Sauces.

[SusieGriff]

I'm soon going to change from mixed insulin to MDI. and carb counting, thanks to Northerner I have got a great book to be going on with, I want to get as much info as I can now so I am not complewtely in the dark when I start.
I had plain rice today, with stir fry, and stir fry sauce... do you mix this all in and count it with the veg. or separately?
Are sauces in general a good idea, they seem to all have salt and sugar in them? but food like stir fry is yukky without it.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Susie, you do need to be aware of what's in the sauces. Some of them full of sugar, and salt as you have observed, so read the packaging - or even better learn to make your own so you know exactly what is in them. I've found that the best way to calculate the carbs is by trial and error really. I would weigh the rice so I know how many carbs in that, then add on something for the sauce. There probably wouldn't be much to count in the stir fry veg themselves. So, then I would test before and after eating - 1, 2 and maybe 3 hours after so I could get a good idea of where the peak was and if I had calculated my insulin dose correctly. If I found things to be way out then I would make an adjustment the next time I ate that meal. It all sounds very tedious, but you quickly become adept at 'eyeballing' food and know how much insulin you are likely to need for it 🙂

 

[SusieGriff]

Hi Susie, you do need to be aware of what's in the sauces. Some of them full of sugar, and salt as you have observed, so read the packaging - or even better learn to make your own so you know exactly what is in them. I've found that the best way to calculate the carbs is by trial and error really. I would weigh the rice so I know how many carbs in that, then add on something for the sauce. There probably wouldn't be much to count in the stir fry veg themselves. So, then I would test before and after eating - 1, 2 and maybe 3 hours after so I could get a good idea of where the peak was and if I had calculated my insulin dose correctly. If I found things to be way out then I would make an adjustment the next time I ate that meal. It all sounds very tedious, but you quickly become adept at 'eyeballing' food and know how much insulin you are likely to need for it 🙂

Thanks for that!! I'm fast getting fed up with the regime I'm on, I keep having hypo's more and more frequently, I'm having to eat more than I want to accomodate them...grrrr. You can't just adjust the dose on a daily basis - that's the probem... I spoke to my consultant today, and mentioned I wanted to change the regime, he said yes, quite right, well you seem to have it all in hand.." lol WHY not start people off in the first place on MDI?? seems daft to me. (sorry I'm just having a bit of a rant)

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for that!! I'm fast getting fed up with the regime I'm on, I keep having hypo's more and more frequently, I'm having to eat more than I want to accomodate them...grrrr. You can't just adjust the dose on a daily basis - that's the probem... I spoke to my consultant today, and mentioned I wanted to change the regime, he said yes, quite right, well you seem to have it all in hand.." lol WHY not start people off in the first place on MDI?? seems daft to me. (sorry I'm just having a bit of a rant)

I agree! I started on MDI straight away and didn't have a problem with it - I can't see what is being achieved starting you on one system and then changing it a few months down the line - you are still going to have to get used to it just as quickly! Hopefully not long to go for you! 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi Nomorecakes (you'll be changing that when on MDI!)

Not sure which book you got on Northie's recommendation, but a few people have recommended books to help with carb calculation: the Collins Gem Calorie Counter lists gazillions of food carbs by 100g (the Collins carb counter uses more general terms like 'third of a baguette' so is a bit trickier). Another is Carbs and Cals which is also available as an iPhone app and shows heaps of stuff photographically.

Good luck with it!
M

 

[SusieGriff]

Hi Nomorecakes (you'll be changing that when on MDI!)

Not sure which book you got on Northie's recommendation, but a few people have recommended books to help with carb calculation: the Collins Gem Calorie Counter lists gazillions of food carbs by 100g (the Collins carb counter uses more general terms like 'third of a baguette' so is a bit trickier). Another is Carbs and Cals which is also available as an iPhone app and shows heaps of stuff photographically.

Good luck with it!
M

Hi!
I got the 'carbs & Cals' book with all the pics in it. It's been helpful so far.
I've been reading your blog... for a newbie like me, it's interesting and informative and quite funny in some places, had me grinning. I like your 'gadgets' section too. Now I want.... and .... (I'm a bit of a gadget freak myself) I really want the iphone, but I don't use it enough to warrent paying the monthly call fee. I wish I could get 'apps' for my Nokia.
Also the Basal Bolus section, which I'm about to start on soon, was good to read. I haven't finished it all yet, a bit of bedtime reading methinks.
Susie

 

[MeanMom]

Susie - you can use the 'app' on an ipod too - still a lot to spend but no monthly fee etc and you can use it to store your music, and get loads of other apps. Just a thought (i bought mine specially to get the Carbs and Cals app, but I do use it for all sorts of stuff now) and saves carrying the book about

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Susie - you can use the 'app' on an ipod too...

Yes I've got an iPod Touch with a few diabetes apps loaded in - and some others too! Phone upgrade coming soon though... so you never know

Thanks for the encouragement about the blog nomorecakes. Feel free to leave a comment on anything you've enjoyed... and especially if you spot some of the many (deliberate) mistakes 🙄

 

[shiv]

I bought the Calorie Counter one and it has some in 100g, but some in portion sizes (the ones in portion sizes tend to be things in packets that come in set sizes, for example they have Sharwood's and Uncle Ben's listed) 🙂