Nuts!!! - DAFNE Online

January 19, 2015 18:43

snow123 DAFNE Graduate
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust 13 posts

Does anyone know the value of Brazil nuts? I thought they where low but I have been snacking on them over the last couple of days an have found my bg levels have really started to rise later that afternoon and am trying to work out why. I think it could be the nuts!!! Does this happen to others and do you take qa or just moderate intake and correct at the next meal?

January 19, 2015 19:35

HelenP DAFNE Graduate
Queensland Diabetes Centre, Brisbane, QLD 218 posts

From Calorie King I have: Brazil Nuts, shelled, edible portion, raw: 30 g (6-8 nuts), Total carbs 0.7g. Helen

January 19, 2015 19:45

Garry DAFNE Graduate
North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust 328 posts

About 12 g CHO per 100 g.
I have always had to take care with all nuts as I tend to take too big a portion...like a bag! Embarassed
So, my experience is a small portion ..say 50 g...weigh them out to see what that physically looks like...is well below what we would normally take QA for. Limit is usually 1 CP, so that is 82 g of Brazils.
As you mention, make an adjustment if needed, at next meal time.
Regards
Garry

January 19, 2015 21:39

John Marrable DAFNE Graduate
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital 11 posts

Hi snow123,

How many grams of protein is in the portion of nuts? When you eat a meal that contains more than 20 grams of a complete protein, the amount over that 20 grams will be converted to glucose. However, glucose from protein is not absorbed as fully or efficiently as glucose from carbohydrates and so you do not need to cover every single gram of protein with insulin. When you add the glucose from protein in your meal bolus you count the grams over 20 grams and then divide that number by half.

Example: If a 5 ounce chicken breast has 30 grams of protein there are 10 grams over 20. Therefore 50% of 10 grams is 5 grams of added glucose.

This insight comes from the book 'my diabetes science experiment' where the science is described more fully. I would recommend it and its only Â£7 on Amazon. I was surprised when reading about glucose from protein!!

January 19, 2015 22:06

snow123 DAFNE Graduate
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust 13 posts

Thanks to everyone's advice I think I need to watch portion size!!!

January 21, 2015 08:35

Warwick DAFNE Graduate
Diabetes Australia-Vic, Melbourne, Victoria 423 posts

As John says, protein generally needs to be watched. If your snack is mostly protein, and low carb, then the body can inefficiently convert that protein to carb, raising your BGs.

I find it isn't such an issue if I have protein and carb in fairly equal quantities. It only seems to be an issue when I have a low, or no carb meal.

January 19, 2015 18:43 snow123 DAFNE Graduate County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust 13 posts	Does anyone know the value of Brazil nuts? I thought they where low but I have been snacking on them over the last couple of days an have found my bg levels have really started to rise later that afternoon and am trying to work out why. I think it could be the nuts!!! Does this happen to others and do you take qa or just moderate intake and correct at the next meal?
January 19, 2015 19:35 HelenP DAFNE Graduate Queensland Diabetes Centre, Brisbane, QLD 218 posts	From Calorie King I have: Brazil Nuts, shelled, edible portion, raw: 30 g (6-8 nuts), Total carbs 0.7g. Helen
January 19, 2015 19:45 Garry DAFNE Graduate North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust 328 posts	About 12 g CHO per 100 g. I have always had to take care with all nuts as I tend to take too big a portion...like a bag! So, my experience is a small portion ..say 50 g...weigh them out to see what that physically looks like...is well below what we would normally take QA for. Limit is usually 1 CP, so that is 82 g of Brazils. As you mention, make an adjustment if needed, at next meal time. Regards Garry
January 19, 2015 21:39 John Marrable DAFNE Graduate Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital 11 posts	Hi snow123, How many grams of protein is in the portion of nuts? When you eat a meal that contains more than 20 grams of a complete protein, the amount over that 20 grams will be converted to glucose. However, glucose from protein is not absorbed as fully or efficiently as glucose from carbohydrates and so you do not need to cover every single gram of protein with insulin. When you add the glucose from protein in your meal bolus you count the grams over 20 grams and then divide that number by half. Example: If a 5 ounce chicken breast has 30 grams of protein there are 10 grams over 20. Therefore 50% of 10 grams is 5 grams of added glucose. This insight comes from the book 'my diabetes science experiment' where the science is described more fully. I would recommend it and its only Â£7 on Amazon. I was surprised when reading about glucose from protein!!
January 19, 2015 22:06 snow123 DAFNE Graduate County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust 13 posts	Thanks to everyone's advice I think I need to watch portion size!!!
January 21, 2015 08:35 Warwick DAFNE Graduate Diabetes Australia-Vic, Melbourne, Victoria 423 posts	As John says, protein generally needs to be watched. If your snack is mostly protein, and low carb, then the body can inefficiently convert that protein to carb, raising your BGs. I find it isn't such an issue if I have protein and carb in fairly equal quantities. It only seems to be an issue when I have a low, or no carb meal.