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Carb Counting for Type 2 on Insulin and Metformin

A

avisb

Member
Messages
21
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hey

Since lockdown 1, and having to work from home (now for almost a year, like most people I suppose!), my weight has gradually been creeping up. Before lockdown I had managed to lose 2 stone (following Slimming World) and had really good blood sugar and Hba1C was at 58. Morning readings were around 5.6 - 6.6. I managed to get my insulin intake down to 8 units in the morning and 22 units in the evening.

My weight has been gradually creeping up and along with it my BS levels.

I'm struggling to get fasting BS below 8.0, normally in the range of 9.0 - 10.0, sometimes over 11.0.

I seem to be very carb sensitive at the moment and makes my BS really shoot up and take forever to come down.

Currently on 1000mg Metformin 2x daily and Humulin insulin, ranging from 12 - 16 units in the morning (depending how high my morning BS is) and 30 units in the evening. I try and increase insulin by 2 units if I am having a high carb meal or sugars have been high during the day, but don't want to increase beyond this on a daily basis

I am exercising (walking) around 20 minutes in the mornings before starting work, but it is currently my only exercise during the day.

So, I am looking to start counting carbs, but don't know where to start. I am struggling to find what the recommended carb intake a day is for people with type 2 on insulin and Metformin.

Does anybody know of a good website or app that I can use to do this?
 
avisb said:
Hey

Since lockdown 1, and having to work from home (now for almost a year, like most people I suppose!), my weight has gradually been creeping up. Before lockdown I had managed to lose 2 stone (following Slimming World) and had really good blood sugar and Hba1C was at 58. Morning readings were around 5.6 - 6.6. I managed to get my insulin intake down to 8 units in the morning and 22 units in the evening.

My weight has been gradually creeping up and along with it my BS levels.

I'm struggling to get fasting BS below 8.0, normally in the range of 9.0 - 10.0, sometimes over 11.0.

I seem to be very carb sensitive at the moment and makes my BS really shoot up and take forever to come down.

Currently on 1000mg Metformin 2x daily and Humulin insulin, ranging from 12 - 16 units in the morning (depending how high my morning BS is) and 30 units in the evening. I try and increase insulin by 2 units if I am having a high carb meal or sugars have been high during the day, but don't want to increase beyond this on a daily basis

I am exercising (walking) around 20 minutes in the mornings before starting work, but it is currently my only exercise during the day.

So, I am looking to start counting carbs, but don't know where to start. I am struggling to find what the recommended carb intake a day is for people with type 2 on insulin and Metformin.

Does anybody know of a good website or app that I can use to do this?
Click to expand...
My sympathy is useless to you but here it is anyhow. I sincerely hope that one or more of the knowledgeable members can help you. Kudos for testing, walking and having the courage to ask for help. Best wishes with it all.
 
I use the carbs & cals app to carb count, I think it cost £5 but I use it several times a day. Carb counting is something that really takes practice and at first you want to weigh & keep notes of everything especially if cooking from fresh.

What insulin’s are you using? Are you on a basal/ bolus regime or mixed insulin? This will affect how you go about reducing carbs and how you reduce insulin to avoid hypos.
 
Which humulin are you using? I am on humulin I and novorapid for corrections.
 
ianpspurs said:
My sympathy is useless to you but here it is anyhow. I sincerely hope that one or more of the knowledgeable members can help you. Kudos for testing, walking and having the courage to ask for help. Best wishes with it all.
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
TashT1 said:
I use the carbs & cals app to carb count, I think it cost £5 but I use it several times a day. Carb counting is something that really takes practice and at first you want to weigh & keep notes of everything especially if cooking from fresh.

What insulin’s are you using? Are you on a basal/ bolus regime or mixed insulin? This will affect how you go about reducing carbs and how you reduce insulin to avoid hypos.
Click to expand...

Hi, its mixed insulin. Humulin M3 30% soluble insulin, 70% Isophane insulin, a mixture of low and fast acting.
 
avisb said:
I seem to be very carb sensitive at the moment and makes my BS really shoot up and take forever to come down.
Click to expand...

The easiest way to rectify that would surely be to reduce your carb intake ?

