Hoping for Advice and Suggestions

[Wendywu]

Really sorry for long post, but need to explain the circs!

I am T1 following distal pancreatectomy in December 2008. Further surgery removed a chunk of my large bowel and my spleen. I am left with an intolerance for fat and most meats. I can still eat fish, a small amount of chicken and a very small amount of things like low fat sausage, or trimmed ham without horribly adverse results.

I use Humalog Mix 25 but am about to be switched to basal and bolus insulin (I am seeing the hospital DNS shortly). I have been using my own home concocted variant of low carbing for months, which isn't easy with a biphase insulin, but I have halved the insulin requirements with only one or two problems along the way. I have lost about 70lbs since surgery through calorie and carb counting and exercise (lots) and (I believe) managing to reduce the insulin.

I want to go low carb as a lifetime regime because it makes such sense and I have enough health problems anyway without inviting more by munching carbs. My chosen sport is endurance rowing on an indoor rowing machine. I usually row for about 2 hours a day and more for things like marathons. I am in training at the moment for an ultramarathon (100k) which will take me about 8 or 9 hours. It was the problems of carbs/blood glucose and massive energy requirements that drove me to contact a DNS.

At the moment my bg readings are within 6 - 8.5 mmols at each of 5 readings a day (6 on waking, 8.5 two hrs after eating a meal). But the DNS had forty fits when I said I was dose adjusting with a biphase insulin and has called me in asap for the changeover.

I need some food suggestions! We are very hard up (husband on pension, I work part time) and so can't afford specialist this or that. We are stretched to the absolute limit to manage anyway. Help!!

 

[phoenix]

Hi Wendy,
I think that it will be much easier to adjust your dose using a basal bolus regime.
I have to say I'm unsure if you will be able to manage a low carb and low fat diet. You will need to get your calories from somewhere and I would imagine that a 100km row will use a massive amount of energy.
I run (or lets say complete marathons) and manage the training with a a moderate carb and fat intake , though on the day of a longer run my carb requirements will increase before, during and especially after to avoid post exercise lows. I'm normally quite careful as to my choice of carbs which are normally low gi and not too highly proccessed, however during exercise itself I will use very fast acting carbs if necessary.
There is a lot of info on exercise and T1 on here http://www.runsweet.com/Rowing.html
This is the website set up by Dr Ian Gallen, Steve Redgraves diabetologist

 

[viviennem]

Hi Wendywu

Rose Elliott, the vegetarian chef, has written a low-carb book for vegetarians. Have a look for it on Amazon - you might be able to get a second-hand copy. That might help.

Viv 8)

 

[Wendywu]

Yes - rowing a marathon uses about 1500 cals and for them I normally eat rather a lot of porridge an hour before I start and then during the row I drink a home made electrolyte replacement drink (one quarter OJ, three quarters spring water; pinch of natural sea salt) and that keeps the glucose and salts/fluid levels reasonabe, but the ultramarathon is a different ball game altogether.

I'll get the book - hopefully it will have a few good recipes . We have loads of low fat, veggie meal ideas - it's reducing the carbs as well that is a toughie - this might be very helpful.

 

[jopar]

I can't do the advise but can offer a suggestion though..

Check this site out www.runsweet.com this is a diabetic site for athletes so you may find some useful information here to help guide you..