If you diabetes what do you look for on packaging.

[Paranoidmarvin]

I’m trying to navigate the world of low and high blood sugar levels.
If you have diabetes can you tell me what you look for on the packaging of a product. I tend to stick to fresh and home made. But sometimes I like a quick snack.
The labels are hard to decipher. Can you tell me what you look at and the numbers over and under or does it not work like this.

Low carb levels, and low sugar levels.
Always look at what (if any) sweeteners are in there, some are just as bad as sugar in terms of blood glucose impact.

Are there numbers that define low. Is there a number that you keep it under. I am finding this all a bit confusing.

Low carb and sugar, preferably no sweetners, low sugar means in the green range on the label, low carb for me means under 30% of the total item being a carbohydrate.

I was told to keep it below 5g per 100g for most food and definitely under 10 for treat food.

Breakaway bars are the best biscuits at 11g per 100g.

Be careful, I found an M and S chicken with some kind of coating came in at 20g per 100g!

This might be useful: www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/food-shopping-for-diabetes/understanding-food-labels

I know some people on strict low carb diets try to go for 5g in every 100g ; same with the sugar per 100g breakdown. I'm way more relaxed than that though.
Avoiding simple carbs (white flour/pasta/rice) is also a good idea.

Type 1, I need the carbs per whatever number of grams of what I’m eating for insulin dosing.

Scales and a calculator are my prized possessions.

I can get away with under 10g of carbs insulin free twice a day. That’s 1 biscuit, half an apple or a cup of popcorn.

I rarely eat a packet thing, but if I do I look for under 5g per 100g in carbs.