Advice regarding carbs and giving in

[MarkGeordie]

I was doing so well, eating better, improved HbA1c, maintaining weight etc.

Then I injure myself, feel a lot of pain, feel sorry for myself, starting giving in and letting more carbs back into my diet and now I’ve lost motivation to go back to low carbs diet.

I don’t want to destroy my hard work.

 

[Inka]

Maybe just up your allowance for a few days until you’re feeling better? Carbs are ok.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Mark.

So sorry to read that you got knocked over and injured the other day. Hope you are starting to heal but totally understandable that you are having a bit of a wobble with your diet now

If it is any consolation, I am struggling with my diet too at the moment. My levels have gone haywire since Covid vaccination and needing more and more insulin and wanting to comfort eat.... not sure if that is because of the increased levels making me more irritated/anxious or because I am concerned about the amount of insulin I am needing. I am feeling run down though and maybe this is my body's way of telling me that. I tried a multivitamin supplement today but need to push myself to prepare some nice salads and cook some interesting veggies to get the majority of nutrients from those. My health has to be my priority so I need to kick myself into gear and get back on track. Maybe we both need to cut ourselves some slack for a couple of days without feeling like we are letting ourselves down .... before we climb back on the wagon.

 

[pm133]

I was doing so well, eating better, improved HbA1c, maintaining weight etc.

Then I injure myself, feel a lot of pain, feel sorry for myself, starting giving in and letting more carbs back into my diet and now I’ve lost motivation to go back to low carbs diet.

I don’t want to destroy my hard work.

I'm unsure why you think you'd destroy your hard work.
You are type 1 and on insulin so the carbs won't cause problems for your HBA1c.
As long as you are not over eating calorie-wise you won't put the weight back on either.
Don't be too hard on yourself.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I was doing so well, eating better, improved HbA1c, maintaining weight etc.

Then I injure myself, feel a lot of pain, feel sorry for myself, starting giving in and letting more carbs back into my diet and now I’ve lost motivation to go back to low carbs diet.

I don’t want to destroy my hard work.

As Type 1 you can eat what you like Mark, just as long as you are carb aware and inject the correct amount of insulin to cover what you eat.
Hope you are feeling better i in yourself now.

 

[KARNAK]

Hang in there @MarkGeordie this is one of the reasons why the forum exists, help our fellow members
in times of need, listen and advise to their best ability likewise you do the same for us. As @Pumper_Sue
says no real need to over worry as you can cover it with insulin, @rebrascora is also struggling but for a
different reason.

Your hard work will never be compromised as long as you cover the carbs with the appropriate amount of
insulin and gradually regain the "diet" you are more comfortable with, take care mate.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I am concerned about the amount of insulin I am needing.

There's a very good saying
You need what you need.
So if you need it use it, there is no wrong amount as everyone is different.

We had a young lady on here a few months back who was having major problems due to not being able to get over the fact she needed extra insulin due to steroid use, she was afraid to use more than she was already doing so was in danger of losing her pump as her hospital instead of helping her were just using threats.

As soon as I said to her you need what you need it was as if a light bulb had gone off. Hopefully she is up and away now and happy with her pump.

 

[rebrascora]

@Pumper_Sue Thanks for that. I think my fear is that at some point when I am over this "episode" which might be tomorrow or next week or 2 months time, my levels will come crashing back down and I will have a serious hypo. This may be an illogical fear but it is real to me. I don't mind hypos as such but I have never had a really bad one. I am slowly increasing my basal a unit here and a unit there every day but just not comfortable bumping it up more than that until I have an idea of where this is going since I am already so much higher than what was my "normal" stable dose. I feel like I am climbing a ladder and well above my comfort zone so just taking it one step at a time.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I don't mind hypos as such but I have never had a really bad one. I am slowly increasing my basal a unit here and a unit there every day but just not comfortable bumping it up more than that until I have an idea of where this is going since I am already so much higher than what was my "normal" stable dose. I feel like I am climbing a ladder and well above my comfort zone so just taking it one step at a time.

Understandable and I can see where you are coming from.

Do I remember correctly that you have a Dexcom or Libre? If so the easiest way to deal with the insulin/blood sugar changes is to set your alarm to go off sooner say 6 instead of 5 then you can see the arrows and keep an eye on things a lot easier.
I have changes of up to 5 units in basal for no apparent reason over a matter of days so I use that strategy to my advantage.

Unfortunately age, length of time you have had diabetes oh and what direction the wind is blowing does tend to change peoples insulin needs. Obviously always make sure you have glucose/carbs with you and do not be afraid to use what you need either 🙂

 

[PattiEvans]

@rebrascora I agree with Sue. You need what you need, that may change suddenly or slowly but change it will and you just have to adapt. That's the real art in managing T1.

 

[PattiEvans]

I was doing so well, eating better, improved HbA1c, maintaining weight etc.

Then I injure myself, feel a lot of pain, feel sorry for myself, starting giving in and letting more carbs back into my diet and now I’ve lost motivation to go back to low carbs diet.

I don’t want to destroy my hard work.

Mark, cut yourself a bit of slack for a while. I generally find that the more I watch my carbs/insulin the better control is, but we all go through bad patches and have to adapt. Sometimes I just feel like saying "s*d it" and eating a ton of chocolate. I get over it and you will too!

As Scarlett said "Tomorrow is another day".

 

[rebrascora]

Understandable and I can see where you are coming from.

Do I remember correctly that you have a Dexcom or Libre? If so the easiest way to deal with the insulin/blood sugar changes is to set your alarm to go off sooner say 6 instead of 5 then you can see the arrows and keep an eye on things a lot easier.
I have changes of up to 5 units in basal for no apparent reason over a matter of days so I use that strategy to my advantage.

Unfortunately age, length of time you have had diabetes oh and what direction the wind is blowing does tend to change peoples insulin needs. Obviously always make sure you have glucose/carbs with you and do not be afraid to use what you need either 🙂

I have Libre 1 but currently running semi blind as the last 2 came adrift early (one I caught in the shower with 11 days to go and the other came loose when I was working in the muck heap.... combination of sun, sweat and vigorous arm movement I am guessing) and my prescription won't be available until a week tomorrow and no customer services until Tue so I am just finger pricking right now, which is bad timing.

I am often needing to tweak my basal insulin both up and down and I am confident with that but it has been within reasonable limits and both directions and I could understand/figure out why. This steady increase over a period of months now since my first jab in Feb just makes me nervous.

 

[mum2westiesGill]

I hope I'm right here but as long as you count your carbs as best as you can we don't have to eat low carb because unless a correction is needed we are only injecting for the carbs we eat - for the last few days my carb amounts have been -
so far today -
breakfast - 36g
lunch - 57g

Yesterday
Breakfast - 48g
Lunch - 53g
Tea - 51g

Friday
Breakfast - 30g
Lunch - 48g
Tea - 53g