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Change of insulin and carb counting

J

Juicy jus

Newbie
Messages
3
Hi all - am in need of some help or guidance please ?

Was diagnosed type 1 just over a month ago and started off on 2 jabs a day in the past few weeks I've been getting 1 hypo a day and nurse believes I'm in a honeymoon period so took the plunge and changed insulin to 3 short acting and 1 long acting a day - she's given me doses that she believes will get more more balanced but since changing over I'm going from around 3 to 16 in one day - it's leaving me really low and tired out from trying to manage it and so today I'm feeling quite upset as had 2 hypos this morning already - I keep testing sugar and it's all over the shop today - I don't have anyone to talk it over with as it's a Sunday and don't know how to get it under control - diet wise I'm being careful so porridge no sugar for breakfast but after hypo had glucose and a muffin - cooking Sunday roast now but plan to omit carbs.

Does anyone know why I could be all over the shop and how do I manage carbs as I need energy ?

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer.
 
Hi Juicy Jus,

I am type 2 so cant help with your insulin problems but there are lots of kind people in the site who I am sure will be along soon to give you some ideas. x
 
Hi

Although the dsn has changed your insulin over to basal/bolus and has given you set doses to try, that doesn't mean that the doses are correct as you are having too many hypos.

What youve got to do now is start counting the carb in the food that you are going to eat and start using an insulin to carb ratio of 1u to 10g carb (not weight). Start testing your bg levels before you eat a meal, then mid morning, before lunch, mid afternoon, before eve meal and then before going to bed. The idea is that you learn from your bg levels how to adjust your bolus insulin ratio upwards or downwards accordingly and try to keep to healthy targets and changing the ratio as you go along. Ideally you need to aim for a before you eat target of 5-7mmol and then 2.5hrs later have a bg level of 7-9mmol. The idea is then for your next bg level to be back at 5-7mmol again before your next main meal. A bit trial and error to begin with as you have to learn from the results that you get.

Have a look at BDEC diabetes online carb counting course. There are loads of threads on the forum all about carb counting and different bolus and basal insulins.
 
Thanks for the information I really need to know what I should be doing for the best and the highs and lows are leaving me drained - I appreciate you taking the time to reply but don't think I can get this sorted nytime soon am considering cutting right back on carbs altogether.
 
Hi

If you want to c ut back on carb because of hypos and highs then that's understandable but you will still need to inject your background insulin otherwise you will be very ill and need hospital because of high bg levels.

The DAFNE carb counting that I listed above is a very good way of using bolus basal insulin and its a shame that carb ratios are not explained to diabetics. By not eating any carb tonight, you will be able to see what your background insulin alone is doing to your bg levels. Test every 2hrs and take note of your bg levels. If they go a bit too high because there is no bolus, then you will need to do a small correction with the bolus.
 
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