Type 1 - Juvenile Diabetics

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Do you take insulin for no carb foods?

katiewoodward55
katiewoodward55 Posts: 1
in Social Groups
Do you take insulin for foods with no carbs such as eggs or chicken? I'm so confused because if I eat an omelette my blood sugars rise, but it has no carbs?!

Replies

  • Pattie74
    Pattie74 Posts: 85 Member
    If I'm really eating something that has no carbs...no. If I'm eating less than 15 carbs and my blood sugar is ok, I don't take it either. Everybody responds differently though so checking with your Doc would be best :)
  • type1foodie
    type1foodie Posts: 38
    I might take 1 or 2 units of insulin (will vary from individual to individual). Your liver can convert the protein to some glucose.

    So, for example, when I had ham and eggs for breakfast the other day (no carbs at all), I took 1 or 2 units of insulin.

    Erin
  • MegRenzelmann
    MegRenzelmann Posts: 13 Member
    I agree with what everyone has said so far - it really depends on how you respond to insulin. There will be some days I don't take insulin at all with dinner if it is something that has no carbs like a salad, etc. and I have also worked out that night.
  • M77308
    M77308 Posts: 183
    If it's under 10 g or carbs, I don't take any insulin with it.

    If it's protein and a lot of it, yes my blood sugars will rise but it's usually later 2-4 hours later that I will see the insulin spike, so I usually try to limit my protein intake (if that's all I'm eating) and keep it in moderation. Sometimes, walking about a high protein meal will help speed up the digestion process and not cause the after meal spike. I think it really just comes down to finding what works for you.
  • sbrBirdy
    sbrBirdy Posts: 224 Member
    Protein can have an effect on blood sugar. You just need to track what you eat and test to see how much of a change you have in your levels.

    Personally, I have to take a couple of units of fast acting insulin every morning, just to counter the natural rise - I think it's called the dawn phenomenon or Somogyi effect - whether I eat or not. And eating breakfast as soon as possible helps stop the rise. When I do eat, it's black coffee, eggs, and sometimes bacon or sausage - no carbs cause I'm extremely sensitive to them in the mornings.
  • KLK1986
    KLK1986 Posts: 89
    Yes. I do something called TAGing. TAG means Total Available Glucose.

    About 10% of fat turns to glucose and about 40-50% of protein. So I do give insulin. For example....

    If I ate a meal with 20g of carbs, 10g of fat, and 30g of protein, using a 1:10 insulin to carb ratio, I'd give myself

    2 units for the carbs
    .1 units for the fat
    1.2-1.5 units for the protein.

    I use an insulin pump so I can use such small increments. I would give the 2 units right away, and do a combo/extended bolus for the fat/protein.
  • type1foodie
    type1foodie Posts: 38
    Thanks, KLK, for mentioning TAGing. I'd never heard of it before and consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable about diabetes, nutrition, and bg control. This is from the Joslin blog: http://blog.joslin.org/2012/01/should-tag-be-a-part-of-your-diabetes-meal-plan/

    Erin
  • jo_1985
    jo_1985 Posts: 3
    Hi All,

    New to this thread so though i would say hello as i also have type 1 diabetes

    Thanks all as i found this useful as well and also had not heard of TAG but will read into it more now

    i would also take a couple of units for a snack / salad with some protein in it.

    Jo :)
  • jo_1985
    jo_1985 Posts: 3
    Hi All,

    New to this thread so though i would say hello as i also have type 1 diabetes

    Thanks all as i found this useful as well and also had not heard of TAG but will read into it more now

    i would also take a couple of units for a snack / salad with some protein in it.

    Jo :)
  • JanetGurl
    JanetGurl Posts: 25
    Personally for me it all depends on the meal and time of day (I'm also not on the pump).. For breakfast I'll give insulin even with no food because of the dawn phenomenon or Somogyi effect, I need at least 2 units of fast acting just to correct my blood sugars (when at normal levels) and prevent it from creeping higher throughout the morning.
    Lunch if I don't eat any carbs I don't give anything even if I'm eating protein (which I normally do) and little fat.
    Supper I give a ratio of 1 unit for every 12 g of carb and my evenings usually contain a lot of protein (after a workout).

    But this is just me.... I wouldn't encourage you to try other diabetics routines because they may not work for you. Also Insulin, insulin dosages and activities levels are different from one diabetic to another.

    Good Luck!! It's definitely hard to find a happy medium sometimes.
  • SPBROOKS68
    SPBROOKS68 Posts: 561 Member
    I have that dawn effect and I hate it because I get up with normal blood sugar and then 1 hour later it can be above 200 and I am on a pump so I just work it out accordingly.

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