carbs and diabetes question

Cindy393

I'm asking this for my mom--does anyone know how long carbs remain in your system to register in your blood sugar? For instance, she had spaghetti for dinner last night and a cup of coffee and a mini bagel for breakfast this morning. Her blood sugar 3 hrs after breakfast was registering 210. She is not very active in the exercise department, so we're curious how long carbs remain in your body.

Thanks everyone!

chefdak

Hi Cindy. Simple carbs, like those found in pasta, bagels and bread generally will cause a spike in blood sugar for about .3 hours, depending of course on the portion and whether or not protein was eaten with it, and whether or not the pasta is enriched or whole wheat pasta. My guess is that the 210 blood sugar level is from the bagel she had for breakfast and not so much the pasta the night before If she is relatively sendentary her blood sugars might stay elevated a little bit longer.

Hope this answers your question.

EmmyLoop

Dear Cindy,

Researching the Glycemic Index can answer your question for a healthy person, but NOT for someone with diabetes. Diabetes is a high risk endocrine and metabolic disorder; therefore, Mom is going to metabolize carbohydrates quite differently than a person without the disorder.
Perhaps one of your mom's needs is a more thorough education regarding her food choices and disease process. Coffee and bagels for breakfast? That's not a healthy breakfast for anyone. In her best interest, strongly consider a diabetic nutritional consult for your mother and go to it with her.
A clinical nutritionist, RN specialist, or nurse practitioner can do this, but Mom may need a referral from a doctor.
She also may require Glucagon or insulin to "put her sugar in her body's cells".
I'd be happy to answer anymore diabetes trivia for y'all

Emmy

EmmyLoop

Btw, congratulations on your weight loss girl. Superwoman!! I want to lose 40 pounds.