Counting Carbs with Diabetes: Apps, Tips, and Peace of Mind

Counting carbohydrates is an important part of daily life for many people with diabetes.
But honestly? It can also be overwhelming, especially in the beginning, or when you frequently eat new or unfamiliar meals.

Which products contain carbohydrates?
How many carbohydrates are in it?
And how do you know if your estimate is “good enough”?

In this blog post, I'll take you through how I approach counting carbohydrates today , which apps help me with this , and why it doesn't have to be perfect to work well.

What is carbohydrate counting?

Counting carbohydrates means estimating how many carbohydrates are in your meal so that you can adjust your insulin accordingly.
For people with type 1 diabetes (and some people with type 2 diabetes), this is an important skill for maintaining more stable blood glucose levels.

In theory, that sounds simple.
In practice it often involves searching, calculating and doubting.

Why counting carbs sometimes feels so hard

Especially in these situations, counting carbohydrates can be difficult:

• with new products

• going out for dinner

• on a trip

• for meals that you do not prepare yourself

Especially in the beginning, it can feel like you have to do everything perfectly.
I recognise that feeling all too well.

My experience with counting carbohydrates (10+ years with type 1 diabetes)

I have been living with type 1 diabetes for over ten years now.
When I first got my diagnosis, I calculated everything down to the gram. I used the same app for years to record every detail.

Today my approach is different.

Since I started using an insulin pump with a closed loop system (Medtronic Minimed 780G in combination with a Simplera sensor), I no longer calculate everything down to the last detail.
I still count the main sources of carbohydrates, but I now let go of small extras such as herbs, etc.

Fortunately, my insulin pump can compensate well for small errors of judgment.

👉 But : that doesn't mean I no longer use apps to look up new things, calculate meal plans, etc.

Why apps help with carbohydrate counting

For me, apps are not absolute truth, but tools .
They help me to:

• carbohydrates to check quickly

• to better estimate meals

• to make decisions more calmly

• to build confidence in my own assessment

Especially when in doubt, an app is a huge added value.

The best apps for counting carbohydrates

1. Carbohydrate counter

Carbohydrate Counter is a Belgian app, developed with the support of University Hospitals Leuven.

What can you do with it?

• view carbohydrates or carbohydrate exchange values

• add products that are not in the app by scanning them with a barcode scanner

• enter your own meals and recipes

Ideal as:

• you are mainly looking for correct carbohydrate information

• you like to work with exchange values

Negatives:

• not free (one-time cost)
  

2. My Food Meter

My Eetmeter is a free app from the Dutch Nutrition Centre.

What can you do with it?

• keep track of what you eat and drink

• gain insight into carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals

• receive feedback according to the Wheel of Five

Ideal as:

• you want to look at nutrition more broadly, not just carbohydrates

Negatives:

• takes some time to fill in everything

• can feel overwhelming

3. SugarSnap

SugarSnap uses AI to estimate carbs based on a photo of your meal.

What can you do with it?

• take a picture of your meal

• add extra information (e.g. I'm only going to eat half of this)

• get a quick estimate of the number of carbohydrates

Ideal as:

• you go out for dinner

• you travel

• you eat an unknown meal

Negatives:

• paid (subscription)

• a free trial period of 7 days

4. FatSecret

FatSecret is a free app with extensive nutritional information.

What can you do with it?

• view calories, carbohydrates, fats and proteins

• scan or look up products

Ideal as:

• you want to know more than just carbohydrates

Negatives:

• not all data is equally reliable

• many American products

• can be a bit busy visually

Are your apps always correct?

No, and that's important to know.

The numbers in apps are often averages .
So don't see them as absolute truth, but as a tool .

The more experience you gain with counting carbohydrates, the more you will notice that:

• you estimate faster

• you become less dependent on apps

• you gain more confidence in yourself

Counting carbs doesn't have to be perfect

That is perhaps the most important message.

You don't have to do it perfectly to:

• take good care of yourself

• to get more stable values

• to experience peace around food

Counting carbs is a skill that grows with time, practice, and being gentle with yourself.

👉 Free step-by-step plan: counting carbohydrates in 5 clear steps

Do you sometimes find counting carbohydrates overwhelming?
Then I have something for you.

I created a free step-by-step plan in which I explain counting carbohydrates in 5 clear steps , without complicated theory.

📩 Leave your details below and receive the step-by-step plan for free in your mailbox.