How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thread

[Sid Bonkers]

As I have been bursting to comment on the "How many carbohydrates do you consume per day" pole thread I thought I would start this thread.

First things first, I voted 'Between 101 - 130g' as I am guessing that is the average, although some days I may only eat around 70g or less like today I have had a fried breakfast with the only carbs being a spoonful of baked beans and whatever bread may have been in the two quality pork sausages I ate. For lunch I am going to have a can of Tescos Chicken soup which from memory is only about 16g of carbs per can. Diner is as yet undecided but will probably involve a couple of tbls of basmati rice and an orange for afters.

So basically although I do count carbs or am aware of the carbs I eat I dont necessarily eat the same amount of carbs every day.

Another point I would like to voice is that my average Ac1's are 5.5% where as some members who claim to be super low carbers have Ac1's in the 6's and even the 7's so does it really mean anything? Its been said on this forum so often that every ones diabetes is different as is every member so I'm unsure what this 'survey' is going to prove, as I'm sure you are all aware I am always deeply suspicious of statistics

Just wondered what others think?

 

[catherinecherub]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

Personally I think the poll is to highlight what people perceive as a "low carb diet". I don't know what that is as people say things like, "I am low carbing" and then go on to say that they eat all the things that other "low carbers" ban.
I too am amazed when someone who reinforces that low carb is the best option and then publishes an HBA1c above target levels even though they have been "low carbing" for ages. I always was led to believe by members that do not post anymore or have been banned that it was a quick method to gain control and led to amazing results in a short time.
I have been using this forum for nearly three years and still cannot say that a definition of low carbing actually exists.

 

[cugila]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

Firstly the Poll is just questions about peoples carbohydrate consumption. Nothing more. Sue and I were interested to know for our own benefit - nobody elses.

What it shows at present is that there is no one orthodoxy here as there is a broad spectrum of numbers.

It is a straw poll just the same as asking a group of people which way they vote. It means something to us ! We don't plan to do anything with the results, just in case the conspiracy theorist's wonder !
Sue & Ken

 

[noblehead]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

The results were rather surprising, but in truthfulness it reaffirms what we have said for many years on this forum and that is ''we are all different''!

There is, and never will be one way to control diabetes, yes carb reduction works but to what level is purely personal and it shows that it is unnecessary to follow any doctrine set out by the likes of Bernstein or Atkins......although if someone chooses to follow this path when all else fails well that is fine....they have to find out what works for them!

I voted 'More than 130g' as I consume anything between 110g to 150g per day (dose adjust for each meal) which produces excellent results for me, I like many people who voted see carbohydrates as a essential part of a well balanced diet and see no reasons to change my view.

Nigel

 

[primmers]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I'm not surprised at low carb advocates not all having really low HbA1c readings; the carb intake is just one of a number of variables. How severe the deterioration of pancreatic function before starting to reduce carbs, co-morbidities, ability to exercise and exercise patterns, genetic make up etc will all impact on the overall effect of reducing the 'carbs in' side of the equation. A person with virtually no innate pancreatic function remaining who manages to have a HbA1c that's within HCP guidelines and have their meds reduced on the back of it is a success story for lower carbs even if their HbA1c is higher than a newly diagnosed only-a-bit-broken low carber, never on meds. I don't see myself as being in competition with you with the prize going to the lowest HbA1c, I see myself trying to make my health better than it might otherwise be.

I'm due my second HbA1c this month and am keen to see what it is. For the most part I have stuck to 75-100 g a day. I am not able to afford continuous monitoring at the moment and the practice, supported by SIGN guidelines, will not entertain prescribing strips, so I don't know for sure what's happening. I think it's probably mostly ok as I feel muzzy headed on waking far less often than I did before starting to lower my carb intake.

 

[viviennem]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I would probably call 100g to 150g, controlled carb;

75g to 100g, moderately low carb;

below 75g, low carb;

and 30g or less, very low carb.

But that's just in my opinion.

