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Basal and bolus balance on a low carb diet

R

Rianne

Well-Known Member
Messages
82
Location
Netherlands
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi all,
Since a few weeks I have the Freestyle Libre 1 sensor and notice more highs after meals than I was aware of with blood glucose testing. I am searching now to find the best balance in my insulin dosing to avoid that without getting too much hypo's. I have been told and have read many times that a basal and bolus balance of approx. 50/50 gives the best results. With, during the years, changing my diet bit by bit into a low carb diet (in my case approx. 80-100g of carbs a day) I am wondering if the 50/50 indication would still be applicable. Does anyone know what is the best basal/bolus balance when low carbing?
Any ideas, links, experiences are very welcome. Thanks!
 

You'll have to test to see what suits you best, in my opinion the idea of a static ratio between bolus and basal is rubbish anyways cos it'd mean you'd be changing your basal everyday you had a different amount of carbs.
You will need to do some basal testing to find out how much you need, and the bolus is dependent on the carbs you have.

I know when I was younger one of the DN's at my local hospital insisted that I should be on a 50/50 ratio for basal/bolus, I tried it sorta half way between what I was on and the 50/50 for a few days and mostly what happened was that I ended up waking up in a hypo every morning (and being late to work), so that idea got ditched and I want back too what I was on (about 30% basal as it happened) - note I was not and still am not low carbing.
 
I'm with you @Rokaab, the basal/bolus ratio is totally individualistic and it is what ever YOU need it to be that works for you.

Rianne said:
and notice more highs after meals than I was aware of with blood glucose testing
Click to expand...

This is what most people find, even if they think they have fairly good control the Libre is a real eye opener! This just maybe down to timing of the bolus (pre-bolusing).
 


Thanks, Rokaab. Sure you are right, it is pretty personal. But I do think there are some general outcomes that suit best for high(er) and others for low(er) carbers. It would give me a better start with testing my basals. Good to read that you follow your own path despite the TOO general advice of 50/50 .
 


Thanks, slip. I am indeed trying prebolusing much more now. I used to bolus about 15 minutes ahead, but it seems that sometimes 1 full hour is best. Difficult though when being physically active in that particular hour. Not experienced enough yet to not feel fear of getting a hypo. Of course I have dextro with me all the time, but hate to eat sugars before meals. It'll get more clear in time.... ;-)
 
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