Is Nathan the only one not carb counting?

[Lizzie]

What is the 'intermediate' way?
I did carb counting when first diagnosed (1969) and sort of carried on with it. Got persuaded to do Daphne (called Pastie here but guess it's the same thing) I keep telling them it told me nothing new and anyway it doesn't seem to take into account all the other things like stress, illness and the fact wholemeal bread and rice never seems to increase my sugars.
My consultant recently told me they moved away from carb counting for some years but have now returned to thinking it's the best thing after all.
I say, take your pick! But they wouldn't consider me for a pump (or transplant they're now talking about) until I'd done Pastie.

Hi Amanda

This Pastie course sounds very different from DAFNE. DAFNE does go into some depth about illness and stress and how to correct for them, and because everyone writes their sugars onto the overhead projector every day we got to see how different foods like wholemeal bread and rice have different effects on people and what they did about that. Was Pastie a 5 day course?

 

[NiVZ]

Hello,

I didn't carb count for a long time, and like many other diabetics, stuck to a nearly fixed amount of insulin per meal taking around 8-10 units of humalog (QA)per meal and 34 units of lantus (BI) regardless of what I was eating.

This worked for me for a long time, but it didn't really give me the freedom to snack in between meals or adjust for smaller/larger or new types of foods. This was especially a problem for me if I was eating out.

Having been on DAFNE I now know how to carb count and it has made a big difference. Also knowing what you need to take insulin was quite an eye opener. My favourite example is that I used to think I needed to take a lot of insulin for things like Chicken Fajitas, and Lasagne as the protion sizes are big. But really it's only the Flour Tortilla and Pasta that are carbs as the meat is all protein and shouldn't affect your BG.

As part of the course, and also once you've used it for a little while, you learn to judge most things by eye - I very rarely weigh anything. Nowadays, when I'm eating I quickly scan my plate to figure out which foods are carbs, and how big that carb portion is and give each of them a number and take insulin according to the total figure.

I've also found the amount of insulin I need to take has dramatically reduced.

It must be hard for Nathan being 14 and having to deal with all this. I was 18 when I was first diagnosed and it took me a fair while to get to grips with all the pit falls. It took me long enough to be persuaded to go onto 4 injections a day (MDI) but once I was ready and made up my own mind to change I never looked back.

In the end I think it's best to do what works for you.

 

[AmandaB]

Hi AmandaB,

Intermediate level is where you learn to recognise patterns of glucose response to carb intake and how it is modified by insulin and activity etc, also taking into account the bg reading at that meal time. You make your own adjustments to insulin doses, or alter carb intake or timing of exercise to acheive bg ranges. Alterations of insulin are made in response to a pattern of bg results over a few days, not based on a single high or low bg reading. Another way is to correct the premeal dose for changes in size of the carb content of a meal (without counting the extra carb content), insulin adjustments are used to manage the intake of carb at that meal

Heidi
🙂

Thanks for the response. I tried reading it last night but couldn't understand it then, on doing a bg I found I was only 2.8! So, now more stable tonight I thought I'd try again!! But it still sounds real complicated! But it sounds like it's something I could do with trying so I'd like to ask if you know anywhere I can get more information from?
Thanks

 

[AmandaB]

Hi Amanda

This Pastie course sounds very different from DAFNE. DAFNE does go into some depth about illness and stress and how to correct for them, and because everyone writes their sugars onto the overhead projector every day we got to see how different foods like wholemeal bread and rice have different effects on people and what they did about that. Was Pastie a 5 day course?

Hi Lizzie
The Pastie course was over several weeks but i couldn't get there so did it 1 to 1 with the DN, maybe that's why I missed out on lots of things. I shall ask my consultant next time I see her.
Thanks

 

[sasha1]

Thanks for the response. I tried reading it last night but couldn't understand it then, on doing a bg I found I was only 2.8! So, now more stable tonight I thought I'd try again!! But it still sounds real complicated! But it sounds like it's something I could do with trying so I'd like to ask if you know anywhere I can get more information from?
Thanks

Hi Amanda,

Sorry only just getting back to you on this...I was having serious computer issues yesterday.

Oh hun...2.8...glad you feeling much better and your levels are more stable..

Actually its not that complicated...however I find the carb counting complicated when its explained...

Your DSN should be able to give you more information about this method..Nathan is due back at the clinic to see his DSN and consultant on 9 July...I will ask her if she knows of any other sources which would provide you with the information

Heidi
🙂

 

[AmandaB]

Thanks Sasha/Heidi (I'm confused!)
Thanks for the reply, any further info would be gratefully received!
Amanda

 

[sasha1]

Thanks Sasha/Heidi (I'm confused!)
Thanks for the reply, any further info would be gratefully received!
Amanda

Hi Amanda,

Its Heidi...Sasha was the only name I could think of at the time when I registered..besides my cat was looking at me at the time, and she called sasha...

Heidi
🙂

 

[AmandaB]

Ahh, something that now makes sense!! My bgs must be OK this evening!!

 

[mcr]

never

I have never carb counted for Tom, and have never been told/advised about it from his consultant. After 6 years he is still on 2 injections a day. He doesn't really go without anything just everything in moderation.

 

[mikep1979]

I have never carb counted for Tom, and have never been told/advised about it from his consultant. After 6 years he is still on 2 injections a day. He doesn't really go without anything just everything in moderation.

well if it is working for him and he is happy then i would stick with it