Help us improve our 'carb-counting' info

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Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK

Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes
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Hello all, recently, Diabetes UK produced a series of web pages with videos and quizzes about carb counting. We’d love to know what you think about these pages, how useful you have found them, and how we could make them better. If you have Type 1 diabetes and haven’t yet taken a look, jump over to the 'Learn about carb-counting' page and see what you think, then complete the survey below for us. This information will be used to update these pages, and help guide how we create more educational pages like these ones in future.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Survey: http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/DSLYQ/
 
Done. I wasn't sure whether I should be answering as if I was newly diagnosed and wanting to find out how to carb count, or from the perspective of someone who has spent the last ten years doing it.
 
Can I just point out that I am a type 2 on basal bolus who carb counts, something I taught myself to do so please don't assume it's just t1s who need to carb count
Jo
 
Why has 'Learn about carb counting' been directed at T1D only? Isn't management of carb intake of equal importance to folk with T2D? As it stands the opening paragraph -"When you live with Type 1 diabetes, carb counting is a great way of managing your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. It can give you more freedom and flexibility in what you eat – whether you're preparing meals at home, grabbing food on the go or eating out." Might deter some folk with T2 from proceeding with the course, which would be a pity as it's of equal relevance to them.
Just a thought!
 
Dave W said:
Why has 'Learn about carb counting' been directed at T1D only?
Might deter some folk with T2 from proceeding with the course, which would be a pity as it's of equal relevance to them.
Just a thought!
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I have to agree every word of this. The difference is that a T2 not using insulin flubbing the carb count doesn't risk an hypo, but being able to count the carbohydrates is useful anyway to prevent hyper episodes and it's a great tool to food education.
 
MikeTurin said:
I have to agree every word of this. The difference is that a T2 not using insulin flubbing the carb count doesn't risk an hypo, but being able to count the carbohydrates is useful anyway to prevent hyper episodes and it's a great tool to food education.
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T2s who are taking sulphonlyureas do risk hypos Mike. I'm one, (on gliclazide) but thankfully well controlled due to keeping an eye on my intake.
 
Hi Hannah - with respect why is this thread directed only at T1's? T2's need to watch their carborhydrate intake too. In fact its more difficult for T2's. It appears that we Type2's are in general being ignored, forgotten and left to deal with our individual diabetes ourselves and without certain aids to help us, in the mix. I concur with @Dave W & @jocat's comments above - so may I ask please is Diabetes UK similarly going to produce web pages with videos, quizzes and carb counting for us Type2's?
Regards,
Wirralass
 
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I was about to response to this thread individually...until I read the excellent responses from @wirralass @Dave W & @jocat ...it does appear as type 2 diabetics we are excluded from this survey...which is specifically (exclusively) for type 1 diabetics to complete...in the circumstances whilst I do not believe this thread was intended to exclude/discriminate intentionally against type 2D's...the failure of DUK to appreciate./acknowledge ...or even consider all diabetics ...whether type 1...2.or 3 need to be aware how the carb content of our diet affects the management of our diabetes collectively.... is shocking. & so disappointing...particularly as @wirralass points out 'Type2's are in general being ignored, forgotten and left to deal with our individual diabetes ourselves and without certain aids to help us in the mix.'...I couldn't have put that better myself...I agree with her unequivocally.
 
A pertinent question here,,

My D team are telling me there's a good chance I will need insulin soon. I'm at the hospital later today.

So,,, how many T2s end up as T1s ??

There's a thought.
 
Hi Bill. You would be a T2 on insulin rather than a T1.
 
wirralass said:
Hi Hannah - with respect why is this thread directed only at T1's? T2's need to watch their carborhydrate intake too. In fact its more difficult for T2's. It appears that we Type2's are in general being ignored, forgotten and left to deal with our individual diabetes ourselves and without certain aids to help us, in the mix. I concur with @Dave W & @jocat's comments above - so may I ask please is Diabetes UK similarly going to produce web pages with videos, quizzes and carb counting for us Type2's?
Regards,
Wirralass
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That's odd, I had a Hypo last month and ended up at the NGH.
Also, when first diagnosed I did say to one the D team that I was using the DUK forum , her words , " that's for insulin users" she said that based on the fact that her husband is D and had looked in on it.
 
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I agree with all the comments from T2s. It seems an odd discrimination, since T1s have been covering their sins with DAFNE, and T2s have effectively been carb counting, certainly carb aware, for decades. Or maybe that's the reason - T1s learn carb counting while T2s stand aside, yawning, and saying been there, done that, and got the T-shirt.😉
 
The whole premise of this thread is that type 2 & 3 diabetics (and pre-diabetics) have been completely excluded...ignored...not even considered worthy of being mentioned in the carb counting equation at all...it is such an important/vital issue for all diabetics...there can be no acceptable excuse for that...I also fail to understand why DUK have not responded so far?
 
I can completely understand the frustration of T2 members who feel excluded.

I don't believe it is a deliberate exclusion though @Bubbsie, but rather that 'carb counting' is usually considered as part of intensive insulin therapy. Matching insulin doses to the carbohydrate value in meals. But even there it seems an odd distinction as there are more people with T2 who are using insulin as part of their diabetes management than the entire T1 population of the UK.

For any members here who feel that carb counting might beneft them, there is always the online BERTIE course https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/ which might be worth looking at. Again it is written with T1 in mind rather than insulin-using T2s, and as I understand it, T2s generally require higher doses because of insulin resistance. However it might provide some useful background information in that style of insulin therapy.
 
I agree that a series of videos aimed at people with type 2 diabetes is needed. However, to avoid having lots of disclaimers in a short videos, perhaps need specific series aimed at people controlling their T2D in various ways - diet and exercise / oral medications / injectables / insulin etc. Some factors are universal, but some are different. Anyone on basal bolus insulin could use the same approach to carb counting, except that very few T2Ds and a minority of T1Ds use insulin pumps.
Also, while I don't mean to imply that all people with type 2 diabetes are old and stuck in their ways, but perhaps an example of cous cous wouldn't appeal to, say a person in their 60s or 70s diagnosed with T2D.
 
By the way, I think @Hannah DUK is doing other work today, but will be back in next day or so to read responses.
 
Copepod said:
I agree that a series of videos aimed at people with type 2 diabetes is needed. However, to avoid having lots of disclaimers in a short videos, perhaps need specific series aimed at people controlling their T2D in various ways - diet and exercise / oral medications / injectables / insulin etc. Some factors are universal, but some are different. Anyone on basal bolus insulin could use the same approach to carb counting, except that very few T2Ds and a minority of T1Ds use insulin pumps.
Also, while I don't mean to imply that all people with type 2 diabetes are old and stuck in their ways, but perhaps an example of cous cous wouldn't appeal to, say a person in their 60s or 70s diagnosed with T2D.
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Carb counting is universal Copepod...anyone managing their condition (really managing) counts carbs...even type 2's non -dependent on hypoglycaemic inducing medications.
 
Bubbsie said:
Carb counting is universal Copepod...anyone managing their condition (really managing) counts carbs...even type 2's non -dependent on hypoglycaemic inducing medications.
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Exactly, as I have said it's a powerful tool to getting "food mindfulness" and getting more control on diabetes. Because when you're at it you coluld also count the calories, the fats and the proteins, and feel less guilty if you like to get a slice of trifle if you didn't eat bread and potatoes before.
 
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