Is Carb Counting Imperative when on the pump?

KritterMom · #1 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 03:54 PM

Do you all feel that it is imperative to count carbs when you're on the pump? Is that the only way to be successful on the pump? I'm practicing carb counting, but it isn't coming real easy to me. I need your opinions here, is that the only way to do it, or are there other ways? Thanks!

xMenace · #2 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 04:03 PM

I suppose it's not imperative to count carbs, but you have to count something. We used to count "breads." Each bread was about 15 carbs. I don't see any reason you couldn't do this.

BUT, you are eliminating the advantages of carb counting: accuracy and flexibility. How would you eat pb&j sandwiches? How many breads does the jelly count for? How would you count a single chocolate from a box at a Christmas party? How do you account for bread with 20gms per slice instead of 15? Or 23? You'll have to drink regular beers instead of lite ones.

The math will be very much the same however you do it, or your meals will be static. I'd rather live a little.

Cyborg · #3 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 04:09 PM

Carb counting and protein counting, to some extent, is important any time you are injecting insulin, IMO.

jenet · #4 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 04:14 PM

I guess you could use exchanges or a static meal plan, but you'll be missing out on a couple of the best things about pumping (IMHO): more precise dosing (based on carb counts) and the bolus wizard (also based on carb counts).

I like that the wizard calculates 5.35 units of insulin for the carbs I'm about to eat, and also recommends an adjustment (less or more) if I have insulin on board or my BG is a little higher than it should be. The fractional doses help keep me closer to target, and reduce the highs and lows.

Once you know the carbs for the foods you regularly eat, it gets a lot easier to guesstimate other things by comparison. (And, I do keep copies of the pocket-size Calorie King Calorie, Fat and Carb Counter book handy at my office, in my car and at home to help when I'm clueless.)

Mind you neither of those is my number one reason for being on a pump (adjustable basal rates), but they come pretty darn close.

Really, I think if you just hang in there a little longer, you will see the carb counting gets easier.

cheers,
j

ETA: Also lots of packaged foods, like cartons of milk, bags of frozen veggies, jars of peanut butter, or Healthy Choice dinners, will tell you the size of a serving and the number of carbs per serving.

RLK · #5 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 05:16 PM

what the other posters have said- carb counting makes pumping more flexible and accurate. It definitely takes some practice, but there are good carb guide books available, as well as digital scales that will calculate carbs for you. I just got one (a Salter 1450) and really like it for things like cereal, fresh fruit, and ice cream.
How long have you been pumping? I'm guesssing that it hasn't been long, based on your signature. Hang in there, and good luck!

KritterMom · #6 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 06:03 PM

Thanks so much everyone, for your replies!
I haven't started pumping yet, but start on January 31st. I am so excited and yet so terrified at the same time. Fought with the insurance company for 9 months to get them to approve the pump. Then they did, and I got it, and now I decide to get weird about it , lol. I'm just afraid I won't understand it, and that I'll do everything wrong. And then there is all of the added expense, over just MDI. I still have insurance, but it still is going to cost me something for the tubing, etc. After all of the posts I've read about the positive side of pumping, I know I made the right decision. Now I just hope it goes okay. My pump is purple and she is named Violet. It is a Minimed 7xx series, a paradigm, but I don't know what model number that is yet. I'm assuming a 715 or 722? Definitely need to find that out.
Thanks again for all the support!

NoelD · #7 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KritterMom

Do you all feel that it is imperative to count carbs when you're on the pump? Is that the only way to be successful on the pump? I'm practicing carb counting, but it isn't coming real easy to me. I need your opinions here, is that the only way to do it, or are there other ways? Thanks!

For ME, it has been the absolute key.

Dewey · #8 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 06:43 PM

When I first started pumping, I was on a sliding scale....This worked initially (to get me started), but I later found advantages of carb counting. As the others said, it makes calculating boluses way more accurate. When I count carbs, I do much better on bg levels overall!

They have free books available at doctors' offices that provide carb counts for various foods.

kgm0612 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 08:00 AM

Kimmy.............you'll do great once you start pumping! I've been counting carbs for 4 years........pumping for 15 months. I still have to "guesstimate" at some carb choices. Sometimes I'm right, and sometimes I'm wrong. It's all trial and error.

Karen

am1977 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgm0612

Kimmy.............you'll do great once you start pumping! I've been counting carbs for 4 years........pumping for 15 months. I still have to "guesstimate" at some carb choices. Sometimes I'm right, and sometimes I'm wrong. It's all trial and error.

Karen

I agree with Karen... once you get the hang of CC, you will be just fine.

My personal opinion is that it's probably the best way to manage this disese~ even though it is trial and error sometimes, as Karen said. (that seems to be the name of the game with Diabetes). Diabetes is about carbohydrate metabolizing... and if you can find the right carb to insulin ration, correction dose, and other rates... it makes control a lot easier.

Good luck

Funnygrl · #11 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 06:07 PM

You can make a pump as basic or dumbed down as you want, you just won't get the full benefit and it would be a waste of money.

ToddyC · #12 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 06:10 PM

I use the Calorie King book to help with counting carbs, especially when eating out. I highly recommend getting this book -- you can probably find it at a book store around you. Below is a link to the homepage for it, but like I say, you can get it at most major book stores. It has the carbs for a whole bunch of foods as well as a section that lists many many restaurants and the carbs for many of their foods. I have found this book to be a big help for me with counting my carbs....and, no, I'm not receiving any funds for talking about this, so this is not a paid advertisement

Shop CalorieKing - Buy online - Health products - Books

sbigelow · #13 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddyC

I use the Calorie King book to help with counting carbs, especially when eating out. I highly recommend getting this book -- you can probably find it at a book store around you. [/url]

I seriously bought 5 books. I keep one in my house, one in each car, one in my office and my wife keeps one in her purse. I also use their software. And their website is free.

KritterMom · #14 (**permalink**) 01-23-2007, 11:23 AM

I bought some of those books, and they are amazing. They have just about every food and combination of foods imaginable. I am so ready to start pumping, and become assimilated. Just 8 more day! Thanks everyone!

Johnny C · #15 (**permalink**) 01-25-2007, 07:37 PM

Congratulations on getting your new pump KritterMom. I have a Minimed 722 and I love it. The differences between the models are that the 522 holds 176 units while the 722 holds 300 units. The pump has a bolus wizard that allows you to enter the amount of carb you will be eating and the pump computes how many units you need. Carb counting is not essential I was on a pump for many years foolishly shooting from the hip and guesstimating. But recently especially with the bolus wizard feature I figured that I owe it to myself to know the carbs of my favorite foods and let the pump do the math for me. Good luck with Violet!

Check out this link for Carb info if you don't feel like looking through the book lol

CalorieKing - Calorie Counter - Fast-Food Chains & Restaurants