Keto / Very low carb/low carb/normal carbs in grams

[Jenny65]

Hi

I am cutting down on carbs to help lose weight and get to grips with diabetes. I am confused by conflicting advice over what is considered low carb. Am I right in thinking that if a non-diabetics daily carbs should be 250 = 300g. Keto is under 20g a day. very low carb is 20-50g a day, low carb is 50 - 100g a day so how many carbs a day is optimal for type 2 diabetes as well as being sustainable, I realise me sticking to 100g or less a day may not be low enough.

 

[Inka]

Low carb is anything under 130g a day @Jenny65 🙂

 

[grovesy]

There is no one size fits all. You have to find what suits you and can maintain.

 

[Felinia]

I tried various options, starting at 50gm a day. I soon found that did not suit my body and now have 90gm +- 15gm a day. I fill my plate with extra veggies. If you are testing before and 2 hours after each meal, you'll soon work out which carbs spike your blood glucose and can adjust accordingly. For example I learned my body is happy with one slice from a medium cut 400gm wholemeal loaf, but not two slices. And I react badly to apples!

 

[nonethewiser]

Hi

I am cutting down on carbs to help lose weight and get to grips with diabetes. I am confused by conflicting advice over what is considered low carb. Am I right in thinking that if a non-diabetics daily carbs should be 250 = 300g. Keto is under 20g a day. very low carb is 20-50g a day, low carb is 50 - 100g a day so how many carbs a day is optimal for type 2 diabetes as well as being sustainable, I realise me sticking to 100g or less a day may not be low enough.

Can't help with your question, just picking up on non diabetic carb intake should be, would be very surprised if you asked anyone in street what their intake should be, or any other for that matter like protein & fat, its just something no one takes notice of tbh.

 

[Lucyr]

Sounds like you’re overthinking it. Just eat what is sustainable for you and gives decent blood sugars when balanced with whatever medication or no medication you choose.

 

[eddymyers]

I tried various options, starting at 50gm a day. I soon found that did not suit my body and now have 90gm +- 15gm a day. I fill my plate with extra veggies. If you are testing before and 2 hours after each meal, you'll soon work out which carbs spike your blood glucose and can adjust accordingly. For example I learned my body is happy with one slice from a medium cut 400gm wholemeal loaf, but not two slices. And I react badly to apples!

Sorry to highjack the post......Felinia - when you say you react badly to apples - how did you find this out? i am one step away from having a food item, waiting 2 hours to prick test before having a different food item! It would make for interesting eating habits if i was only having 1 food stuff at a time and nothing else for 2 hours afterwards! hahaha

 

[Nige13]

Everyone is different - I try to keep to 100 -130 carbs per day but sometimes under that. I had oven chips last night for the first time in a few months and didnt spike my bloods at all ( happy days ) I suppose it's like people say and it's a bit of trial and error and not one fits all but good luck 🙂 ( everything in moderation).

@nonethewiser - my nephew can tell you everything he eats per day per meal lol as he is a fitness instructor and takes note of all fats, carbs, proteins etc.

 

[Leadinglights]

I think what is just as important in keeping on an even keel is not just the total carbs per day but what the maximum amount you have at any one meal is.
I sometimes see people have what would be half my total in the day at one meal but if that suits them that is fine but unless they have tested then it is a risky strategy.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Sorry to highjack the post......Felinia - when you say you react badly to apples - how did you find this out? i am one step away from having a food item, waiting 2 hours to prick test before having a different food item! It would make for interesting eating habits if i was only having 1 food stuff at a time and nothing else for 2 hours afterwards! hahaha

It doesn't work that way.
An apple by itself may be ok, and give an acceptable rise.
A banana by itself may be ok.
Half a banana and half an apple may spike you.
An apple with a high fat food like cream may have no effect at all.
It all depends on you, and more importantly the food combinations.
Carbs aren't equal, not even the same carb on a different plate!

 

[eddymyers]

It doesn't work that way.
An apple by itself may be ok, and give an acceptable rise.
A banana by itself may be ok.
Half a banana and half an apple may spike you.
An apple with a high fat food like cream may have no effect at all.
It all depends on you, and more importantly the food combinations.
Carbs aren't equal, not even the same carb on a different plate!

