carb-counting-mum
Well-Known Member
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- 88
Hi,
Mum of a newly diagnosed type 1 child here. I am wondering what other parents do re. in-between snacks if the BS levels are lower or higher than normal. Have had some good, basic advice from DSN and dietician, though each professional seems to give slightly different advice. I have also been told that it's trial and error and to just see what works for my child. I think this is probably good advice, but it does leave me feeling like I am treating my child as a guinea pig sometimes, and I hate getting it wrong for her (for example, I now know that dried fruit/raisins can send her quite high very quickly!).
Anyway, me being new to all of this, combined with me suffering from a bit of info overload, has left me a little unsure when it comes to snack choices. I would be grateful if other parents could perhaps share their experiences, so I can learn from the real experts! I know it's not a 'one size fits all' approach, but it would be interesting to know what other parents do. I will of course also ask the nurses (again) when I next speak with them.
At the moment, I still test 2 hours after every meal (as well as just before meals) as my daughter's BS levels aren't yet very stable. Also, because she has fairly frequent hypos which she doesn't always feel, the extra testing has picked up on quite a few of these.
I was told to give 15g of slow-release carbs for snacks. And to give bedtime snacks (between 10-15g carbs) unless she is really high (above 14). I lower the carb content of daytime snacks if she is a bit high (let's say, above 10 or so). Likewise, I give slightly more if running a little low.
So...my questions are:
When do you decide to skip a snack altogether, how high is too high for a snack?
If a bit on the low side (let's say under 5, but not hypo), do you prefer to slightly increase the normal (slow-release carbs) snack (to maybe 20g) or do you perhaps choose a faster, sugary carb-fix instead (i.e munch bunch, 3 jelly babies, some juice)?
When BS levels at bedtime are high, do you delay snack time or just skip altogether? What level is too high for a bedtime snack? (I was told > 14 mmol/l). I don't like giving her snacks when she is above 12mmol/l, but I do so as I know she can drop quite a bit at night. But sometimes when she's high, I decide to delay the snack, as I don't want her to go even higher. So I might give her a glass of milk when I check her at 3am instead.
Finally, what is your snack of choice for P.E/exercise? And how many minutes beforehand do you give this? I was told to give 150ml of juice 5 minutes beforehand? Do you test BS before/after P.E? Or even during if particularly intensive/long?
Again, I realise each child is different, but just wondering what your snack routine is? Thanks very much!
Mum of a newly diagnosed type 1 child here. I am wondering what other parents do re. in-between snacks if the BS levels are lower or higher than normal. Have had some good, basic advice from DSN and dietician, though each professional seems to give slightly different advice. I have also been told that it's trial and error and to just see what works for my child. I think this is probably good advice, but it does leave me feeling like I am treating my child as a guinea pig sometimes, and I hate getting it wrong for her (for example, I now know that dried fruit/raisins can send her quite high very quickly!).
Anyway, me being new to all of this, combined with me suffering from a bit of info overload, has left me a little unsure when it comes to snack choices. I would be grateful if other parents could perhaps share their experiences, so I can learn from the real experts! I know it's not a 'one size fits all' approach, but it would be interesting to know what other parents do. I will of course also ask the nurses (again) when I next speak with them.
At the moment, I still test 2 hours after every meal (as well as just before meals) as my daughter's BS levels aren't yet very stable. Also, because she has fairly frequent hypos which she doesn't always feel, the extra testing has picked up on quite a few of these.
I was told to give 15g of slow-release carbs for snacks. And to give bedtime snacks (between 10-15g carbs) unless she is really high (above 14). I lower the carb content of daytime snacks if she is a bit high (let's say, above 10 or so). Likewise, I give slightly more if running a little low.
So...my questions are:
When do you decide to skip a snack altogether, how high is too high for a snack?
If a bit on the low side (let's say under 5, but not hypo), do you prefer to slightly increase the normal (slow-release carbs) snack (to maybe 20g) or do you perhaps choose a faster, sugary carb-fix instead (i.e munch bunch, 3 jelly babies, some juice)?
When BS levels at bedtime are high, do you delay snack time or just skip altogether? What level is too high for a bedtime snack? (I was told > 14 mmol/l). I don't like giving her snacks when she is above 12mmol/l, but I do so as I know she can drop quite a bit at night. But sometimes when she's high, I decide to delay the snack, as I don't want her to go even higher. So I might give her a glass of milk when I check her at 3am instead.
Finally, what is your snack of choice for P.E/exercise? And how many minutes beforehand do you give this? I was told to give 150ml of juice 5 minutes beforehand? Do you test BS before/after P.E? Or even during if particularly intensive/long?
Again, I realise each child is different, but just wondering what your snack routine is? Thanks very much!
