[DCaplinger]

Okay... I think I've finally figured out this blood sugar thing. It's about dern time! Hehehe.

This week, my numbers have been fantastic (for me). My average over the past 3 days has been about 110. My normal average of late has been about 160. The difference... sugar. Well, the type anyway. I have a sweet tooth, but until this week, I have been avoiding fruits. I've had more bananas and apples in the past week than I've had in the past 5 years.

My morning numbers, which have been between 150 and 180 have been between 90 and 110 all week. My post breakfast totals are still a bit high, but the rest of the day is easily controlled.

I'm really looking forward to my Endo visit next week. Now I just need to lose some weight, so I can reduce my insulin intake. Right now, my ratios are 3:15 at breakfast, 4:15 at lunch, and he wants me to take 7:15 at dinner... I've only been doing 6, and have been having problems with going hypo near bed time... so I'm eating a sensible snack, instead of a high carb snack.

Anyway, sorry to rant... I'm just excited with these numbers this week!

Regards,

[Tattoo azz]

well done!!! thats great news

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

... Right now, my ratios are 3:15 at breakfast, 4:15 at lunch, and he wants me to take 7:15 at dinner...

Darian, does that mean 3 units of insulin to 15 grams of carbs at breakfast, and more than twice as much insulin for a similar amount of carb before supper?

[DCaplinger]

That's what he wants me to do, yes. I am not sure why there would be a difference at the evening, unless my basals are wearing off by then. Blue, I've tried reading that thread you have about basals on the other forums we have met on, but it's far too technical for me to make sense of. I'll keep reading it, a bit at a time, until it makes sense. Hehehe.

Regards,

[DCaplinger]

Also, just for the record... I have also found the difference between how my sugars are controlled between complex carbs from fruit, and simple carbs from sugar laden foods like chocolate and cakes. I'm cutting out all simple carbs that I can. I had a piece of cake today with lunch, however, I bolused for it, and didn't spike.

Also, my order is for 3 units of insulin per 15 grams of carbs, however I'm taking 4:15 instead for breakfast and lunch. 3 just isn't enough, and my sugars spike far too high for my tastes. There is no doubt in my mind that I am insulin resistant because of the weight I've added since January. I'm taking proactive steps to ease that as well, including diet and exercise changes (or rather adding exercise. Hard to change what you weren't doing... LOL).

Regards,

[BlueSky]

Mmmm .... it looks like you are running out of basal insulin at supper time. Usually, people need more insulin to cover breakfast than they need to cover the evening meal. If you expect to go onto the pump soon anyway, there is probably not much point in messing around with your current MDI regimen. You will be able to customise your basal rates with the pump so they work perfectly.

From the amount of insulin you need to cover meals, it certainly looks like there is insulin resistance. And, yes, losing weight should weaken it. Bear in mind that, the higher your insulin levels are, the more difficult losing weight gets. So eating low-carb and reducing insulin accordingly should help you slim down .

[DCaplinger]

Eh? That seems a bit odd, especially since insulin is a steroid that will help with building muscle mass. With more muscle mass, I should be able to burn more glucose, instead of converting it to fat. Is that not correct?

Just FYI, I want to go on the pump... the financial situation may make that nearly impossible right now. Unless something dramatic happens to help us out... I can't afford the $1000 deductible I have with my insurance company. So, I'll probably have to continue on my MDI regimen for a while. I'd appreciate if you could go ahead with your thoughts on the matter, Blue. I can use that as ammo when I see my Endo next week.

Regards,

[xMenace]

Good stuff!

Do you pre-bolus at all? I always do for breakfast and try to for other meals. Those breakfast spikes can be tricky. Upping the dose too much often sends people low before lunch. You may want to cut back the breakfast carbs a bit more too. I can't handle big breakfasts at all.

[DCaplinger]

My breakfast is oatmeal with splenda. I've added a banana to that routine this week. The banana has actually helped keep my spikes from being as severe, but I'm still spiking at about 250 - 270. If I could find a quick breakfast that's high in fiber, I'd gladly switch off of oatmeal.

As to prebolusing, no. I don't eat until about an hour after I get up (I eat after I get to work). I have no easy way to bolus beforehand. My drive is 20 minutes alone. If I were to bolus before I ate, I'd be afraid of hypoing out on the drive to work.

Regards,

[NoraWI]

If I remember correctly, fruit is in great percentage fructosamine. Fructosamine does not spike you but gets converted directly into fat. Also, insulin does NOT build muscle. Insulin is a fat storing hormone.

