for the long time t1's

[christie]

well as most of you know i am a t1 since 1983 when i was 10,as the older t1s know back then there was'nt carb counting and such just exchanges so many fruits a day,meat,milk etc. well being that i have never been thought any different,my endo doesnt think its a problem to stay the way i've been just as he does'nt think mdi is a problem instead of a pump he said if someone is doing good why change. but heres my question if you long time t1's have started to carb count how long ago did you start and was it difficult to learn? and have you do better with doing so?

[lelggren]

I think I am a slightly longer T1, my 11 year anniversary is coming up in a week. When I was diagnosed, I was trained on doing the whole exchange thing....And, I was doing it until I started doing my preparation to go on the pump. Counting carbs is a lot more precise than the exchange thing. I do better on carb counting. With the exchanges, you just say that 1 carb choice = 15 g carbs. I was taught that 1 cup milk=15 carbs, etc....Well, 1 cup of milk isn't always 15. Sometimes it is 12 or 13 grams.

Basically, what I'm getting at is that the carb counting 1. teaches you to keep on reading labels. On exchanges, I did a lot more estimating that what I should have and I eventually didn't read labels as much. 2. helps you to keep your doses more precise because you know exactly how many carb grams you are taking in. 3. I also find that it is easier than the choices. Yes, we all know pretty much what food is in what food group. But, sometimes we don't really care what group it is in. We just want to get our food, figure out the carb count, and eat it. There seems to be less "Well, I could give up my 1 slice of bread so that I can have a whole banana instead of half, but do I really want to give up that piece of bread???"......

Not sure if I've made sense here at all, but I am basically boiling it down to I like counting instead of exchanges. Thank you.....I'm going now.....:vroam: :wavey:

[SueM]

I have always carb counted from 1965 so know no different.
But carb counting is easy.
If you think it's going to be hard then it will be hard.
Start with an open mind and you will be fine.

[Erin]

See, I was never happy on the exchange thing, but was SO resistant to go on a pump, that I didn't switch until '01 when Lantus came out.

It was really really really easy for me. Because you already know how different carbs effect your bg, it's just calling it what it is, instead of an exchange. Lots more freedom now, I think having a insulin to carb ratio is the more important part than how you count the carbs (ie: exchange or # of carbs)

But it was a really life changing change for me... good stuff. but I sort of agree with your doctor, if you are happy, and your #'s are good, why mess with success?

[archimeech]

Carb counting is not much different than exchanges. More importantly, if MDI works for you, stick with it! Using a pump has it's freedoms, but it is also a lot more work at times.

[seacomp]

I have always carb counted from 1965 so know no different.

That's pretty amazing. How do you know to do that? That was five year before meters were even available and the standard practice was all exchanges.

[dws]

I gotta answer this one! I have a vague memory of the exchange bit which I ignored as fast as I could. I started on the pump in 2003 along with the attempt of carb counting :) Wasn;t near as hard I thought it would be. Of course there still is a lot of "WAGGING" ( 'Wild Arse Gussing') :)

So if a old man like me can do it I'm sure you can.

don

[SueM]

That's pretty amazing. How do you know to do that? That was five year before meters were even available and the standard practice was all exchanges.
It was quite simple when you have a very smart Mum, each exchange was worth 10gms carbs and a 1 unit of insulin was about 20gms when I was little now it's 10 carbs to 1 unit.
So even though it was hit and miss without meters it could be done.
I ate the same foods as my brothers just the quantity was restricted. My Mum was way ahead of her time she had worked out that too many carbs in 1 go made me far to high blood sugar wise so had a top limit as to how many I ate at meal times.
As food values were not on food items in the 60's my Mum would write to the manufactures asking them for the food values of anything that she didn't know.
Doing this I have never needed IV glucose due to hypo or been admited to hospital due to being hyper.
Infact I have never been admitted to hospital due to my diabetes
Not bad for an oldie (diabetes wise)

[seacomp]

Not bad for an oldie (diabetes wise)
That's great!:king:

[Cinnabon]

christie.