Viv 8)

 

[ailz]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I've cut my carbs to under 100 - but that is also to help me to lose weight. It's probably the only thing I haven't tried in the past to lose weight ; having my bg levels go up is giving me an excuse to get more proactive in my care. Having started on Duloexetine 3 months ago my fibromyalgia fog has faded (thankfully) and I am more capable of thinking about things.

I've cut out bread, potatoes, rice and flour, lost a couple of kilos and am getting my bg under better control - so it's working for me.

 

[phoenix]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I think that what constitutes a high/low/moderate carb diet depends not on the number of carbs eaten but on their proportion of the total energy intake. Peoples needs vary. Most sources suggest somewhere between 40% and 55% of the diet should be carbs. On average carbs provide 47% of the energy intake of people in the UK.
In my opinion this suggests that below 25% of the diet as carbs is low (half that of the 'norm)

For a woman who is trying to lose weight and say eating about 1400 calories, then 25% carbs would be abut 90g carb a day. A man eating the GDA of 2500 calories and eating 90g carb would only be eatng 15% of his food as carbs.
On the other hand someone who needed to eat 4000 calories in a day; for example backpacking in the hills would need to eat 250g carbs to have 25% of their diet as carbs. This would be a low level of carb to fuel relatively strenuous, sustained exercise.

My own intake varies enormously. On a sedentary day, I probably eat between 100 and 150, sometimes less. When I'm being more active as in that backpacking in the hills example or running more than 25miles a week, or lots of heavy gardening. I'll eat more carbs. I don't add all the carbs up because I eat quite a lot of them without insulin during the activity itself. I may also have to reduce both basal and meal time insulin.
Inevitably if I have regular days like this, as on a backpacking holiday or higher weekly/running mileage, I will lose weight . tThough, I may eat a little more, I don't increase my overall calorie level to the amount expended. (and carbs have less calories than fat). I eat a higher number and proportion of carbs, take less insulin, keep good glucose levels (sometimes a bit too low) and lose weight!

I also think where those carbs come from is important, but that's a different subject.

 

[catherinecherub]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

Advice for newbies is a good start and very welcome but other questions have to be asked before people jump in and affirm that their approach is the way forward. It is often the case that members do not reveal other problems they are facing until much later. We are not Dr's and we do not know all the answers for other people's management.


.....Not all of us have specific goals.
....We don't all like the same foods.
.....Other health problems may hinder progress.
.....Activity levels play a part in management.
....Medications not related to diabetes can effect control.
....Stressors both physical and psychological have a bearing on control.
(I am sure there are other factors to take into consideration).

We all have to find a way of eating that works for us as individuals and that is what the advice for newbies tries to do.

 

[ailz]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

Very true Catherinecherub. We all only speak for ourselves. As we keep on trying to tell our Diabetic controllers (like the Borg they think we're all the same) no two diabetics are the same - in exactly the same way that no two people are the same. What suits me - and I have plenty of extra problems and little mobility :roll: ) may be totally gross to someone else. Newbies should use this site as a sounding board and for help and encouragement, but not follow anyone's way of thinking blindly.

Cheers
Ailz

 

[spideog]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

As Pheonix said, it all depends on what your up to as to what may count as "low" for you. I think I'd be getting through between 250-300g per day but it could also go a bit above and below that depending on exactly what I'm up to at the time.

 

[nicolelord2]

Probably 75 to 100 carb....per day.

 

[Patch]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I think t's easier to define than all of that - ESPECIALLY if one is following a lo-carb regimen specifically to lose weight.

The mechanism for losing weight through carb restriction is called Ketosis. Ketosis ONLY STARTS when your carbohydrate intake is <50gm per day (ideally under 30gm).

If you are eating carbs at a level that does NOT put you in ketosis, you're less likely to see any significant (although you will see some) weight loss.

There's a bigger debate to be had - because although some can say "I eat 240gm carbs per day, and my BG is fine", this means that (assuming you are NOT on meds) your pancreas is doing the work to keep your BG under control.

If your pancreas (your diabetic pancreas) has a limited funtioning life, you'll eventually wear it out, and you'll need to add meds, or reduce carbs to a level that your now worn out pancreas can handle.

