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Did you know that one of the most commonly asked questions we get is: how many carbs per day is best for a diabetic to eat?
No doubt that’s why you’re here reading this as well, right?
And like many other people you may be totally confused by that question.
That’s not surprising because the amount of carbs recommended does vary depending on where you read it.
Why is this?
Well, there is no specific recommendation for the amount of carbohydrate, that’s why there are so many different numbers.
However, there is good scientific evidence to suggest what’s best. But unfortunately, that information is not getting out to the public (to YOU) as fast as it should.
Luckily though, here at DMP, we pride ourselves on sharing the best evidence-based info, coupled with over a decade of experience because we want you to get the best results. And we’re proud to say what we share works:
As you read on, be prepared to have some of your long held diet beliefs challenged. But also be prepared to be amazed by the possibilities, because with a few dietary changes, you can reverse your diabetes and live your life anew!
Rethinking ‘Mainstream’ Carb Recommendations
Over the years it’s been pretty common practice to recommend a low fat, high carbohydrate diet to people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
It wasn’t so long ago that the American Diabetes Association were stating that: “A place to start is at about 45-75 grams of carbohydrate at a meal.”
That would equate to around 135-225 g carbohydrates per day, excluding snacks.
And globally, diabetes associations have kept emphasizing that people with type 2 diabetes should eat the same as the general population (a high carb, low fat diet), that everything in moderation is fine.
Quite frankly, these large organizations have had you fooled – none of their dietary information has been based on real science!
And the fact is, 45-75 g per meal of carbohydrates per meal is way too high!
If you’ve been eating 225+ grams of carbs per day and wondering why you can’t get your blood glucose levels or A1c under control, there’s a simple answer — you’re eating too many carbs!
What the science shows is you must forget the ‘mainstream’ carb recommendations and flip the nutrition circle on it’s head. Because the goal is to keep your carb intake to less than 25%, not 60% as these large health organizations have been pushing for years.
As you can see, these recommendations suited for the ‘general’ public are highly flawed recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes, and are in fact, keeping you sick!
Like we always say: Diabetes prevention and diabetes treatment are two completely different things.
So be careful because many things you read online lump both prevention and treatment into the same boat – but they are completely different.
Here at DMP, we focus on TREATMENT – and effective treatment of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, starts with understanding carbs.
Get started right away by grabbing a free copy of our Carbs Cheat Sheet below!
How Many Carbs Should You Eat?
It can vary some from person to person. But overall your goal is to keep your carbohydrate intake to less than 130 grams per day, which is considered the top threshold for a lower carb diet.
Still, although anything below 130 grams is considered low carb, and it’s a good place to start, 130 grams is not that low.
What we’ve found works well for our members is to consume around 50 to 80 grams of carbs per day, or a maximum of 100 grams.
If you do this, you’ll be seeing great improvements to your blood sugar and health, in a very short time!
In the T2Diet Program randomized controlled trial we conducted, people were recommended to consume 100 g carbs per day and the results were astounding!
- Great blood sugar control
- Lower A1c
- Effortless weight loss
- Reduction in medication
Here’s the thing, you can choose to eat a higher carb diet but over time you will likely find it difficult to control your blood sugar levels and many find you need to continually increase your medication. And the reality is, if you struggle to maintain your blood sugar within a healthy range, you put yourself at higher risk for nasty diabetic complications.
Whereas, if you adopt new ways of eating, switching to a lower carb diet, you can reverse your diabetes. Yes, that’s right!
While diabetes is not reversible from a diagnostic standpoint — once you have it, you have it — it can be reversible from a physiological standpoint, which means you can keep your blood sugar within a normal healthy range, minimize or stop medications, and live a healthy life – it’s happening with our members all the time!
Dusty said: “When I started DMP, I was 310 lbs (140kg) and my A1C was 10. I had a very unhealthy lifestyle. Since then, I have lost weight, I am at 190 lbs (86kg) now and my A1C is between 6.5 to 7.0 and no longer have to take medicine. Thank you for what you do!”
A Word Of Caution!
