Carb counting - what did I do wrong?

[Sprogladite]

I've heard back and now have an appointment with the diabetic nurse on the 24th March 🙂 hopefully they will be able to help me get my basal dose sorted. I attempted eating out and thought it was great that the place I was going had nutritional information available on their website for each meal, I thought I was prepared, had lunch, dosed according to website info...3 and a half hours later I'm 18.6. Doh. Info must have been just for the sauce or something (I had a curry, the way they do it there is with a very very small portion of rice so thought I'd be ok!). Frustrating as I was 7.8 before which is much closer to what I'm aiming for (as I've been hovering in the 10s since I started this). Nevermind. I've done a correction dose, hopefully that combined with walk to the train station from work will put me back into single digits lol.

How true! I don't think I could cope with going back to an office job now as a diabetic. Stay strong

Thank you! I'm strong most of the time but yesterday was an angry day lol. Feeling better today...probably because nobody has bought any sweets in yet! Haha! 🙂

@Kaylz how did the new ratio work for you yesterday? x

 

[Kaylz]

@Sprogladite glad you have an appointment and sorry to hear that you've not had a great experience with eating out, I haven't eaten out yet not many places to go in my town being one of the reasons, yeah it worked out really well actually, thought I was pushing it with my tea though had 25g carbs so should have needed 2 units if I was in range, unfortunately I wasn't but it was only a 7.3 which prompted a correction unit but as we have established 1 unit is too much of a correction for me so I had to go it without it, had mashed potatoes with cheese with my meal, 2 hours later - 7.6 and by bed time down to 6.9 so it's definitely working for me, thinking I would have more freedom on a 1:12 was totally wrong though as now I have to add stuff in to get it to a close enough amount to stay ok lol x

 

[Sprogladite]

@Sprogladite glad you have an appointment and sorry to hear that you've not had a great experience with eating out, I haven't eaten out yet not many places to go in my town being one of the reasons, yeah it worked out really well actually, thought I was pushing it with my tea though had 25g carbs so should have needed 2 units if I was in range, unfortunately I wasn't but it was only a 7.3 which prompted a correction unit but as we have established 1 unit is too much of a correction for me so I had to go it without it, had mashed potatoes with cheese with my meal, 2 hours later - 7.6 and by bed time down to 6.9 so it's definitely working for me, thinking I would have more freedom on a 1:12 was totally wrong though as now I have to add stuff in to get it to a close enough amount to stay ok lol x

That doesn't sound too bad for the first time trying the new ratio! And now you have more of an idea of how it will work, tonight should hopefully be better 🙂 I would kill to have your numbers lol. I will get there...eventually. Feeling hopeful that the appointment with the DN will help me get my basal either changed or sorted out one way or another, and then I can really crack down on trying to keep my sugars lower 🙂

 

[Radders]

If I know there is going to be some kind of snack fest at work I sometimes take in some strawberries, cheese or nuts as a contribution so that I can join in.

 

[trophywench]

I wouldn't even correct for a number under 7.5, on MDI. Pumping I might have 0.2 or 0.3 extra - a whole half unit would likely be too much.

 

[Sprogladite]

If I know there is going to be some kind of snack fest at work I sometimes take in some strawberries, cheese or nuts as a contribution so that I can join in.

Lol it's more the fact that every day is a snack fest and I have an awful sweet tooth so it's usually only a matter of time until my willpower breaks! I have been very well behaved this week though, feeling quite proud of myself lol 🙂

 

[Sprogladite]

Ok, so,update. Seeing the DN on Friday and we are gonna begin tackling my incorrect basal dose (I assume) - BUT, since carb counting began I've gone from being consistently in the 10/11/12s (if not higher) to being consistently in the 7/8/9s unless I overdo the carbs. However, I feel awful with my sugars running lower. Constantly feeling shaky, headaches, tired, dizzy at times...I feel horrible. I get that my body is probably adjusting but seriously, how long am I gonna have to wait for it to sort itself out? It's been a couple of weeks as my control has gotten better that I've started feeling ill, it is just very difficult to accept that running lower is better for you when you feel so bad! (obviously I know it is, but as I sit here shaking, cold and with a cracking headache this doesn't feel like the healthy option lol. Sugar currently 8.1)

 

[Northerner]

