For many of us, carb limits are the key to in-range non-volatile BGs. I’m probably eating 75-100 grams per day but my control was better/easier when I consumed < 50 grams per day.
I attended a local diabetes support group meeting last evening. The featured guest was a Registered Dietitian. I knew going in that my philosophy was going to clash with hers but I didn’t want to stir up a contentious debate. I did find out that she thinks the brain needs a minimum of 30 grams of carbs per meal. I wanted to dispute that point but I chose not to. Part of me feels like I betrayed my diabetes values.
My first question to her was if the dietitian community was aware of the robust debate within the online diabetes community over the role of carb limits in diabetes management. She didn’t understand my question but I really think she was not aware of the low-carb movement within the diabetes community as well as an accompanying antipathy toward dietitians who believe the false concept of “essential carbohydrates,” much like the authentic concept of essential proteins and fats.
She also brought out the trope that low carb diets are not sustainable. I stayed quiet so I would not be “that guy” who likes controversy and trouble. I am ambivalent now.
I find your experience of carb limits and consequent well-behaved BGs confirms mine. Keep up the good work!
I think reducing/limiting carbs is a huge factor in keeping such tight control.
I also realize it may be harder for some more than others. I think you also have to be in a certain place in your life, emotionally and mentally, when that idea is introduced to you. I know I would resist that idea if it was ever introduced to me in my dark days when I suffered major burnout.
I also think one has to be really committed and aim high so while going low carb can help, it’s still not a magic one-solution-cures-all type thing.
My only wish for dietitians and other professional care providers is for them to be open to idea of low carb as a way to help with management. At least introduce it as an option and try to work with people in making personal adjustments as it’s true not every person can keep up with less than 30 grams a day but many like you find a great improvement in reducing their intake to below the standard recommended amounts. I just absolutely despise the idea of “eat as you please, carb count and just take loads of insulin for it”.
It wasn’t the recommendation when I was diagnosed back in 1986 but it sure was when I made the switch from NPH and R to Lantus and Humalog and had to take a carb counting class back in 2000.
So on Saturday and Sunday I attended the second annual ConnecT1D Adult Retreat .
It was such a great experience and I had a wonderful time meeting other T1s in such a gorgeous setting.
I’m especially happy I finally got to meet @Terry4 (and his lovely dog, Norm) and @mrmikelawson in person!
@mrmikelawson gave a wonderful talk about diabetes burnout and we got to see some of his awesome illustrations, and @Terry4 and I hung out in the lobby/bar area and had some great exchanges of information on diet and management. I was up so late chatting with him that I accidentally slept in and missed the first 5 minutes of the first presentation the next morning. Oops.
Here’s my 12 hour graph from Saturday, the first retreat day in which I had 2 low carb meals I put together with the food provided by the resort.
@MayaK – It was great to meet and spend some time with you. @mrmikelawson’s address to the ConnecT1D retreat was genuine, humorous, and easy to follow. Diabetes burnout is a tough subject to examine but something we’ve all experienced and well presented by Mike.
I learned that “ConnectT1D” is pronounced “connect-id.” They are great group of energetic seekers of adventure and fitness. About 60 T1Ds and family/friends, T3s, attended.
That’s a very nice line, Maya, especially since it was drawn in a non-routine travel type setting and punctuated with an emphatic 83 at the end! I learned from Maya that she calls 83’s a “Bernie-corn” (think unicorn) after Dr. Bernstein’s favorite BG number.
Very well done, @Sheepdogs! Looks like you crushed it in your avoidance of hypos, too. I think the 14-day standard day is one of the best, most concise, graphs to illustrate glycemic control.
I’ve had an unusually good two-week run as well. Is there something in the spring air? Sometimes the numbers move in a more dramatic fashion. I also find that following the numbers more closely can often lead to better numbers.
incorporating more whole foods into my eating. I got an expensive blender and can make smoothies that retain all the food, instead of juicing. I eat LCHF and aim for less than or equal to 100g of net carbs per day. I <3 my Animas Vibe and dexcom G4. I couldn’t achieve that without everything I am doing.
I also eat a lot of vitamins/supplements. Mostly antioxidants. My endo thinks I am crazy, I am sure. But I get good results so she lets me be.
You seem to have the most amazing long-term, in-range bg’s, and this one is from time at a conference no less. I know from other comments here that you work hard at it – well done!
It’s nice to hear. Sometimes things just align like that too, I wish everyday looked like that graph but it doesn’t always.
Even on my worse days I still try my best to keep a very tight control although there will be much more fluctuation in the graph despite staying within a reasonable range.
This three-hour thing of beauty appeared right after it emerged from the two-hour blackout tunnel on day eight. I had dinner at hour two and I see no signs yet of the post-prandial rise. In any case, this line is tightly bound between 64 (3.6) and 72 (4.0).
Those are great 90-day numbers, @Jim26! Flat is a relative term around here. I value time in range as my highest goal. Keeping it between the lines is where it’s at. Your consistency is great.
What program is drawing that graph? It reminds me of the ambulatory glucose profile in Diasend.
I know it’s a bit of an aberration, but I had a very low-carb (low food, in general) week because of a tooth problem, culminating with dental surgery yesterday. Here’s the wonderful 7-day graph I got as a “parting gift:”
SD of just 13. And my diabetes cooperated perfectly for the surgeon – stayed between 80 and 90 effortlessly.
I guess that’s a pretty good ‘basal test!’
Nice 7-day graph, @Thas! Anyone who can see the bright side of spending time in the dental surgeon’s chair must be a positive thinker. I suspect your 14-, 30-, and 90-day graphs are similar. Your control is amazing. Enjoy!
