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thinking of trying the low carb diet

gtpc30

gtpc30

Member
Messages
13
Location
Shropshire UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I have come across the low carb diet on the forum and wonder if it might be worth a try. I have been diagnosed T2 since 2012 but still hyper. I need to get my hba1c down below 54 so that the hospital will operate on my frozen shoulder. I got the appointment but they refused to do it as my last test was 81. I have been on the low fat diet for years, since the 80s! I am testing daily now because I have been put on lantus solostar insulin after having tried every combination of metformin (with sitagliptin, gliclazide, dapagliflozin). The diabetes specialist nurse told me to test 4x daily before meals and I have been having readings between 5 and 9 but I have completely cut out snacks so sometimes it has been 6 hours since my last meal. Today I decided to test two hours after having a ham salad sandwich on granary bread and I was back up to 11mmol. By dinnertime at 7pm I was back down to 5.3mmol. On Sunday I fell off the wagon and had a chocolate bar and after a couple of hours I was up to 18mmol. Are these highs going to affect my hba1c? - if I am only supposed to test before meals which are hours apart I am not going to see where I am going wrong. I am also exercising more, for example, I walk to and from work most days now instead of taking the car. It's also been a bit of a nightmare getting test strips on repeat prescription, even my insulin is not on repeat yet but I only take 10 units a day so the five pens will last months.
 
Hi and welcome,

Good decision! Your low fat diet hasn't done you much good, has it? So time to try a different approach.

By all means test before meals, but if you want to learn how to control your diabetes you need also to test 1 and 2 hours after your first bite, and maybe even after that if you are still high.. If you are short of strips, try testing just one meal a day, then a different meal the next day. Keep a food diary and record your levels alongside the food (and drinks). You will soon see what is causing you to rise too high. This is the only way to learn

If you are really struggling with strips, it may be better to buy your own to supplement the prescribed ones. If you buy the Codefree meter the strips are cheap - under £6 for 50.

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/

As you are on insulin you need to be very careful if you reduce your carbs or you may get hypos. Please discuss this with your nurse so your dose can be adjusted. This is important.
 
Thanks, I think I am going to try the new diet but will mention to my doctor in case I need to adjust the insulin. I have ordered some test strips to supplement the ones I got on prescription so I will have a go at the testing before and after meals. I have tried testing after meals before but never really linked to the food and exercise. I have downloaded an app that lets me record food, exercise, blood levels and insulin so let's see if it helps.
 
You hyper because of the carbs you are eating.
Carbs are carbs and they turn into glucose.
Anything low or no fat is processed food, this is where the fat is taken out and replaced by industrial sugars to enhance flavour.
Sugar is a glucose and raises your blood glucose levels.
Be careful of potatoes, rice, pasta, breads and anything processed.
There are always alternatives which are low carb.
Have a look at our low carb forum and the success stories forum.
Low carb works!
 
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