Type 2 Carbs or Sugar?

[Gary65]

As a 5yr-diagnosed Type 2 who initially controlled it well, I’ve struggled a bit lately. But I’m getting contrary information from medical teams. When I was first diagnosed and was carb-counting, a colleague told me his practice nurse insisted he forget that and count sugars, which I did. When I first started struggling, just before the pandemic (Covid variant, not diabetes one) I was referred onto the local health authority’s ‘X-Pert Health Diabetes’ programme. In that, I was categorically told that it’s carbs I must be counting (max 120 per day, the programme was very educational. However, at a recent diabetes check with my practice nurse, she told me to stop counting carbs and count sugars. I’m really confused and want to get this right.

 

[bulkbiker]

All carbs turn into sugar once ingested... does that help?

They are effectively the same thing for a T2 diabetic and best avoided as much as possible.

 

[Andydragon]

As @bulkbiker says it’s the carbs that matter. When I used to eat savouries like pasties or potatoes my bloods spike longer and harder quite often than chocolate

if you test you can see how things impact but yeah, just sugars is not what many of us find works

 

[Gary65]

Thanks both. I don’t distrust my practice nurse but the carb-counting advice was from a diabetic-specific course. It’s just when you’re sat face-face with a medical pro and they’re being forthright on what to do, it’s hard to argue.

 

[bulkbiker]

Thanks both. I don’t distrust my practice nurse but the carb-counting advice was from a diabetic-specific course. It’s just when you’re sat face-face with a medical pro and they’re being forthright on what to do, it’s hard to argue.

Sorry but your practise nurse will not be a dietary diabetes specialist.

She's simply wrong and could be harming your health with misinformation.

Medical pro's are not necessarily all knowing.

 

[Lamont D]

Thanks both. I don’t distrust my practice nurse but the carb-counting advice was from a diabetic-specific course. It’s just when you’re sat face-face with a medical pro and they’re being forthright on what to do, it’s hard to argue.

The diabetic specific courses are set in concrete with the same advice for all NHS courses in endocrinology.
Even though the proof is out there, as it is on this forum, they have to tell you this advice.
I think most of us on here has had this advice, I had it for over a decade from so many medical practitioners, I came to the conclusion that they were in collusion to keep me fat and very ill!

Dietdoctor.com is brilliant, or have a look at our low carb forum.

 

[Resurgam]

The ignorance is both pitiful and very dangerous.
The first experiment we did in the first Biology lesson at Grammar school was to show how bread becomes sweet if mixed with saliva - and glucose could be detected - that was at the age of 11.

 

[jjraak]

Thanks both. I don’t distrust my practice nurse but the carb-counting advice was from a diabetic-specific course. It’s just when you’re sat face-face with a medical pro and they’re being forthright on what to do, it’s hard to argue.

Been there ..done that.

It helped me to realise there seems to be two trains of thought.

One of those is set in stone as to old, outdated data.

One that clearly failed for decades, just looking at the progressive nature of the disease not being halted

And one set happy AND time rich enough to keep up to date with the latest treatments & theories regarding LCHF .

Evidenced by the large numbers residing on here and posting considerable evidence as to its efficacy to them, personally.

As for me, my meet for Desmond's many weeks after DX, and had spent many happy days on here.

The narrative was very limited.
And I think it upset them I knew too much and wasn't averse to speaking up.

Ended up chatting to tutors at end
Admitted they couldn't wander to far from script.

Expressed some awareness, but I think the word "obsessive" came up

Was your course the counting of carbs, as just the usual carbs chat (brown rice, wholemeal or more low carb ?

.

 

[Malido]

As a 5yr-diagnosed Type 2 who initially controlled it well, I’ve struggled a bit lately. But I’m getting contrary information from medical teams. When I was first diagnosed and was carb-counting, a colleague told me his practice nurse insisted he forget that and count sugars, which I did. When I first started struggling, just before the pandemic (Covid variant, not diabetes one) I was referred onto the local health authority’s ‘X-Pert Health Diabetes’ programme. In that, I was categorically told that it’s carbs I must be counting (max 120 per day, the programme was very educational. However, at a recent diabetes check with my practice nurse, she told me to stop counting carbs and count sugars. I’m really confused and want to get this right.

Hi Gary,

Whilst starches and sugars are broken down into glucose when digested, fibres on the contrary cannot be broken down into sugar molecules and they pass into the body undigested. There is the concept of net carbs which equals to total carbs minus fibres. Net carbs is the amount of carbs that is digestible and turning into glucose in the body.

Kind regards,
Malika

(Edited by mod)

 

[bulkbiker]

Hi Gary,

Carbs come into 3 forms: starches, sugars and fibres. Whilst starches and sugars are broken down into glucose when digested, fibres on the contrary cannot be broken down into sugar molecules and they pass into the body undigested. There is the concept of net carbs which equals to total carbs minus fibres. Net carbs is the amount of carbs that is digestible and turning into glucose in the body.

Kind regards,
Malika

Are there any foods that contain only fibre with no other sugars?

And of course there are no "essential carbohydrates" as I'm sure you know.


(Quoted post edited by mod to align with mod edit of that post)

 

[Resurgam]

Hi Gary,

Carbs come into 3 forms: starches, sugars and fibres. Whilst starches and sugars are broken down into glucose when digested, fibres on the contrary cannot be broken down into sugar molecules and they pass into the body undigested. There is the concept of net carbs which equals to total carbs minus fibres. Net carbs is the amount of carbs that is digestible and turning into glucose in the body.

Kind regards,
Malika

In the UK fibre is not included in the carbohydrates listed for any food - so we do not deduct anything from the listed value, there is no 'net carbs' concept here - there is in the US though, but they usually spell it 'FIBER'.

(Quoted post edited by mod to align with mod edit of that post)

 

[Goonergal]

There is the concept of net carbs which equals to total carbs minus fibres.

That’s a US concept which doesn’t apply in the UK - carbs shown in nutritional information already exclude fibre.

Editing to say just spotted the reply above!