[DCaplinger]

Okay, y'all... I'm officially starting my countdown to going on the pump. The Endo wants to see me successfully work with counting carbs first. I saw my educator this morning, and got my initial ratio and correction scale. I'm comfortable with the concept... I just need some resources.

The book I got from them lists a few restaurants, and carb contents for some of the foods from them, however, the list is incomplete. Any good websites you all use to get carb contents on foods from restaurants, or other places?

I am really looking forward to seeing what my numbers do with the new system. I'm just not finding a lot on the net about insulin:carb ratios and carb contents in food. At least, not the kind of info I need.

Regards,

[JediSkipdogg]

The BEST places for restaurants are their websites themselves. Then just type or write down a little journal of items from that places menu that you eat. I don't like some of the websites out there and have found them to differ from the actual restaurants sites, so that's something you have to beware of.

[David_S]

CalorieKing - Diet and weight loss. Calorie Counter and more. under food database / tools you can look up almost anything.. they sell an $8 book too.. it is small I have it. I got a bigger one at Borders.. in the diabetes section.

[Eddy]

I use:

NutritionData.com

as my "main" nutritional reference.

I:C ratio is an individual thing. You'll have to figure out what yours is.

[DCaplinger]

My initial insulin:carb ratio is 3:15 for breakfast and lunch, and 5:15 for dinner, with a correction ratio of 1 unit for every 20 points above 120 on my Blood Sugar readings.

I am having to relearn simple math. LOL.

Regards,

[Razo681]

Originally Posted by David_S

CalorieKing - Diet and weight loss. Calorie Counter and more. under food database / tools you can look up almost anything.. they sell an $8 book too.. it is small I have it. I got a bigger one at Borders.. in the diabetes section.

Hands down the best book on earth

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

a correction ratio of 1 unit for every 20 points above 120 on my Blood Sugar readings.

That seems agressive to me given meter inaccuracies. Remember these are inexact measurements and ratios. My endo wants me to adjust only above 10mmol/l or 180 mg/dl. That 120 could easily be a 105. There's one person on here who corrects at 100 or 105. I have too. I trust my own judgement; though my wife doesn't

In theory correction should match your resistance. At 3:15, or 1:5, 1 unit should drop the average sized person 25 points. At 1:10 1 unit will drop about 50. At 5:15 or 1:3, 1 unit should drop them about 16.7 points. Again, these are estimates. Of course go by your own testing results and experience.

[Razo681]

I thought my corrections were pretty off... anything over 150 is 2u per 50. I've changed it do be what I feel like. If its 160, I'm not taking 2u, I won't even take 1. Or if its 201 I'm not taking 4u, I'll just take 2. That does seem pretty high considering meters only have to be withing 15-20% accurate just like xmenace said. So if you test at 120 you could be below 100 and then what.. 2u will drop you.

[DCaplinger]

He's having me do it very tightly, because we're working up to the pump. He wants to make sure I have a solid understanding of counting carbs and adjusting based on the results before we go there.

I'm very agressive about my treatment. I know what you mean though, about inaccuracies. However, I'm not content with my average being 150, which is why my target is 120. If I could convince him, my target would be 90, but the technology just isn't there yet.

Regards,

[Jan B]

Hi Darian,

I enjoy the Calorie King, along with a nice but simple Salter food scale (I paid about $25 at Bed, Bath & Beyond & used a 20% off coupon). It's incredible to me how one tablespoon of peanut butter, weighing by grams, is not the same as my estimate without the scales. I was eating too much before I got the scales.

About that Calorie King book . . . I hardly ever use the restaurant and fast food section; eating out just isn't something I like to do much at all. Maybe I'm a bit anal, or whatever, but I don't trust portion size to remain constant, nor the ingredients. I trust myself and my cooking and counting carbs much more. I only eat out if forced too. Well . . . Rockfish is ok w/me!

My normal carb to insulin ratio is 1:16. My correction is 1 unit to lower 54 points. If I'm over 130, I start using more than my supposed correction. My goal is 90 and I rarely go over 115. The only problem being this tight is yesterday for example, I was at 45 and didn't feel bad at all . . . just had the urge to test. I feel my absolute best between 75 and 90. I don't like seeing triple digits.

I've come a long, long way since joining DF and getting back on the pump. Tuesday I get to have my A1c checked & I don't think I've even been so excited! My last one was 8 (shame, shame).

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by Jan B

My correction is 1 unit to lower 54 points.

Aiyee. My condolences; it would seem that U-100 made even 0.5U corrections a dicey affair for you.

[stlduckhunter]

You might also try CalorieKing's Nutrition and Exercise manager software program. Counts all the calories, carbs, exercise, etc. and gives you a clean tracking process. It is also great if you want to lose weight. It is free to try.

[alisa]

I usually see carb ratios written as the amount of carbs per 1 unit of insulin. If I'm thinking correctly this is how you will have to enter it into your pump settings. Since you are preparing to start pumping, it might be easier to think of your ratios in that way. It will be easier to determine dosages (until the pump is doing it for you) if you think of it as 1:5(3:15) or 1:3(5:15). You won't always eat carbs in 15 gram servings so this would make your dosing more accurate for the exact number of carbs you are actually eating. Just my opinion....
Alisa

[DCaplinger]

Actually, I have realized why she (the educator) was going by that kind of scale. She was saying "carb choices". I asked her to stop calling them that, since you don't see "carb choices" on a label, you see carb grams. Of course, there are 15 grams to a single carb choice, so it would work out as 3:15 and 5:15. I do scale it out... 1:5 at breakfast and lunch, and 1:3 at dinner. So, I'm not waiting for the next 15 mark to up a unit.

Regards,

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

My initial insulin:carb ratio is 3:15 for breakfast and lunch, and 5:15 for dinner, ....

Those ratios look odd . Most people find they need more insulin before breakfast than before dinner, but your ratios are the other way round. Your ratios (1:5 and 1:3) are very aggressive, especially for someone who is still producing endogenous insulin. I would have expected to see ratios of 1:15 or 1:20. Are you sure you are getting enough Lantus basal coverage? It is possible that you are covering part of your basal requirements with your boluses.

If you haven't done this before, you can test basal coverage by skipping a meal and monitoring blood glucose for a few hours. Blood glucose should remain in the target range if your Lantus dosage is correct.