Do I have to eat carbs with every meal?

[amber1992]

Hey, I'm pretty new to this diabetes thing. I'm type 1 and on nova rapid when I eat but I'm confused. Do I have to eat carbs with every meAl and I don't tend to eats carbs with my lunch. I know if I don't eat carbs I don't take insulin.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[bill hopkinson]

If you don't have any carbs then you will be advised that even without insulin, exercise will deplete your glucose and you risk a hypo.

If your blood sugar has not dropped to concerning levels by your next carbs after a lunch without carbs then you are OK.

 

[KookyCat]

Hi amber1992

I don't carb at every meal, and I'm still standing 🙂. My dietician was outraged at the notion of carb free meals, but other than that I don't see why you need to eat any more carbs than you would normally

 

[Copepod]

No need to eat carbs at every meal if you don't want to. You're right to omit insulin for carbohydrate-free meal. If carb free lunches suit you, then go ahead. Just be prepared for overall insulin doses to increase as honeymoon phase ends.

 

[Redkite]

Hi Amber,

You can usually eat what you like, and cover any carbs with insulin.

Bill - I'm afraid your comments re exercise/hypos are incorrect for type 1's. If there is no insulin available in the body when exercising, the BG level will actually go UP not down, potentially to dangerously high levels. The muscles will be needing energy, the liver will release more glucose, but the lack of insulin will mean it stays in the blood, leading to soaring BG levels.

So, Amber, leading on from that - if you were wanting to do something sporty or energetic after a meal, you'd be well advised to include some carbs (and insulin) to make sure you're fuelled and ready. (You may need a reduced amount of insulin per gram of carb if you're just about to exercise).

 

[amber1992]

Thanks for your help. Yeah I know that when the honeymoon phase ends the insulin will go up as I am taking small doses at the moment. Can't wait for that day! Thanks again, I couldn't ask my doctors as not living in England right now.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi Amber. Blood G rules ! I don't like eating most things & quite often miss meals. would not advise this to most people but check bg levels more than 7 times daily. 🙂

 

[liana]

Don't make the mistake of just looking at sugar content - sugar is just a form of carbohydrate, and all forms have to be considered where diabetes is concerned. The amount of sugar in something will give you an idea of how quickly it might impact your blood sugar levels, and as a means of comparison with similar products, but other types of carbohydrate can be as bad, or worse. White bread, for example, can have a faster and greater impact on levels than table sugar as there are fewer chemical processes required to convert the starch into glucose in the blood.

 

[Northerner]

Don't make the mistake of just looking at sugar content - sugar is just a form of carbohydrate, and all forms have to be considered where diabetes is concerned. The amount of sugar in something will give you an idea of how quickly it might impact your blood sugar levels, and as a means of comparison with similar products, but other types of carbohydrate can be as bad, or worse. White bread, for example, can have a faster and greater impact on levels than table sugar as there are fewer chemical processes required to convert the starch into glucose in the blood.

Erm...this is an exact copy of one of my own posts!

http://diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showpost.php?p=510957&postcount=3

 

[HOBIE]

What going on there ? Strange Northy ?

 

[HOBIE]

Hi Liana, it was a perfect answer ! Northy is so good he knows all kinds & remembers what he says 😉

 

[Northerner]

What going on there ? Strange Northy ?

Probably a spammer Hobie 🙄