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Carbohydrate - meal max - need to gain weight

M

mikeg1964

Well-Known Member
Messages
136
Location
LONDON
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Only new to all of this. I know people tend to eat low carb meals, but I need to gain some weight.

Interested in knowing what large carb meals TYPE 1s ACTUALLY eat. Meals and how many carbs.

I am about to have a PIzza Express 80g Carb Margherita , and feeling guilty that I am doing myself harm, but as I say I need to gain weight, and thought this was a good way.

Thanksfor feedback.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi,
Im not a type 1, so cant really help, but what I can tell you is that Carbs turn directly to sugar, so the more Carbs you eat, the greater your blood sugar level will be.
Possibly try and eat bigger amounts, without it being all carbs, as I think it will be beneficial in the long term.
Just my penny's worth ?;)
 
Have you considered adding more fats to your diet? Dairy (except milk), full fat yogurts, butter, cheese, olive oil, real mayonnaise, oily fish, eggs, avocados?
 
thanks, yes have added yogurts, butter, cheese, olive oil avocados to diet.

As a newbie was just wondering if type 1s some times ate large carb meals backed up with appropriate insulin.

I know it is not the healthiest diet in long run, but I need to gain weight in the short term.
 
mikeg1964 said:
thanks, yes have added yogurts, butter, cheese, olive oil avocados to diet.

As a newbie was just wondering if type 1s some times ate large carb meals backed up with appropriate insulin.

I know it is not the healthiest diet in long run, but I need to gain weight in the short term.
Click to expand...

I'm not T1, but for diabetics pizza can be one of the trickiest foods to handle well. Try googling "pizza effect". It tends to raise our bloods more slowly, then keep them raised longer. It's quite often discussed.

I'm sure, in due course a T1 will be along to add more specific wisdom, but is your weight gain to counteract weight loss around diagnosis, or so,etching else?

I'll tag a few T1s who may have something to input. @Heathenlass, @Spiker, @tim2000s do you have any wisdom to input here, please?
 
No way.... I'm lean and no way would I entertain more carbs.... More fat is much easier as fat has more calories..
 
mikeg1964 said:
Only new to all of this. I know people tend to eat low carb meals, but I need to gain some weight.

Interested in knowing what large carb meals TYPE 1s ACTUALLY eat. Meals and how many carbs.

I am about to have a PIzza Express 80g Carb Margherita , and feeling guilty that I am doing myself harm, but as I say I need to gain weight, and thought this was a good way.

Thanksfor feedback.
Click to expand...


If you want to gain weight then you must increase your calorie intake, it works the other way for those who want to lose weight. Both carbs and protein contain 4 calories per 1g and fat has 9 calories.
 
Pizza is about the worst you can eat due to the combination of fat and carbs pushing your glucose levels up for an extended period. To gain weight without having a huge effect on glucose levels, additional protein and fat is a better way to do it.
 
I can't help with that one, sorry, as I don't eat high carb meals and bolus for it, ever. The only time I tried doing that was a disaster, with a HbA1c in the 40's soaring to one in the 90's and an increase of insulin dosage of around 300%. Plus I gained more unhealthy weight (fat! ) for the first time in my life.

I'm naturally lean and have come to accept that is my natural genetic default, but if I wanted to gain weight, it would be by increasing calorific intake by more protein and fats , not carbs , as @tim2000s has said . Increasing the carbs is asking for trouble as far as BG levels go, and even in a non diabetic leads to excess fat, not muscle .

What is your daily diet like typically ? If we could have a look at it, perhaps we could make some suggestions to help you ? :)

Signy
 
The only way I think you could use carbs to increase weight safely is if you were to combine it with a bodybuilding style programme and appropriate insulin. There are those on here that do this, but it requires careful management.
 
Hi mate

I hope I can be of some assistance. I eat high carb meals and I can some times consume up to 120g of carbs in one meal and just match it with my needed dose of insulin. I would tend to eat so called better quality carbs like sweet potato, wholegrain rice and pasta etc. I have the luxury of having an insulin pump so I use a dual wave bolus (splits my dose automatically) and it works a treat. If you're on the pens try taking 30/40 % straight away and then take the remaining dose 45mins later.

You will eventually find a way that works best for you and also get some help from your doctor/nurse/educator. What works for me might not for you and vice versa......that's the beauty of our disease, make it your own
 
I'm a skinny T1 having lost about 10kgs before diagnosis. I'm managing to put the weight back on now by eating a diet that contains about 160-200g of carbs with not too much fat due to raised cholesterol. I inject with quite a low dose twice a day and manage to keep my BG between 5-8. Eventually I'll probably lower the carbs and increase the fat (but not saturated - cholesterol enemy).
 
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