Carbs & Cals Books?

Hi,

Just bought my copy of the Carbs & Cals visual guide to carb counting, which i think is fantastic! As far as i can see no maths needed, just match your portion size to the photo in the book. I'm considering also getting the Carbs & Cals visual pocket size guide to keep in my handbag.

I've been wondering what anyone thinks of the Carbs and Cals book as opposed to the Collins Gem Carb Counter?

I have no first hand experience with either but have heard the carbs and cals book is really good........

Personally I need to count my carbohydrates with a bit more accuracy than that provided by the book, or, at least when I am in the house anyway......

For anyone who makes references to the Carbs & Cals book, please be aware that some of the figures have changed since the first edition.

I had the first Edition of this book and used it before the DAFNE Carb Counter book came out and also continued to use it for items not in the DAFNE Booklet. I just got given Edition 4 of the book with the new ACCU-CHEK Aviva Expert BG Meter and discovered that some of the Carbs figures moved up. One I have frequently is 'Pain Aux Raisins' and the new edition has CPs 25% more than the original figure I have only checked a few items and the carbs were slightly higher numbers.

Pity no one produces a list of all changes so that one does not need to read the whole book and compare every item to find the changes.

Just out of general curiosity, do people find that they are using books like these even long after they have graduated from DAFNE..........

there comes a time I believe were you dont actually need any books or carb lists like this unless you are eating out at a restaurant.........which for most is not that often, well, once or twice a week maybe.........

The book is useful for me for working out the carbs for foods that have no nutrition info on the packaging and are mentioned in this book and not covered by the DAFNE Carbohydrate Portion List booklet. I appear to be very sensitive to insulin and fearing hypos I try to get as close to the actual CP estimate as possible. Also my guestimates do not work very well as I am often way out after eating out. Hopefully in time this will improve but my insulin sensitivity may take a while to change. The Carbs & Cals book is also easy to use by members of the family with all its visual content. Just got the iPhone version of the book as that gives all updates for free.

As well as referring to the DAFNE Carb book, I have a separate book (I use an old Filofax book) to record meals. I have a section for breakfasts in which I record the different breakfasts I have, with the details of the various items in that meal and their carbs. I also record (in pencil) the insulin dosage I gave myself. So when I test my BG afterwards, I can see how good my calculation was and if necessary, change the insulin dosage for that meal.

I also have sections in the book for Lunches and Dinners. As an example, I haved Dinner07 down as:

Rice 4.5 CPs
Beef Goulash 2.5 CPs
Plain Yogurt 1 CP
Grapes 1 CP

TOTAL 9 CPs and therefore (for me) an insulin dosage of 18 QA

I find this book very useful (providing I keep it up-to-date).

Have you recorded the weights of these items..........?

For the carb count to be effective each item would need to be the same size of portion.....no?

My wife always makes the portion sizes the same, so once I have got it right, it's there in the book.

Alan Constable said:
My wife always makes the portion sizes the same, so once I have got it right, it's there in the book.

I use the Carbs and Cals book, it was recommended to me by my dietician, be nice if they had Sunday roasts under the meals section.....