Like I said - bigger debate. Happy to discuss this in a separate thread if anyones up for it? (Providing it doesn't turn into a witch hunt... :wink: )

 

[sugarless sue]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I low carb, have done for 4 years and am still not on any medication. I have probably never been in ketosis but have lost over 3 stone in weight. The key to this is not only carb reduction but portion sizes reduction as well. This also has the effect of reducing calories as well... ....and no I am not starving either !

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

The mechanism for losing weight through carb restriction is called Ketosis. Ketosis ONLY STARTS when your carbohydrate intake is <50gm per day (ideally under 30gm).

If you are eating carbs at a level that does NOT put you in ketosis, you're less likely to see any significant (although you will see some) weight loss.

I managed to lose a little over 4 stone while on insulin and eating around 80g to 100g a day, I have sustained that weight loss and now eat slightly more carbs a day, so you do not have to be in ketosis to lose weight. Oh and because of my arthritis and respiratory problems I do very little exercise, in fact through the winter months I rarely leave the house except to walk round Tesco's or similar. Many others too have controlled their diabetes and lost weight without resorting to a ketosis diet, so a sentence like "you're less likely to see any significant (although you will see some) weight loss" is pure fiction. There is always more than one way to skin a cat, you shouldnt assume that the best way is always ketosis.

If your pancreas (your diabetic pancreas)

Is there more than one sort of pancreas then? :wink:

If your pancreas has a limited funtioning life, you'll eventually wear it out

Thats a pretty big 'IF' Patch, if weight and bg levels are brought under control by diet and or meds then insulin resistance (IR) should reduce thus taking the strain off your pancreas. I see no reason why anyone would wear there pancreas out after their weight and bg levels are controlled. Meds are just a tool the same as diet and if used together they can bring excellent results.

Like I said - bigger debate. Happy to discuss this in a separate thread if anyones up for it? (Providing it doesn't turn into a witch hunt... :wink: )

Post one up Patch, all the witches have been banned :lol:

 

[lovinglife]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I use between 100 - 130g carb a day - I managed to lose 7st in 12 months whilst doing this and I am on gliclizide - supposedly causes weight gain :?:

 

[cugila]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

LL.

Glic causes the weight gain mostly when it is used in conjunction with the typical NHS/DUK diet plan. I was on it and it was a toss up whether it was the Glic or the diet put all my weight on after diagnosis.

However reducing the carbs and keeping fat content low worked wonders for me. Like you I lost over 5½ stone in 12 months because as Sue said, my portion sizes were reduced which also meant less calories. A recognised way to lose weight.....and no, I too never was in Ketosis. Still losing weight on the same regime, although I must admit carbs vary from day to day. Anything from 50 to 70g per day now, sometimes a bit less, not often though.

Just shows how everybody is different. It just goes to show that if something works well for you don't ever listen to anybody who tells you it's unsustainable......it is for myself, and I believe, Sue.

I love how we have such a varied cross section here who do all sorts of different things yet still achieve great results.......no one particular way of doing things........

 

[lovinglife]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

Glic causes the weight gain mostly when it is used in conjunction with the typical NHS/DUK diet plan.

Very true Ken - like my GP once said to me glic in itself doesn't cause weight gain but it can increase your appetite - you just have not to be greedy :roll: :roll: - luckily my GP & DN do not push the plenty carbs mantra 8)

I wa never in Ketotis either - don't beleive its needed for wieght loss (IMHO)

 

[noblehead]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

If you are eating carbs at a level that does NOT put you in ketosis, you're less likely to see any significant (although you will see some) weight loss.

Well I've lost 2 stone over the last 18 month without being in ketosis, weight is far easier to keep off when lost slowly over a period of time eating a sensible diet that is not detrimental to your health.

Nigel

 

[the_exile]

Re: How many carbohydrates do you consume per day - Chat Thr

I think I'm a freak of nature, I usually eat around 300 grams of carbohydrate a day and I'm as slim as you can get, 11 and a half stone, my insulin ratio's are 1:1 so don't take that much insulin to cover the carbs, hba1c's are pretty good too, although last one was pushing up towards the 8% mark.