Limits of the estimate
This page describes what Karbi's estimate is good for, and what it is not.
What Karbi gives you
From a meal photo, Karbi estimates the food's carbohydrate, fat, protein and energy content, and indicates the food's absorption time. The estimate describes the food. It is not a measurement: the real value can differ from it.
You can change the estimated values before saving, and the saved entry keeps your correction.
What it does not do
Karbi is not a medical device. It does not calculate insulin doses, does not estimate blood glucose, does not give medical advice, and does not replace the instructions of your doctor or dietitian.
When it is uncertain
Two independent evaluations check every photo. When they disagree, or the food is hard to judge, the app shows a range instead of a single number - in calories when you count calories - and takes you to the editor with a "Needs review" card. Review and correct the values then.
If there is no food in the photo, Karbi says so and gives no estimate.
What affects the photo
The estimate is best when the whole portion is visible, the photo is taken in good light from above or slightly from the side, and something in the picture shows the scale: a plate, cutlery, a hand. Ingredients hidden under sauce, in a bowl or inside dough do not show in a photo, so correct those by hand.
Absorption time
The absorption-time indicator comes from the food's estimated composition: short, medium or long. It is information about the food, not about your body. Your own experience can differ.
Packaged products
Values found by barcode come from a public database and from user submissions. Products submitted by other users carry a marker until someone else confirms them. The nutrition table on the package is authoritative; if you see a difference, you can correct it with a photo of the label.
Always check
Estimates are informational and can be wrong, so always check them before you rely on them for anything.