How to bolus for protein

[Okulu]

Good morning,

Just wondered if someone could tell me how to bolus for protein if eating a no carb meal? Protein definitely sends (and keeps) me up if I don't bolus for it, but I don't know how to work out what bolus amount I would need in these instances?

Background info: on a pump, low carb diet (~100g carb daily, sometimes less), current IC ratio = 1u:6g.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Jaylee]

Hi,

I could be wrong? But I believe @catapillar is a pumper & LCs.

I've tagged her in..

 

[catapillar]

I work out the macros using my fitnes pal and a bit of common sense.

If I'm having a meal that's 10g carbs and 40g protein, I tell my pump I'm having 30g of carbs (10g actual carbs + 50% of the 40g protein = 20g). Then I tell the pump to give me the carb bolus (~35% of the bolus) immediately and extend the protein bolus over 2 hrs.

My ratio is the same for carbs & protein, but obviously I manually reduce for the protein by only accounting for 50% of it.

 

[GrantGam]

You can also try (on a few different occasions) eating a 10g portion of protein and take NO bolus insulin for it. Once you have worked out your average BG rise for the protein then you can apply the correct quantity of bolus insulin to cover it.

@catapillar knows that she requires 50% bolus for protein vs the same quantity of carbs; but you may require less or more as we're all different.

 

[Kristin251]

I'm on MDI but I too bolus for half my protein. However if I eat more than 3 oz at a time I split my bolus, which is when the pump would work much better

 

[therower]

Hi @Okulu. Not sure anyone will be able to give exact advice. It will be down to you as an individual to go through a trial and error programme to see what works for you, somewhat like working carb ratios out.
Like most things diabetic knowledge is key.
For me personally a high protein meal has to be bolused for, but only when I go over a certain amount of protein in the meal. 20/25g protein and I wouldn't bolus only when I consume more protein would I need to bolus.
Exercise is also something to consider. A 50g protein meal wouldn't require any bolus if I was to do a heavy weight training session after meal.

 

[col101]

I'd it only necessary to bold for protein with a very low carb meal or would you do it with say a 40g carb meal please?(think this may explain my quirky bg?)

 

[Okulu]

Thanks guys - I just didn't know where to start so this is super helpful. Will give it a go and see what happens... thanks again