• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

How to count carbs

What particular questions do you have?

On a basic level, it's as simple as reading the back of the food label. On a high level, you would subtract grams of fiber and subtract sugar alcohols (although some people claim they affect their blood sugar)

Net Carbs (g)= (Number of portions) x (Total Carbohydrates - Grams of Fiber - Sugar Alcohols)

So if the back of the label read:
Total Carbs: 38g
Fiber: 9g
Sugar Alcohols 6g

and I was eating two servings worth:
(2) x (38g-9g-6g)= 46g of net carbs
 
In the UK its a simple read of the packaging............

some stuff is displayed as grams per 100g of food item.....

so you would need to weigh out the portion you are having and calculate the carbs from that......
 
Hi. The first poster was probably not in the UK and was referring to USA carb labelling which does usefully show fibre content. In the UK it doesn't mention it and is included. Most people start with a ratio of 1 unit of Bolus to 10gms carbs and then find the ratio that works for them. Currently I'm around 1.1:10.
 
although this is for MDI T1's, as a T2 on insulin, I think it may help until you can get on a course or your nurse walks you through it. I would ask for a reduced carb meal plan, like LCHF. some people have gotten off of insulin with this way of eating. as you can read on the forum.
pick it up at page 7 and focus on the carb counting
An Introduction to Carbohydrate Counting ,
The Next Steps
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It would be just measuring the carbs with your meals. You just need to alter as you go to get desired outcomes. The courses mentioned may help. It depends as to why you were put on insulin in the first place too. This idea that type 2's can be taken off insulin isn't correct unless they still have their own insulin being produced. Here the docs don't place you on insulin unless you are not producing your own. Well I haven't heard of any type 2 here being placed on it without the diagnostic tests being done again (c-peptide & GAD tests). Maybe it differs in other countries.
 
@MellitusTrap i would check with your nurse and GP before changing your diet to ensure that any diet you follow is not contra-indicated because of health issues. You will also benefit from as much knowledge as yo can get around the use of insulin. Your nurse should be able to give you initial advice until you can access a course. You may have to ask for a course if it s not offered.

Take care

Doug
 
Back
Top