Carrots

[darrenjallen]

Morning. Axsilly question but are carrots bad for us. Just checked the carb level and it's pretty high.

 

[Deleted Account]

As with every type of food the only way of telling whether it affects your BG is to test, eat and test a couple of hours later.

Sure, carrots have a high carb level but that depends how much you eat, how much it affects your BG and whether there are any other benefits (such as being able to see in the dark ) that you think are worth the BG rise.

 

[paulus1]

i grate 2 carrots into my salad. the bowel lasts 4 meals. 1 medium carrots around 6

 

[ringi]

If you have issues with insulin resistance, lots carrots every day would not be a good option. But I would not turn down a salad while eating out just because it contained some carrot.

 

[Kentoldlady1]

It will.also change on if you eat them.raw or cooked.

And its not a silly question. When I was first dx I thought I could eat fruit and porridge. Not being able to eat carrots or onions never even occurred to me.

Ask away. !!

 

[Freema]

when I look at carbs I too look on my all together level of carbs in a day.. if eating very few carbs , I think it is also a good idea that those carbs you eat are from a healthy food.. so I believe I would say a few carots are okay , just remember to count them into your total number of carbs in a day..actually counting your number of carbs in a day is the most essential ... where is your daily carb levels at is it 100 grams a day or is it 150 grams a day ... or maybe even only less than 50 grams a day ?

carots are not fast spiking especially if they are raw .. they also have a lot of fibres which is healthy too together with its very high level of beta-carotine that is fine for eye health ....

knowing at what level ones daily amount of carbs is to gain a stable morning blood glucose as low as possible is the focus poin to start with, and avoid the very fast spiking foods like sugar and wheat and potatoes and many fruits..

 

[HICHAM_T2]

I don't think that is too bad
Total carbs 9.56g of 100g

 

[Bluetit1802]

Morning. Axsilly question but are carrots bad for us. Just checked the carb level and it's pretty high.

No question is silly if you don't know the answer, although there are sometimes silly answers.

Carrots are good for us because of the excellent nutrients they contain, but as regards blood sugar levels care needs to be taken if eating them as a cooked vegetable alongside other carbs. It will be the total carb amount in that meal that is important rather than just the carrot carb count. All you can do is test them out with your meter, and according to what your meter tells you reduce the portion size. It is also best to put a knob of butter on them rather than gravy.

 

[glucogirl6499]

when I look at carbs I too look on my all together level of carbs in a day.. if eating very few carbs , I think it is also a good idea that those carbs you eat are from a healthy food.. so I believe I would say a few carots are okay , just remember to count them into your total number of carbs in a day..actually counting your number of carbs in a day is the most essential ... where is your daily carb levels at is it 100 grams a day or is it 150 grams a day ... or maybe even only less than 50 grams a day ?

carots are not fast spiking especially if they are raw .. they also have a lot of fibres which is healthy too together with its very high level of beta-carotine that is fine for eye health ....

knowing at what level ones daily amount of carbs is to gain a stable morning blood glucose as low as possible is the focus poin to start with, and avoid the very fast spiking foods like sugar and wheat and potatoes and many fruits..

This is my first post so hope I do it right!
You mention daily carb levels in grams- I had my first chat with diabetic care line and they suggested 19g of carb/sugar per meal! I've got a 43 blood score, I've apparently been pre diabetic for 8-10 years now! I've always fasted into normal range but on my request about that time I privately paid for an oral glucose challenge and was put on slow release Metformin! I've been tested very infrequently as they only did fasting bloods after that.
I've just had the most excruciating attack of gout for a month, I've got diminished kidney function, over weight, atrial fibrillation, depression, unfit and overweight. 3 close members of family diabetic with strokes and amputation...............
Now I'm scared at this even though they say it's reversible and I'll be tested again in 3 months - is 19g per meal right, do I buy my own test kit as my husband says "you don't need to, just exercise, weight loss and if you exercise more you can eat what you want?
Any advice will be much appreciated, thank you

 

[Freema]

HMMM we are all different.. I myself am doing the fitness approach and yes it has helped me tremendously.. but I did start with 8 month on around 1000 calories daily..


I do measure my blood glucose daily in the morning and after eating bigger meals..the best is to avoid spiking over 8mmol or even 7.5 mmol after a meal..if you are only prediabetic I do believe that eating only 20 grams of carbs in each of the 3 main meals will be strict enough.

but anyway do get a meter and try to get your morning numbers to be under 5.5 mmol .


it does help to move more than what one is used to, it also help to build muscles purposely and even raising from ones sofa every half hour does help a bit and then walking some steps.. I mean if you are in a lot of hurt, then do that at least raise up do a bit of some kind of house work or a few movements and this in it self will also help you, when you become great at keeping your blood glucose low then it is actually also possible that your gout and other autoimune diseases will get less servere.. it has in my case at least... I could hardly move initially but did anyway and slowly I got better and better at moving going for longer walks .. and after half a year started going to a fitness center now twice a week for around 5-6 hour each time .. mostly eating lean chicken meat those days... and even have space for a treat on top of that too...

not all can do that... but do something else than you have been used to move more even if you can not really do sports ALL does matter ... and it will also lower your risk of stroke if you get in a better shape... good luck , and keep asking questions in here, there are lots of people that can give you advice ... but you are the only one that can do the difference.. everybody does this in his or her own way... so what would fit your boy-friend is maybe not what works best for you..

