Counting Carbs

[lynbrown]

I look at all packaging for my carbs and don't understand the following message. Under Nutrition, it says " Carbohydrate 33.5 of which sugars 12.1". What are the carbs? How much insulin should I take?

 

[Bluetit1802]

It is the total carbs that you need to look at. This is because the sugar is already included in that total. So in your example there are 33.5g carbs in whatever portion size you were looking at on the label. I can't answer your question about how much insulin to take. I don't use insulin.

 

[scotteric]

I look at all packaging for my carbs and don't understand the following message. Under Nutrition, it says " Carbohydrate 33.5 of which sugars 12.1". What are the carbs? How much insulin should I take?

The total carbs require insulin, but the amount of sugar might give you a clue about how fast the carbs will hit you. For example, look at a can of Coke or orange juice and it's all sugar, meaning it will spike you fast. Remember also that fat and protein play a role, in that a portion of the protein may convert to glucose, requiring insulin (though this can take hours), and fat can delay digestion, causing spikes later on after your initial bolus has worn off. Finally, remember it's not an exact science and food labels can be inaccurate.