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Trouble with carbs

L

lollyann1

Well-Known Member
Messages
141
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have just bought a pocket reference book denoting lots of food items that I eat. I am on Novorapid and Lantus. I am still finding it very difficult to know how many units of Novorapid to have eg if I have a rare treat, a Jaffa cake, the book states it has 10 carbs, so how do I equate how many units of Novorapid to have please? I am very insulin sensitive - at present only usually have 1 unit Novorapid, 3 units Lantus. I do find that if I do eat a small snack 1 half unit of Novoecho is enough. Help please. Thank you.
 
you need to establish your insulin/carb ratio, which is different for everyone............

a good place to start for most people is 1 unit for every 10gs of carbs, so for a jaffa cake you would need 1 unit......

it sounds as though you are very insulin sensitive though so you may need considerably more carbs for 1 unit.......

are you newly diagnosed.......?
 

Not newly diagnosed, was diagnosed over a year ago. I don't know if the problem is heightened because I have no Pancreas. If I eat more carbs for 1 unit my sugars shoot up.
 
Try looking at a testing kit called the Aviva expert. Mine tells me how many units of novo rapid to inject after I tell it how many carbs I have eaten. See your diabetic team at your doctors and enquire about one. Since I've had mine my blood sugars have been pretty much on point.
 
lollyann1 said:
Not newly diagnosed, was diagnosed over a year ago. I don't know if the problem is heightened because I have no Pancreas. If I eat more carbs for 1 unit my sugars shoot up.
Click to expand...

Lollyann
I taken it that you have not received any training on how to count your carbs AND how to adjust your doses?
 
@lollyann1 ; Two things stand out here.

1. Please speak with your diabetic care team. You need to be given information as to how they arrived at your dosage and a review of your current regime to understand whether it is really working for you.

2. Have a look at the following in the same timeframe as a discussion with your diabetic care team.
a) Basal testing - determining that you have the right level of long acting insulin (Lantus) in your system - http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007
b) The BDEC carb counting and dose adjustment course - an online course explaining carb counting, insulin to carb ratios and dose adjustment for your Novorapid: http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/

Hopefully these will give you some indication of where you are and an introduction as to how to use the insulins you have been given. After having taken a look at these, if you have questions, please come back and ask!
 
donnellysdogs said:
Lollyann
I taken it that you have not received any training on how to count your carbs AND how to adjust your doses?
Click to expand...

No. I had no training, nor was it offered. It does not seem to be available where I live! I have referred to my carbs problem in other threads. Whilst reading some of the online links I was given by forum members, I am not doing much better. Now it is a case of the more I read the more muddled the problem seems. For instance, I had another near hypo earlier today. Had exactly my usual Novorapid for the amount and type of food I ate and ended up 3.7.
 
Fo you have 1 unit of novorapid once a day? Or each meal? I know you say you hive 1/2 unit for a snack.

To look at any advice we would really have to see a day of what you eat, your times and your doses and your readings and what yime they are.

For example... Do you go low 2-3 hours after a meal or 4 hours after a meal?

Nobody can give you any advice without knowing some figures.

However, it is important that you speak to uour healthcare tram quickly as they should be your first point of call to get you on a carb counting course and certainly being able to adjust your doses
 
 
For instance, I have a bowl of Rice Krispies for breakfast at 8.am. For Lunch I can only manage half a sandwich, with cheese, a slice of Salami and some Smoked Salmon. Sounds odd to some I bet, but I do have to eat some fat I am thin now. For Dinner I can only manage the other half of the sandwich, although sometimes I cannot face bread - it bloats me out too much. In the Winter I add a little soup, in Summer I tend to eat Chicken.
 
I would see your Dr about diluting your insulin from 100 to 500, you are going to have problems adjusting with even a half unit pen
 
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