How much carbs should I eat?

[Jamie1991Stables]

Hi,

I’ve recently gained a little weight which I attribute to using insulin.
I inject twice daily with levemir and am on maximum dosage of my tablets (metformin & gliclazide), I’m been treat as a type 2.

My recent hba1c came back at 53mmol which I suppose isn’t ‘bad’, but I would like to get it below 48mmol and ideally come off of my tablets and / or the insulin.

Does anyone have any idea how many carbs I should be eating each day to aid with this?

I’m 6”3 tall and weight 15 stone.

Thanks in advance

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi,

I’ve recently gained a little weight which I attribute to using insulin.
I inject twice daily with levemir and am on maximum dosage of my tablets (metformin & gliclazide), I’m been treat as a type 2.

My recent hba1c came back at 53mmol which I suppose isn’t ‘bad’, but I would like to get it below 48mmol and ideally come off of my tablets and / or the insulin.

Does anyone have any idea how many carbs I should be eating each day to aid with this?

I’m 6”3 tall and weight 15 stone.

Thanks in advance

You're on a lot of medication that could/would cause hypo's if you go low carb. It'll have to be one or the other, you can't cut carbs dramatically and take gliclazide & insulin. So I'm not sure anyone here can tell you exactly how many grams of carbs to have... Do you test a lot? Because if you're going to cut carbs and stay on your current medication you're going to drop like a stone, and that could get ugly, fast. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ is my own little quick-start guide, but really... You want to discuss this with a professional, get some guidance and extra strips. Don't mix low carb with the dosages you're on now.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi,

I’ve recently gained a little weight which I attribute to using insulin.
I inject twice daily with levemir and am on maximum dosage of my tablets (metformin & gliclazide), I’m been treat as a type 2.

My recent hba1c came back at 53mmol which I suppose isn’t ‘bad’, but I would like to get it below 48mmol and ideally come off of my tablets and / or the insulin.

Does anyone have any idea how many carbs I should be eating each day to aid with this?

I’m 6”3 tall and weight 15 stone.

Thanks in advance

Hi Jamie1991,
We aren't doctors and so can't give medical advice - though neither could a doctor based just upon the information you have provided.

It is possible for Type 2's on Insulin and Gliclazide to go Low Carb, but it is much easier for those who are either on just Metformin or no meds at all.
Those like you need the following:
1. The cooperation of their health care professional - otherwise the dosage of the meds will certainly put them at high risk of Hypos if they try to go low carb.
2. Have a good understanding of how the neds and the carbs they eat interact with their BG numbers and test their BG much more frequently than before.
3. Only move toward Low Carb slowly!

Having said all that, it is possible to do Low Carb on Meds and even some Type 1 diabetics have gone Low Carb to stabilise their BG into a comfortable range.

 

[EllieM]

Does anyone have any idea how many carbs I should be eating each day to aid with this?

I've just been reading through some of your previous posts. Have they definitely decided what type of diabetes you have yet? (I know you were initially diagnosed T1).
As regarding carbs, the first thing is to work out how many you are eating now, as a sudden drop, without reducing your meds, could well lead to hypos. Some low carb folk are on 120g a day, while others are on 20g or less, so it really is a bit of a "how long is a piece of string question". As the others have said, I would suggest talking to your diabetic team about your low carb plan and proceeding carefully.
Good luck
ps have you had a recent c-peptide test? That would tell a lot about your current ability to produce insulin....

 

[Daibell]

Hi. As you are taking both insulin and Gliclazide which give the body more insulin you need to be careful if you cut the carbs i.e. you may need to reduce them a bit; particularly the Gliclazide. The Levemir will just be balancing the liver's output of glucose and is less relevant for the food you eat. Note that neither of those meds cause weight gain in themselves but enable the body to metabolise carbs more efficiently and the carbs cause the weight gain. We are all different but I would say staying below 150gm/day is a good target to start with and going lower may help with weight and BS but do discuss the Gliclazide with the nurse