How can I show net carbs and total carbs when I log a food?

Dougmore

Hi,

I'm brand new to Cronometer - haven't even really started tracking.

I'm on strict keto and I want to track both net carbs and total carbs. I can see in the daily summary that they're split out, but when I go to log a food, I can get total or net -- but not both.

Why, you may ask? I've discovered that counting some net carbs does not work for me. For example, store-bought keto bread with zero net carbs has a tremendous impact on my blood sugar and ketone levels. I think sugar alcohols may do the same, but I haven't tested those in isolation yet. I only know that adding sugar alcohol candy to my diet drove me out of ketosis.

Noywuj

I have the exact same question as you.I want to be able to set a max for total carbs in addition to net carbs and have it display next to net carbs on the diary screen.

Most recommendations for keto I have seen is to keep total carbs between 30-50 grams because of processed foods but this does vary. Obviously it’s ideal to not have processed foods… but sometimes you gotta live a little.

ChatGPT explanation on why total carbs should be tracked for processed foods.

The recommendation to track total carbs instead of net carbs for processed foods is based on several factors:

1. Inaccurate Fiber & Sugar Alcohol LabelingIn processed keto foods, fiber and sugar alcohols are often subtracted to calculate net carbs. However:

• Some fiber additives (e.g., soluble corn fiber, chicory root) can still spike blood sugar.
• Certain sugar alcohols (e.g., maltitol, sorbitol) have a higher glycemic impact than claimed.

Net carb counts on labels can be misleading due to these inconsistencies.

2. Hidden Blood Sugar Spikes

Some sugar alcohols and fiber types affect individuals differently:

• Maltitol has a glycemic index (GI) of 35-52 (nearly as high as sugar).
• IMO (Isomaltooligosaccharides) is often listed as fiber but behaves more like a carb.
• Chicory root fiber can be partially digested, affecting ketosis in some people.

3. Processed Foods May Contain Hidden Carbs

Many low-carb packaged foods contain starches, fillers, and additives that don’t appear in the net carb count.

Examples include:

• Modified starches (like tapioca fiber, which can raise glucose).
• Hidden sweeteners (like maltodextrin, which has a higher GI than sugar).
• Keto bread/tortillas often use wheat gluten or oat fiber, which can still affect insulin.

4. Insulin & Ketosis Impact Beyond Just Blood Sugar

Even if a sugar alcohol doesn’t spike blood glucose, it can still raise insulin, which may impact ketosis.

This is particularly relevant for:

• Insulin-resistant individuals
• Those using keto for metabolic health or fat loss

Practical Advice

Whole foods: Track net carbs since natural fiber (e.g., from veggies) doesn’t impact glucose much.

Processed foods: Track total carbs to avoid misleading labels and unwanted insulin responses.

If unsure: Use a glucose or ketone meter to test how a food affects you.

—

Unless Cronometer somehow can account for these- adding a total carbs display would be ideal.

Noywuj

huh I didn’t realize it would tag the post as answered. This isn’t answered at all.