Carb counting - what did I do wrong?

[Jeandp]

My starving child disappeared about 1980 and hasn't been seen or heard of since. I can't recall having had a hunger pangs since my childhood, truth to tell.

Do you eat protein for brekkie? - I ask cos it automatically 'fills you up' and that satisfied feeling lasts a lot longer, than if you eat carbs, eg cereal or toast. Big fat frittata made at the weekend, throw in what the heck you want - ham, bacon, other cooked meat, any veg you want, whatever you fancy - cut it into wedges and have a slice every day. You can put it in Tupperware and stick in the fridge at work, if you don't want it left at home.

Or - eg cheese and boiled ham - and just not involve 'home' at all.

Frittata, top tip, thank you @trophywench

 

[Sprogladite]

They say you can get some high protein rolls in Lidl, but as we haven't got a Lidl within sensible driving range from here I haven't tried them. We have Bergen bread which is supposed to be better than most but I haven't tried using it as a sandwich as yet, just one slice of toast in a morning.

Thank you, I have a Lidl fairly close to me so I will have a look! 🙂 What is Bergen bread? I've never heard of it!

I don't want to put you off bread but I had a roll for my lunch yesterday it was sitting at 3 so had 3 jelly sweets, 3.8, had another one - 3.7 so had another - 6.6 then shot up to 12.3 by tea got down to 7.5 for bed though, felt awful the headache was so bad and I felt so tired - first time I've gotten to sleep so quick since starting insulin, think I should have just went with 4 sweets in a go then maybe I would have been high enough I will know to try that first next time, I'm the opposite to you I haven't plucked up the courage to try pasta yet haha x

Sorry you had a rough experience @Kaylz but don't worry, it gets easier with time 🙂 Even a level of 12 wouldn't overly concern me...because I've run high for so long I only really get concerned when I go over 20 (and even then it's a roll my eyes & reach for the insulin reaction lol) - I know I should be more concerned but I think I've just become desensitised to the severity of it over the years. I do find I tend to swing a little bit high post hypo, I am really awful for overcompensating (I tend to go on the 'I don't feel better yet' theory, which I know is wrong, but I really struggle to override my instincts and not eat everything in sight lol!). Hopefully for your next one you wont have such a tricky one to deal with!

 

[Sprogladite]

Ironic I posted this morning that a reading of 12 wouldn't bother me lol. I've spent the day swinging between 10 & 15, lowest I've managed to go is 9.9 so far. Not feeling wonderful, have had a cracking headache all day, wonder if this is why? I don't think I'm "sick" as such but feeling quite stressed out. Did a correction dose 2 hours ago that took me from 15 to 9.9, hoping the walk to the train station will bring this down some more. I've got some fruit pastilles on hand in case I plummet into a hypo on the train...I have been a superhero in resisting the office sweets today, there's chocolate brownies, cupcakes and mini rolls today and I'm honestly getting emotional that I can't eat any of them lol. Stupid body.

 

[Kaylz]

Ironic I posted this morning that a reading of 12 wouldn't bother me lol. I've spent the day swinging between 10 & 15, lowest I've managed to go is 9.9 so far. Not feeling wonderful, have had a cracking headache all day, wonder if this is why? I don't think I'm "sick" as such but feeling quite stressed out. Did a correction dose 2 hours ago that took me from 15 to 9.9, hoping the walk to the train station will bring this down some more. I've got some fruit pastilles on hand in case I plummet into a hypo on the train...I have been a superhero in resisting the office sweets today, there's chocolate brownies, cupcakes and mini rolls today and I'm honestly getting emotional that I can't eat any of them lol. Stupid body.

When you feel comfortable with carb counting and feel you have your ratio correct there is nothing to stop you having a mini roll or anything as long as you know the carbs and add it on to whatever you are having and cover it, sorry to hear you aren't having great readings but try and chill out as we all know stress doesn't help our levels any, hope you feel better soon 🙂 x

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Yes, stress plays havoc with my levels too.

 

[Sprogladite]

When you feel comfortable with carb counting and feel you have your ratio correct there is nothing to stop you having a mini roll or anything as long as you know the carbs and add it on to whatever you are having and cover it, sorry to hear you aren't having great readings but try and chill out as we all know stress doesn't help our levels any, hope you feel better soon 🙂 x

Lol thank you, I'm going to consider that as "the light at the end of the tunnel" lol. I'll be reattempting the fasting basal test tomorrow if my sugars stabilise tonight...going to go home and do my best impression of a vegetable (a relaxed one...lol!) x

 

[Sprogladite]

Yes, stress plays havoc with my levels too.

