Type 1 diabetic in a pickle

VickiT11979 said:

I think the book "think like a pancreas" might help you - it gives info on how different foods affect BG. Sorry, can't remember who wrote it though. I used to have some of this problem before I got my pump, and still have quite large variations in my BG 1-3hrs after food, even if I eat the same meal & do the same activity, but it is better with a pump. Hope you get yours.

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jeb said:

Terryson10,

I have been a type 1 for nearly 58 years. The way my Mum worked out how to keep my blood sugars normal as a small child and I have done since is to remember it is all a case of balance. You can expect for your sugar to rise for about 2 hours after eating unless it is all protein or very low glycaemic stuff. You don't need to worry so long as it goes down again within the next hour or so. Look for low glycaemic foods. Things like celery you can eat to your hearts content for instance, there a loads of charts on the internet to tell you what they are. If you are active doing something energetic you will need to eat a bit more carb like a plain biscuit or a piece of fruit to avoid a sugar low. Perhaps you should spend a weekend doing normal activities around the house and seeing how much insulin you need to take to keep your sugars 4-6 mmol which is what I aim for, that being the normal range. If you get an infection you will need to eat less and perhaps take a little more insulin. My A1C is 5.4 or 5.6. So to put it succinctly, insulin requirement = food intake minus exercise so the more you expend energy the more food(not good as you will gain weight) or less insulin you will need. By the way, I have no complications from my diabetes.

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robertconroy said:

My take is even type 1s can benefit by learning the glycemic loads of foods. The main problem we face as diabetics (1 & 2) is that grains, and especially wheat, are the highest glycemic foods we eat on a regular basis. The only food higher is dried fruit. So really learning the glycemic loads of foods is the best weapon to keep our blood sugars in check. Carb counting is a joke, and a very bad one at that. All carbohydrates have a different effect on your blood sugar, not the same. So the type of carbohydrate has way more effect than the amount, to a point. The best book I've seen on glycemic loads of foods is by Dr. Fedon Alexander Lindberg called The Easy GL Diet Handbook. It's a small book you can take with you and costs $12 U.S. It's available through Amazon and many book sellers. This book is well worth the purchase and you will soon know more about diabetes than your doctor if you read it.

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