I was diagnosed fairly recently and am still verrrry much just learning. I'm counting carbs per meal/snack, at least until I'm able to take a diabetes education class and see if they tell me something different to do.
I know I need to watch that my carb intake per meal doesn't get super high, but do I need to also to watch that I'm getting too few?
There is a lively and ongoing debate in the diabetes community about whether it is even possible to eat "too few" carbs. The traditional wisdom is that a minimum number of carbs must be consumed for proper brain function. That belief has been called into serious question. Depending on how interested you are, you can research this in as much depth as you care to. Two good starting points are:
Jenny Ruhl, Diet 101: The Truth About Low Carb Diets (Turners Falls: Technion
Books, 2008)
Volek and Phinney, The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living (2011)
Hi Summer - Welcome to the club! Sorry you had to join :)
I am a Type-2 guy who went from paying little-or-no attention to anything through Insulin before every meal. I am now paying CLOSE attention and no longer need to use any insulin, but I do continue to pay attention to what is going on. I won't run through my whole song and dance, it's on my website if you're interested.
I was where you are 3-or-4 years ago, and I firmly believe that is as permanent a part of the rest of my life as managing my glucose level is. From my experience David's comments are valid, and if you are looking for a time-absorbent activity, there are a BUNCH more places to on the web.
My advice is:
1. You need to be in control, that means YOU are The Boss
2. Keep good records of glucose test results, food intake, and insulin usage if applicable.
3. Track all of the other diabetes related factors (exercise, medications, weight) which in my mind are just the "normal stuff" everyone should be paying attention to.
4. Work with the Diabetes Education and Support Team, they are a FANTASTIC resource.
AND last but not least
5. Remember, YOU are The Boss, everyone else are members of your Support Team who depend on you actions and the information you collect.
the fact that you are hear asking for input says to me you are well ahead of where I was until about 3-years after my Doc started focusing on my glucose level. Keep up that view and you'll be getting fitted for your The Boss hat.
Amen to all you wrote. My endo told me to test immediately before eating a meal and again two hours after. After you began eating. You will see what foods affect your blood glucose. Be careful to test before, during and after exercising. Good luck!!!
You guys are awesome. :) Thank you, that helps tremendously.
Summer, don't be surprised if the CDE or classes recommend more carbs than necessary. Everyone is different, but setting goals such as not going over 140 after a meal is a start. When you eat a meal, you check before eating, one hour after and should be back down to pre-meal numbers by two hours.
There is no such thing as too few carbs in my opinion, since diabetics are carb intolerant, why would we stress our pancreas by eating more of them than necessary?
As David mentioned, the two books are worth while reading and a good addition to a reference library. I truly believe in eating to the meter approach and getting our brainfood from veggies.
Maybe it is easy for me because I've been at it for ten years +, but getting my carbs from veggies and keeping the total under 30 for the day has worked to keep my b.g. stable and no meds. I'm not deprived, I make muffins, pies & cakes from almond flour and low carb ingredients, although not daily:)
I wish you well on your journey to better health!
The only time to be concerned about too few carbs is when taking insulin. I use Levemir at night, and so far I haven’t had to worry about lows, but being T2 it is possible that I could eat very low carbs one day, take the sMe amount of insulin, and be too low the next morning. Knowing me, it probably won’t happen, but it is possible.
I was treated by two endos over a period of about fifteen years. Both told me to check my blood sugar 2 hours after eating. My second endo had this printed on a log I filled out. He was an assistant professor of endocrinology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.