Donna1
Well-Known Member
Im not that long diagnosed 8 month and have been scared to miss carbs out at meals as i was told i need some carbs with meal! So does anyone find low carbing causes more hypo,s or how do you balance it out!
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Low carbing/hypo,s
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Dillinger
Well-Known Member
Hi Donna,
You need to be able to balance the amount of insulin you take; so you will need to know what your current insulin:carb ratio is and apply that to meals with reduced carbs in them. If you are very sensitive to insulin then you may be able to get by on your background insulin if you have a no carbohydrate meal; I'm pretty insensitive to insulin so hardly ever have a meal where I'm not taking short acting insulin.
If you are not on short acting insulin for your meals and long acting once or twice a day then I'd speak to your diabetic team about going onto that type of insulin regime (which is called an MDI or basal/bolus regime) because it means that you take insulin dependent upon what you eat and not eat to feed your insulin.
I've found that you get fewer highs and fewer lows by low-carbing.
Best
Dillinger
You need to be able to balance the amount of insulin you take; so you will need to know what your current insulin:carb ratio is and apply that to meals with reduced carbs in them. If you are very sensitive to insulin then you may be able to get by on your background insulin if you have a no carbohydrate meal; I'm pretty insensitive to insulin so hardly ever have a meal where I'm not taking short acting insulin.
If you are not on short acting insulin for your meals and long acting once or twice a day then I'd speak to your diabetic team about going onto that type of insulin regime (which is called an MDI or basal/bolus regime) because it means that you take insulin dependent upon what you eat and not eat to feed your insulin.
I've found that you get fewer highs and fewer lows by low-carbing.
Best
Dillinger
Last edited by a moderator:
Donna1
Well-Known Member
I am on rapid with meals and lantus as basal! Not been told my own personal ratio and not been taught how to carb count so learning from u guys! My bm,s been in the 9,s - 14 last few weeks n i do exercise so last few days ive been doin the 1:10 ratio n it seems to be helping! I do love my pastas etc but some days in my slimming world diet i been wanting to do low carb days! Im not really over weight so only have about 7Ib to lose i joined that to help with healthy eating n keep my weight down and thought it would help me learn to plan my meals n insulin better which it does when i stick to the diet, as i had put on about a stone after diagnosis! But past few weeks when not stickin to that diet my bm,s been bit up n down n as i didnt really know how to carb count i was guessing my insulin dosage but the carbs n cals app i was advised to diwnload is now a great help.
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In my own experience insulin to carb ratio's go out of the window when you low-carb, the member SamJB has an explanation on how to bolus for low-carb meals, other than that just make a detailed diary of the food you eat, bg readings and how much insulin you needed to bring your levels down.
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Hi Donna,
All type 1's seem to get this advice when diagnosed because the NHS lives and breathes around the fact we are supposed to eat them - but your body can still convert any food to energy. When I was diagnosed 2 years ago I told everyone I was ok to eat what I wanted, over time though i've learn't it's better to not eat carbs and i've reduced my daily intake to around 30g a day. I have more energy than before, I also have less hypos as taking less insulin as these are generally caused by getting my carb/insulin ratio wrong or over exerting my body or brain, also my BG levels are more stable and i'm not bouncing around all the time, which has helped my moods.
It's finding a balance that work's for you but it's not compulsory to eat carbs honest !
All type 1's seem to get this advice when diagnosed because the NHS lives and breathes around the fact we are supposed to eat them - but your body can still convert any food to energy. When I was diagnosed 2 years ago I told everyone I was ok to eat what I wanted, over time though i've learn't it's better to not eat carbs and i've reduced my daily intake to around 30g a day. I have more energy than before, I also have less hypos as taking less insulin as these are generally caused by getting my carb/insulin ratio wrong or over exerting my body or brain, also my BG levels are more stable and i'm not bouncing around all the time, which has helped my moods.
It's finding a balance that work's for you but it's not compulsory to eat carbs honest !
Hi Donna,
The theory is your background insulin (Lantus) should hold your BG steady for 24 hours assuming you aren't eating, exercising or taking quick acting insulin to influence blood glucose another way.
Carb free meals can actually be a useful tool. I've recently been trying a few (albeit reluctantly!) to check whether I'm getting my background insulin right.
The fast acting insulin is the tool to bring your blood glucose back down after carbs.
I started running last year, and take a lot less quick acting insulin before going out to do it, because I know the running will drop my blood glucose a lot.
Just be aware that changes to your Lantus should ideally be done gradually: it seems to take about 3 days before the effects of reducing Lantus becomes noticable!
If you don't want to eat as many carbs there really is no need to, and when you'd rather have more carbs that's what the rapid stuff is for.
Hope this helps.
The theory is your background insulin (Lantus) should hold your BG steady for 24 hours assuming you aren't eating, exercising or taking quick acting insulin to influence blood glucose another way.
Carb free meals can actually be a useful tool. I've recently been trying a few (albeit reluctantly!) to check whether I'm getting my background insulin right.
The fast acting insulin is the tool to bring your blood glucose back down after carbs.
I started running last year, and take a lot less quick acting insulin before going out to do it, because I know the running will drop my blood glucose a lot.
Just be aware that changes to your Lantus should ideally be done gradually: it seems to take about 3 days before the effects of reducing Lantus becomes noticable!
If you don't want to eat as many carbs there really is no need to, and when you'd rather have more carbs that's what the rapid stuff is for.
Hope this helps.
Donna1
Well-Known Member
Thanx guys this info helps a lit cant believe how much ive learnt iff this forum in a few days and is giving me far more control and confidence bout my diabetes! Thanx
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