If you are on insulin therapy, it is important to lower your carb intake under close supervision of your health practitioner because you will have to make adjustments to your dosage and a fast rapid change can result in hypoglycemia. Monitor your blood sugar levels closely when making dietary transitions and be aware of symptoms.
Please pin this info; then continue reading…
Where To Get Started With Carbs
Since most people usually have to lower carb intake quite a bit, 120 grams is often a comfortable place to start and then you can tweak and reduce your own individual intake from there.
As a member, we show you exactly how to reduce your carbs to lower blood sugar and A1c, giving you delicious healthy food options, ideas, and alternatives for all the ‘normal’ high carb foods you might be used to eating.
Let’s break 120 grams down per meal right now.
Carbs per meal at 120g carbs per day
- Breakfast: 30 g carbs
- Lunch: 30 g carbs
- Dinner: 30 g crabs
- 2 x snacks: 15 g carbs each or 3 x snacks 10 g carbs each
This tends to work fairly well for the majority of people when getting started.
For Optimal Long-Term Results: Aim For 50-80g Carbs Per Day
If you focus on eating the right types of carbohydrates, then you won’t really have to focus on carbohydrate counting so closely (what a relief!).
Essentially the right type of diet for lowering blood sugar and A1c is a high plant-based, anti-inflammatory diet, whole foods, lower carb diet.
This sounds complicated but it’s not. Just stick to eating real food and choose non-starchy vegetables as your predominant source of carbohydrates.
If you need help with choosing the right foods, grab a free copy of our Carbs Cheat Sheet.
Over a days worth of eating, your veggie intake, some low carb fruits, a few beans or legumes and other portioned carbs, will add up to around 50-80 grams carbs per day, or a maximum of 100 grams.
This seems to be the sweet spot for achieving exceptional results with blood sugar and A1c, and is sustainable for many.
You may also hear about a ‘very low carb diet ketogenic diet,’ such as an Atkin’s diet or Keto diet, which limits carbs to 20-50g per day. It’s not necessary to limit carbs this low because it cuts out many of the essential plant ingredients that we need.
For instance, a ketogenic diet limits carrots, but carrots provide valuable nutrients and loads of dietary fiber. And while carrots are a little higher in carbs than spinach, they still aren’t really a high carb food, like potatoes, rice, bread, pasta and cereals.
In our experience, people get better results by following a low carb plan, because it provides much more food flexibility and is sustainable for the long term.
50-80 g Carbs Per Day Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast: Veggie scramble – 15 g (aim for between 10-20g)
Lunch: Chicken & veggie salad – 15 g (aim for between 10-20g)
Dinner: Beef coconut curry – 12-15 g (aim for between 10-20g)
Snacks: Berry Bomb 5 g, peanut butter with carrot sticks 5 g, or cottage cheese and berries 10 g. Aim for 5-15 g per snack.
Based off the meals and snacks above the total daily carbs is: 62 grams.
As you can see from this meal plan, you certainly will not be starving!
But it is a different way to eat than you’re probably used to. That’s why we’re here to help you.
As a VIP member, we’ll walk you step-by-step to putting a lower carb healthy eating plan into practice.
We show you exactly HOW to eat to get results, revealing the carb content of problem foods and giving you ample low carb options and alternatives for regular high carb foods – and we make it easy to manage your meal planning over the long term!
Join Us As A Member Today: **Access over 1500+ diabetes-friendly recipes, weekly meal plans, food guides and ongoing support to reach your blood sugar goals.
Busting a Few Nutrition Myths
Avoid grain-based foods: You do not need to eat whole grain foods to get fiber and ‘good’ carbs. You can obtain plenty of fiber from vegetables, nuts and seeds, than from cereals and breads. And grain-based foods, even whole grains are high in carbs and will raise blood sugar.
Enjoy dairy: Dairy products are fine to eat, even full fat varieties. There is no evidence to show these are bad for our health. And in fact, new evidence suggests they are very beneficial. In terms of carbs, cheese and cottage cheese are lower in carbs than milk and yogurt.
