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From low carb to 'normal' - basal rates?

K

Kazzabon

Well-Known Member
Messages
46
Hi
I normally eat a low carb diet and have managed to halve my insulin requirements since going on the pump and LC regime (losing 8 kilos as a result).

However, high days and holidays I go for it and increase my bolus dosage accordingly but am still getting highs in the mornings and at various times of the day when not low-carbing. Should I be automatically increasing my bolus on those days I'm not on a regime? I know pre pump I wouldn't increase my lantus but 'pumping' I have discovered, calls for another mind set!!
 
If I am eating a bigger meal in the evening, especially if I have had no exercise on that day then I will have a higher fasting level the next day. I have got a pattern set up with a slightly higher basal overnight to deal with this.( don't always remember to use it though)
If I'm eating a long drawn out French ''Fete' meal. I'll usually also bolus more than once during the meal, sort of estimate as I go along and trust the insulin on board to take the previous dose into account(unless I eat bread at the beginning, only the main course and dessert normally have significant carbs anyway.
 
I doubt that you need to increase your basal rate, but if you're having a lot of fat as well as the extra carb, this will slow down the absorption of the carb, so you may want to consider using an extended or multiwave bolus.

Next "blow-out" meal, calculate your bolus using your normal insulin to carb ratio & do blood tests 2, 4 & 6 hours after the meal. Your BG should peak around 2 hours then drop back to almost the same as before your meal between the 4 & 6 hour tests. If it doesn't, you might try an extended bolus next time. Also, if your BG at 2 hours is at the upper end of acceptable, use a multiwave bolus with just 1 or 2 units extended over 1 to 2 hours. I find that when I use multiwave, I often have to have the full calculated bolus as an immediate bolus then add 1 or 1.5 units as an extra "shot".
 
Actually, when I'm low carbing I always use the combo bolus as I found that the best way to deal with a protein and fat meal.

I must admit I'm feeling really stuffed and uncomfortable eating 'normally' and looking forward to getting back to my routine. Before the pump My BG usually ran high and that was my norm but i do feel underpar running a higher BG now - I'll try a temp basal overnight and see what tomorrow brings.

I'm going back to injections for 3 months soon so having to think more about upping dosage - didn't think I'd miss the pump ........
 
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