The Shift in Carb Counting: Why Dietitians Want You to Rethink Net Carbs
By Alexander Ross
Q1: What is the classic formula used to calculate a net carb?
The traditional formula is: Total Carbohydrates minus Dietary Fiber minus Sugar Alcohols equals Net Carbs. However, this equation oversimplifies digestion because certain sugar alcohols and manufactured fibers are partially absorbed and convert into glucose.
Q2: How should someone with diabetes adjust carbohydrate counts for sugar alcohols?
The American Diabetes Association recommends subtracting only half the grams of sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrates if the serving contains more than 5 grams of polyols, unless the sweetener is pure erythritol, which does not raise blood sugar.
Q3: Does allulose count toward total carbohydrates on current nutrition labels?
Yes. The FDA requires allulose to be counted in the total carbohydrate line on the Nutrition Facts label, but it is excluded from "Total Sugars" and "Added Sugars" because it contributes virtually zero calories (0.4 kcal/g) and does not increase blood glucose levels.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
