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Lo-carb restart

shedges

shedges

Well-Known Member
Messages
432
Location
Hampshire, Uk
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Soooo... before Christmas you might have seen a really enthusiastic post or two from me about lo-carbing. And for a few days it was great. Until the season of mince pies, socialising, excess alcohol, etc, kicked in. So I didn't beat myself up, I just said I need to find a more suitable time to start over.

And that time happened to be Monday 2nd Feb. (I had to get my birthday out of the way first)

My wife and I have embarked upon it jointly... meal plan in advance, cooking everything from scratch, all of the ****** cakes, biscuits, crisps and other processed stuff gone. And again I find myself in a good state half way through the third day. I was tempted by a packet of crisps yesterday; "it's only 13g of carbohydrate... what difference will that make?" the devil on my shoulder said. Fortunately for me the angel spoke stronger and I went home having snacked on mixed nuts.

Whilst I'm managing on ~50g of carbs per (with protein adjustment taking insulin up to equivalent of 90g carbs), my blood sugar numbers are struggling. 4 hours post prandial and I'm up in the 10's. Last night it was 16.7! This morning back to 10.4. Did any other T1s find this after converting from high to lo-carb?

What's the advice for someone getting numbers like this? Do I need to alter my carb ratios? Or be even more thorough on bolusing for every last gram of carbs? Should I even start bolusing for fat content? I'm working on protein value x 50% for conversion to carbs. Not really sure what to do...

Any help much appreciated.
Sam.
 
You may be out of ketosis and possibly doing more gluconeogenesis until you are keto-adaped again. Take the insulin you need and hopefully it will settle down in a week or so.
 
shedges said:
That quickly @robert72? ... have only been at it for 2 1/2 days. Checked ketones and got a 0.1 on the meter.
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I don't know how quickly, but it looks like you are not back to ketosis with 0.1 - I indulged a bit over xmas but only for a couple of days and it took me 3 days to get back into ketosis. I guess it might depend on the time you were higher-carbing.
 
It tends to take me a good five days to get back in properly if I fail... :(
 
robert72 said:
I don't know how quickly, but it looks like you are not back to ketosis with 0.1 - I indulged a bit over xmas but only for a couple of days and it took me 3 days to get back into ketosis. I guess it might depend on the time you were higher-carbing.
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Lol... have been high carbing for about 39 years (minus the week or so I did November 2014). Reckon it'll take a bit longer before I go into ketosis.

Do you feel any different in ketosis? Or is it just one's body working behind the scenes?
 
shedges said:
Lol... have been high carbing for about 39 years (minus the week or so I did November 2014). Reckon it'll take a bit longer before I go into ketosis.

Do you feel any different in ketosis? Or is it just one's body working behind the scenes?
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Ah, sorry I missed the bit about only low-carbing for a few days before xmas. In that case it could take up to 4 weeks to get fully keto-adapted. If you are getting a slow but steady rise after meals, then it's probably the protein. You might be able to cover that with an extended bolus. Sorry I'm not a pumper so not familiar with those features.

Overall I feel better in ketosis - I don't get hungry much and don't feel lethargic. Also don't crave sweet things now, more likely cream and butter ;)
 
shedges said:
What's the advice for someone getting numbers like this? Do I need to alter my carb ratios? Or be even more thorough on bolusing for every last gram of carbs? Should I even start bolusing for fat content? I'm working on protein value x 50% for conversion to carbs. Not really sure what to do....
Click to expand...


Your on a pump Sam, could you not do an extended bolus to prevent the delayed postprandial bg rise?
 
noblehead said:
Your on a pump Sam, could you not do an extended bolus to prevent the delayed postprandial bg rise?
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I can do that - just need to work out how much. Have been bolusing for all carbs plus protein adjustment. Will keep going for a few more days and adjust ratios if needed. Obviously, I'll be checking my basals along the way.

First bit of exercise tomorrow whilst lo-carbing... back to the gym. Another element to factor in :)
 
shedges said:
I can do that - just need to work out how much. Have been bolusing for all carbs plus protein adjustment. Will keep going for a few more days and adjust ratios if needed. Obviously, I'll be checking my basals along the way.

First bit of exercise tomorrow whilst lo-carbing... back to the gym. Another element to factor in :)
Click to expand...

Best to get the basal right above all else, hope you get on top of your bg levels and good luck LC :)
 
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