[splix]

This is how I try to keep on top of my diabetes. I would also state that I’m in no position of saying what is "right". This is my summation of own experience and that collected from my doctors, my father and brother who also has T1 a lotlonger then I have.


1. I eat both fast and slow carbs depending on the meal. But if I would make say pasta, I would use a wholegrain type prior to a "white refined" one. I just dose accordingly to what I eat. I avoid to “pig out on sweets” but I do not keep it out of my diet. I like to live as I used to prior to my diabetes.

2. One should always be aware of the rollercoaster and step of as soon as one suspects the ride is on. They are not in my opinion always triggered by a “bad diet”. It can happen when I “over do” my exercise and don’t cut doses enough with the food eaten prior. The same goes the other way, If I think I’m going to exercise heavily, cut dose and then after food I have to cancel, I can forget to compensate with a small dose to adjust the absence of training.

3. I never medicate a "non locical" high, I always treat it as a rebound of a hypo. That way I usually avoid the “rollercoaster effect”.

4. I can also feel hypo dropping from say 7mmol/l to 4mmol/l if it happens fast. If I measure a 4.5mmol/l while feeling hypo, I do nothing and measure again after another 15 minutes. That way I don't eat or drink anything sweet that swing me to high up, that I have to cut with a dose afterwards

5. I've not seen any difference when having a weekly strict lowcarb or a weekly medium to high diet. It might help some to keep things in place with a low carb diet, as long as one doesn’t push oneself to hard. I'd like to loose some pounds though so right now I stick to the lower carb ratio.

6. From what I've heard it's normal to require more insulin to the same amount of carbs in the morning. One thing is because your body produces natural cortisone when waking up that makes the body more insulin resistant. It's the same for me, I always need more with breakfast. When I was new to my diabetes and my honeymoon period was on, I only needed a dose to breakfast and nothing for neither lunch nor supper.

7. I always test before eating, how else would I know how much insulin to take?

8. If I for some reason measure a high BG 2-3 hours after a meal, I take a small dose to cut the number a bit. I do however keep from taking extra shots all the time as it can make the body more insulin resistant.

9. I NEVER read any labels. I try to dose by summing up what I'm about to eat and adjust it with the test result taken prior. If it is a cake to coffee I take a little more, if it is a dinner with lowfat meat and vegetables I take less. No magic, just common sense.

As I have used GB from the day I got my T1, I’ve made an A1c calculation on the GB website in the end of every month. My result has dropped from 5.8% to 5.5, 5.4, 5.3 and was last 5.2. Then I got my “real” test from my doctor. It showed 5.7%. I think it’s low enough without getting to low.