How many carbs daily?

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Registered: 08-28-2007
How many carbs daily?
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Sun, 09-02-2007 - 11:12pm
Hi everyone! I have a newbie question for you-how many carbs are a good range to have daily? I am a major carb addict, but it sounds like I have to change that. I'm just not sure what to aim for, I've never counted carbs before.
Thanks for the assistance!
Tammy
Avatar for cl_coldfingers
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Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 09-02-2007 - 11:42pm

Hi Tammy!!!


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Registered: 03-30-2003
Mon, 09-03-2007 - 4:03pm

I try to stick with around 30-45 grams of carbs per meal, but when I was taking my Diabetes education classes, the dietician said anywhere from 30-75 per meal...I think the 75 is way high, but it depends on how your body handles the carbs, and of course what kind of carbs they are.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 09-04-2007 - 12:15am

Joan,


I agree with you. I can't imagine any women being able to eat 75 grams of carbs per meal. Particularly since most of us are over weight. SOmetimes I can't even eat the 45 grams of carbs that I am supposed to have. To be able to take my symlin I must have 30 grams of carbs and if I don't plan to eat that much I am not to take my meds.


The FDA says that you only subtract off the fiber if it is 5 grams or more. Some people subtract off any grams but that isn't accepted by the government.


I hope you are doing well and please keep answering the questions.





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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Wed, 09-05-2007 - 12:47pm

It'll vary person to person. What I did was track my carbs (total carbs not the net carb thing, that was too confusing and frustrating for me) and my blood sugar - for instance, I'd log cereal w/ low fat milk for breakfast at x amount of carbs, then check my blood sugar after breakfast and note that. I'd do the same routine for a week (breakfast then test). Then I'd do breakfast and a mid morning snack then test, over a week, logging it each day. And so on through the day (my dr has said I need only test once per day at this point). By varying what I ate (two graham crackers for a snack, grahams and PB, nuts & raisins homemade trail mix, etc), I got a pretty good idea of the range I needed to keep my test results within range and feel good. For me it runs between 180-200 gm BUT I also need to go up to 200-220 gm just before and in the first day or two of my period - and I have to remember to cut it right back down again. As always YMMV. And too keeping track helped me to keep track of calories as well (since losing weight is on the goal chart) and for the first couple months I also tracked protein, veggies, fruit, fats, grains to make sure I wasn't going overboard in other areas.

A good tip for a carb lover is to get your carbs from whole grains rather than processed stuff - you'll feel satisfied with less quantity for one thing since there's more substance to them, plus they are slower to digest so they don't hit your blood sugar like a ton of bricks the way processed stuff tends to do. My rule of thumb (YMMV) is to avoid white food - white flour, white rice, white sugar, white potato - since they tend to be the things that really skyrocket my blood sugar (and most people's blood sugar based on the glycemic index concept). So, we use whole grain pastas, brown rice instead of white, make our own whole grain breads, etc. Oh, and *portion* control is important - 1/4C of something might not be a big hit to the glucose but 1C can be.

--Deb

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Registered: 10-16-2007
Sun, 10-21-2007 - 1:46am

I think you are going to find HUGE differences between what different people can handle in carbs. I am pretty much set at 15 per meal and no more. I am not on insulin. However, it also depends on which carbs you choose too. 15 grams of chocolate are going to make more of a BS difference that 15 grams of lettuce. :>) Funny that when I was a kid my favorite snack was a head of lettuce and a salt shaker. Today, I have no favorite meal. I look at food as my enemy because it makes sick to eat and sick when I don't eat. I have always eaten properly UNTIL I hit menopause that is. Why does that event change our food intake so much? Today, If I must choose one food that makes me feel good is in a rare grilled rib eye steak which I can never finish. I take a few enjoyable bites and I am full until the next day. This does NOT sound normal even to me. I have to force myself to eat other foods. Another thing I am going through is intestinal slow down. Anyone else? My gut just does not work normally anymore. I have heard this is a diabetes issue.


Kathy

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 10-22-2007 - 12:11am

Kathy,


What you are talking about is called gastroparesis and it is a form of autonomic neuropathy and is not usually present early in diabetes but is miserable to manage.


A carb is a carb regardless of where you get it and they all raise your blood sugar to the same extent. 15 grams of carbs will raise your blood sugar 50 points. A meal plan which emphasizes the variations in food s is what is important. You must have carbs for brain health and so you shouldn't be eating a starvation diet. In diabetic meal planning carbs from veggies aren't counted until you eat two cups at which point they count for 5 grams of carbs. Remember there are carbs in things like milk which you need to prevent osteoporosis.


Did you go for meal planning assistance? If not, I would suggest it as it will help you plan satisfying meals for your self. When I was started on insulin I requested another visit to see the dietitian because it had been many years since my original education classes. Even though I am an RN I was referred to diabetic education when I was first diagnosed. Anyway when I saw the dietitian this time she switched me over to carb counting. I was amazed at how liberating it was. It isn't hard but it really allows me to eat very satisfying meals. For breakfast I get 30 carbs, lunch and dinner I get up to 45, but I usually eat closer to 30 and I get a bedtime snack of 15 crabs and 1 protein.


There is an article in the hanging on folder entitled Eating to Beat Diabetes. It has really good information. Please pull it up and read it.



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Gynecology

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Registered: 04-03-2003
Mon, 10-22-2007 - 10:12am

Hormones have a HUGE impact on how your body uses food. As I noted in a previous post, if I keep to roughly 20-30 gm per meal and 2 snacks, spread out throughout the day (which is my normal average) during the day before and first day or two of my period, my bs goes way LOW. If I increase the carbs by about 5 to 10 gms per meal/snack (so I end up about 30-50 more than usual), I'm fine. Totally hormone related. So it would make some sense that menopause would do whacky things with how you can eat, what looks tasty, etc. - especially for women with diabetes.

--Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2007
Mon, 10-22-2007 - 1:05pm

I don't eat a starvation diet. Sorry I did not mean to make it appear I did. I eat lots of veggies, cheese, low carb tortillas, low carb fruits, Nature's Own double fiber bread in very limited amounts, etc.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2007
Fri, 11-02-2007 - 8:30pm

Hi Kathy32401;


 Geri