Become a detective: When you go shopping, don’t rely on front-of-pack labeling. Food companies are great at enticing you to purchase foods, or telling you that a food is healthy, but it may not be true. The only way you’ll know is to read food labels and learn to understand the nutrition facts panel. When looking at nutrition labels, don’t just look at the total calories, observe the amount of carbs, fiber and how much sugar an item contains.
Carbs are more important than calories: But overall, the best bet for your diabetes diet is to focus on carb control. When you can observe your daily intake of carbs and lower them, you will see results pretty quickly. And just to be clear, we are talking about a low carb diet here, not a no carb diet! Sure, in the long term, calorie intake is important to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. If you need to, on a lower carb diet, you can control calorie intake by focusing on the amount of food you eat.
Your Practical Action Steps Right Now
If your diet is currently pretty poor or you’re just getting started, begin with around 120 g per day of carbs.
- Breakfast: 30 g carbs
- Lunch: 30 g carbs
- Dinner: 30 g crabs
- 2 x snacks: 15 g carbs each or 3 x snacks 10 g carbs each
If you want to work on losing weight and getting optimal results for blood sugar and a1c aim for 50-80 g carbs per day.
- Breakfast: 15-20 g carbs
- Lunch: 15-20 g carbs
- Dinner: 15-20 g crabs
- 2 x snacks: 5-10 g carbs each
- Before bed: 10 g carbs
If you don’t know what carbohydrate foods are, grab a free copy of our Carbs Cheat Sheet below – it will outline some common high carb foods, best fruits to eat, and list high, medium and low carb foods.
JoAnn B said: “My A1c started out around 9.5. It has been at 5.4 for the past six months. I have lost close to 50 pounds. Thanks again for all the great recipes and help.”
Michelle G said: “I’m making healthier food choices. Cooking again (huge step) because you’ve shown me quick plans. And prepping and packing lunches! Wish the doctor’s office would have shown YOUR way of doing it when I was first diagnosed. I probably would not have stuck my head in the sand so long! Glad I found you!”
P.S. Please share this info with friends, family or colleagues – it could be life changing for them too -thanks!
Flo
My reading was 126 when Poked my finger this morning is that good or bad
Dr Jedha
Hi Flo, 126 is on the higher side but it’s not terrible. Ideally under 100 is good and over 130 is not good, but you could certainly do some work on getting this down. View a recent podcast I did on morning blood sugar here. I think you will find it will help you a lot!
Betty
Thanks this helps me know what to eat for type diabetic
Judy Hale
Can’t wait to get started
Debbie
Awesome information. This is a great place to start. I’m behind on my labs but my FBS have been way too high. My diet has not been good. I’m mentally ready to make a change. So true what I’ve been told 45g carbs per meal. Or 160 per day. Your article is so easy to understand. Makes perfect sense. Thank you!
Bev
I really appreciate the detailed explanations you provide on everything. This info about carbs is great and I love the cheat sheet. Thank you so much!
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
Thanks for your feedback Bev and glad you find it so helpful!
Lori
Newly diagnosed with pre-diabetes
Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)
Hi Lori and welcome to our corner of the internet where we help people take control of their diabetes and pre-diabetes through low carb living! Take a peek around our site and let us know if you have any questions!
Nancy Yackey
I want to thank you for all the information you give. It is amazing how many medical professionals still use the high carb method for diabetes. Your Information is clear and precise. It can be confusing to people who don’t know anything about diabetes.
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
Yes, it certainly can be Nancy! Thanks for saying thanks, we appreciate it!
lisa m marecek
I heard that carbs minus fiber is the true carb number to be used when counting daily carbs, is this true? I also am suffering with a foot ulcer, will this system help me heal faster? All the best and thanks for the help and information.
happy carb counting
Hojo
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
Hi Lisa, Carbs minus fiber is ‘net carbs’ and is the available carbohydrate digested by your body, as the body doesn’t really digest fiber. Many people use both total and net carbs – here’s some info on that. With the foot ulcer – absolutely! It’s really a priority for you to get your levels under tight control/lower, because the foot ulcers are caused by uncontrolled/high levels. You might consider joining us as a member for the best support to do this.
