Reply to Thread

Guest, we'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the Diabetes Forum Survey 2025 »

Message: <blockquote data-quote="kitedoc" data-source="post: 1985466" data-attributes="member: 468714">Hi [USER=500296]@sam0x00[/USER], Thank you for posting. It takes courage to admit that things are not perfect and to seek help about them.I was 13 when diagnosed and recall the anxieties and ups and downs  (and this was ages ago before glucose meters, fancy insulins, pens and pumps). Hypos are terrifying when you do not know why it is happening and what to do to prevent them !!I am glad the fear of hypos side of things is less. That takes courage to solve too.Now, as a TID of 52 years, not as professional advice or opinion:The second best control I have ever had of my BSLs in my 52 years on insulin was when I went onto an insulin pump  7 years ago. Night-time hypos were causing mayhem. Using the pump saved me from bad hypos, loss of my car license and limiting my job future.The best control of BSLs has been over the past 6 weeks: I read an e-book called "Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution" revised 2011.He is your countryman, now I think at 65 years plus on insulin. If you read this book, think about and maybe try-out the low carb diet recommended and other suggestions you may find a great improvement  in your own diabetes  (without necessarily needing an insulin pump.)- but I would suggest speaking with your doctor first.Most doctors in US and certainly here in Australia, are fixated on higher carb diets, as per the last 50 years mantra. We now know that to a greater or lesser degree these type of diets have been influenced by the food industry. You may recall how many adverts there are for breakfast cereals and how they still appear in some form in most current diabetic diets.(and that is just one example).What got my attention about Dr Bernstein's book (and I have read so many ideas on diabetic diets over 50 years that it takes a lot to get more attention) is a) simplicity - more carbs --> higher BSLs --> more insulin --> hypos --> hypers --> more insulin etc. Why not have less carbs ?  b) low fat diets and higher carb diets leave me hungry -- > snacks --> BSLs up  and insulin dose + whereas a low carbs high protein diet (most protein contains fat anyway) keeps me feeling full and satisfied so that 2 or 3 meals a day are fine with no need for in between snacks c) the less insulin needed means that less risk of hypos AND of severe hypos d) despite the added protein the diet lead to me losing a bit of weight - the weight that can add on with hypos /eating /hypers/ insulin etc cycle) e) straight after I started on this diet, I had some days of feeling unwell as my body changed from burning carbs over to a greater use of burning fats - so the ketones go up a bit,  and this is called 'the 'keto flu' dietdoctor.com talks about this BUT as long as my BSLs are OK there has not been any worry about keto-acidosis. But I have energy, fantastic BSLs.  Again this is why you need to speak with your doctor and also because as you lower carbs you have to adjust insulin doses.In Dr B's book he is taking about 30 g of carb, mine is closer to 40 g, it depends on doing things like exercise, protein intake etc.BUT - Given your current situation why would you bother? What could motivate you to at least look at this option with your doctor.? Well, there are a number of us T1Ds on site who have found this approach keeps us healthy, has allowed some diabetes complications to be reversed and amazed the doctors.  Yes these are mainly UK T1Ds but if you look also at type1True Grit * website in US (they support Dr Bernstein's solution as opposed to the ADA) you can see what people including children of the age when you were first diagnosed and older have achieved there.But just to be clear, there are other T1Ds on this site who stick with higher carb diets and have been doing so and injecting insulin for longer than I have. Not everybody wishes to and feel they need to be on a low carb diet.But if what I have written that is still not enough to persuade you, can you imagine living on with the way you feel at present with your current BSLs? Do you worry about what these levels might be doing to your eyes, kidneys and nerves?I can certainly recall how tired and lousy I felt with high BSLs and how much better once on steady BSLs in normal range.Please think on this - it is the best first suggestion I can suggest for you. But form some form of alliance with your doctor as the first step in any such endevour. Keep posting to let us know what you decide on or you run into obstructions along the way. and how you are feeling.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

Verification

Top Bottom

Search

Search

Reply to Thread