Low carbs?! What is low carbs?!

[JJO]

Hi all

Quick question. So I'm taking onboard all the advice that has already been so helpfully given.

So I've heard a lot already about the benefits of dropping my carb intake as a newly diagnosed type 1. I have got the book (and the app) Carb and Cal which is very useful.

I've downloaded the wonderful MySugr app (and gone to the Pro Version). I love the idea of taming the monster even though I'm technically far too old I still find the noises he makes quite entertaining! But I digress!

So at last, the question! Quite a few people have suggested lowering my carb or at least properly tracking and measuring my carb intake. Ive done it for the last 2 days and things are already doing much better on my BS front. What is a good level of carbs to take in? What to people try to stick to? 100g? 200g? Etc etc.

Yesterday I had 162g, at the minute it's very early days for me and whilst my BS was much better yesterday (only one hypo, but quite low for me at 3.5). Trying to work out if I should consider that a good carb day or a bad carb day!

Josh

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Everybody sets their own target based upon their meter readings although the majority seem to go for something much lower than 100g/day. There is a warning for insulin dependant diabetics on the Diet Doctor site.

NOTE
With insulin-treated diabetes it’s important to monitor your blood sugar closely initially when starting an LCHF diet! A diet including few carbohydrates usually causes a greatly reduced need for insulin. It’s then important to adjust (lower) the doses sufficiently to prevent blood sugar from dropping too low. This should, if possible, be done with the support of your physician or diabetes nurse, especially if you have limited experience of insulin adjustment yourself.

http://www.dietdoctor.com/type-1-diabetes

 

[noblehead]

Hi Josh, there isn't a simple answer to your question, just find a carb level that works for you.

 

[JJO]

Thats really quite helpful @Squire Fuelwood

Yeah I figure I'll need to adjust my insulin as things progress especially if I'm having hypos already!

I'm not going to be going from where I am to 10g of carbs a day instantly (nor is 10g a sensible target or what I'm aiming for!) so I'll be better able to monitor changes with a gradual. So thanks also for the warning and the information.

Josh

 

[JJO]

Thanks @noblehead

Just trying to gauge what other people do so I can have a better understanding. I appreciate it's very individual.

 

[Brunneria]

@robert72 has been low carbing for years, and has mentioned that he reduced his carbs slowly over time. His bg control is AWESOME!

 

[noblehead]

Thanks @noblehead

Just trying to gauge what other people do so I can have a better understanding. I appreciate it's very individual.

No problem

When I first came to the forum I reduced my carbs to around 60g a day, then I increased it to 90g and then 120g, for the last few years I've been eating around 180g of carb a day which is a good third less than the RDA for a man.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

No advice from me, but I love your kitty!

 

[Daibell]

Hi. I try to stay below 150gm/day.

 

[robert72]

Hi Josh

I would agree that you should find a level of carbs that suits you - if you then want to go lower, you can reduce gradually to see how you get on. I started by cutting the major carb out of my evening meal and when I saw that that was beneficial to my levels I started working on others. It can be difficult to know what to eat when replacing starch so I found reducing it gradually gave me time to adjust.

 

[JJO]

@robert72 @Daibell @noblehead

Thanks for that! All very helpful!

Learning a lot, slowly.

Breakfast seems to be the hardest to get right. 10.8 after my breakfast today! But that was a bowl of porridge.

 

[JJO]

No advice from me, but I love your kitty!

Thanks he's 10 weeks old, has a silent cry when he's getting sleepy and his bite is starting to hurt!

 

[JJO]

Thanks he's 10 weeks old, has a silent cry when he's getting sleepy and his bite is starting to hurt!

Oh, forgot to add that he helps keep me in-check with regards to my diet and helps out on the forums!