How do you cope with it @Lucy Honeychurch? Do you just monitor and correct as needed?

 

[Kaylz]

Lol thank you, I'm going to consider that as "the light at the end of the tunnel" lol. I'll be reattempting the fasting basal test tomorrow if my sugars stabilise tonight...going to go home and do my best impression of a vegetable (a relaxed one...lol!) x

Hold on I'll be back with a relaxation thing that was suggested to me after my hypo the other day 2 mins 🙂 x

 

[Kaylz]

his is what I was taught at relaxation classes to help, amongst other symptoms, get rid of headaches:- lie down on your bed; sofa; or floor. Lie on your back, cover yourself with duvet or throw. Hands on your tum, slowly inhale a deep breath. ..hold it for a few secs ...then breathe out slowly. Repeat this several times. (As many times as you wish) til you feel totally relaxed. The breathing exercises should help you to relax & ease your hypo anxiety & your headache. You might actually fall asleep! Before you stand up (slowly now)** make sure you have a thick Cardigan or jumper handy to wear ( **I should have said this earlier- sorry) because you might feel a little cold when your relaxation exercise regime is finished. NB. If for any reason you have been advised against doing any of the above, then please adhere to that advice. this was courtesy of @wirralass, hope you don't mind me passing it on hun 🙂 x

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

How do you cope with it @Lucy Honeychurch? Do you just monitor and correct as needed?

Basically yes and hope for the best! Having one of those days today as a family member is having surgery, felt sick since I got up, waiting to hear

 

[Sprogladite]

Basically yes and hope for the best! Having one of those days today as a family member is having surgery, felt sick since I got up, waiting to hear

Oh no I hope it all goes well! Fingers crossed for you x

 

[Sprogladite]

his is what I was taught at relaxation classes to help, amongst other symptoms, get rid of headaches:- lie down on your bed; sofa; or floor. Lie on your back, cover yourself with duvet or throw. Hands on your tum, slowly inhale a deep breath. ..hold it for a few secs ...then breathe out slowly. Repeat this several times. (As many times as you wish) til you feel totally relaxed. The breathing exercises should help you to relax & ease your hypo anxiety & your headache. You might actually fall asleep! Before you stand up (slowly now)** make sure you have a thick Cardigan or jumper handy to wear ( **I should have said this earlier- sorry) because you might feel a little cold when your relaxation exercise regime is finished. NB. If for any reason you have been advised against doing any of the above, then please adhere to that advice. this was courtesy of @wirralass, hope you don't mind me passing it on hun 🙂 x

Thank you I will give it a go...I'm a big fan of anything that helps me sleep lol, I swear I am meant to be nocturnal haha! x

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Oh no I hope it all goes well! Fingers crossed for you x

Thank you xx

 

[Wirrallass]

This is what I was taught at relaxation classes to help, amongst many other symptoms, anxiety & to get rid of headaches:- lie down on your bed; sofa; or floor. Lie on your back, cover yourself with duvet or throw. Hands on your tum, slowly inhale a deep breath. ..hold it for a few secs ...then breathe out slowly. Repeat this several times. (As many times as you wish) til you feel totally relaxed. The breathing exercises should help you to relax & ease your hypo anxiety & your headache. You might actually fall asleep! Before you stand up (slowly now)** make sure you have a thick Cardigan or jumper handy to wear ( **I should have said this earlier- sorry) because you might feel a little cold when your relaxation exercise regime is finished. NB. If for any reason you have been advised against doing any of the above, then please adhere to that advice. this was courtesy of @wirralass, hope you don't mind me passing it on hun 🙂 x

Not at all Kaylz. Have you tried it...did it help? **One thing I failed to mention was that when you breathe in, breathe through your stomach...not your chest. Sound strange? EDITED. When you inhale, push your tummy out..(not your chest) when you exhale...pull your tummy in. Thats why I mentioned that you place your hands on your stomach. It's also a beneficial way to breathe if anyone has say a chest infection that causes pain when they breathe. Hope you're feeling heaps better now Kaylz, take care of yourself. x looking forward to your dinner menu's 😛

 

[Sprogladite]

Hi Guys! I attempted the basal test again last night, and yet again it was halted by a hypo, so that's 3 times now. Results below:

7pm - 8.7
10pm - 9.4
11pm - 7.7 (basal done here)
1am - 2.6 (test ended here)
6:30am - 2.8

All the hypos in the night are surely not a coincidence. I was very surprised to have another hypo at 6:30 as I drank about half a bottle of lucozade before going back to sleep, which I had thought was overdoing it! Considering my sugars look good before the basal happens, it must be the basal at fault here, right?

