• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Carbohydrates of which sugars

Diabeticger

Diabeticger

Well-Known Member
Messages
116
Location
Ireland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Bread, Potatoes, anything Carby
Think I've asked this before , but what one should we be looking at, the total carbs or the of which sugars one

Was in Holland and barrett and they were trying to tell me that the of which sugars is the one to read
 
Very old style thinking, that diabetes should just avoid sugar.
The figures for 'total' carbs on UK labels are actually 'net carbs', ie this is usually the part our bodies absorb and turn into simple sugars.
(In the USA their total carbs include fibre, which you need to deduct.)
The only time you can ignore part of the carbs here is where some of the sweetness comes from polyols, our bodies don't absorb this - polyols are used as sweeteners in some diet products.
 
Total carbs is the important one for counting, but the 'of which sugars' indicates how quickly you'll get those carbs with 'sugars' being the 'simple' carbohydrate.

For example a Dextro energy tab has 91g carbs per 100g, of which 82g are sugars, handy for a hypo treatment, and brown basmati rice for example (morrisons) has 20g per 100g boiled but 0.2 sugars which can be handy to digest over a couple of hours with your insulin.
 
Diabeticger said:
Was in Holland and barrett and they were trying to tell me that the of which sugars is the one to read
Click to expand...
Do they have endocrinologists working at Holland and Barrett now?
If they told you to only count the 'of which sugars' part they were basically advising you to alter your insulin dosages. There is a reason one of our forum rules is to not advise anyone on their doses: it can be dangerous to do so.

If we only counted the sugars we wouldn't have to inject for things like pizza and pasta. Someone following their advice could end up in hospital pretty quick...
 
Diabeticger said:
Think I've asked this before , but what one should we be looking at, the total carbs or the of which sugars one

Was in Holland and barrett and they were trying to tell me that the of which sugars is the one to read
Click to expand...
Ah, how silly of them. ;) Total, always total, whatever type you are.
 
Diabeticger said:
Think I've asked this before , but what one should we be looking at, the total carbs or the of which sugars one

Was in Holland and barrett and they were trying to tell me that the of which sugars is the one to read
Click to expand...
PS: When I was in a H&B when I was first diagnosed and asked for advice on a product, I added I was diabetic and the lady there immediately told me she could under no circumstances advise me on ANYTHING because I had a metabolic condition. Company policy. They tend to not to want to kill anyone.
 
Diabeticger said:
Thanks guys, was thinking as much
Click to expand...
Yes Carbs. I think the general public are now more aware of sugar whereas for insulin dosing type ones and low carbers in general, the difference between glucose (carbs) and sugars (glucose/fructose) is less important.
I guess this visit to H & B was a while back given that going to a non food shop seems so quaint now!
 
always look at just carbs. Not the other one. It can be confusing but after a while you won't even need to look at the back of packs because you ll just know. Good luck and keep at it :)
 
Back
Top