Any Type 2s carbohydrate counting on basal bolus?

[GrumpyAardvark]

Hi

I'm interested in the experiences of any Type 2 diabetics who are on a basal bolus regime and adjust their bolus insulin according to their carbohydrate intake.

I'm particularly interested in how you fared calculating your insulin units to 10g carbohydrate ratios bearing in mind the issue of insulin resistance and the fact that in type 2 the pancreas is usually still producing some insulin.

I would be interested in some real world experiences of its practicality.

Kate

 

[Booticles2410]

Hiya

I'm a type 2 diabetic and have been for nearly 8 years. I was put straight onto Insulin when I was pregnant and taken off it once I delivered. After 6 months I was back on Insulin, injecting 5 times a day, 2 times of Levemir and Novo rapid when I ate.

I asked my diabetic consultant to be referred to a dietician who in turn put my name forward to a days information session on counting carbs.

I found that I have been able to loose alot of weight by reducing my calorific intake to around 1200 calories a day and because of wanting to loose weight chose to eat certain carbs in much smaller quantities.

I have managed to loose around 5 stone and have gone from 5 injections a day to none.

I used to inject 64 units at tea time with my 6-8 units of rapid and then top up my levemir in the morning with breakfast another 14 units.

It soon became apparent that I had been over injecting at every meal time once I learnt about counting carbs, my ratio of insulin to carb was 1-1, so for example by having just 1 slice of toast for breakfast and an apple, meant I should only been injecting a couple of units of insulin. By injecting more meant that it was necessary for me to snack.

I have been off novo rapid since Aug 2009 and off all Levemir since Dec 2009. My last HBA1c was 5.6, the best its been since forever. For me, it worked. I did have to spend an awful lot of times checking my blood sugars, sometimes 6 times a day, but by doing so was able to know exactly what my sugars were doing.

I did this with the guidance of my Diabetic Specialist nurse within the community, I used to ring in my levels every couple of days and with their help was able to reduce extremely slowly, I think that by reducing my body mass my own body's insulin production was able to kick in and slowly cope with what I now eat

I hope this helps