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What exactly constitutes "low carb?"

N

Neicy0412

Well-Known Member
Messages
166
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi, just wondering how many carbs are low carb? I eat anywhere from around 154g of carb per day, to about 250g (on a hefty day, usually something to do with a pizza craving!) I use DAFNE so I take insulin to match my carb intake, and rarely have any major issues, but would love to know, how low can you go?
 
There doesn't seem to be any particular agreed international definition of "low". The ADA say between 130 and 250g is moderate so you could assume a value under 130 to be low and a value above 250 to be high. As to how low you can go then that's a matter of some contention as T2 I do around 60g / day but others do sub 30g / day and have done for years without reporting any ill effects. There are T1's on the forum who also do around that 30g mark and quite a few others who do below that 130g value.
 
I try to stay below 15g per meal - I have a self imposed limit of 6-8g of 'obvious' carbs in each meal and get the rest from dairy and veg, but I also snack on low carb stuff so probably hit around 60g per day.

If you're on insulin then you'll probably find that a degree of carb control may help you reduce fluctuations. I'm a type 2 and have found that the lower I can go then the better results I get.
 
Fascinating, how do you "fill up" for instance today I had a muffin for breakfast, 30g then a snack lunch of a peach and two plums, 35g then my main meal was a grilled salmon steak, new potatoes, green beans and cherry tomatoes, 89g I don't feel as if I have eaten a huge amount, I'm not hungry but neither am I full to bursting, I can't get my head around how I could feel satisfied on any less than I've eaten today. Would love more info.
 
After low carbing for 4 months I don't feel hungry, eat chicken (protein) tuna, steak, I don't eat a great deal of veg, but I do have salads everyday mainly lunchtime. But I eat full fat things for my energy, cheese, double cream, real butter, fats on steak etc, I rarely snack now between meals.
 
So you don't eat bread or potatoes? Even the green beans and tomatoes I had today are listed as 20g carb each, in fact I've just checked and most veg in my little book is listed with a carb content, carrots, beet root, leeks even sprouts, so I don't understand how you can go so low, forgive me if I appear a little " thick" but I really want to understand, especially the idea of having a 0 carb meal so no insulin is required,
 
Hi Neicy, I don't eat any bread, rice, pasta or potatoes but still manage to feel well satisfied at each meal. Last night for dinner I had Spagetti bolognese, the rest of the family had pasta with their sauce but I had a pile of cauliflower covered in grated cheese! (Someone else on here called it Cauli Bolli which I thought was a brilliant name for it!) So lush and I was stuffed at the end of it. Things like muffins do not really fill you up for long and have a lot of carbs, you could try yoghurt with berries or a cheese omelette for breakfast. Have a look in the low carb section for recipes and suggestions.
 
I don't eat bread, pasta, rice or potatoes., for salads I have a lettuce leaf, and a handful of watercress, spinach and rocket, 1 cherry tomato, slice of red onion and mix it with real mayo full fat, then either have it with chicken, tuna mayo or crab something like that. Maybe a bit of cheese and a peperami if I am a little more hungry. This is mainly for lunch, breakfast sometime a Finn Crisp with real butter and cheese (3.7g carbs) or pâté wrapped in lettuce leaves and some nuts. Dinner is usually meat with bioled cabbage or brocolli or cauli or a small portion of light veg.

Sometimes occasionally, once a week I can tolerate 1 slice (400g) of wholemeal bread with real butter and ham to make it low GI. For desserts I love sugar free jelly with double cream or clotted cream. Almost every day too :D

I have managed to get my levels down greatly, lost 1.5 stone and feel great.
 
Neicy0412 said:
Hi, just wondering how many carbs are low carb? I eat anywhere from around 154g of carb per day, to about 250g (on a hefty day, usually something to do with a pizza craving!) I use DAFNE so I take insulin to match my carb intake, and rarely have any major issues, but would love to know, how low can you go?
Click to expand...


Good question. I've been told that I low-carb even though I eat on average of 150g of carbs a day, I suppose it's open to interpretation and if you are eating under the RDA then technically you are low-carbing, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what level of carbs you are eating or how you define it as long as you are controlling your diabetes.
 
noblehead said:
Neicy0412 said:
Hi, just wondering how many carbs are low carb? I eat anywhere from around 154g of carb per day, to about 250g (on a hefty day, usually something to do with a pizza craving!) I use DAFNE so I take insulin to match my carb intake, and rarely have any major issues, but would love to know, how low can you go?
Click to expand...


Good question. I've been told that I low-carb even though I eat on average of 150g of carbs a day, I suppose it's open to interpretation and if you are eating under the RDA then technically you are low-carbing, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what level of carbs you are eating or how you define it as long as you are controlling your diabetes.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Neicy0412 said:
So you don't eat bread or potatoes? Even the green beans and tomatoes I had today are listed as 20g carb each, in fact I've just checked and most veg in my little book is listed with a carb content, carrots, beet root, leeks even sprouts, so I don't understand how you can go so low, forgive me if I appear a little " thick" but I really want to understand, especially the idea of having a 0 carb meal so no insulin is required,
Click to expand...

