Monday, June 02, 2008
Dear GingerI’ve been thinking about eating less carbs because a lot of people say it helps with getting better blood sugars, being more sensitive to insulin and losing weight, but how can I eat less carbs without dropping low all the time? Seems like it would be kind of hard to do.-DanHey Dan,Y...
I agree with Ginger. If you low carb most of the time your insulin requirements will reduce and your blood sugar control will become more stable. When you have the occasional high carb treat it can be a pleasure that isn't going to interfere with your long term health.
Hey Katharine!
Thanks for the post! And for mentioning the "high carb treat." I certainly don't mean to imply we should eat low carb every day all day. Once or twice a week of something sweet and delicious is absolutely part of the plan. Important thing is to just take enough insulin and be aware of what we consume!
Ginger
Can you plaese tell me what you eat everyday and what basal rate of insulin you take....do you have to bolus anything for a meal if theres no carbohydrate in it???I really need advice!!Tanx
Hey there,
Here's a few articles on creating a low-carb diet:
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/26446/65398/cafeteria-food/?ic=4020
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/27511/49019/ginger-supposed
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/27511/52047/interview-berry
Personally, at this time in my life, I don't eat low-carb because of my powerlifting training. I'm not trying to lose bodyfat, I'm trying to build raw strength, so my needs are different.
When I was following a lower-carb diet, I found I needed to gradually reduce my long-acting insulin dose by 5 units. If you're on a pump, you'll want to gradually decrease your basal rates, but your body and mine are different so I can't tell you the exact amounts. Start with small increments. If your basal rate from noon until 6 pm is usually 1.3 units per hour (for example), try decreasing to 1 unit per hour.
For the first few days on a lower carb diet you'll be more prone to low blood sugar, so be careful! You DO STILL NEED insulin for a meal of proteins and fats. A chicken breast may not have any carbs in it, but as your body breaks down the amino acids it can effect your blood sugar lightly. Healthy nuts (good fats that you NEED when you're limiting carbs), do have carbs in them.
I found that for a low-carb meal of chicken, carrots and almonds, I would still need 4 units of insulin. I found this out by testing my blood sugar before and after the meal, determining over the course of a week what my body needed to follow this nutrition plan.
Just like with exercise, it's not a quick fix. It takes consistency and patience. Losing weight is a gradual process. Adapt healthy nutrition choices and lots of exercise into your lie and gradually you will lose weight. These are important whether you or not you lose weight: living a healthy lifestyle. So be patient and make it part of your life. P
-Gin