Were you told how to match insulin to carbs when diagnosed?

Re: Were you told how to match insulin to carbs when diagnos

Initially when I first went onto Insulin I was also given a regime of 4 units with breakfast, 8 units with lunch and 10 with evening meal. I soon realised that as I was eating a very varied diet this could not be right. Of course my suger levels were all over the place.

I made an appointment to see my diabetic specialist nurse at the hospital who agreed with me regarding the rigid regime not being suitable for me and offered to put me on the Dafne course but as I am type 2 she did not think it would be that helpful. However she told me to buy a book called CARBS & CALS by Chris Chevette and Yello Balolia for people with Diabetes. I have never looked back it is fantastic, It explains in very easy terms how to match Insulin to everything you are eating. It has pictures of everday food that you eat in differnt size portions and even take-aways!

I worked out for myself that for every 10g of carbs I would match it with 1 unit of quick acting Insulin. So for instance at breakfast I would have two pieces of white thick sliced toast, each slice of bread is 20g carbs = 2 units of Insulin. 2 x 20g = 40g therefore I would take 4 units of Insulin maybe add another to cover milk in a coffee and the spread on the toast. You might get it wrong occasionally but its never that much.

I think every Diabetic regardless of type 1 or 2 should be given a copy of this book, failing that go buy a copy I found it cheapest
on line. It will be the best investment you have ever made for you Diabetes.

Keep well, LadyM

Re: Were you told how to match insulin to carbs when diagnos

I was diagnosed type 1 in 1997 and put on insulin very quickly. I remember clearly being sent into the dietician and just being shown a picture of a 'healthy eating plate' ie, so much of the meal should be carbs, so much Veg and the rest proteins fats etc. that was the sum of her advice. I do remember being told it was the dieticians first day. I do hope she improved her advice with more experience( or got sacked!)
It wasn't until 3 years later and I moved to Bristol that I got some real help and advice from a brilliant dietician who introduced me to carb counting etc.
I eventually went onto a pump as I found it so difficult to control my sugars despite being very presice with ratios etc and that was the best thing ever!

I was diagnosed in type 1, in 1982 aged 9 and I was given a leaflets and booklets showing how many exchanges there were in a certain amount of food, (15 grapes was one exchange, one apple was one exchange ). I also had to learn which foods contained fats, carbs and proteins. I was then given a fixed dose of insulin to have twice a day, which was 80 strength porcine Actrapid at breakfast, no insulin for lunch and then I mixed Actrapid and porcine Monotard before my tea and I also had a supper later on. I also had mid morning and mid afternoon snacks and I was as thin as a rake!! Hahah I was eating more than a horse!

Controlling my blood sugars was a challenge to say the least but then there is no wonder because I was not taught to match carbs to insulin as that was not done at St Mary's hospital (Manchester) in those days. I later found out they were going to transfer me to Booth Hall Childrens Hospital St Mary's kept me on the ward so that they could learn about Type 1 diabetes in children.

Type 1 diabetes was not as common in those days as it is today.

phoenix said:

Re: Were you told how to match insulin to carbs when diagnos



I don't know if this spread sheet is up to date but it gives info on T1 courses both DAFNE and others with an agreed core content are available in the UK
http://www.diabetes-education.net/index ... ge=centres

Click to expand...

I was diagnosed January 1992 I was on mixtard and I was given 2 set doses and to insulin looking back no wonder it all went wrong