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Type 1: Carb ratios when dieting

rmz80

Well-Known Member
Messages
332
Location
Leeds
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes

This is a question for carb counters. I started a diet 3 weeks ago with the aim of losing 4 stone and have lost 10lb. I am now finding I’m continually undershooting target blood sugar levels whereas these were steady before the diet.

What correction should I make to my three ratios for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Would my overall weight minus the weight of my skeleton (the support part) be relevant to any formula. I believe this to be about 14% of weight (for a 14 stone male; about 2 stone). I would think the weight of a skeleton will be the same at the end of the diet as at the start.

If this guess at a formula is approximately correct I am hoping to reduce fast insulin by 40%
 
@rmz80 I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than a simple formula. When you lose weight, typically you lose body fat. That's one thing that affects your insulin sensitivity increases. In addition, if you have increased exercise as part of your weight loss regime, this tends to activate the GLUT4 receptors in the muscle and make them more effective. The combination of the two drives the changes in insulin sensitivity. What you'll need to do is undertake basal testing first, to see how your long acting needs have changed, and then work out how your Insulin:Carb ratio has changed for each meal.

Basal testing guidance can be found here https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/

I'm sorry it's not the simple answer you were looking for, but as I'm sure you're aware, with T1D, very rarely is that the case.
 
I don't think there is any formula you can use; I'm afraid it's trial and error. I agree with @tim2000s that you may need to adjust your Basal. I have to tweak mine up for example when I eat more on holiday.
 
I agree with the above, weight loss and increased activity is a good trigger to check whether your basal insulin requirements have changed. Once you've had a look at that and checked your basal dose is right, then you can look at your I:C ratios. But you can't work out the change with a weight formula - you just have to do it by trial and error. And because that suggests there might be some error involved, it's probably better to make the changes in small increments (say 10-20%) rather that one big dramatic change (of 40%). If you dropping below target range is actually you consistently going hypo after meals you might want to consider an immediate adjustment to your I:C ratio while you have a look at the basal testing, just to avoid the hypos while you are sorting things out.
 
RThanks for your reply. I was looking for something temporary as I might lose another 5lb then another and have start all over again.
 
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