We were Dx at about the same time. I was 9 and did the whole X-change thing.. Blah....
I tried ignoring it too, as much as I could. I got on a pump last year 6-05 and honestly, thats when I pretty much started carb counting. It wasnt hard because I really knew how to read the labels and since I was so into fitness and the whole wanna be skinny deal it wasn't hard to get use to it. Reading the carbs is the main key to it all. Ask away as much as u want. I really dislike Endos that are not pro-pump.

[Tokyo Cate]

Doing this I have never needed IV glucose due to hypo or been admited to hospital due to being hyper.
Infact I have never been admitted to hospital due to my diabetes
Not bad for an oldie (diabetes wise)


What a fabulous story. That is so great to hear. :congrats: :congrats: A big round of applause for all the parents here who are supporting their kids and teaching them to live well with diabetes :congrats: :congrats: :congrats: !

[Ailsa]

I was taught carb counting when I was diagnosed, but think the way it is used now relative to the insulin is quite different. When I switched to Lantus/novorapid I still had quite a few issues getting the results I wanted. What has changed that for me is using the more precise carb counting to ratio of insulin method. It is much more in depth than just straight carb counting in the manner I was taught in the old days, but the results are so much better. Not sure if this is what you mean? I think you can get results almost as good using Lantus, as a pump. Perhaps you could get a trial one for a while to see how you like it.

[parrotletzoo]

this january was 26yr aniversary for me of being type 1. woot! yay. I did the exchange list/mdi thing for 22 of those years. I started lantus/novolog in 2002 with the exchange system but started carb counting and using an insulin to carb ratio on my own soon after. In 2003 I started using a pump and I'm never going back! I didn't have horrible control on exchange/mdi system but with carb counting my control was fine tuned and with the pump even more so. On lantus I had problems with lows at work. My job is physically intense somedays and not so other days so finding a basal level and insulin to carb ratio on injections was difficult.

Pre-pump I went low at work most days and was high outside of work. With the pump and carb counting I am able to lower the amount of background insuln I am getting during work hours and adjsut my insulin to carb ratio so that I don't go low as often. During work my insulin to carb ratio is 1 unit of insulin to 15grams of carbohydrate and my basal rate is .15units of insuln per hour. Outside of work I take 1 unit of insuln for 10grams of carbohydrate and my basal rate is .65 units per hour. The difference between the amount of insulin I need during exercise/activity is so diferent then during periods of inactivity that carb counting alone made a huge difference in my over all control. Not to mantion I just feel better without the frequent swings in BS levels.

People might say if its not broken why fix it, but if my attitude is if its working why not fine tune it and make it even better? Personally, I'd rather have long term quality of life, fewer risks of complications and a longer lifespan then the convenience today of an easier system.

[notme]

I was diagnosed with type 1 in 1986. I went to what was supposed to be the most progressive diabetes hospital in our area. I was put on NPH and REG insulin and was given a meter. I stayed in the hospital for seven days and was put on a low fat diet and more or less high carb diet. I never could gain any control and after awhile I gave up trying. I was the mother of five small kids at the time and didn't have time for "the whole diabetes thing". In the late 1990's I was sent to a nutritionist who described carb counting to me. I walked out of the office in tears. My thought was "great" basically now I can have boiled water for a diet for the rest of my life. Everything was taken away. About two visits later to the nutritionist, I started to understand the whole concept and was changed by my doctor to Lantus and Humalog. It was much easier once I started on fast acting insulin and lantus. No more insulin peaks to take into consideration.

Now on a pump, I get carb counting completely. I started pumping in 2001. I don't always get it right.....but I get it. Life is much simpler now and it is no wonder so many of us diagnosed in the 80's and earlier struggled. I feel that my biggest help came from computers. Finally, there were knowledgeable people who had the same issues as myself.

