Healthy Recipe Doctor

What Does It Mean, Exactly?

One of the WebMD visitors on my Healthy Cooking community board posted a great question:

“I’m a diabetic (type 2) and I need some information about total carbohydrates and what does it mean when the label says “other carbohydrates”?

I know all of these terms can be so confusing. Basically the total carbohydrates includes everything and then some labels will break that out into subgroups like:

• Fiber grams (this is not digested and will eventually exit the body)
• Sugar grams (includes natural sugars too in dairy, fruits, etc.)
• “Other carb” grams

You’ll find that these three often add up to the grams of total carbohydrate. The category “other carbs” represents the digestible carbohydrate that is not considered a sugar (natural or otherwise). Some labels will also break out sugar alcohols. I always take a look for these because they give me intestinal issues even at low levels. But that’s another story (LOL).

For anyone with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, feel free to check out the third edition of my book for type 2 diabetes (it just came out in November), titled, TELL ME WHAT TO EAT IF I HAVE DIABETES. I incorporated the “latest” research from the past 5 years into it!

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