Ok, so,update. Seeing the DN on Friday and we are gonna begin tackling my incorrect basal dose (I assume) - BUT, since carb counting began I've gone from being consistently in the 10/11/12s (if not higher) to being consistently in the 7/8/9s unless I overdo the carbs. However, I feel awful with my sugars running lower. Constantly feeling shaky, headaches, tired, dizzy at times...I feel horrible. I get that my body is probably adjusting but seriously, how long am I gonna have to wait for it to sort itself out? It's been a couple of weeks as my control has gotten better that I've started feeling ill, it is just very difficult to accept that running lower is better for you when you feel so bad! (obviously I know it is, but as I sit here shaking, cold and with a cracking headache this doesn't feel like the healthy option lol. Sugar currently 8.1)

Good to hear things are improving on the BG front, but sorry to hear it appears to have come along with some unwanted symptoms Things WILL get better, be patient - hopefully not too long now before you feel perfectly fine at those numbers 🙂

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

You've done so well, hopefully you'll feel better very soon 🙂

 

[Ljc]

Hi. I hope this stage won't last much longer and you start feeling loads better soon. I'm wondering if a small protein snack would help.

 

[Sprogladite]

Good to hear things are improving on the BG front, but sorry to hear it appears to have come along with some unwanted symptoms Things WILL get better, be patient - hopefully not too long now before you feel perfectly fine at those numbers 🙂

Thank you! So far I have resisted the urge to eat something just to make myself feel better...I suppose this has shown me I have willpower I never knew I had! Lol 🙂

Hi. I hope this stage won't last much longer and you start feeling loads better soon. I'm wondering if a small protein snack would help.

Thank you, protein snacks are a good idea I will give that a go! 🙂

You've done so well, hopefully you'll feel better very soon 🙂

Thank you! Fingers crossed lol. I am seeing the DN tomorrow so hopefully we can start working on getting my basal dose right and we can do this properly!!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Your transformation in levels is amazing @Sprogladite - you should feel very proud of your determination and willpower.

Hope your unpleasant feelings subside soon - which they should as your bodies 'glucose thermostat' resets to the more normal range.

 

[trophywench]

Have a lovely time with your DN, Sprog - I mean that BTW - he/she should really be your mate! And I hope they will be that.

 

[Sprogladite]

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate all your support and kind words 🙂 I will update you tomorrow on how it's all gone!

 

[Sprogladite]

Appointment with the DN went really well today, as a starting point she has told me to lower my basal dose by 2 units to see if this helps with the hypos at night. If not, or if it causes my BGs to run high in the day, she is going to switch me onto either Tresiba or Trujeo. I've been booked onto a carb counting course for the 19th May, and am on a waiting list for DAFNE. There are apparently no appointments at all for DAFNE available this year as they are completely booked up, so I guess we are keeping fingers crossed for cancellations.I have to have some bloods redone because they marked it up incorrectly last time which was a little bit annoying, but all things considered not much to complain about. She was pleased with my day to day BG levels and told me to stop being so hard on myself, and she did a letter to let me fly with my insulin/needles etc (I'm going to America in July). She did also show me the half unit pens but wants me to get my basal sorted before we see if this is needed, but she did say it won't be a problem at all getting them if it is 🙂

So all in all, I really think this is starting to pay off...she wants a hba1c reading of low 50s next time I see her and if it's in the 40s I get a gold star LOL!

 

[grovesy]

Glad you had a positive appointment.

 

[Sprogladite]

Glad you had a positive appointment.

Thank you!

Another bit of interesting information I picked up yesterday is that Lucozade is shortly going to be changing, having its sugar content cut by more than 50%. Bit of a pain in the ass as that's what I use to treat hypos - @trophywench i think you do too don't you? Just wanted to make sure you were aware. I don't know when the change is happening so will have to make sure I check labels when buying!

 

[Kaylz]

Thank you!

Another bit of interesting information I picked up yesterday is that Lucozade is shortly going to be changing, having its sugar content cut by more than 50%. Bit of a pain in the ass as that's what I use to treat hypos - @trophywench i think you do too don't you? Just wanted to make sure you were aware. I don't know when the change is happening so will have to make sure I check labels when buying!

People that use Lucozade are kinda buying up a stock of it at the moment, I use jelly babies so doesn't effect me, it's all because of the sugar tax coming in xx

 

[Robin]

Thank you!

Another bit of interesting information I picked up yesterday is that Lucozade is shortly going to be changing, having its sugar content cut by more than 50%. Bit of a pain in the ass as that's what I use to treat hypos - @trophywench i think you do too don't you? Just wanted to make sure you were aware. I don't know when the change is happening so will have to make sure I check labels when buying!

From April. More info here.
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/changes-to-lucozade-glucose-content.65649/

 

[trophywench]

Hee hee - bought three 6-packs the other day in Tesco. Hopefully, should give me best part of a long enough time to find something else!