Does the body not like a lack of carbs?

[Kateyo]

I've noticed recently that when I eat lunch my BS shoot up really quickly. I've basal tested and I flatline when fasting and I pre bolus also. I'll use today as an example. Breakfast was eggs, bacon and sausage which was fine, lunch was then chicken salad but my BS started climbing straight away and very quickly yet before that I had sat nicely in the 4s for hours. It doesn't seem to help that I've increased my ratio so I'm wondering if it's in response to lack of carbs in some way. Has anyone experienced this or can offer any advice because I'm stumped at this point and pulling my hair out I've never had this problem before or one that I can't seem to find a reason or solution to. The only thing I can think is the low carbing in some way...appreciate any advice

 

[noblehead]

If it's a one-off episode I wouldn't worry about it and see what tomorrow brings (that is if you've been low-carbing for a while and eat similar meals each day).

If this is your first day LC then maybe skip lunch tomorrow and test your bg levels post lunch to see if your bg rises, if it does then it could be down to the fat content of your breakfast.

Hope you find the answer.

 

[Bon83]

I've noticed recently that when I eat lunch my BS shoot up really quickly. I've basal tested and I flatline when fasting and I pre bolus also. I'll use today as an example. Breakfast was eggs, bacon and sausage which was fine, lunch was then chicken salad but my BS started climbing straight away and very quickly yet before that I had sat nicely in the 4s for hours. It doesn't seem to help that I've increased my ratio so I'm wondering if it's in response to lack of carbs in some way. Has anyone experienced this or can offer any advice because I'm stumped at this point and pulling my hair out I've never had this problem before or one that I can't seem to find a reason or solution to. The only thing I can think is the low carbing in some way...appreciate any advice

I don't know if this will help you but I seem to have a lunchtime issue as well. Whether I have carbs low carb or no carb it's always higher than I expect. If I have protein and no carbs it also seems that the protein raises my bg really quickly. I seem to.be more sensitive to insulin in the morning and have quote a good routine - one thing I thought of was I was going too long between breakfast and lunch about 6 hours some days due to work commitments. For example I've had steadier bg @ lunch when eat earlier as I'm off work - ideally 4 hours between meals. I'm thinking my matobolism may have slowed due to the length of time between meals? It is frustrating I know sorry no real answers

 

[azure]

I've noticed recently that when I eat lunch my BS shoot up really quickly. I've basal tested and I flatline when fasting and I pre bolus also. I'll use today as an example. Breakfast was eggs, bacon and sausage which was fine, lunch was then chicken salad but my BS started climbing straight away and very quickly yet before that I had sat nicely in the 4s for hours. It doesn't seem to help that I've increased my ratio so I'm wondering if it's in response to lack of carbs in some way. Has anyone experienced this or can offer any advice because I'm stumped at this point and pulling my hair out I've never had this problem before or one that I can't seem to find a reason or solution to. The only thing I can think is the low carbing in some way...appreciate any advice

I'd see if it was a one off too. You might want to also do a basal test to make sure it's not a basal issue.

Did you bolus for the chicken (protein)? I find that with minimal carbs it's harder to control blood sugar as protein has to be counted and bolused for. Personally, I find even a moderate amount of carbs makes control easier and stops the rise.

 

[Kateyo]

Unfortunately not a one off, it's been happening for a while now and I've been trying all the usual - basal testing (all good), ratio increase (not really helping) etc that's an interesting point @Bon83! I'd had a late lunch just to see what happened but I know from basal testing that everything is right basal wise, I wonder is it that I'm not eating enough or regularly enough. @noblehead @azure thanks for your replies too, I actually never low carbed until I cut back during pregnancy due to insulin resistance as pregnancy progressed so then I just stuck to lower carb (as opposed to vlc) after preg because it seemed to make things more predictable but then as I started to spike after breakfast I cut the carbs altogether to see if that helped but I always would have had salad at lunch (just because I prefer it to sandwiches etc) and always managed great with it. Maybe it is a case of vlc not suiting me and I need to reintroduce carbs at breakfast and see if that helps at lunchtime. I'm not one for vlc, I've just found myself doing it as a means of fixing spikes at breakfast but it hasn't really helped. I hate spikes, I'm used to being able to get on top of these things relatively quickly so it's really frustrating me. Also due to start fertility treatment so need to knock the spikes on the head. I can go up as far as 9 food for thought guys (pardon the pun) thanks

 

[Kateyo]

@azure sorry I didn't answer your question! Yes I've always bolused for any low/no carb meals to account for the protein

 

[azure]

Maybe try upping the carbs a little and - my favourite tool - advance bolusing. That help reduce spikes a lot @Kateyo

(And it's good you're bolusing for the protein )

 

[Kateyo]

Maybe try upping the carbs a little and - my favourite tool - advance bolusing. That help reduce spikes a lot @Kateyo

(And it's good you're blusing for the protein )

Yep I think that's a good idea on the carbs! I do advance bolus where I can but have to admit sometimes I could be better with this. I've got fiasp to try but am a bit nervous having read some reviews on it

 

[matthewwallis]

Strangely I have the exact same issue with salad and lunch. I have salad for lunch and give myself 3 units when I'm eating a maximum of 10g crabs. My ration is 1u for 10g but it will fly up sometimes to around 15mmol. But this weeks I've been having 2 packets of crisps (34g) and have had to give my self just 2 units because my blood sugar starts falling? The same happens when i have a sandwich for lunch but if I have salad it flies up??

