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Lowering Carb intake, reducing insulin, losing weight

benack1992

benack1992

Member
Messages
10
Location
Bristol
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi All,

I am looking to shed some pounds so wanted to see what kind of levels people are on in the way of fast acting and slow acting insulin.

Been well controlled for the past 12 months approx 52 HBa1c.

6"2 and weight about 15 stone, exercise regularly but seem to struggle to loose any weight.

I think that my 24 hr slow acting insulin (levemir) might be too high as I take 32units but want to see what others are using and the best way to reduce this i.e a couple units per week?

generally day to day I would inject 7units at breakfast, 8-10 at lunch and between 14-22 in the evening.

Thanks!
 
Hi. Be careful with reducing your insulin unless you are also reducing your carbs and certainly don't be tempted to reduce it to stop the body metabolising your carbs - dangerous. The best way to reduce weight when on insulin is to reduce your carb intake and then reduce the insulin as needed to match the carbs and keep your BS right.
 
If you think your basal is too high have you tried a basal test? Are you going low between meals and needing to snack?
 
benack1992 said:
Hi All,

I am looking to shed some pounds so wanted to see what kind of levels people are on in the way of fast acting and slow acting insulin.

Been well controlled for the past 12 months approx 52 HBa1c.

6"2 and weight about 15 stone, exercise regularly but seem to struggle to loose any weight.

I think that my 24 hr slow acting insulin (levemir) might be too high as I take 32units but want to see what others are using and the best way to reduce this i.e a couple units per week?

generally day to day I would inject 7units at breakfast, 8-10 at lunch and between 14-22 in the evening.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Basal check will allow you to see whether it is too much, just right or too little. However I don't know if you know that levemir doesn't quite last 24 hours, it's better split dose. I'd suggest speaking to your diabetes team about it. I know everyone's ratios are different everyday and at every meal. Some times we need a little more, sometimes we need a little less.
 
@benack1992 as you mentioned Levemir, I have assumed you have type 1 diabetes.
However, I guess you could have type 2 treated with insulin. Can you confirm? And maybe update your profile.
This would make it easier to help you in the future.

Can you also explain why you are taking too much Levemir?
Do you hypo or see your BG drop significantly between meals?

As others have said, there is not much value to be gained from comparing your insulin requirements with others. We are all different and our insulin doses are affected by multiple things such as insulin sensitivity/resistance, weight and diet.
 
Thanks all, definitely wasn't looking to lower insulin without lowering Carbs.
I do drop a few hours after meals but assume a lot of the time i have just over done it by a unit.
Wasn't aware of the Basal check just looked it up looks very helpful so will try that and see if i can lower my slow acting.
Thanks


MeiChanski said:
Basal check will allow you to see whether it is too much, just right or too little. However I don't know if you know that levemir doesn't quite last 24 hours, it's better split dose. I'd suggest speaking to your diabetes team about it. I know everyone's ratios are different everyday and at every meal. Some times we need a little more, sometimes we need a little less.
Click to expand...
 
benack1992 said:
Thanks all, definitely wasn't looking to lower insulin without lowering Carbs.
I do drop a few hours after meals but assume a lot of the time i have just over done it by a unit.
Wasn't aware of the Basal check just looked it up looks very helpful so will try that and see if i can lower my slow acting.
Thanks
Click to expand...

I wonder if my colleagues @Diakat , @Juicyj or @urbanracer have a "how to" for basal testing.
 
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