Fruits that do not spike me much are berries -- strawberries, raspberries, blackberries. For some reason I find that blueberries do spike me. Not sure why. Maybe I eat too many? Bananas raise my blood sugar the most of any fruit. I love oatmeal but never eat it anymore (nor other grains) because it is high in carbs. I frequently eat eggs in the morning. Sometimes I skip my breakfast altogether and my basal is usually set so that I can skip a meal and my BG remains level.

[DCaplinger]

Originally Posted by NoraWI

If I remember correctly, fruit is in great percentage fructosamine. Fructosamine does not spike you but gets converted directly into fat. Also, insulin does NOT build muscle. Insulin is a fat storing hormone.

I would disagree with that statement. I've read on a number of sites, including respected body building sites about the use of insulin for building muscle. I've also read that Type 1 diabetics actually build muscle easier than non-diabetics because of the insulin that we take.

Here's just a few sites that discuss this topic:

Insulin: The Most Powerful Muscle Building Hormone Available
MuscleTech - Your Anabolic Powerhouse – Maximizing Your Insulin Response
Bodybuilding.com - Kelly Baggett - Build Muscle & Lose Fat Simultaneously?

Also, I think you should do some further research regarding the sugars in fruit. Complex carbs do not convert directly to fat. They can, if you aren't burning them, however complex carbs are much better for you than simple carbs.

Regards,

[DCaplinger]

Originally Posted by NoraWI

I love oatmeal but never eat it anymore (nor other grains) because it is high in carbs.

Not really. Not any more than some of the other foods I've seen that are available for breakfast. I think the issue is that it seems to have a high glycemic load. At least, for me it does. It also has fiber, which is the important part for me. I need the fiber in my diet.

Originally Posted by NoraWI

I frequently eat eggs in the morning. Sometimes I skip my breakfast altogether and my basal is usually set so that I can skip a meal and my BG remains level.

I do not recommend that at all. In fact, the latest studies suggest that making breakfast the biggest meal of the day also lends to weightloss. You should never skip breakfast. Starting your day correctly with a healthy breakfast is important for keeping your sugars on track the rest of the day.

Regards,

[Subby]

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

Not really. Not any more than some of the other foods I've seen that are available for breakfast.

Depends what else you are considering for breakfast. Very rough figures for comparison: Oats: 66% carbs. Wholemeal Bread: 72% carbs. Fresh Orange: 91% carbs. Milk: 57% carbs.

I'd consider all these high carb foods, with the possible exeception on milk which I'd practically consider medium carb, partly as the carbs are slower in my system. (possibly to fat content)

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

I think the issue is that it seems to have a high glycemic load. At least, for me it does. It also has fiber, which is the important part for me. I need the fiber in my diet.

You want a low GL rating, oats is reasonable at 10 - 13 kind of mark. It's low-mid GI too. It's pretty good food for me too, but a "risky" good food. For me that means, if my metabolism isn't kicking along, or if my insulin absorption delayed, it can become a spike food. If things are humming along, it's all good.

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

I do not recommend that at all. In fact, the latest studies suggest that making breakfast the biggest meal of the day also lends to weightloss. You should never skip breakfast. Starting your day correctly with a healthy breakfast is important for keeping your sugars on track the rest of the day.

Breakfast can be infinitely more tricky for me than any other meal. My response to carbs through the morning can be extremely variable, my absorption of insulin often the worst. Having a large breakfast can be the single biggest mistake for my BG for the whole day. Having a very light breakfast, and choosing a minumum amount of carbs, even close to skipping it, depending on my situation, is very effective to "get on track" and particularly easy now with the pump.

So, vivre la difference, or whatever, once again.

[TenderVittleS]

Sounds like you're doing good, however I'm afraid you will start to get too many lows. Along with working out it can be very dangerous. Personally I would prefer it a little higher. Also Splenda is POISON.

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by DCaplinger

I would disagree with that statement. I've read on a number of sites, including respected body building sites about the use of insulin for building muscle. I've also read that Type 1 diabetics actually build muscle easier than non-diabetics because of the insulin that we take...

It is only in the post-workout recovery period that high insulin levels and suitable nutrients promote muscle growth. This is why body builders are encouraged to eat high glycemic carbs after workouts. It makes their insulin spike and, provided amino acids are available (from a protein drink), it maximises muscle growth. Insulin is indeed the anabolic hormone.

Insulin is required in the muscle building process. But unfortunately, the converse is not true. High insulin levels won't make your muscles big. The main effect of the presence of insulin is that it stops your body burning fat. This is what happens with insulin resistance. And the way around that is to eat very low carb.

I don't know about T1s being able to build muscle easily because of injecting insulin. The only difference between us and non-diabetics is that we have to inject the stuff. They just have to eat carbs and their beta cells do the rest.