 

[Bon83]

Yep I think that's a good idea on the carbs! I do advance bolus where I can but have to admit sometimes I could be better with this. I've got fiasp to try but am a bit nervous having read some reviews on it

It sounds like you are really motivated - I am trying to carb count and pre bolus a little (but very paranoid about hypos). I just find it sooo hard and tying. My numbers are not mega high but I know I am up down up down. As I mentioned I'm ok in the morning routine etc but after lunch it all seems to go to pot - life's so busy I just end up guessing carbs - I know I could do better

 

[azure]

It sounds like you are really motivated - I am trying to carb count and pre bolus a little (but very paranoid about hypos). I just find it sooo hard and tying. My numbers are not mega high but I know I am up down up down. As I mentioned I'm ok in the morning routine etc but after lunch it all seems to go to pot - life's so busy I just end up guessing carbs - I know I could do better

If you pre-bolus, move your bolus gradually and test if you feel funny. Also, avoid bolusing then showering or bathing, or even rushing around.

Take it very slowly and err on the side of caution.

 

[Bon83]

If you pre-bolus, move your bolus gradually and test if you feel funny. Also, avoid bolusing then showering or bathing, or even rushing around.

Take it very slowly and err on the side of caution.

Thanks so much for the advice! I managed about ten minutes pre the other day at breakfast it helped. Just tried to keep calm.

 

[Kateyo]

It sounds like you are really motivated - I am trying to carb count and pre bolus a little (but very paranoid about hypos). I just find it sooo hard and tying. My numbers are not mega high but I know I am up down up down. As I mentioned I'm ok in the morning routine etc but after lunch it all seems to go to pot - life's so busy I just end up guessing carbs - I know I could do better

I am very motivated but it means I find it hard to accept the unpredictable nature of diabetes sometimes as I'm such a control freak!! What insulin do you use? Most will take 15+minutes to even start working and in my case can take 30mins to 1hr depending on time of day. Azure has given you great advice, go slowly. Have you tried libre or cgm to try and help with your anxiety of going low? Pick your most problematic time of day and focus on that for now so if that's lunchtime then basal test in the afternoon to rule that out, then you can look at your ratio and pre blousing and once that's sorted you could move onto the next part of day that could be improved on. Don't forget, diabetes is always changing and throwing challenges our way, it doesn't discriminate so even those who are very motivated or have excellent control have the same issues so don't be too hard on yourself!

 

[TheBigNewt]

What you didn't say was what are your pre-meal BS readings. I get the "spikes" right away after eating but does the BS get back down to/near normal before the next meal?

 

[Kateyo]

Strangely I have the exact same issue with salad and lunch. I have salad for lunch and give myself 3 units when I'm eating a maximum of 10g crabs. My ration is 1u for 10g but it will fly up sometimes to around 15mmol. But this weeks I've been having 2 packets of crisps (34g) and have had to give my self just 2 units because my blood sugar starts falling? The same happens when i have a sandwich for lunch but if I have salad it flies up??

Its so complicated with protein and fat, you really have to take the time to watch and change things up next time until you get to know the effects protein and fat have on your body. I was always fine with salad. I've had salad for lunch for years so I'm frustrated that things seem to have changed now but I think I do need to add some more carbs to see if that helps. Your example just shows the difference it can make. Wish I could help more but maybe we can keep the thread updated once we work it out because we will

 

[Kateyo]

What you didn't say was what are your pre-meal BS readings. I get the "spikes" right away after eating but does the BS get back down to/near normal before the next meal?

They tend to sit in the 4s pre meal and always back to normal next meal (so I could go from 4 to 8 or even 9 sometimes which is too big a spike!) but then I watch my cgm and will add small boluses (as I try to sugar surf) to nudge it back down so can't say what would happen if I left it although I don't usually hypo so protein for me must mean I need a higher ratio than a meal with carbs. I know what you mean though about watching to see if the bolus brought things back into range but I find it hard to watch them climb!

 

[TheBigNewt]

OK I've only had it for 33 yrs, but I'll tell you that I almost never check my BS for "spikes" only pre-meal, bedtime, and when I get up. And if I feel low of course, unless that's a certainty. Despite whatever "spikes" I may be missing my A1C's are always about 6-6.2, sometimes 5.8. I know a lot of people get obsessed about the CGM data, but the way I look at it, in order to reduce/eliminate "spikes" I'd probably end up low before the next meal. Right? Maybe that's why I've not been too keen on using a CGM.

 

[noblehead]

@Kateyo , maybe try a different breakfast rather than bacon, egg & sausage, try berries and natural yogurt or a slice of toast with some poached eggs on top, both low-carb and it may/may not make a difference to your bg levels later in the morning and after lunch. Worth a try anyway.

 

[Kateyo]

OK I've only had it for 33 yrs, but I'll tell you that I almost never check my BS for "spikes" only pre-meal, bedtime, and when I get up. And if I feel low of course, unless that's a certainty. Despite whatever "spikes" I may be missing my A1C's are always about 6-6.2, sometimes 5.8. I know a lot of people get obsessed about the CGM data, but the way I look at it, in order to reduce/eliminate "spikes" I'd probably end up low before the next meal. Right? Maybe that's why I've not been too keen on using a CGM.

Completely agree that it can lead to an obsession over every figure and I have seen myself bow to that although that's my nature! They do say that hba1c is made up of mostly the post meal readings so I do think it's important to know what's going on though agree that if not managed properly it absolutely could lead to more hypos. I do love the cgm for the insight it provides but can see how people become too reliant on it and I include myself in that because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't go without it now if I could help it!

 

[Kateyo]

@Kateyo , maybe try a different breakfast rather than bacon, egg & sausage, try berries and natural yogurt or a slice of toast with some poached eggs on top, both low-carb and it may/may not make a difference to your bg levels later in the morning and after lunch. Worth a try anyway.

Def worth a try and that's exactly what I'm going to do! hadn't thought of natural yoghurt and berries either, thanks