, and we all turn into zombies'.

OK, I may have exaggerated that last bit, a little.
But if there were any truth in that myth, I would have been one of the walking undead for around 8 years, and here I am, still alive and kicking. :couchpotato:
If you do a tour of the internet you will find all sorts of people spouting this myth, including some highly qualified medical professionals and dieticians.

The reality is that yes, the brain needs some glucose to function.
But we don't need to get that glucose from carbs and sugars in foods.
We can function perfectly well, indefinitely, breaking down keto foods and building glucose on demand.
The process is called gluconeogenesis, and we can all do it, without being aware of it. No need to eat 130g carbs a day.
https://lowcarbrn.wordpress.com/dia...we-really-need-130g-of-carbohydrates-per-day/
 
Short answer is NO. Another 20g here.

Thanks xfieldok I'm glad I am not doing the wrong thing. I'm still trying to find my way and the people of this forum have helped me so much. I see my doctor tomorrow. I am thinking of taking my meter to show him my test log. I am hoping because I seem to be doing well, he might take me off he Metformin.
 
The reality it that we can manage perfectly well without any carbs at all (they are not necessary for nutrition, and there is no minimum carb amount necessary for health).

So no, you cannot go 'too low'.

However, different people can tolerate different amounts of carbs.
We see it here on the forum all the time.
People often find out a level of carb intake that suits them, and then decide to recommend that amount of carbs to other people. The drawback is that we each have a body that doesn't toe the line to other people's expectations. ;) So it is important that we work out what works best for us, and then stick to it. :D

The T2 you were talking to may flourish on her chosen amount of carbs. That is wonderful. Doesn't mean that it would work for you.

Another possibility is that she has heard, and believes, the myth that 'we all need 130g carbs a day, because the brain needs 130g glucose a day, or our brain dribbles out of our ears, and we all turn into zombies'.

OK, I may have exaggerated that last bit, a little.
But if there were any truth in that myth, I would have been one of the walking undead for around 8 years, and here I am, still alive and kicking. :couchpotato:
If you do a tour of the internet you will find all sorts of people spouting this myth, including some highly qualified medical professionals and dieticians.

The reality is that yes, the brain needs some glucose to function.
But we don't need to get that glucose from carbs and sugars in foods.
We can function perfectly well, indefinitely, breaking down keto foods and building glucose on demand.
The process is called gluconeogenesis, and we can all do it, without being aware of it. No need to eat 130g carbs a day.
https://lowcarbrn.wordpress.com/dia...we-really-need-130g-of-carbohydrates-per-day/

Thanks Brunneria, everything you said makes sense to me.
 
Can you go to low with carbs? I ask because today I met another T2 and she asked me how many carbs I was consuming per day. I told her 20g or less. She told me I was 100 to 130g a day to low.

I see the dietician on Wednesday for the first time, who I probably won't take a lot of notice of. I just don't want to set her off on a rant about my carbs being to low.

I am losing weight, not hungry and feeling like I have a lot more energy. Are my carb intakes to low?

Kerry
Twenty grams a day or less here, which usually comes down to about 10 grams per day, in practice. I could go lower, but I rather like my veggies. And it's less expensive than having to eat my fill in meat/fish/poultry. ;) Of course, this has nothing at all to do with my love for extra dark chocolate or anything...
 
[QUOTE="Of course, this has nothing at all to do with my love for extra dark chocolate or anything...[/QUOTE]

Oh I make sure I can have one square of extra dark chocolate about three times a week. My other indulgence is cashew nuts about three times a week.
 
I so miss my cashews but alas too high carb for me. And I darn't even think about honey roast....

Oh, **** it :(
 
[QUOTE="And I darn't even think about honey roast....

Oh, **** it :([/QUOTE]

LOL! :) I only have 15g of cashews. Why or why did you have to mention honey roast :(
 
Can you go to low with carbs? I ask because today I met another T2 and she asked me how many carbs I was consuming per day. I told her 20g or less. She told me I was 100 to 130g a day to low.

