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Interpreting carbohydrate content

S

srm100841

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Location
South Wales
Hi,

I've been low carbing since the beginning of October last year. Previously I very strictly followed the diabetic dietican's advice which resulted in average annual test results of close to 11 for some 3/4 years. My spread of readings was in the range 7.5 to 14 although I peaked sometimes nearer 18.

Since changing to the low carb diet my readings now average just above 6 and range between 4.5 and 8.5. Lunchtime the levels are highest but only slightly above breakfast and dinner. All in all I'm pretty pleased with the results although I would like to average about 5. Obviously I'm planning to continue low carbing but have a couple of questions concerning which I would appreciate some help.

Firstly I wondered whether people feel that there could be long term consequences of really substantially reducing carb input? My average daily carbs are just below 30. Does this seem reasonable?

Secondly I have a question about food labeling. On a wide range of foods the carb content is described as Carbohydrate content x of which x- is sugar. Which of these is the significant figure, is it the gross carb or the lower residual sugar content?

Steve
 
Gross carb is the figure from what I can tell, since all the carbs turn to glucose eventually anyway.
BTW I try to stick to around 30-50g of carbs a day (depending on my nut/chocolate habit).

I understand Fergus has been a seriously low-carber for ages - can anyone recollect how long exactly? I'm planning to stick to this for as long as I possibly can......

Cheers, BB :D
 
Bernstein advocates 30 carbs per day split 6 for breakfast and 12 each for the 2 main meals. He's T1 and been following this diet for many years. As a result, he's complication free after over 50 years with diabetes. AND he's still working ,Treating diabetic patients. Please discount any rumours that he's hypo all the time, this just isn't true.
You couldn't function as he does if it were.
Hana
Ps
I don't think you can actually go too low on carbs, especially if you don't use medication in T2
You might find it difficult to keep babalnced in T1
 
Steve.
BB is right about the Carbs.
Total/Gross Carbs is the figure to use as they include the quoted sugars. Everything converts to Glucose in the blood stream. If you only count sugars then you are seriously underestimating the effect it will have on your Bg levels.

If you Google the subject there are many studies which state that is detrimental, then again there are probably as many which will say it isn't.

Now that is when we take that leap of faith.......into the unknown. What will the future hold.
I wonder ???

Ken
 
Many thanks Ken and Hana. My 30 carbs a day tends to be a bit lop-sided with breakfast being the lowest intake and dinner being the highest.

You've cleared up my confusion about food labeling which is good. I had assumed that the gross figure was the operative one but had hoped ...............

Steve
 
You've hit on the flaw in the rubbish that's dished out to the newly diagnosed by the diabetic advisors ie. doctors, nurses, dieticians. The "plate" they are so keen on showing shows foods with high sugars and fats separately from carbs. This confused the hell out of me until I got to grips with it.

I have never had a sweet tooth so was a little stuck when I was told to reduce things I never ate in the first place! I was told to use sweetners in my tea and coffee: a bit tricky since I've not liked any sweetening in drinks for 50 years! When I said this, I got a look that I interpreted as dibelief. It gradually dawned on me that it was assumed I was eating a diet at odds with their recommendations as I was grossly overweight.

I didn't get to be overweight until I started "healthy eating"! I now follow a low carb/ high fat diet and finally got some control on both my weight and BG.

The reason I rambled a bit here is becuse I initially thought, as I didn't eat sweet things, I was doing it right! Like you I checked sugar content and didn't worry about total carbs. My doctor's advice was "watch your diet, particularly sweet things and take the Metformin". Through books and this forum, I learned that carbs are carbs - as Ken so rightly says.

I forgot to mention they also ignore the carbs in fruit and vegetables!
Ray
 
Hi Ray,

What I've picked up from this forum is that everyone seems to treat the NHS advice with scepticism or should I say HEALTHY scepticism!

It's almost a year since I had my last check up at the clinic so another visit will be due in 4 - 6 weeks. When I disclose how I've changed my diet then I guess I might get some criticism.

Steve
 
srm100841 said:
Hi Ray,

What I've picked up from this forum is that everyone seems to treat the NHS advice with scepticism or should I say HEALTHY scepticism!

It's almost a year since I had my last check up at the clinic so another visit will be due in 4 - 6 weeks. When I disclose how I've changed my diet then I guess I might get some criticism.

Steve
Click to expand...

Steve,

It is your diabetes, your life, you are the one who has to live with this condition every day. As long as you are happy with your life style change, feel fit and well and are achieving excellent results, it is no business of anyone else on how you choose to manage your diabetes.

Nigel
 
Even in the first handouts I was given by the DN it states that you are 60% of your medical team so, on that basis, you can outvote the rest of the team at all times if you think you are following the wisest course! 8) :D
 
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