 

[Kaylz]

Hi Guys! I attempted the basal test again last night, and yet again it was halted by a hypo, so that's 3 times now. Results below:

7pm - 8.7
10pm - 9.4
11pm - 7.7 (basal done here)
1am - 2.6 (test ended here)
6:30am - 2.8

All the hypos in the night are surely not a coincidence. I was very surprised to have another hypo at 6:30 as I drank about half a bottle of lucozade before going back to sleep, which I had thought was overdoing it! Considering my sugars look good before the basal happens, it must be the basal at fault here, right?

It does sound like it's pointing to the basal, what basal are you on, sorry about your hypo again, me too again yesterday afternoon x

 

[Sprogladite]

It does sound like it's pointing to the basal, what basal are you on, sorry about your hypo again, me too again yesterday afternoon x

I'm on lantus! Ugh we are a right pair aren't we! I hope this one was easier to deal with! X

 

[Kaylz]

I'm on lantus! Ugh we are a right pair aren't we! I hope this one was easier to deal with! X

Ah I know nothing about lantus as I'm on Tresiba, I know right, I had 4 sweets this time waited 20 mins and was still below 4 so had another 1 and 20 mins and back up to 4.7 by tea I was 11.something so my meter suggested a 2 unit correction but I only took 1 by bed I was down to 8.9 which prompted a correction which I didn't take as didn't feel comfortable doing it, woke up on 7.4 so had to take a correction with breakfast, now down to 4.6 before my dinner so I'm panicking again haha, feel very paranoid today so did a 1,2,3 and 4.5 hour test after breakfast and now I'm going to be doing a 1,1.5 and at least a 2 hour test after lunch in the hope that if I catch myself going low I can have a biscuit or something to try and stop it x

 

[SB2015]

Hi Guys! I attempted the basal test again last night, and yet again it was halted by a hypo, so that's 3 times now. Results below:

7pm - 8.7
10pm - 9.4
11pm - 7.7 (basal done here)
1am - 2.6 (test ended here)
6:30am - 2.8

All the hypos in the night are surely not a coincidence. I was very surprised to have another hypo at 6:30 as I drank about half a bottle of lucozade before going back to sleep, which I had thought was overdoing it! Considering my sugars look good before the basal happens, it must be the basal at fault here, right?

Hi Sprogladite, When I had night hypos I was switched to Levemir as it enabled me to split my basal insulin at night without reducing the day time amount (There is no point in splitting Lantus as it has a different profile from Levemir).

I also got a pen that did half units so I was able to make a half unit adjustment each time until I got things sorted. I was also told that I needed to be on Levemir before I did the DAFNE course. I was very happy with the change even though it meant another jab each day. You could talk to your DSN and see whether they have other suggestions a specific well

Keep giong with thse basal tests. The evidence you are collecting will help your ur DSN advise you on what changes to make. I hope that you get things sorted.

 

[Sprogladite]

Hi Sprogladite, When I had night hypos I was switched to Levemir as it enabled me to split my basal insulin at night without reducing the day time amount (There is no point in splitting Lantus as it has a different profile from Levemir).

I also got a pen that did half units so I was able to make a half unit adjustment each time until I got things sorted. I was also told that I needed to be on Levemir before I did the DAFNE course. I was very happy with the change even though it meant another jab each day. You could talk to your DSN and see whether they have other suggestions a specific well

Keep giong with thse basal tests. The evidence you are collecting will help your ur DSN advise you on what changes to make. I hope that you get things sorted.

Thank you @SB2015, I actually used to be on Levemir but developed an allergy to it after my son was born unfortunately I will keep collecting data, I tried to make an appointment with the DN team but appointment line is only open 9am - 1pm, left a message, got called into a meeting and then missed their call back! Will have to try again tomorrow. I had a major hypo this morning - 2.3, so not super major in terms of level but major in terms of effect it had on me, I couldn't talk properly! I can already see that my BG control is better, so hopefully my next blood test will show an improvement 🙂