Carbs For Type 2 Diabetic.

[lynbrown]

I am on insulin and metformin. Whats the average number of carbs I should consume per day? Female, 11 stone, 5'3'' height.

[nungate]

As the mum of a type 1 diabetic, I'm not sure what the regime is for a type 2.
When she was diagnosed I used to have to read labels and work out the amount of carbs allowed. I think it might be a good idea for you to go back to your diabetic clinic and ask to see the dietician, they will be in a position to explain to you all that is involved in eating a healthy diet and keeping your blood sugars etc at the right levels. If I remember rightly, I used to have to work out "exchanges" which were equal to 10 grams of carbohydrates (hence the label reading) and she was only allowed to have a certain amount of exchanges per day. I hope this helps, but I really think your best bet would be to talk with your diabetic nurse and ask if you could meet up with the dietician. Good luck

[Sqad]

Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are two different animals.........
Type 1 is controllable but not curable, Type 2 is controllable and curable.

Sticking to your question........
No more than 200gms of carbohydrate a day.

My advice:

Don't worry about your carbs..........monitor your pre prandial (before food) blood sugar levels.
Eat as much carb as you like that keeps your pre-prandial blood sugars below 7mmoles/litr.

This will be a matter of trial and error.

[nungate]

What Sqad said ^
Seriously though I do know the difference between the two, I'm a prime candidate for type 2 myself, as it is the form of diabetes which runs in my family, my daughter being the exception. I still say my original advice stands, go talk with your diabetic nurse and the dietician, they are there to give you lots of practical and helpful advice - I've been mum to a diabetic for over 20 years (she was diagnosed as a toddler) and I've always found the staff at our diabetic clinic to be most helpful (and patient, daughter is not a very patient patient!)

[lynbrown]

Thanks for replies. I did have a useful meeting with the Diabetic nurse last month and will see her again next week. I count carbs and have 1 unit insulin per carb (divided by ten). All went well at the start but the last few days I have had lots of too high readings, yet am doing nothing different. Its a real pest this thing!

[lynbrown]

Hi Sqad, reading your reply again and I wonder how ignoring my carbs will keep my blood sugar readings down? or are you saying that plenty carbs will keep the readings down? As you can see, I don't really understand it, all help gratefully received.

[wolf63]

I have PCOS and have been insulin intolerant for decades. I was 'diagnosed' as type 2 diabetes three or four years ago. i am on Metformin.

My doctor told me just to follow a normal balanced diet.

[Sqad]

lyn......I didn't mean that you should ignore your carbs, quite the opposite, but rather than stick to a particular weight regime, " juggling" the carbs that kept your blood sugar within the level that I mentioned above, would be a better option.