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Going out for meals

Padders91

Well-Known Member
Messages
48
Location
Manchester
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Does anyone else struggle with carb counting when out for a meal, I find that I guess and hope for the best, and do you inject before or after the meal ?
 
It is a bit of a guess but there are some good apps that can help. You can make quite a good estimate with practice. I usually inject after the meal for 2 reasons, possible delay and I need to see the food to estimate carbs.
 
That's where I have probably been going wrong, because I always inject right at the start of the meal,usually I inject before the starter if I am having one, plus I always tend to pick the same meal if going to the same resturant as I know the rough carb count etc
 
Whatever works for you Padders, no rules as such.
 
I tend to take my insulin after I've eaten because I tend to have bigger eyes then tummy that or my wife and I share a meal and that makes counting the carbs a tad tricky at times - though my own rule of thumb is 5 units as a base 10 with a treat (if I can't figure out the count and my numbers are coming up enough that even 10 units won't drop me to low (can always correct at the two hour mark if necessary easer to add more insulin then having to eat or drink carbs).
 
Usually get the carb count right, if ever in doubt it's best just to underestimate the carb content of the meal and correct later.

I never inject until the food arrives on the table so I can do a quick carb count, been caught before so you learn from past experiences. When having a starter I just eat it and wait for the main meal to arrive and add the two together then bolus.
 
Thanks, for the info guys I have been meaning to try injecting after the meal, but because I am used to doing the inj before wasn't sure how it would effect my sugars
 
Also I should mention , do any of you, administer your BI two hours after injecting novo rapid, on occasions that I have gone out for a late meal, say about 7, I usually inject my Bi at 9, because I always make a habit of doing it at the same time, what do you guys do ?
 

I inject my lantus around the same time that I bolus for my evening meal, obviously don't inject into the same area but never had a problem to date.
 
I take my lantus what ever time it is that I'm going to bed, might be Midnight might be 3am depending on whats going on - its always around the same time when i'm off work and when working at the same time then so really not a varied time period, but in general between Midnight and 3am it gets injected.
 
Padders91 said:
Does anyone else struggle with carb counting when out for a meal, I find that I guess and hope for the best, and do you inject before or after the meal ?
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i am the exact same, i don't know how else to do it! it can be quite frustrating going out for meals so i often don't because i'm not good at guessing!
 

Snap! Though interestingly enough irrespective of the time. If I have a night hypo? It's always between 2&3 or 6&7am...

I inject before the meal.. But weighing up the "time & motion" of the restraint staff.. Slow service I don't mind on account I can slip out & Jack the bolus & time my return as the plate hits the table...
 
hollyslot said:
i am the exact same, i don't know how else to do it! it can be quite frustrating going out for meals so i often don't because i'm not good at guessing!
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Practise at home, put your food on the plate and estimate the carb value, then weigh it all and see how far you are out. The Carbs & Cal Book/App has a good visual guide on food portions and will help you estimate the carbs in your food more accurately.
 
Meal time insulin (humalog) I tend to take after I've eaten since my eyes tend to be bigger then my tummy and when eating out I almost never finish what I order (but also a lot of what gets ordered is eaten between my mate and I so judging how much I eat vs she's eaten can be an issue at times. I tend to do a general bolus of 5 to 10 units and correct as needed at the two hour mark if really necessary.
 
I inject after my meal incase I dont eat it all (which isnt often) as mentioned above some good apps can tell you portion sizes carb counts.If you are willing to try it and you often have the same thing,you could always not take the insulin and check your bm an hour or so after eating and work out how much insulin would have prevented that then record and youl know for again how much to take!!
 
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