I see the dietician on Wednesday for the first time, who I probably won't take a lot of notice of. I just don't want to set her off on a rant about my carbs being to low.

I am losing weight, not hungry and feeling like I have a lot more energy. Are my carb intakes to low?

Kerry

So you feel great? Well, there's your answer basically... so no, you are not too low.

BTW: No one can dictate to you how many or what to eat. If you are happy with your progress and results on 20g a day, then there is no reason to change course. And one person comparing their carb intake to yours and telling you that you are doing something wrong really isn't helpful or appropriate.

In regards to your appt on Wednesday. I don't pay any attention to what my dietitian says either, from whom I have received some absolutely god awful advice, but who knows, you may get lucky and get one that is aware of the benefits of low carb/keto. Best of luck!
 
So you feel great? Well, there's your
answer In regards to your appt on Wednesday. I don't pay any attention to what my dietitian says either, from whom I have received some absolutely god awful advice, but who knows, you may get lucky and get one that is aware of the benefits of low carb/keto. Best of luck!

The diabetic nurse rang me on Tuesday afternoon to confirm the appointment for Wednesday. 10 minutes later she rang back to say she had to cancel. She tried to set up a new appointment but I politely refused.

The reason I refused to make a new appointment with the nurse is I saw my doctor Tuesday morning. He was so happy with my weight loss and I showed him my meter readings. He took me off Metformin just 5 weeks after being diagnosed. He told me to take my B/G reading once a day at different times. He told me never to take a reading after a meal. He also said my sugars could possible go up without Metformin. If they are constantly 6.5 I should start taking Metformin again.

So today I am getting a little paranoid that my sugars with go up. I'm taking my readings 3 times a day, not once a day as he suggested. This morning about 12 hours after stopping medication my reading was 5.4, before lunch it was 4.9. Tonight, 24 hours after stopping Metformin my reading was 6.

Can anyone tell me if their readings went up after Metformin was stopped.

Kerry
 
The diabetic nurse rang me on Tuesday afternoon to confirm the appointment for Wednesday. 10 minutes later she rang back to say she had to cancel. She tried to set up a new appointment but I politely refused.

The reason I refused to make a new appointment with the nurse is I saw my doctor Tuesday morning. He was so happy with my weight loss and I showed him my meter readings. He took me off Metformin just 5 weeks after being diagnosed. He told me to take my B/G reading once a day at different times. He told me never to take a reading after a meal. He also said my sugars could possible go up without Metformin. If they are constantly 6.5 I should start taking Metformin again.

So today I am getting a little paranoid that my sugars with go up. I'm taking my readings 3 times a day, not once a day as he suggested. This morning about 12 hours after stopping medication my reading was 5.4, before lunch it was 4.9. Tonight, 24 hours after stopping Metformin my reading was 6.

Can anyone tell me if their readings went up after Metformin was stopped.

Kerry
Mine didn't... They just kept going down. ;)
 
I have yet to see anything, ever (and not for want of examples) to persuade me that eating and drinking carbs is good for people whose bodies can't handle carbs. A diabetic needs carbs like an asthmatic needs cigarettes.
 
I was concerned because when fasting my bs went up, so i'd eat some cheese to bring it down but now I'm thinking my fatty liver was seeing an opportunity to offload which results in higher bs, maybe in recovery mode this is not a bad thing but actually a good thing. Possibly? So in short don't panic over individual readings or even expect to see your potential for a little while as your body celebrates/takes advantage of the release from the carb onslaught.
 
I have yet to see anything, ever (and not for want of examples) to persuade me that eating and drinking carbs is good for people whose bodies can't handle carbs. A diabetic needs carbs like an asthmatic needs cigarettes.
As an Ex-smoker and asthmatic (general only need meds when I have a cold, or with certain pollens) and my inhaler goes out of date before I use it up, I whole heartedly agree with this :):)
 
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