Which to choose - food variety or good control?

[Pumper_Sue]

I was told different to this..

The 3rd time I went on insulin (long story) I was then cycling to work not to inject into my legs, because I would be crashing into a hypo before I got to work, as the action of the legs exercising will adsorb the insulin a lot faster!

Wow and I was told using legs for my cannula would prob mean an increase in basal and bolus as absorbtion wasn't as good.

 

[Northerner]

Wow and I was told using legs for my cannula would prob mean an increase in basal and bolus as absorbtion wasn't as good.

I was also told not to inject in my thighs if I was going running, due to the increased absorbtion.

 

[Robster65]

I suspect the leg thing is true in all cases. The larger muscles will increase absorption when working hard (increased blood flow and temperature) but will slow it down or become erratic when at rest. Since basal 'seeps' out at such a slow rate, the changes are less noticeable, plus the nature of lantus especially makes it less influenced by exercise. Maybe. 🙂

@Mike. I still reckon your different bolus timings will steady out if you can split the basal and tailor it to the day and night needs. I hope so anyway, because I know how much frustration it causes you.

Rob

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Experimented with some of the suggestions in this thread last night with spectacularly good results:

http://www.everydayupsanddowns.co.uk/2011/06/new-big-meal-strategy-thirds.html

Thank you all for your ideas and support 🙂

 

[Robster65]

Have just read your blog post.

On the original question. Stick with what you did last night !

Well done Mike. I hope the new rules of thumb work for you. If only we were all the same all the time.🙄

Rob

 

[Pigeon]

Mike, I so know where you're coming from! I just spent a week in Germany for work, eating totally different things to normal, large lunches, meaty dinners, unusual carbs like pretzels and thick noodles, and my sugar levels were terrible! My average has gone up to 8.9 when I previously had it in the low 7s!

I think the adding a third insulin for large meals is probably about right. Just wanted to add that I also have difficulty with smaller meals than usual, e.g. I would normally have about 65g carbs for lunch and take 6U (ration 0.9/10g). If I have a smaller meal e.g.30g carbs, then it always seems like I don't take anough insulin and have highs later on. This happened on Friday, but then the highs could have been caused by the fat in the meal, as it was very cheesy. Have you seen this too?

But, in answer to your question, I could never stick to an "eating what you know works" diet, I enjoy trying different foods too much! I tend to just use lots of corrections when I'm doing something unusual.

 

[bigpurpleduck]

Experimented with some of the suggestions in this thread last night with spectacularly good results:

http://www.everydayupsanddowns.co.uk/2011/06/new-big-meal-strategy-thirds.html

Thank you all for your ideas and support 🙂

Glad you found something that worked!

I've had a couple of suggestions for pizza (which has become the bain of my life!) recently, but my A1c is due mid-July so I'm sticking to tried and tested foods at the moment. I'll start experimenting more once the A1c is out of the way & will bear the adding-a-third theory in mind!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

If I have a smaller meal e.g.30g carbs, then it always seems like I don't take anough insulin and have highs later on. This happened on Friday, but then the highs could have been caused by the fat in the meal, as it was very cheesy. Have you seen this too?

The problem I have when meals get very small is that the whole units are just too crude a measure and since I'm not on a pump (stop sniggering at the back BigPurpleDuck 😉 ) I have to base meal sizes around what works for whole units (with whatever micro-correction I may need at the time to push/pull towards mid range. I would never have bothered before, but with the Accu-chek Expert it's easy enough to see the calculation for 20/25/30/35g and choose the one that works best. Then just eat as much as is required.

It's basically the same reason that I very rarely snack on anything carby. It was clear a few years after dx that it was always going to be a bit of a nightmare so I kinda gave up.

 

[bigpurpleduck]

...(stop sniggering at the back BigPurpleDuck 😉 )...It's basically the same reason that I very rarely snack on anything carby. It was clear a few years after dx that it was always going to be a bit of a nightmare so I kinda gave up.

Hahaha, you know me so well! 🙂

Snacking is easier on pump. You keep proving my point