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Type 1 trying Low carb diet but struggling

T

TOMJC

Well-Known Member
Messages
69
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

I have recently been trying to move towards the lower carb lifestyle as I have heard of all the benefits it has bought and the feedback from you all seems very positive.

However I am having issues with The diet and I was wondering if anyone can help. I have been type 1 for 7 years.

I have been finding that having less carbs has made me far more sensitive to carbs and has meant I suffer much more from the dawn phenomenon (rises by up to 8-10 mmol) and my blood sugars rise before meals when I have no rapid acting insulin on board. They also spike significantly after a meal and then drop rapidly to a normal level.

I don't think I can increase my long acting as this would make me hypo in the night.

I can reduce the spikes but to do this I find I have to inject my novorapid up to an hour before I eat to combat post meal spikes even if not having many carbs.

Do other people find this? I presume it's just my liver pumping out glucagon but may be wrong.

Is it something my body will get used to or is low carb not feasible for everyone?

Thanks very much.

Tom
 
@TOMJC take time to work out what is going on, so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

A few facts would be useful such as the insulin regime you are on and how low carb are you going? Are you bolussing for protein/fat etc?
 
I know, hear such good things on here but I guess it wasn't straightforward for all of you either.

Levemir once a day in the evening and novorapid for meals. I have been trying 80-100 carbs a day (none at breakfast as I can't cope with carbs and dawn phenomenon) so not too low. Yes to fat and protein.
 
@TOMJC its a learning curve for all of us. I've been trying VLC and coming to conclusion that maybe its not for me!

How high are the spikes, the fact they are coming back to normal level sounds ok. Rapid acts over about 4 hours and carbs kick in much fastet so its impossible to avoid some rise.

If you are getting rising BG before meals I would do basal tests, many people need to split Levemir into two 12 hr jabs to get a level basal for the day.

I'll not comment on DP as I only get that after evening KFC chicken which always kicks in 6 hrs later!
 
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