That kind of means even with testing we do not learn exactly what triggers us/sends us high - until we do it! There will be an endless amount of testing to check all sorts of different combinations etc!!!! oh well, i guess we do what we can...

Do people (T2D) test every meal? how many days/months/years have you been doing it?

 

[Nige13]

That kind of means even with testing we do not learn exactly what triggers us/sends us high - until we do it! There will be an endless amount of testing to check all sorts of different combinations etc!!!! oh well, i guess we do what we can...

Do people (T2D) test ever meal? how many days/months/years have you been doing it?

I'm type2 but don't test after every meal these days but use to test before then 2 hours after just to see what does and does not spike my sugars. I now just test if I'm having something different or even the same foods as normal but in different combinations, if that makes sense? I had oven chips last night which I haven't had in a long time and didn't spike my bloods at all 🙂 I go on holiday at the end of the month so will be checking a little more regulary.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

That kind of means even with testing we do not learn exactly what triggers us/sends us high - until we do it! There will be an endless amount of testing to check all sorts of different combinations etc!!!! oh well, i guess we do what we can...

Do people (T2D) test ever meal? how many days/months/years have you been doing it?

Well, I was diagnosed ten years ago.
I reversed it eight years ago.
I rarely test now.

But, when I did test, I went for the highs, not the lows.
Certainly, it's a good guide.
Some things raised me regardless.
Others didn't.
Some mixed meals were bad.
Others were good.
Not consistently though, but I did write a few things off.

Then you get into exercise.
Then you get into finger temperature.

I could lose a bad reading from running up stairs or simply running my hand under a hot tap.

I could eat and get a long gentle plateau of a point or two.
I could eat and get a quick high spike.
The same overall, but it showed all carbs were completely different.

So, for me, while it's a good guide, it's a bit like throwing a rock into a pond.
On a calm day, you'll see massive ripples, on a stormy day, you'll see nothing.
On another day you'll hit a fish.
Same rock though.

Others have different views, and will have their own regime.

 

[grovesy]

At times I have tested every meal or one meal a day, in rotation. Now test after every meal but I use the Libre 2., sensor.

 

[eddymyers]

At times I have tested every meal or one meal a day, in rotation. Now test after every meal but I use the Libre 2., sensor.

did you buy your own libre 2 sensor? where from and how much - i might look into it....

 

[helli]

did you buy your own libre 2 sensor? where from and how much - i might look into it....

If you want one sensor, you could sign up for the free trial which is available from their website. This will give you 2 weeks of data which gives you a fair chance to check out the effect of 2 weeks of meals and exercises.
However, please please be aware of the limitations of Libre (and all CGMs) and make sure you have NFC on your phone.
The key limitations I can think off the top of my head are
- some people find it can take a couple of days to "bed in"
- it calibrated to be most accurate at "normal" levels (between about4 and 9 mmol/l)
- if you apply pressure to a sensor (e.g. when you lie on it in bed), you can get compression lows (false low readings)
- it is factory calibrated and some people find they are unlike 'factory man"

 

[Felinia]

Sorry to highjack the post......Felinia - when you say you react badly to apples - how did you find this out? i am one step away from having a food item, waiting 2 hours to prick test before having a different food item! It would make for interesting eating habits if i was only having 1 food stuff at a time and nothing else for 2 hours afterwards! hahaha

I had a sliced apple with my meal (cheese and apple salad if I remember correctly). None of the other food items in the meal had ever caused a spike so it had to be the apple. I used to like cottage cheese and peach salad, but now I've swapped the peach for prawns.

 

[grovesy]

did you buy your own libre 2 sensor? where from and how much - i might look into it....

Yes I buy, I can't get even get test strips on prescription. I buy direct from Aboott website. I can't remember the price for one, but I have just ordered 4, £193-16,that is minus the VAT.

 

[Drummer]

I am very sensitive to carbs and eat every 12 hours or less. I have always known that the 'normal' diet was wrong for me, but have always been advised, very strongly to eat other than low carb.
By testing and checking I have found a level which means I stay in normal numbers, do not put on weight and I can have good things to eat. We can't go by what others can cope with as that varies quite a lot.

 

[nonethewiser]

@nonethewiser - my nephew can tell you everything he eats per day per meal lol as he is a fitness instructor and takes note of all fats, carbs, proteins etc.

That figures, figures will mean nothing to average Joe.