40 gms.carbs per meal?

[ceberezin]

A friend of mine with type 2 diabetes has told me that his dietician told him that 50-60 gms of carbs per day is OK for someone who is pre-diabetic, but once you're diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, you need to eat 40 gms of carbs at each meal. Does anyone have any idea what this dietician is talking about? I have told him that I am skeptical about this information, but I'd like to show him some evidence that this advice is off the mark.

[Gaelen]

Ceberezin, there is a practice called "Constant Carbohydrate Meal Planning" (see link) (http://www.uchsc.edu/misc/diabetes/udchap12.html) that is often used as a teaching tool for parents of diabetic kids to teach both how to eat by controlling carbs. It's not specific to Type I, Type II or pre-diabetes, but rather used as a guide so that people don't have to count carbs. Other approaches are carb counting, and exchange meal plans.

This link (http://www.diabetes-low-carb.org/content/view/14/32) describes a low-carb approach to managing Type I diabetes by including diet to regulate insulin needs...and no way includes 50g carbs per meal, although probably that much per day is possible depending on the person.

It sounds to me like your friend's dietician is following or sticking closely to the ADA recommendations that 60% of calories should come from carbs, and that the best way to manage Type II diabetes is to teach the patient to use the Constant Carb Meal Planning method (aim for X amount of carbs per meal, always, so you don't have to count.) Your friend might be better served by checking out Dr. Bernstein's site here (http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/), for a low-carb approach to regulating blood sugars in pre, Type I and Type II diabetes. It's a lot closer to 50g carbs per day (or less, depending) and with a lot more science to back him up. Here is a recent study that examined the differences in effect between Type II diabetics who ate 60% of calories as carbs, vs. a group that kept their carb intake to 20% of calories that may help show your friend that fewer carbs per day is better: http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/3/1/22

BTW, good to see you in these parts--welcome in!

[LisaS]

Here is a little more on the press coverage about that Swedish study (linked in Gaelen's post) -

the webmd article that shows ADA (sort of) admitting low carb works for diabetics when discussing this study
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/123/115211.htm

Regina's blog entry that discusses the webmd article
http://weightoftheevidence.blogspot.com/2006/06/ada-acknowledges-low-carb-diets-help.html

[lowcarbgirl]

but once you're diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, you need to eat 40 gms of carbs at each meal.

I have told him that I am skeptical about this information, but I'd like to show him some evidence that this advice is off the mark.

Give him a copy of PP or PPLP to read, they cover much of the evidence right in their books and I can't think of anything better to show him than what the Eades (who I thank the Goddess for everyday) wrote.

Hugs,
Willow

[gitfiddle]

Several years ago, my Diabetes Educator gave me 15g of carbs for each meal and another 15g for a snack, which totalled 60g for the day. I didn't pay much attention to it because I was more into calories at the time, but I guess it wasn't such bad advice. At that level, I can keep my HBA1C at 5.9. It wasn't until I read PP that I really understood what insulin can do to my body and I want to keep it very very low.

[cmcole]

That level sounds like what the Diabetic Counsellor told my hubby recently, as well.

I told him that I would eat up my entire allowance in the first half of the day, following something like that level.

[bigdawg_SLC]

I am still totally amazed that the medical profession hasn't jumped on the Eades' band wagon (not really, the phamacutical companies pay them big bucks to have their clients fill the medicine cabinets with their prescription drugs)....It just makes sense, if your body cant or doesn't produce enough insulin (or more likely, you become insulin resistant) -- reduce the amount of sugar you put in your body! DOH!

[~april~]

I completely agree. Everyone has heard of atkins (They either love it or hate it) but not many people have even heard of protein power. I do not understand it. Anyone who has read both books can clearly see that Atkins was more about losing weight, not really explaining how it works, and PP gets into the science of it, explaining it REALLY well. I've wondered about this for a few years now......

[Lena68]

I was recently diagnosed with Diabetes as well, and am in the middle of the Diabetes Education course that my doctor recommended. Last Thursday was the dietician providing us with meal plans...and I was very shocked and disappointed.

She saw my log of blood glucose readings and said "Great! Are you on any medications?" I replied No, but I'm doing Low Carb and she almost freaked out "That's so Unhealthy!! You're getting way too much protein!"

Her plan for me was a total of 180g of carbs for the day...ick. I think that's more carbs per day than what put my last 20 pounds on. She was completely closed off to discussing a lower carb level for me--Do they usually let you request a different type of dietician when it comes to Diabetes support? I guess it's kind of pointless anyways...the PP books are pretty good with suggestions if you keep them fresh in your mind.

