Carbs, Sugar Alcohol, and fiber

By imsuzie2 Latest Reply 2009-09-02 21:41:02 -0500
Started 2009-08-30 20:33:45 -0500

Can someone provide some insight on carbs and sugar alcohols and fiber. I thought in my diabetes education class in '95 or so that when counting carbs, you subtract fiber (if 5 grams or more) and sugar alcohol from the total to get the net amount of carbs. Is my memory correct? Have things changed?

8 replies

drcat1 2009-09-02 19:49:27 -0500 Report

I went to class in '08…you get to subtract fiber if over 5 grams…and with sugar alcohol, they say you can subtract only 1/2 of what it lists…

imsuzie2 2009-09-02 21:41:02 -0500 Report

Thanks for the info. I am starting to pay more attention to sugars and sugar alcohol instead of just carbs. But since my A1c's are pretty consistent in the 6.1-6.3 range, I guess I am doing it right. Now, if I can control the extra grazing!

kdroberts 2009-08-31 08:09:34 -0500 Report

Fiber is weird. The US is one of the only countries in the world where it is listed as carb, everywhere else it is listed on it's own so the carb count contains no fiber. It is also one of the few countries that measure fiber as a guess rather than actually calculate it. Deduct it all, deduct it if it's 5g or more, don't deduct it, deduct 50%, it's completely up to you. I generally don't deduct it but when I do I take it all off.

Sugar alcohols are weird. They are carb but they are not digested like normal carb. Manufactures who want to sell a product will tell you that you can deduct the whole amount but for most people 30-70% of them will increase blood sugar depending on the person and the type of sugar alcohol. It is also wise to limit your intake of sugar acohols to avoid the side effects from the altered digestion. 5-10g at once is about all you want and you probably want to leave it a good 4-6 hours after before eating more unless you are eating smaller amounts.

hbkunkel 2009-08-31 01:03:15 -0500 Report

I agree about subtrcting fiber if it is more than 5 grams but I believe that sugar alcohol is not subtracted. It is still part of the carb count. I will try to research this farther and update anything if I find things are different.

Jipwhip 2009-08-30 20:47:41 -0500 Report

When I went to classes in '06 I was taught to subtract fiber If 5 grams or more from the total amount of carbs. Nothing was ever said about sugar alcohol. Hope this helps.

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