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Type 2 How Long Do Carbs Take To Get Out Your System?

Flora123

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,078
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
There is a lot of talk about carbs and how quickly they can cause raised BG. but how long do raised levels last for and is affected?
Made a mistake and guzzled tonic water late last night. Only realised today that it wasn’t my usual low cal and had 12.6 g per 100ml. As a 20ish g a day girl, this was a lot for me. Higher than average readings since. Is it possible it’s still affecting me?

Really annoyed with myself. Readings much better on holiday and now high again. Coincidence or the tonic water? Thanks x
 
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I used to drink tonic water for muscle cramps. It is available sugar free. the active ingredient used to be used to treat malaria, btw

Thanks. Yes I know and that’s what I usually drink.

I wanted to know how long raised levels from my mistake could last for.
 
Have you continued to test after the drink and see how long it took?. Or are you meaning long term, in which case, i wouldn't be drinking it very often or at all if it raises it significantly.
 
No I don’t want to drink it! It was an accident and picked up the wrong bottle in the shop. My readings have been high ever since.
 
Hi Flora, I imagine it is well out of your system by now. I don't think that's an easy question to answer because it depends on so many things. When we consume any carbs we all process them at different rates and it also depends on whether we exercise the carbs away or whether we are sitting on the sofa etc. I am sure individual metabolism comes into it too. I would say (for me), if I eat something carby the after effects go around 4 hours later. If your readings are still high I wonder if something else could be responsible?
 
Fast carbs like the sugar in your drink would be in and out of your system in a couple of hours.
 
The sugar you drank might not have left your body - they could be stored as fat or be in your liver - a few particles might still be floating in your bloodstream. We are complex organisms.
The effects of consuming the sugary drink could have altered your metabolism filled up some storage area, emptied another.
Perhaps another day or so will restore the former situation, maybe some walking or other gently exercise will restart the recovery - it is not something we can really predict - we seem to be far too complex to be understood in entirety.
 
tonic water does not have to be carbonated. And so I am wondering if taking the non carbonated sugar free stuff raises sugar less than the carbonated? My thinking is that if the carbonated variety puts seven atmospheres of pressure on your lungs, maybe carbonated beverages in general raise the bloodsugars higher because of stressing the bod?

I didn’t know that! I don’t appear to have problems with carbonated drinks and this was just a mistake. BG still in the 8s so think it’s stress :(
 
tonic water does not have to be carbonated. And so I am wondering if taking the non carbonated sugar free stuff raises sugar less than the carbonated? My thinking is that if the carbonated variety puts seven atmospheres of pressure on your lungs, maybe carbonated beverages in general raise the bloodsugars higher because of stressing the bod?
I have never heard of non-carbonated tonic water - who makes that? As for the pressure on your lungs, you are supposed to drink it not inhale it.
 
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