We're not really aiming at a zero carb meal because that cuts out most/all veg. I don't eat bread or potatoes though I occasionally have a crispbread. I fill up by eating a lot of protein and fat and to have something grain-y I use almond flour and coconut instead of normal flour or oats. It's the fat and protein that stops you being hungry.

I started by restricting myself to 120g per day but found that more difficult because you have to just have 1 or 2 slices of bread or just a couple of potatoes and then you crave more (and then eat more).

Also, in your book you are reading the 'Net Carbs' column aren't you?
 
Being a diet only T2 I find I can't control my diabetes if I eat too much starchy foods or sugar so like others are posting I don't eat sugar, rice, bread, pasta, cereals, potatoes or other flour based products except for very occasionally. I fill up on loads of green veg, cheese, eggs, chicken, mince and fish etc. The reasons for doing low carb as T1 are different than T2, less insulin is the obvious one although other low carb T1's can advise you far better than me. It might be work asking what are the pros and cons of T1 low carbing directly on the T1 section of the forum then you can get a better idea.
 
I am on insulin, I have some insulin production left, I can conclude, but am type 1.5, meaning my pancreas is killing itself, slower than type 1, but eventually will get there.

I low-to-moderate carb. I try to stay in fat-burning mode all the time (ketosis) and generally manage.

My carb intake on very active days can be up to about 150g, but on average days with 4 mile walks and general plodding around, I stay in the area of 50g.

Diet is youghurt (3.5g carb/100g) with psysillum or what's they called (fibres) for breakkie. Total maybe 10g carb, never hungry in mornings.

Salad (lettuce, green pepper, bit of salad onion, cheese+ham; tuna; chicken, feta+olives, liberal amount of oil/vinegar dressing or the like). Somewhere around the 15-20g mark, I'd say.

Dinner when active enough (8+ mile walks) 30-50g of carb in the form of lentils or rice + veg, meat and fat (cononut, butter, oil).
Or when less active eggs, cheese, meat, veg omelette; stir fry's without rice etc; veg and meat. (15-20g probably)

During the day I find the afternoon I like to have a bit of something - not that I really have to, but 5-10 almonds (5-7g carb ish) or some cheese works.

I want my bed levels to be around 5 mmol, otherwise I'll have 5g carb around this time too - I really like my almonds, I must admit.

When I exercise, that normally includes an unripe banana or some raisins if I need them. I tend to not for my shorter walks, but if I go on for 3+ hours, I'll need something.
 
Low carb is a very wide term. If looking for a ketogenic diet/life style the carbs need to less than 50g/day or in some cases lower.
 
Great vegetables are cauliflower and white cabbage, fry chopped in small pieces in butter or coconut oil. Asparagus is good, wrap them in bacon and fry in butter. I trying to stay below at least 20g/day and aim for less than 10g/day. Try to reduce slowly and get used to less carbs, but if good carbs.
 
Neicy0412 said:
So you don't eat bread or potatoes? Even the green beans and tomatoes I had today are listed as 20g carb each, in fact I've just checked and most veg in my little book is listed with a carb content, carrots, beet root, leeks even sprouts, so I don't understand how you can go so low, forgive me if I appear a little " thick" but I really want to understand, especially the idea of having a 0 carb meal so no insulin is required,
Click to expand...

Now I a getting confsed (sorry the ' ' and the ' ' don't seeed to be working on y keyboard today :lol: How can green beans and toatoes be 20g carb? nless yo ate loads and loads? On y chart 100g green beans is only 3,4g and tos range fro 1.6 - 2.5g per 100g. A I reading the tables wrong?

The seven is a bit dodgy too :D
 
As I am T2 I dont have to count carbs since I stopped using insulin, I now just eat anything as long as it is in a portion that my meter tells me is OK.

Eat to your meter does not have to mean eating a certain number of carbs a day :thumbup:
 
halfpint said:
Neicy0412 said:
So you don't eat bread or potatoes? Even the green beans and tomatoes I had today are listed as 20g carb each, in fact I've just checked and most veg in my little book is listed with a carb content, carrots, beet root, leeks even sprouts, so I don't understand how you can go so low, forgive me if I appear a little " thick" but I really want to understand, especially the idea of having a 0 carb meal so no insulin is required,
Click to expand...

Now I a getting confsed (sorry the ' ' and the ' ' don't seeed to be working on y keyboard today :lol: How can green beans and toatoes be 20g carb? nless yo ate loads and loads? On y chart 100g green beans is only 3,4g and tos range fro 1.6 - 2.5g per 100g. A I reading the tables wrong?

The seven is a bit dodgy too :D
Click to expand...

Not sure where you are getting the 20g from halfpint the following are taken from the Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible

Green Beans..........3.5g
French Beans.........3.8g (not sure what the difference is?)
Tomatoes .............3g to 5g depending on type

Some processed toms are mush higher though like
Sun Dried Marinated Waitrose....20g!!!!!

So as always test :thumbup:
 
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