Carbohydrates?

[bulkbiker]

This conversation drifted away from this thread’s topic so was split into its own thread: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/hba1c-readings.103920/

Can someone please tell me how many carbs I should be consuming a day.

The daily "requirement" is precisely zero, so anywhere near that should be ok.

 

[Leadinglights]

Eating Low Carb does not mean NO carb but making sure the carbs you do have are worth it for flavour and satisfaction.
It is suggested that people should be aiming at no more than 130g total carbs per day though many do go lower than that to achieve the blood glucose level they need to be at.
Because everybody is different in their tolerance to carb it is impossible to give a simple answer and people determine what suits them by monitoring the effect of foods and meals with a home blood glucose monitor.

 

[Lucyr]

The daily "requirement" is precisely zero, so anywhere near that should be ok.

This really isn’t good advice and I’d completely ignore it. It’s potentially unsafe given you haven’t said what medication you’re on or what other health conditions you have going on too

Make small sustainable changes to your diet, don’t just cut out a food group entirely. Making small gradual changes will reduce your blood sugars slowly which helps reduce the risk of problems with your eye sight whilst bringing your levels down.

 

[bulkbiker]

It’s potentially unsafe given you haven’t said what medication you’re on or what other health conditions you have going on too

Because I eat almost no carbohydrates I am on zero medications and have no other "health conditions".

Hope that helps.

By the way carbs aren't really a "food group" either.

As a wise doctor said recently..

 

[Lucyr]

Because I eat almost no carbohydrates I am on zero medications and have no other "health conditions".

Hope that helps.

By the way carbs aren't really a "food group" either.

As a wise doctor said recently..

View attachment 23429

The original poster who is the one you advised to eat zero carbohydrates has a high hba1c that should be reduced slowly, and they are the one that hasn’t said whether they are on medication or have other health considerations

 

[harbottle]

This is a good article:

Are Carbs Bad For You? Health Benefits and More

While avoiding carbs can be helpful for some people, this does not mean that all carbs are unhealthy. Here are 11 reasons not to fear healthy carbs.

www.healthline.com

I stick to healthy sources of carbs and have no problems with blood sugar. As the article says, certain fruits and veg are highly nutritious.

This is also good:

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates: quality matters What’s most important is the type of carbohydrate you choose to eat because some sources are healthier than others. The amount of carbohydrate in the diet – high or l…

www.hsph.harvard.edu

 

[bulkbiker]

This is a good article:

Are Carbs Bad For You? Health Benefits and More

While avoiding carbs can be helpful for some people, this does not mean that all carbs are unhealthy. Here are 11 reasons not to fear healthy carbs.

www.healthline.com

I stick to healthy sources of carbs and have no problems with blood sugar. As the article says, certain fruits and veg are highly nutritious.

This is also good:

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates: quality matters What’s most important is the type of carbohydrate you choose to eat because some sources are healthier than others. The amount of carbohydrate in the diet – high or l…

www.hsph.harvard.edu

The Harvard article seems to think that "whole grains" are somehow healthier than what "unwhole" grains..?
It's nonsense.. carbs are carbs.. little glucose molecules holding hands whether brown, white or grey.

Mr Leech appears to be a CICO advocate which knocks him down rather in my opinion.

 

[harbottle]

Whole grains contain, um, the 'whole grain'.

You do know what that is?

Refined grains have the bran (Covering) and germ removed during processing, which contains a lot of healthy nutrients and fibre. Hence why brown bread is recommended over white bread.

 

[bulkbiker]

Hence why brown bread is recommended over white bread.

Yet for a T2 both will lead to a blood sugar spike because they are both starchy carbs.
All grains require processing.. there are very few foods made of "whole grains" because they are inedible.

 

[DaveB]

This is a good article:

Are Carbs Bad For You? Health Benefits and More

While avoiding carbs can be helpful for some people, this does not mean that all carbs are unhealthy. Here are 11 reasons not to fear healthy carbs.

www.healthline.com

I stick to healthy sources of carbs and have no problems with blood sugar. As the article says, certain fruits and veg are highly nutritious.

This is also good:

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates: quality matters What’s most important is the type of carbohydrate you choose to eat because some sources are healthier than others. The amount of carbohydrate in the diet – high or l…

www.hsph.harvard.edu

I have to disagree with various points in these linked references. They assume the reader still has quite good insulin function and hence fairly good BS control. There are some of us who can't be quite so free with any carb. I would also challenge some of the 'facts'

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Yet for a T2 both will lead to a blood sugar spike because they are both starchy carbs.
All grains require processing.. there are very few foods made of "whole grains" because they are inedible.

You mean, erm, boiling?
Like processing food by cooking it?
Or is grinding it or chewing it "processing"?

 

[bulkbiker]

You mean, erm, boiling?
Like processing food by cooking it?
Or is grinding it or chewing it "processing"?

Tell me the last time you ate a "whole grain" that hadn't been through multiple processes to make it edible.

Chewing is eating so not processing.

Cooking could be considered the mildest form of processing.
Anything more than that...