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Trying Low Carb But Disasterous Blood Glucose

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worcesterwoman

Well-Known Member
Messages
46
Type of diabetes
HCP
Hi
I've been trying carb counting after a fashion, still waiting for some professional support... anyway have gone from 11's to 6's and 7's in the morning by bumping up my insulin.Sadly my weight problem is worse so I have tried starting low carb over the weekend. Blood glucose now back to 10's, have barely eaten any carb, have the book to check how much carb in foods.
I do have a complex health problem but really thought the low carb would work for me. Am I not alone in this dilemma and will the blood glucose come back down if I persevere?
 
What have you been eating .. and do you really expect results after 2 days?
We need a bit more info before we can try to help.
Also Type 1 or 2? What meds are you taking?
Regards
Mark
 
Hi,

I am afraid I can't help with the insulin question, but I will tag a few people who may be able to help.
@tim2000s @LucySW @himtoo

I know that insulin when low carbing is a different kettle of fish than when high carbing, so I think it is fair to expect quite a period of adjustment. :)

What insulin are you currently on? It may help people to give advice, if you tell them this.
 
hi @worcesterwoman
Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about what you are eating including quantities.

Do you already carb count ( have you done a DAFNE course ) ?

are you aware that when you go really low / no carb you will still need to bolus for a percentage of the protein and fat ?
 
Am taking 12 units morning and 23 units bedtime of Humulin I and then was taking between 15 and 22 units four times a day of Apidra. I do have Mitochondrial disease along with thyroid disease so know I don't react always as expected, I also take a pile of supplements for Mitochondrial disease too.
What's got me is that I had a rough idea of the amount of Apidra when I carb counted so felt sure that by lowering carbs and insulin I 'couldn't go wrong'...
 
himtoo said:
hi @worcesterwoman
Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about what you are eating including quantities.

Do you already carb count ( have you done a DAFNE course ) ?

are you aware that when you go really low / no carb you will still need to bolus for a percentage of the protein and fat ?
Click to expand...

Am waiting to go on a DAFNE course, and I had started carb counting and thought I was getting much better results by upping the insulin. I haven't altered the bolus but did try dropping the Apidra to 6 untis for a meal with no carbs in, which is when things went wrong. I was high last night, had a couple of slices of edam cheese and took even more Apidra and this morning I was 10 on the blood glucose.
During the day I had a 'pancake' of cottage cheese, egg butter, with edam cheese and 2 tomatoes, same pancake for lunch with a slice of corned beef, plain chicken, mashed cabbage and a little carrot, brocolli (one roast potato) for tea with insluin (6 units 6 and 12 units). With Mitochondrial disease I do need some sugar but took enough insulin to cover this, I was then 15.7 at bedtime.
 
Hi @worcesterwoman :)

Have you done a basal test to,check your basal insuoin is at the right dose - that is, it keeps your blood sugar stable in the absence of food?

If your basal isn't right, it can make it hard to get your boluses right.

You say you kind of carb count - do you know your ratios? Bear in mind you might have different ratios for different meals (breakfast, lunch,,etc). Are you aiming for a particular amount of carbs per meal? That might make control easier, at least until you find your feet with your new diet. You might then be able to find a level of carbs that works for you.

If you're low carbing for weight loss, then, again, sticking to a daily amount of carbs can help too.
 
Feeling a bit sad as no-one has yet helped with the right basal dose am trying to sort it for myself, Hospital doctor just told me to up the dose, diabetic nurse at the surgery hadn't any idea on ICR so have been stumbling along on my own, no appointments anyway until the end of September... can't get hold of anyone at the hospital to make or change my December appointment.
My aim was to go for the low carb diet so I could get my blood glucose down and maybe drop a few pounds before an op in September and then carry on to lose more weight.
 
I'm afraid @worcesterwoman it takes a long time and a lot of pushing to get the help you need.

I would suggest you read up on basal testing and give it a bash if you can, it will help you in the long run and set you up for DAFNE.
 
worcesterwoman said:
The bedec course is for type 1's I have mitochondrial diabetes which my consultant says is a variant of type 2.
Click to expand...

Could you use parts of it, as appropriate?

DAFNE is largely aimed at Type 1s too, but I know some Type 2s on insulin have been on it. If you're at all uncertain, could you give your DSN a call maybe?

I haven't done either the BDEC or the DAFNE course as I was taught carb counting on diagnosis and worked the rest out for myself, so I can't comment on the suitability of the content unfortunately.
 
My DSN doesn't exist! The one at the surgery has no idea how to work out carbs etc, I have managed a way that kind of works, but my basal may be wrong, or my body might clinging to the glucose...having asked elsewhere it looks like I need to see a diabetic doctor with an interest in mitochondrial disease/diabetes if only I could track one down...
 
Could your GP refer you to a suitable specialist? Surely there must be some at larger hospitals, if you're prepared to travel.

If not, could your own consultant get advice from a specialist so they can give you the best help?
 
Yes, I am trying to get some help from the Mitochondrial Professor that I see once a year, I have just written to her, even if it's a name or article. I currently see consultants in Oxford, Birmingham and Sheffield so am hoping there may be one tucked away at one of these hospitals.
 
Took hubby's (GP) advice in the end along with finding a bit of info for Mitochondrial diets. Having tried the very low carbs at weekend and ending up running at 14's and 15's blood glucose all day Monday and Tuesday, I went onto some complex carb with high protein for each meal, and woke up to a pleasant surprise of 5.8 - huge sigh of relief. No response from Mitochondrial prof or Diabetic Community Nurse so just as well I am here to tell the story.
 
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