I learned 90% of my diabetes care on the internet.

[leslie91879]

I was dx'ed in 81 my parents were taught the exchanges I was too little to know what was going on since I was only 18months old at the time I am still using the exchange method since it works for me but in December I get a newer pump that does the carb counting math for me so I am swapping over to counting then I am hoping to understand it all when I hit my 25th anniversary of T1

[ToddyC]

Christie,
I've been T1 for about the same time as you (since '86). I, too, was on the exchange thing. I can tell you that switching to carbs was VERY easy for me. Basically everything we cook at home has labels on it that show the carbs. Then, for eating out, I also find it easy thanks to a handy little book I got -- the book lists many many places to eat, including fast foods places, and shows the carbs for most of the meals at those places. If I'm at a place that isn't listed, I can usually find a similar meal from another place. The book also lists various foods....I don't go out to eat without this little book.

[Gangrel]

I've been T1 for 23 years, and started off on the "meal plan". I switch to carb counting about 2 years ago I guess now. I'm still injecting, and have no interest in a pump at ALL.

I found it pretty easy to grasp, and in Canada at least, all food must come with labels. So I know exactly how many carbs I'm eating (usually) and can adjust my Humilin N accordingly. When I eat at resaurants, I usually just try to guess. I'm not as precise as some on here, but it seems to work for me and keeps my stress levels way down.

Before I started carb counting, I probably averaged an A1C of about 7.5-9 or so. I would never check my blood, and never took insulin except for meal times usually.....

Now that I'm "counting", it's sort of forced me to test a lot more (or maybe I'm just older and wiser?!?) and now I average probably 4 or 5 injections of Humilin a day if I'm running a tad high, even if it's only a unit or too.

My A1Cs now have been in the 6.9-6.7 range since carb counting, probably due to the food, and also tighter control......

[playgtar]

I'm not a long time T1. Just since Jan. I was on mdi though. I've been really lucky. I got a pump a couple of weeks ago. I don't know how to do exchanges, but I've found carb counting to be relatively easy. If you can read the label and mutiply by the servings per container, that's really pretty much it. At least in my experience. Going out to eat can be a problem. Most restaurant chains have the nutritional info on their web sites. I just copy it and put it in a notebook. Mom and pop restaurants are a bit more difficult. You have to kind of eyeball the serving size, but can usually find the amount of carbs on a can or in a book. We have a mexican restaurant we go to all the time. Frequency adds to accuracy. So I know about how much is in everything, even though it's not listed. I take my own low carb tortillas. Again, I know what's in them.

For me mdi gave me freedom, but I much prefer the pump, even though I've only been on it about two weeks. My numbers and vision are better, and my doses are more accurate. Corrections much easier to do. You don't have to carry as much around, and there isn't al lot of "throw away" stuff.

I'd like to learn exchanges. The more you know the better. My endo said carb counting would give me better control though. I don't believe they teach the exchanges anymore at the center I go to.

[Fred&CharlesFan]

Christie,

If you can count, you can do carb counting. Simple.
And since you know the exchange system, you have knowledge about serving sizes that will help greatly when you dine out.

Carb counting is simply converting from one forum to another, with a much higher degree of accuracy: because there is a difference between a slice of whole grain brown bread vs. 1/2 of whole wheat & honey bagel vs. 1 plain sour-dough donut. And carb counting will help isolate the differences. Since you're not 8 yrs old any more, you already know what you like to eat and how much, and therefore just have to convert that knowledge to an always ready notebook (which is a technique they teach us pumpers).

(conversely, I am from Canada, so I've add to improve my conversion skills since the early '70's, and am now pretty adapt at converting mmol/dl to mg/dl, celcius to gallons, exchanges to carbs; metres to miles per hour; litres to yards!!!... :wink: )


It is not hard; thousands of us do it every HOUR, and you can do it too! :top: