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carb counting course

S

scotts mum

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My son went onto the carb counting at Christmas. We went to see the dietian who gave us a small printed list of carbs, told us to do 1 unit insulin to10g of carbs and left it at that! ( No Im not impressed with the clinic and never have been!Thank God I have a brain!). This didnt work out , bloods too high, I have now worked out 1.25 units to 10g! Any way, I really would like to try out low carbs and am reading everything I can about it before I start!
I have lists everywhere in my kitchen about how many carbs are in food, my son,s favorite meals. how much insulin to cover these etc!
What I do keep reading about is people who have been on carb counting courses! How did they find out about these courses?, how did they enrol?, How much did they cost? and were they of any benefit?
Thanks
Tracey
 
I'd like to know those answers too. I know there are none round here. Try Diabetes UK. they might have a list somewhere.
 
I know that cause like DAFNE tend to be based on adults and isn't provided for the children, but I think that they do one for the chidren and parents..

You need to enquire at they diabetic clinic at the hospital as these courses are run by the hospitals, and basically you ask to be added to the waiting list... As the tends to be a waiting lists for these courses..

As to your starting the carb counting, they do tend to start with 1 unit to 10g of carbs, partly because a high percentage of diabetics will fall into this ratio, and partly because it makes the starting and getting off the ground a bit easier to calculate..

But good on you as you used your common sense to take it the step further to work out his ratios to match him... which carb counting is about

Back to the courses, they will educate you in all types of carbs, the template will be based on what is precieved to be normal healthy eating... You use what you've learn't and match it to what you and your son want to do...
 
If you google "B-DEC" you can register and take the online counting course from the Bournemouth Diabetes Centre. This gives you lots of practice of carb counting and introduces you to carb ratios. It is based on the DAFNE course.

The carbohydrate portion CP method of carb counting/ insulin adjustment is peculiar to the UK. Everywhere else that I know of does it the other way round and counts the number of carbs that can be covered with one unit of insulin. Dr Bernstein has found that most people who have no insulin resistance issues eg your son need one unit of rapid acting insulin for every 12g of carb. I trained on the everywhere else model and greatly prefer it. When I asked Dr Cavan's (B-DEC course organiser) why they did the 10g carb CP method he said that people in the UK would find division too difficult and that the adding system was easier.
 
Dividing by 10 is a lot easier than 12, and I’m sure that isn’t just a British trait but common around the world… And does make for a easier start for when trying to get your head around carbs, carb counting and insulin doses…

Most countries start with the 1-10g (and you’ll find Americans do in general) as a starting point for the basal/bolus regimes then they work towards working insulin – carb ratios that suit time of day, meals types, exercise etc, as it is only when you start to build a picture of data by monitoring, BG’s foods, exercise etc that you can work out what ratios work and/or need adjusting to suit particular needs at particular times…
 
You make me feel old ,Jo!! At one time dividing by 12 was very British,12 pennies in a pound for instance,not to mention 12 inches in a foot etc.I do agree that metric is easier though but still have to carry a tape measure with me to work out metric sizes back to imperial.
 
I have a good calculator too!
It's called my brain. I only just wescaped compulsory learning of 14 and 16 times tables. used for ounces and pounds. I'm a whizz at the12 x and still teach them when I do go out to a school.
 
The Brits tend to count one carb portion as 10g
The Germans count one carb portion as 12g
The Americans count one carb portion as 15g

I think it is just a lot easier to count the carbs and your personal carb/insulin ratio for that time of day. (or time of the month !)
 
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