Your insulin needs would likely plummet and your weight gain would probably stop in its tracks.
 
avisb said:
Hi, its mixed insulin. Humulin M3 30% soluble insulin, 70% Isophane insulin, a mixture of low and fast acting.
Click to expand...

Being on a mixed dose gives you less flexibility but you can still reduce carbs to help. Probably best to start off slow & speak to your team. They may or may not be supportive of low carb diets.

First thing I would do is count how many carbs you would usually eat at each meal & snacks for a day or so. Choose one meal time to reduce carbs every couple of days and that way you build up a picture of what’s happening. If you start to go hypo you know you’ve had too much insulin for the carbs consumed.

Also everyone has a different carb threshold so some people have results at >100g, some need >50g and some are better off keto or >20g.
If you regularly eat 200+ a day for example I wouldn’t drop too drastically to start with.
 
bulkbiker said:
The easiest way to rectify that would surely be to reduce your carb intake ?

Your insulin needs would likely plummet and your weight gain would probably stop in its tracks.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have read your post on the Diet Doctor. Well done to you for losing the weight. Very inspiring. Will certainly try eating less carbs and hope one day to be able to fully embrace low carb eating.
 
avisb said:
Thanks. I have read your post on the Diet Doctor. Well done to you for losing the weight. Very inspiring. Will certainly try eating less carbs and hope one day to be able to fully embrace low carb eating.
Click to expand...

Its worked so well for so many of us I think you should try it sooner rather than later.
Monitor your blood sugar levels very carefully though as you don't want to hypo.
 
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bulkbiker said:
Its worked so well for so many of us I think you should try t sooner rather than later.
Monitor your blood sugar levels very carefully though as you don't want to hypo.
Click to expand...

Yes, I did have that problem when I was on the Slimming World plan, particularly at lunchtimes, sometimes during my lunchtime walk. Also had a few during the night too. Luckily on those occasions I woke up and realised I was having a hypo and treated accordingly.
 
TashT1 said:
Being on a mixed dose gives you less flexibility but you can still reduce carbs to help. Probably best to start off slow & speak to your team. They may or may not be supportive of low carb diets.

First thing I would do is count how many carbs you would usually eat at each meal & snacks for a day or so. Choose one meal time to reduce carbs every couple of days and that way you build up a picture of what’s happening. If you start to go hypo you know you’ve had too much insulin for the carbs consumed.

Also everyone has a different carb threshold so some people have results at >100g, some need >50g and some are better off keto or >20g.
If you regularly eat 200+ a day for example I wouldn’t drop too drastically to start with.
Click to expand...


Thank you I will give it a go. I have been writing down what I have had for dinner the last few weeks, but not actually counting the carbs.

I will start tomorrow and see how I get on. I'll post and update in a few weeks time and let you know how I got on. Thank you again for your advice.
 
Download the mysugr app and record your food and numbers. After a few days you will get an estimated hba1c. The longer you use it the more accurate it becomes. It is highly motivating.
 
xfieldok said:
Download the mysugr app and record your food and numbers. After a few days you will get an estimated hba1c. The longer you use it the more accurate it becomes. It is highly motivating.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will give it a go.
 
Hi, felt like i was writing some of your post.

After a couple of years on insulin I have been asked to start carb counting to get my hba1c down

Basically (and im no expert) you find a carb/insulin ratio, lets say1:10 because that seems to be a popular starting point.

Every 10 grams of carb you would need 1 unit of insulin, so lets say you ate a slice of bread @ 20 grams of carbs you would need 2 units to cover that.

Everyones ratio is different but that is the short and curlies of carb counting. I dont understand how you can do this on a mixed insulin, I have humalin I slow acting at bedtime then use novorapid before meals so the carb couting is easy, no idea how you achieve it without the fast acting.

I hope you find an answer
 
Hi again

I love low carb diets, I was evangelical about them years ago, it was the answer to everything, but I learned that if it does not suit you then it does not suit you, when it does not or does not work anymore, it can be a worry that its the only advice you receive. It makes me feel like a failure, please go for it but dont feel bad it it isnt for you. Best of luck
 
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