I love my meter .. and I´ll keep on checking forever I think

 

[Freema]

This is my first post so hope I do it right!
You mention daily carb levels in grams- I had my first chat with diabetic care line and they suggested 19g of carb/sugar per meal! I've got a 43 blood score, I've apparently been pre diabetic for 8-10 years now! I've always fasted into normal range but on my request about that time I privately paid for an oral glucose challenge and was put on slow release Metformin! I've been tested very infrequently as they only did fasting bloods after that.
I've just had the most excruciating attack of gout for a month, I've got diminished kidney function, over weight, atrial fibrillation, depression, unfit and overweight. 3 close members of family diabetic with strokes and amputation...............
Now I'm scared at this even though they say it's reversible and I'll be tested again in 3 months - is 19g per meal right, do I buy my own test kit as my husband says "you don't need to, just exercise, weight loss and if you exercise more you can eat what you want?
Any advice will be much appreciated, thank you

@daisy1 will give you some basal information..that everybody new gets here

 

[glucogirl6499]

Do you have a daily carb/sugar intake range in grams per meal?
Do you self test?

 

[glucogirl6499]

HMMM we are all different.. I myself am doing the fitness approach and yes it has helped me tremendously.. but I did start with 8 month on around 1000 calories daily..


I do measure my blood glucose daily in the morning and after eating bigger meals..the best is to avoid spiking over 8mmol or even 7.5 mmol after a meal..if you are only prediabetic I do believe that eating only 20 grams of carbs in each of the 3 main meals will be strict enough.

but anyway do get a meter and try to get your morning numbers to be under 5.5 mmol .


it does help to move more than what one is used to, it also help to build muscles purposely and even raising from ones sofa every half hour does help a bit and then walking some steps.. I mean if you are in a lot of hurt, then do that at least raise up do a bit of some kind of house work or a few movements and this in it self will also help you, when you become great at keeping your blood glucose low then it is actually also possible that your gout and other autoimune diseases will get less servere.. it has in my case at least... I could hardly move initially but did anyway and slowly I got better and better at moving going for longer walks .. and after half a year started going to a fitness center now twice a week for around 5-6 hour each time .. mostly eating lean chicken meat those days... and even have space for a treat on top of that too...

not all can do that... but do something else than you have been used to move more even if you can not really do sports ALL does matter ... and it will also lower your risk of stroke if you get in a better shape... good luck , and keep asking questions in here, there are lots of people that can give you advice ... but you are the only one that can do the difference.. everybody does this in his or her own way... so what would fit your boy-friend is maybe not what works best for you..

I love my meter .. and I´ll keep on checking forever I think

Thank you so much, you're very kind & helpful ( inspirational too)

 

[Resurgam]

I am keeping my numbers normal by diet alone. I have an absolute maximum of 60 gm of carbs a day, usually it is 50 gm, but I think that some days it is lower than that - it all depends on how I am feeling really.
I do eat the 'sweet and crunchy' style of salads which have some grated carrots, and also a low carb vege mix which is frozen and convenient, so served cooked - so I know how much carb is on my plate - also I go by net carbs, as on the UK packaging. Many sites which have 'total' carbs include the fibre, which is not digested by Humans.
I advise getting a meter just to see how high some meals might push your BG. We all react slightly differently so a food which is OK for one might be bad news for another, and other than by testing there is no way to tell.

 

[Alison Campbell]

Hi and welcome to the forum, it's great that you are getting some information about reducing carbs from your nurse. A meter can give you so much encouragement that the changes you are making are working for you and you can learn so much.

I agree with @Freema, I would never be without a meter even though I don't test every day anymore. I'm certain I would have progressed to type 2 fairly quickly without testing as I only get annual checks as I'm just inside the normal levels.

 

[Kristin251]

Many of us eat less than 20 carbs per day and / or fast. A meter is really your only answer. So. You’ll find out what does and doesn’t work.

 

[daisy1]

@darrenjallen

Hello and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 259,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.

 

[paula121s]

Hi,

I love carrots, unfortunately they make me spike so I don't have them very often. I seem to have an issue with most root vegetables. I would suggest you have some with a meal and then check the results.

 

[derry60]

I don't know if you like tinned carrots but they are quite a bit lower in carbs and sugar..4.5 per 100gram carbs and 4.6 sugar..fresh carrots are in the 7 or 9 per hundred gram and 7. something sugar. Big difference

 

[Bluetit1802]

I don't know if you like tinned carrots but they are quite a bit lower in carbs and sugar..4.5 per 100gram carbs and 4.6 sugar..fresh carrots are in the 7 or 9 per hundred gram and 7. something sugar. Big difference

How can that be? It doesn't seem logical to me.

According to carbs & cals, boiled carrots are about 5g per 100g.