1. Get the Diabetes Forum App for your phone - available on iOS and Android.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Guest, we'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the Diabetes Forum Survey 2021 »
    Dismiss Notice
  3. Diabetes Forum should not be used in an emergency and does not replace your healthcare professional relationship. Posts can be seen by the public.
    Dismiss Notice
  4. Guest, stay home, stay safe, save the NHS. Stay up to date with information about keeping yourself and people around you safe here and GOV.UK: Coronavirus (COVID-19). Think you have symptoms? NHS 111 service is available here.
    Dismiss Notice
Free Forum App Feedback Reminder COVID-19: stay safe
Dismiss Notice
Find support, ask questions and share your experiences. Join the community »

Why insulin fluctuations?

Discussion in 'Ketogenic diet forum' started by megan, Jan 21, 2018.

  1. megan

    megan Type 1 · Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    68
    I’ve been doing the keto diet since 3rd jan. my insulin needs were dropping a bit. Got to 45 total units in a day. Then they’re now up to 65!
    No weight loss and sugars keep rising
     
    #1 megan, Jan 21, 2018 at 9:48 AM
  2. catapillar

    catapillar Type 1 · Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,390
    Likes Received:
    2,892
    Trophy Points:
    198
    What are you eating @megan ? Reducing carbs causes physiological insulin resistance, so your insulin to carb ratio may change to require more insulin to deal with low amounts of carbs in a meal because of the low carb diet. A low carb diet also means your body is going to want to get glucose from somewhere, if it can't do that the easy way (from carbs) it will do it the hard way by turning protein into glucose (gluconogenesis). So instead of bolusing for just carbs, a low carb diet means you have to consider bolusing for protein.

    If you are trying to lose weight you still need to think about burning more calories than you are taking in, whether or not you are eating carbs. If you are in calorie surplus, you won't lose weight. Fatty foods (like cheese and nuts) that might be eaten to replace carby foods have a lot more calories than carby foods. Protein and carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram, while fat has 9 calories per gram.
     
    #2 catapillar, Jan 21, 2018 at 2:24 PM
  3. megan

    megan Type 1 · Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    68
    I’m on scrambled egg. Bacon. Mushrooms and a couple of baby toms sometimes with a little cheese.
    Small green leafed salad and avacado chicken or fish
    Chicken or fish with green beans broccoli and sometime cauliflower
    Occasionally nuts
    I’m sticking to it.
    So where am I going wrong?
    I do have ME and fibromyalgia
    I do have to sleep a lot due to muscle weakness
    I do have a sensitive reaction internally to stress which does what it wants and yes I’ve tried and still continue to try many things to combat that

    The last maybe 5 days of insulin need going up has today come back down to normal level with insulin on my higher basal setting without my need to program to get more or to correct more
    Not aware of a virus
    Nothing else going on that I think played a part
     
    #3 megan, Jan 21, 2018 at 11:22 PM
  4. megan

    megan Type 1 · Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    68
    Oh and I bolus for protein all the time. I set my pump as though I’m eating 20 g of carbs at each meal where I am not eating the usual measurable carbs we all know about.
    I’ve known for years that even though I may not eat any carbs in a meal, I still must take insulin. I have had a diabetic specialist tell me if I’m not eating carbs then I don’t need to bolus any insulin. This of course is not true and causes havoc. So yes I do bolus at every meal as though I’d had bread or potatoes etc
    So that bolusing for 60g total in a day with basal fluctuating between 44 and 27 units of insulin in a day depending on setting needed and I don’t suddenly change it.... I must find the pattern then adjust accordingly with basal testing or not correcting to see where the pattern heads
     
    #4 megan, Jan 21, 2018 at 11:27 PM
  5. Kristin251

    Kristin251 LADA · Expert

    Messages:
    5,334
    Likes Received:
    3,390
    Trophy Points:
    178
    Are you eating enough fat ? My insulin needs changed ( higher ) and I have a half teaspoon of butter before a meal and and my insulin takes me a lot further. In keto, we need fat. It slows gluconeogenisis form protein as well as the few carbs we have. Seems weird eating butter but if it’s kerrry gold it’s golden. I don’t pound tablespoons , jus a bit.

    My fasting are running higher. Probably cold weather. I’m experimenting with a butter snack before bed.
     
    #5 Kristin251, Jan 22, 2018 at 4:26 AM
  6. megan

    megan Type 1 · Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    68
    I sometimes put cheese with my meal. Cook the bacon and eggs in rapeseed oil or olive oil as recommended by the most recent LCHF book I’ve been reading. Blood sugars have been going up and I need more insulin. I’m feeling more weak and needing more rest than normal. Could be an ME flare up but not sure why
    How do I know how much fat is too little or too much ?
     
    #6 megan, Jan 23, 2018 at 8:43 PM
  7. Kristin251

    Kristin251 LADA · Expert

    Messages:
    5,334
    Likes Received:
    3,390
    Trophy Points:
    178
    I listen to my body but I also know different fats do different things.

    Saturated fat like chicken skins, bacon grease, the fat layer off a steak or chop, a fatty burger raise me more and keep me higher than olive oil, mayo, a few nuts. Nownthe butter seems to lower me by slowing everything down. The protein and the carbs. It also an MCT so it gets metabolized differently. I can’t pound loads of fat. Bothers my stomach. It just sits there.

    Is that your morning meal? I would need lots of insulin for that amount of protein in the morning. Do you see a difference when you add the cheese or leave it off?

    What’s your carb and protein level? I need my avocado with protein to balance the meal. I can never just eat protein and fat with gluconeogenisising really fast. I do need a few carbs and the avo has fiber to slow things.
     
    #7 Kristin251, Jan 23, 2018 at 10:03 PM
  8. megan

    megan Type 1 · Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    68
    Yes that has been my breakfast. Not noticed much difference when I add cheese or not at the mo although I’ve not put cheese in it for a few days.
    At lunch I’ve had salmon or chicken with some greens or small salad.
    Similar for dinner. Predominantly greens.
     
    #8 megan, Jan 23, 2018 at 11:38 PM
  9. megan

    megan Type 1 · Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    68
    Sorry I’m not quite up with the protein quantity. I’m so used to measuring regular carbs we all know but when I cut those I hadn’t measured the weight of chicken or fish or greens.
    I’m still feeling in the dark. My diabetes team can’t help with any of this as the last time I said to a dr about it she said if I wasn’t having the usual carbs like bread potatoes etc, then I didn’t need to take the insulin, which of course we all know is not true
     
    #9 megan, Jan 23, 2018 at 11:41 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Style
Red
Language
English (UK)

  • Meet the Community

    Find support, connect with others, ask questions and share your experiences with people with diabetes, their carers and family.

    Did you know: 7 out of 10 people improve their understanding of diabetes within 6 months of being a Diabetes Forum member. Get the Diabetes Forum App and stay connected on iOS and Android

    Grab the app!

  • Tweet with us

  • Like us on Facebook