• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Low carb advice needed!!!

H

Happy_Horse

Active Member
Messages
39
I'm still gradually descending to low carb, but want some advice from hospital. I'm visiting in about two weeks but my mum says that they might not all think that going low carb is that good. I'm stuck! Shall I bother? There is a diabetes nurse there that has diabetes herself... Shall I talk to her or my normal nurse and dietitian? Do you think being low carb it better? I'm also being tempted by chocolate from my friends at school and it's sending my blood sugars high so I want to low carb so I don't have that choice. Is this a good idea? I'm only in yr 8 so do you think I could be too young to go too low carb?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hannah, how can your hospital advise you properly if you don't tell them what you are doing?
Talk to your doctor/dietitian about your worries you won't be the first one with similar concerns
Making a decision to low carb is not necessarily going to remove temptations.
Far better to learn how to deal with it; having very small amounts or perhaps asking your friends if you can save your share to have after your meal (and dosing accordingly)
Too much chocolate/sweets aren't good for anyone diabetic or not. (when my non diabetic children were your age they had very limited sweets/choc.They got to be grown up with no fillings in their teeth)
 
hi


Look after your health now. It may not sem important with your whole life ahead of you but it is. Habits I fell into with food at your age stuck with and have done me no favours.

I have a son your age and I worry about how little notice he takes on health issues.
For example listening to loud music at your age gave me tinnitus that will never go away. It is hard not to follow the crowd but try.

I am not qualified to give you advice as I am type 2. But I have enjoyed low carb for a while now.

I like the book Carbs and Cals which shows pictures of food to illustrate portion sizes and useful information on fat, fibre as well as carbohydrates and calories.

Atkins have various chocolate bars that are low carb (but please check they are ok for you,) the coconut one is just like Bounty. They are in health food shops, Boots and Asda, on Amazon.

Well done to you for thinking for yourself and try to speak to the nurse with diabetes if you can.
Please let us know how you get on. Good luck

Cara
 
And maybe get your parents to buy Dr Bernsteins Diabetes Solution. Its mainly for Type 1's, he recommends low carb. But he explains in detail why less insulin is better, and he is a very low carb Type 1 old man.
 
Don't expect a dietitian to recommend low carbing. Persuading dietitians to recommend low carbing is like persuading the Vatican to become atheist. I'm a Type 1 and low carb and it works so much better than carb counting ever did. My advice to you is to first try and get there with carb counting. Regarding whether it's unhealthy, that's a difficult one to answer and the short version is that no-one really knows whether it is or isn't, but one thing is for sure, having high sugar levels certainly is.
 
Hannah is twelve years old, the nutritional requirements of adolescence and puberty aren't the same as for adults. Nor are the psychological pressures which can affect young T1 women.
I think it is vitally important that young people like Hannah discuss everything to do with their diabetes with professionals. Without that trust and all the info they can't hope to give useful and effective advice.
(sorry Hannah, that seems as if I'm rudely talking over your head)
 
I'd agree with pheonix. I wasn't a diabetic at your age Hannah but I do believe children and teenagers have completely different requirements to adult and so you shouldn't embark on low carb without your hospitals support.

If they say no then ask them to fully explain why so you understand why they've made the recommendation :)
 
I suppose it kinda makes sense that some people might not agree with low carb but I've been wanting to for a while because after reading other posts I REALLY don't want to have out of control diabetes! (It could stop me from horse riding ;)) but it's soooooooooooooooo hard not to get tempted by chocolate because my two friend stuff their faces with it EVERY DAY and never seem to get fat! So I want a bit of support too. I'm quite independent though and I don't like people crowding over me because of my diabetes (as they sometimes do!)


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
It would be pointless asking them because they will say no. Certainly you should tell them (and your parents), but your medical team will likely advise you against it because they don't recommend it for adults let alone someone your age. I, and others on here, can only speculate as to whether it's a good idea for someone of your age to do it. Carbs are not an essential nutrient no matter what someone's age.

How long have you been diabetic and what was your latest hba1c? Have you been on a carb counting course? What is your daily routine? I'd suggest by trying your best to avoid the chocolate?
 
I am REALLY TRYING not to eat too much chocolate and I have been carb counting for about 4 months. I was diagnosed April 29th. I had an hba1c of 31, but I have had bad levels recently because I think that my ratios have either dramatically changed or I have come out of the 'honeymoon phase'! I normally wake up at about 6:40 and I'm always out if the house at 7: 15. I get home from school around 5 ish! Lunch is at roughly 12:30. Does that help?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I'd definitely give carb counting a chance, you've only been diagnosed a very short time. It does sound like you are coming out of your honeymoon period and things will be bumpy for a while. I'd only consider low carbing if you've got a few years worth of carb counting effort behind you.
 
Could you find a different snack to have when your friends have chocolate? Maybe some peanuts, pepperami or a little bit of dark chocolate - not the same as a proper choccy bar but if you have something else to hand it might help to resist the urge.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Back
Top