Carbs- net or total

[KrisinNM]

This is a question for anyone on MDI or pumps. I don't get this "net carbs" thing. I understand that you subtract the carbs from fiber or some such thing. But my question is: which carb count do you bolus for???

[duck]

I use the net number; Fiber has never affected by sugars, and to this day NO ONE has been able to tell me why "fiber" is treated as a "carb".

[JasonSmithMT]

My dietician told me to subtract fiber from the total carbohydrates only if it is over 5 grams.

This is also what the ADA recommends:
Because fiber is not digested like other carbohydrates, for carbohydrate counting purposes, if a serving of a food contains less than or equal to 5 grams of dietary fiber, you can subtract the grams of dietary fiber from the total carbohydrate serving of that food.

source: Types of Carbohydrate (Diabetes.org) (http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/types-of-carb.jsp)


Also a lot of the "Net Carb" labels will subtract out all of the sugar alcohol. I was told to only subtract half.


Sugar alcohols don’t raise blood glucose as much as the same amount of other carbohydrates. To figure out the amount of other carbohydrate you should count for a food with sugar alcohols, follow these tips:

Subtract half of the sugar alcohol grams from the total carbohydrate
Count the remaining grams


source: Sweeteners & Desserts (Diabetes.org) (http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/sweeteners.jsp)


As always, it is best to talk to your dietician and/or physician to see what they think is the best for you.

Jason

[mark-TN]

Jason-

If I read your post correctly, it seems that you are doing just the opposite of what the ADA recommends. I'm I reading this wrong?

Mark

[JasonSmithMT]

Jason-

If I read your post correctly, it seems that you are doing just the opposite of what the ADA recommends. I'm I reading this wrong?


Didn't even notice that it said "less than or equal to 5 grams of dietary fiber". Thats what I get for a quick cut and paste. I believe they have it wrong on the ADA website on that page. They should say "greater than".

Here is another page on the ADA site:

The grams of sugar and fiber are counted as part of the grams of total carbohydrate. If a food has 5 grams or more fiber in a serving, subtract the fiber grams from the total grams of carbohydrate for a more accurate estimate of the carbohydrate content.

source:Taking a Closer Look at the Label (http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodlabel/closer-look.jsp)



Sorry for the confusion.

Jason

[mark-TN]

Jason-

No need to apologize for any confusion. The ADA just needs to get their story straight. :p Thanks for clearing that up.

Mark

[KrisinNM]

Thanks guys. Looks like I will not eat anything that I prepare myself for awhile. I am trying to lose the 20 lbs that attached themselves to me the minute I quit smoking last year :( I have always been able to quesstimate the # of carbs in a meal by looking at it but now am trying to stay below 100 carbs and 1,000 calories a day. The net carb thing really threw me for a loop.
I think I need a tiny calculator to go with my pump!

[Scooter]

I've been told the same as Jason posted. Subtract if 5 grams of fiber or more and subtract 1/2 the SAs.

[Sinner]

My dietician told me to subtract fiber from the total carbohydrates only if it is over 5 grams.

My dietician told me the same.


Also a lot of the "Net Carb" labels will subtract out all of the sugar alcohol. I was told to only subtract half.

My dietician told me to just experiment with sugar alcohols and see what they do. So far they don't even touch my BG at all so I don't count them. YMMV of course.

[duck]

Eeesh, sugar alcohols...Be close to the toilet if you consume that "****".

:whistling

[KrisinNM]

:stupid: uh, guys? what is a sugar alchohol???

[duck]

:stupid: uh, guys? what is a sugar alchohol???

Sorbitol, malitol; These are sweet sunbstances that are used as sugar replacements since they are not absorbed by the body and are unlike alcoholic beverages in that they should not make you feel intoxicated. However, when I say they do not get absorbed, for people like me they seem to need to find a way out...and real fast. I avoid them at ALL costs.

(I know, TMI)

[TAutry]

The sugar alcohols are non-nutritive sweeteners that have little impact on blood sugar. Some of the most common are sorbitol, malitol and mannitol. As duck alluded, they have a laxative-like side effect if over consumed or if one is sensitive to them.

I can recall when 'sugar free' products started being more widely available in my local stores. Another diabetic told me about a particular brand of cookies. I tried them. I followed the suggested serving size exactly, but still had difficulty with them. It turns out that I am sensitive to their side effect. I have had several unpleasant occurences when dealing with sugar alcohols. These days, I try to avoid them entirely.

Travis

[KrisinNM]

OK, those are the things I look for in the ingredients before I buy anything "sugar free". If they are present the item goes back on the shelf.
I read somewhere that mannitol is a baby laxative. :whistling

[TAutry]

Kris,

From my experience with it, I'd really hate to see what mannitol does when it's all grown up:eek:

Travis