Type 2 Sugar intake

Corysnan

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
When checking the nutrition information on foods I obviously look for little to no sugar but am unsure what the maximum daily allowance should be. Can anybody help please?
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,867
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
but it is carbohydrate that is the problem - there is no 'allowance' for sugar - it is entirely unnecessary as part of our diet, but that is a different subject.
If you look for lower than 11 percent carbohydrate in your foods that helps a lot as it means you can eat enough and usually still stay in low numbers for your blood glucose
 

Corysnan

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
but it is carbohydrate that is the problem - there is no 'allowance' for sugar - it is entirely unnecessary as part of our diet, but that is a different subject.
If you look for lower than 11 percent carbohydrate in your foods that helps a lot as it means you can eat enough and usually still stay in low numbers for your blood glucose
 

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,471
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
As resurgam states it’s not just the sugar to watch out for. Sugar is a carb and it is all carbs of all types and colours that type 2 struggle with. Some like the whole grain or brown versions are just a little slower being absorbed but have just as many blood sugar raising carbs.

How many carbs we should eat is incredibly individual. Most here probably have under 130g carbs per day. A lot less than 50g. And a few hardly any at all. It depends on how insulin resistant you are how many you can process. Also even if you can deal with higher amounts it will be taking large amounts of insulin to do so and adding to the level of resistance you already have. Making the disease a progressive one when it doesn’t need to be anywhere near as bad.

Can I suggest you take a good look at LCHF ie low carb higher fat (than typically recommended) methods of eating (keto is just a version of this). It helps many of us lose significant amounts of weight, if desired, keep our numbers down and for some even eliminate medications and achieve remission and reduce or improve complications. Try clicking these links for more detailed explanations that are well worth readings

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/jokalsbeek.401801/ for info including low carb made simple

And https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/success-stories-and-testimonials.43/ to show it really works and for motivation

and https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/what-have-you-eaten-today.75781/ for food ideas

also https://www.dietdoctor.com/ for more food ideas and general info of carb content of foods. Lots of other websites for recipes out there too. Just use the term low carb or keto with whatever you fancy.


Also it’s very important to be able to check for yourself what’s happening so you can make the necessary adjustments day to day and meal by meal rather than wait 3, 6 or even 12 months and then have no idea what had what effect. Getting a blood glucose meter is the only way to do this (no matter what contradictory advice you may have heard - it’s usually budget based rather than anything more scientific). Please ask if you want any guidance on this.



IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE ON MEDS CONSIDERING LOWERING CARBS: if you lower your carbs then any glucose lowering meds may need to be adjusted accordingly to make sure you aren’t taking more than your new diet requires. It can cause a hypo if you have more gliclazide or insulin etc (this is not relevant for metformin on its own) than your new carb intake requires. Keep a close eye on your numbers and do this with your dr’s knowledge. Please don’t be put off by an ill informed out dated rubbishing of low carb diets or being told you should eat carbs to match meds, it should be the other way around.
 

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,471
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thank you. I do check the carbs but wasn’t too sure on checking the sugar.
By checking the carbs you’ve already included the sugar. No need to do it separately. I only look at the carbs number and totally ignore the “of which sugars” bit.

It might be more relevant for type 1’s working out when and how much to bolus given that sugar is faster than other carbs but for a type 2 it’s not relevant.