Hi BlondieCutieSmartie,

Okay -- what you eat is HUGELY important to your health -- whether or not you have diabetes.

Your doctor was implying that you no longer have to eat only a specific amount of carbs at each meal because when we take long-acting insulins like NPH or UltraLente they "peak"at certain times of the day and we have to eat a very specific amount of carbs to prevent from dropping low. They peak so we can have our meal times.

With a pump, you can give yourself insulin at the very moment you eat a meal, and your basal rates will take care of your blood sugar in between meals.

What you eat is important because different types of food have different "macronutrients"(fats, proteins, or carbs). These are digested differently in our bodies. Also, if we eat too much of certain things or anything, we will gain weight, raise our cholesterol levels, DEFINITELY have trouble balancing our blood sugars and that will lead to heart disease, kidney problems, eye damage, and of course, TYPE 2 DIABETES which is often caused by lifestyle choices: too much unhealthy food and not enough exercise.

Here are some great articles that will help you understand what a balanced, healthy diet looks like:

Guidelines to a healthy diet

Inside this article you'll see links that explain carbohydrates, protein, etc.

I can "eat whatever I want" but if I want to be healthy (my whole body healthy, including blood sugars), then I need to make good choices and exercise.

-Ginger

BlondieCutieSmartie

2/ 4/10 7:33pm

Hey, thanks! I tried to click on the little link type thing, but it said page not found...?

Ginger Vieira, Health Guide

2/ 7/10 9:12am

Oh! Well here is a direct url address, just copy and paste this:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/26446/73341/guidelines-diet

 

Ginger