How many carbs per day?

[Buxton1998]

Humans have NO NEED for carbs. Some of us eat them for nutrition, some of eat them because we like them. I eat 20 or less per day and have done so for over 25 years by choice. I became much healthier, as many of us limiting carbs.

So if I only eat approximately 20gs of carbs a day, then I no longer need insulin?

 

[Resurgam]

So if I only eat approximately 20gs of carbs a day, then I no longer need insulin?

If you are no longer producing insulin then you must inject it - it is a complex substance and does a lot more than lower blood glucose.
The amount of carbs you eat might well be dictated by the amount and the type of insulin you take - if you are ordered to use a fixed amount then you must maintain your blood glucose at safe levels. If you are taking a mixed insulin then you need to eat to deal with that.

 

[Kristin251]

So if I only eat approximately 20gs of carbs a day, then I no longer need insulin?

That is NOT what I said. I said HUMANS HAVE NO REQUIEMENT FOR CARBS. I can change my dosages on what ever I eat as I'm on a basal bolus regime. I take loads l as insulin than when I ate carbs. HOWEVER if you are on mixed insulin it is my understanding you need to eat the correct amount of carbs at the correct timing. I'm not familiar with mixed insulin but I do know if you lower carbs your insulin requirements will follow. You'll hypo if you justnlowet carbs. That is all I know. You need to speak with your team before lowering carbs.

 

[Buxton1998]

Kristin251, I am on a basal/bolus regime, I carb count and am on a ratio of 1.5 units of Humalog to 10g of carbs, at the moment I usually eat no more than 30-40g Per meal, so take usually between 5-7 units, if I have carbs with a meal. I take 18 units of basal. Fast acting Humalog is taken after I've eaten. I'm not understanding how I can eat just 20/30g per day and still need to take my fast acting insulin? Sorry if I'm sounding thick, but I'd be having a hypo all the time.

 

[Nidge247]

From reading forums on this website, I get the impression T1's and T2's have different reasons for low carbing. T2's use LC to reduce BS (and the need for medication), the high BS having resulted from insulin resistance (IR). And T2's typically have some functional beta cells that still make insulin and are able to deal with small amounts of BS changes. I believe using up excess BS through exercise improves metabolism overall.

On the other hand, T1's can use LC to reduce BS swings and more easily match insulin doses to predicted BS changes. If BS doesn't rise as fast or high due to lower carbs, there's less to fret about. Like hypos and such.

As a T2 I wouldn't recommend my strategy to a T1. But I would highly recommend Dr. Bernstein's "Diabetes Solution" where he talks about these issues in depth.

I used lchf to eliminate (over time) the hypers and hypos to great effect. My BGs now remain steady in the 4's and 5's during the day only rising to high 6s or low 7s with DP first thing then rapidly falling with breakfast.

By smoothing these swings out, I successfully reduced my multiple daily insulin injections over several months until I was taking just 2 units a day. It was something of a leap of faith to stop those last 2 units, but with having rested my pancreas for the months I was on high doses, it had recovered sufficiently to produce enough insulin naturally if I continued on a low carb lifestyle. Hopefully the remaining beta cells continue to do their stuff, and recent studies seem to show there may be the chance for them to regenerate if sufficiently rested.

Now, I'm fitter and healthier than I have been in the past 35 years, and most of my D complications seem to have passed.

My consultant no longer feels this is a honeymoon, but a direct result of lchf, and though still not recognised by NHS officially, he says as it's working so well for me I should continue it. My carb intake is 30-50g per day. HOWEVER, I have found if I wanted a higher carb meal, increasing the healthy fats at the start of the meal CAN successfully slow the rate at which those excess carbs are absorbed by the body, and therefore prevent 'overloading the system'. I only 'treat myself' to an excess meal about 7-10 days or so, and increase my exercise in the 24 hrs thereafter and so far this has worked well. If I increased the frequency of the higher carb meals, I think I'd be back on insulin fairly quickly otherwise - but am loving the variety of lchf and the energy it gives me, so no plans to change.

 

[azure]

Kristin251, I am on a basal/bolus regime, I carb count and am on a ratio of 1.5 units of Humalog to 10g of carbs, at the moment I usually eat no more than 30-40g Per meal, so take usually between 5-7 units, if I have carbs with a meal. I take 18 units of basal. Fast acting Humalog is taken after I've eaten. I'm not understanding how I can eat just 20/30g per day and still need to take my fast acting insulin? Sorry if I'm sounding thick, but I'd be having a hypo all the time.

You do NOT have to,reduce your carbs that low! Eat as many carbs as works for YOU.

Other members will be doing that (what works for them) We're all individuals.

And to answer your question, Type 1s need insulin as if they eat too few carbs they'll then have to start counting protein and injecting for it. In addition,,eating too low carbs can cause IR.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Agree with eating the wty of carbs/protein and fat according to individual needs.

I was quite low, low carbing all my life thanks to my family eating habits when I was at home. It didnt stop cancer, and it didnt stop my stomach/colon going wrong.
However, I can say that people telling me to eat bread and more carbs with cereal did not understand the functioning of MY body. MY body cannot shove flour dense, and fiber and solid things through it. Nowadays I thank goodness that I didnt eat them earlier as I could have been worse health a lot earlier.

But, my veg is higher carb than most.. I do eat higher carb veg as it has different vitamins and nutrients in it and for me, its mushy.. ie butternut squash and now swede...parsnips.
But I cannot eat other carbs so I'm happy that I'm still eating....and thats good enough for me.

I do follow my body and getting adequate nutition more than low carbing.
I think you do have to identify whether following any food lifestyle gives you all round nutrition for vitamins and minerals.

You have to find what works for you... learn from others what works for them and adapt it, but you do not have to follow as we all are so different.

 

[Kristin251]

Kristin251, I am on a basal/bolus regime, I carb count and am on a ratio of 1.5 units of Humalog to 10g of carbs, at the moment I usually eat no more than 30-40g Per meal, so take usually between 5-7 units, if I have carbs with a meal. I take 18 units of basal. Fast acting Humalog is taken after I've eaten. I'm not understanding how I can eat just 20/30g per day and still need to take my fast acting insulin? Sorry if I'm sounding thick, but I'd be having a hypo all the time.

I'm sorry for the typos in my last post. I swear it changes mid air.

I agree you can eat whatever you want and for some reason I thought you were on mixed insulin. Sorry again.

I've had pretty much the same experience as @Nidge247 except I'll never get OFF insulin however my doses are MUCH smaller than when I ate carbs ( 20 per meal) and I was always riding the roller coaster. Crab countimg didn't work for me as I could never match my insulin to my food coming in. I do bolus for half my protein as well as the SIZE of my meal. If I'm going to eat a lot of it I split the bolus so the second dose picks up the tail end. If you are carb counting and you reduce your carbs it's reasonable that you'd need to reduce your insulin as well. Type 1's can gluconeogenisis rapidly in the abscense of carbs which is why I bolus for protein.

I bolus 20 min BEFORE I eat. Why are you blousing after. Insulins take a little while before they start working so you want it to get there with your food rather than after.

Your thread title was how many carbs a day. That is your choice. Many of us prefer low carb and feel more stable. Many prefer more. Again, all your choice. I have eaten less than 20 c per day long before diabetes so wasn't much of a different diet. My stomach doesn't handle carbs well anyway

How many carbs are you eating now and how many do you wish to eat?