[Golden Girl]

I am heading to a dietitian next week about my recent dx of hperglycemia (pre diabetic?) and I'm scared to death. I've eaten a LC diet, gone off the wagon and now eat about 50 to 70 carbs a day but maintaining.

Everything I've been hearing or reading is the guidelines want you to eat at least 30 carbs per meal plus 15 carbs for a snack. WOW.
My girlfreind (pre D) said to eat 16 (15 each) exchanges a day! Holy moly! That's 240 carbs a day. NO way!

How am I going to gently tell this dietician I can't eat that much? I only am 5"1½" and maintain on about 1500 calories a day!

Julie

[~april~]

Golden Girl & Lena - I'm there with you too. I went to my diabetic nutritionist who believed LC was of "the devil" (to put it bluntly). I am just amazed at the backwards thinking that a lot of nutritionists still have!!!!! My doctor is all for LC, but the nutritionist (who I was referred to ) does not believe in it at all.

I tried their diet, BTW. My readings were horrible. It does not work (for me).

[Golden Girl]

April, what am I going to do? Just go to her, listen and then go my merry way?

I did an experiment last night. I ate carbs before bedtime. snack size popcorn and banana and guess what? My BG this morning was only 106. It's been up there between 115-127 this past month. My gf who has had lots of education said your liver kicks in in the middle of the night if you're low in carbs. So in the morning your readings will be higher.

I'm sure you all know this but I'm new to all this. So I'm thinking this all is find out what works for your own body.

[Golden Girl]

My post just went into cyberspace...this as happened several times. Is there a delay on my posting here? I'm new to this site.

I just wrote that a gf told me last night, who is educated in diabetes to eat some carbs before bedtime since my morning #'s are high. So I tried it. I ate a snack size popcorn and a banana and guess what? My fasting BG this morning was only 106! YEAH...best in a month.

So I'm thinking we need to find out how our bodies each react. Is that your take on it?

April, should I just cancel that appt? Seems fruitless doesn't it?

Hope I don't lose this post...

[bluejay111]

Don't worry about what your dietician says. It's your life. If their diet plan kills you it's no skin off their nose. They just go on and mislead the next poor victim. Tell them your eating a lot more vegetables. They'll love that.
Dr. Bernstein in his book Diabetes Solutions recommends a 6-12-12 carb regime for most people. I would recommend reading his book. I started out last Sept. doing Atkins then read Dr. B's book and switched to his plan. I have brought my fasting blood sugars down from the 160 to 220 range to the 100 to 120 range with no meds. I figure I have lost half the weight I need to lose and as my weight goes down so will my numbers.

[Golden Girl]

I love your attitude!! LOL
I don't need to lose weight so not sure if I just do what I'm doing it will work.

Bluejay and April, may I ask how many carbs are you eating at each meal or daily?

[Gaelen]

My post just went into cyberspace...this as happened several times. Is there a delay on my posting here? I'm new to this site. ... Hope I don't lose this post...


Hi, Golden Girl; welcome in!
Yes, there is a delay in posting on this site--until new member registrations are accepted by an administrator, any posts you make are held in the moderation queue. All new members are moderated until their registration is accepted to minimize the impact of spammers on the boards and protect members privacy. Hope this wasn't too confusing; it's explained in the 'Getting Started' section, in the forum with information for new members.

I just accepted your confirmed registration, and took your posts out of the moderation queue. Usually I can get to things a bit more often, but my oldest nephew and his wife came into town today to watch a triple-header lacrosse tournament (his alma mater lost, but his younger brother's DII college team won, and B. got a goal and an assist.) So I was busy being the doting aunt!

Welcome in!

[Golden Girl]

Thank you Gaelen. The mystery is solved. I thought I was already approved.:redface: :lol:

[bluejay111]

Hi Golden Girl,
I'm not exactly sure how many carbs I'm eating every day but I believe it is probably between 25 and 40 a day. Probably closer to 40 than 25. I usually have two eggs and pre-cooked frozen sausage links for breakfast. That's around 3 1/2 carbs. For lunch and dinner I usually have some kind of protein and veggies from the acceptable list. Usually for a snack I eat cheese (probably too much which is why my weight loss is so slow). If my fasting blood sugar is higher than normal in the morning I try to look back at what I ate, how much and when. Usually it turns out to be I snacked too much and too late even though it was mostly protein.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Bluejay