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| There are many different reasons to track your carbohydrate intake — weight loss and diabetes management being two of the big ones. But no matter why you’re counting carbs, it’s important to know how to do it right.
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| “Net carbs” is a concept that was popularized by the Atkins Diet in the early 2000s. Today, registered dietitian Kirsten Seele is back to help us better understand this term and how to apply it to your own life. |
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Enjoy!
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Ginger Wojcik
February 10, 2026 • 3 min read |
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| Q: |
What are “net carbs” and should I track them? |
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| A: |
When tracking your macronutrients or carbohydrate intake for diabetes carb counting, I recommend tracking “Total Carbohydrate,” which you will see in bolded letters on the Nutrition Facts label, not “net carbs.”
Net carbs is a marketing term that isn’t recognized or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can calculate them by subtracting the fiber and half of the sugar alcohols (if present) from a food’s total carbohydrates. Net carbs are often used by those following a low carb or ketogenic diet. Some products promoting these diets may also include them on the front of the package.
Why use net carbs instead of total carbs? Fiber isn’t absorbed in the small intestine, and sugar alcohols are only partially digested there, so in theory they have little or no effect on blood sugar. However, in reality, we find that the effects of these carbohydrates can vary person to person.
To ensure we are taking everything into account and to simplify tracking, it is recommended to track total carbohydrates, especially if doing so for diabetes treatment.
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| Kirsten Seele, Registered Dietitian
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.)
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| Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline’s or Optum Now’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health. |
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| What we’re digesting |
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