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Diet problem

V

Ventis

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi! A week ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes, probably type 2 - the doctor said she'll know for sure mid October. She gave me insulin pen, and ordered a strict diet, with 15 saccharide units per day (4 for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and 1 for snacks in the morning, afternoon, and 'second dinner').

But problem is, we can't bring our own lunches to work, and there's no way to weigh the rice, pasta or potatoes. I must not omit carbs for lunch and eat only meat and vegetable, my doctor insists I need to eat carbs for each meal. So it's a permanent struggle, and 2 hours after lunch my sugar level always jumps to 15 - 16, while I'm still hungry.

Does anyone have any advice, how to manage the diet when not at home?
 
if you are taking a fixed amount of insulin, you need a fixed amount of carb to balance it, be boring and have the same lunch carbs everyday and change your protein and fats.

carb counting and learning, ahead of moving to a basal bolus is where I would be spending my energy

if you are T2, LCHF diet is very good and worth looking at down the track
 
If you can't take your own lunch to work then either learn how much your portion of starches looks like
This book application might help as it has photos of different portion sizes
http://www.carbsandcals.com/
O you could always take a very small digital scale to work with you. When I first used insulin I used to take my scales everywhere, even using them when staying at hotels.
Remember that fruit, vegetables and dairy also contain carbohydrates

I've not heard the term saccharide unit, is it 10 or 15g of carbohydrate?
If it is as much as 15g then you will find quite a few suggestions for amounts if you google 1800 cal ADA diet or1800 cal exchange diet. The diet sheets will have ideas for 3x 60g meals and 1 x 15 gram snack
( 3 meals and 4 snacks seems as you will be eating all day! It sounds a bit like feeding the insulin but what you need to do is try it, record all your results and discuss them with your doctor.)
What sort of insulin are you using (one pen suggests to me a mix)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi. I guess you may have to tolerate this until October. Has the doc done the two blood tests for late onset T1 and awaiting those results? What sort of insulin are you on and how often do you inject; I suspect it will be a mixed insulin? When the blood test results come in you will be in a position to discuss insulin options with the doc. These could include carb-counting with varying insulin injections or possibly two different insulins. You will get used to 'guessing' the carb content of foods as you read labels and test so it does get easier but never perfect.
 
Carbs are veggies. Potatoes, rice and pasta although carbs they contain a lot of starch. Eat more green veggies or did she particularly say starchy veggies and rice and pasta?
 
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