Sandy
I have been recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and immediately did what made sense to me and cut my carb consumption drastically! I limit myself to very little carbs (50 or less per day) and have primarily adopted a carnivore diet of meat, beef, chicken and fish. No potatoes, rice or pasta. I have lost about 25 pounds so far and feel better than I ever have! My blood sugars are in the 90s or sometimes less. I eat as much meat as I want until it takes me to get that full feeling. I do drink a limited amount of milk. I use real fat in my cooking such as butter, meat drippings, lard etc. I eat eggs and some limited cheese. But for the most part I eat meat and eggs. Best diet I have ever done and I feel better than I have felt in many years. I sleep better now and for years suffered from sleep apnea but now I don’t seem to have any issues anymore and sleep sound all night long. Cutting carbs from my diet has been a game changer for me and now I have adopted it as a lifestyle change and no longer a “diet”. No more processed foods and carbs!
Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)
This is amazing, Sandy! Keep up the great work!
Pamela Eich
Are you on any medication? My sugar runs around 130 upon waking up and my A1C is 7.6 I a reading about carnivore diet but I just can’t eat liver or any organs. It just makes me nauseous!
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
There’s no need to do a carnivore diet Pamela. And getting A1c down from 7.6 to normal is certainly possible. Your morning sugar is at the top level of where you want to see it, and by following the guidelines in this post, you can lower both A1c and morning sugar. If you need more help to do that, join my T2Diet Program – it is scientifically proven to get results!
Sharon
I always get turned around and worried when the fat grams get high. I am trying to lose weight.
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
Hi Sharon, this is understandable as we’ve all been programmed this way over decades, believing low fat was the best way to eat. If you lower carbs, you will naturally see an increase in protein and fat, and that’s not a bad thing. In my clinically proven T2Diet Program, people often increase mono and poly unsaurated fats, protein and fiber, while maintaining about the same intake of saturated fat. Cutting carbs and increasing fat will not prevent weight loss, in fact, it often speeds up metabolism and weight loss too. Whichever way you choose to go, you need to trust it and go all in. You might consider taking the T2Diet Program, which is clinically proven to lower A1c, weight and medications.
Bev
This is such helpful info. I’ve read so many things and have been so confused and this is the first thing that’s made sense and given some kind of clear guidance. I will try to do it and am considering joining as a member. I was wondering, is there an opportunity to ask questions as a member? I always seem to have some. 🙂
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
Hi Bev, glad you found the info helpful. Yes, we provide monthly check ins so our members can interact with our nutritionists and other members and ask questions. We hope you will consider joining us.
Carolyn Boyer
Me too I have a bad heart to do what they say I can eat for diabetics I can’t eat because of heart problems I don’t know what to eat.
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
Carolyn, overall, our guidelines are suitable for both conditions. Check out our recommended food list here: https://diabetesmealplans.com/44/
Debbie. Gomes
How much does it cost to join this program?
Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)
Hi Debbie, view our membership options here: https://diabetesmealplans.com/diabetic-diet-meal-plans/
If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and we’ll be more than happy to help.
Stephen
Newly diagnosed type 2 here.. I’m a big guy at 6’ 8’ and didn’t know how unhealthy I was. If lowered my A1C from 10.5 to 5.2 in 5 months , and with that 58 lbs have falling off me. I’m hoping all my hard work will be type 2 into remission. Anyone have some tips, or have you gotten into remission?
kram keceram
My wife and I have started the 100 and under carb diet a day and it lowered my A1C from 75 to 6.4 in two months. We mix veggies with meat most dinners and snack on all kinds of nuts and seeds. Some frozen fruit bars are around 10 carbs and come in hardy during the evening. Meat sticks can also help, as well as berries of all kinds and some other fruit and some celery with peanut butter. We both went thru some anxiety after 2 weeks and it was like we were in detox, I guess we really were. Shop and list all foods you think you can fit into the 100 a day routine so you can mix up your diet. Lastly patience is the key,no quick fixes in life work long term. All the best and good luck. The US food system is our enemy and has been since that pyramid thingy they created.
Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)
Sounds like you are doing all the right things! Thanks for sharing!!