Hi there, I’m newly diagnosed and I was just wondering if anyone with Type 1 watched carefully or kept their carbs down because they have Type 1. The reason I ask is because I used to be Type 2 before I had my pancreas removed this year, and then I used to had to watch what I ate since I was only on Metformin. But now my educator says it’s a whole new ballgame with Type 1 and that I created my own pancreas with insulin and as long as I kept a healthy weight, I could eat what I wanted and the insulin I took would take care of it. Is that the general consensus?
Also, is there a benefit to sugar free things and non-sugar sweeteners like Splenda aside from the fact you don’t have to take insulin for it? Before it was a benefit cause I could eat more if it meant less sugar but now wondering if there is a point when I’m eating a meal if I just take insulin to cover it.
Lots of people with type 1 watch what they eat and do follow a strict diet. I’m not really one of those people though. I mostly eat what I want, and just try my best to count carbs correctly. I don’t eat a lot of sweets and try to avoid snacking too much, but I generally just try to eat a somewhat balanced diet, but nothing too specific.
That’s the general advice given, but it couldn’t be more wrong. Truly is staggering what people are told. You can’t eat whatever you want, in any quantity you want & cover it with insulin, if you want to have good control. If only it was that simple. It’s difficult to match insulin accurately with carbs. There are so many factors & variables at play–hormones, stress, level of activity & a host of other thngs. There are no hard & fast rules for insulin dosage either.
People with good BG control limit their carb intake. Low carb has been shown to help tremendously. The larger insulin doses you take, the greater the chance is for overdosing (getting lows), or under dosing (having high BG). By keep carbs low with corresponding lower insulin doses, the margin of error is smaller. Also, insulin is a fat storing hormone, so large doses to cover large carb meals results in weight gain.
Please check out Jenny’s site http://www.bloodsugar101.com. It’s great! There’s also lots of info here about low carb. You can search previous discussions.
You had your pancreas removed? I thought you needed that to live?
I would assume that watching things that spike BG readings would be the only way to go with or without a pancreas. I can’t refute what someone else told you because I’m not knowledgeable enough to do that; although there are many on site who have the smarts for that.
Please remain in contact. I would be very interested in hearing all about you.
Thanks, Gerri! There is so much to learn from the users of this site! I am very glad I asked this because I truly was under the assumption that I could eat whatever I wanted. I’m sure there are lots of opinions but I will continue to watch what I eat not only for aesthetic reasons
Yes, I had it removed along with my spleen, appendix, and gall bladder! (They had to remove those to get to the pancreas, and kept them out since you don’t really need them and it’s 3 less potential complications) I had chronic pancreatitis for 14 years and my pancreas was dying so it was inevitable. You don’t need it to live! I just take enzymes every time I eat to break down foods, and insulin of course My surgeon was the pioneer in my procedure, and it really is crazy what they’re doing nowadays, even to prevent Diabetes with the surgery- although not in my case Read my story in my first blog if you want to learn a little more about my background- thank you!!
Have to say when I hear people relay what their doctors, CDE’s, nurses tell them about diet I want to scream & cry. Don’t listen to any of the ADA nonsense.
You’ll learn a lot from Jenny’s site. I’m so grateful I found it when I was first diagnosed. I followed the same advice we were all given (45-60 carbs per meal) & felt ill. All day long was a roller coaster of highs & lows. Was exhausting, frustrating & depressing.
Getting your carbs mostly from low carb veggies is the best way, I think. I eat protein (lean meat, cheese, eggs), nuts & veggies. I eat healthy now & I’m never hungry.
Have you learned how to count carbs yet?
Hope you’ll ask whatever you like. People here are wonderful about offering help, suggestions & support.
When you have time check out Oneless’ blog about Symlin. Might be worth discussing this with your doctor because it may help you since you don’t have a pancreas.
I agree with Glen …a balanced meal plan for me …and the following contradicts most entrees …I eat an average of 190 plus grams of carbs daily , stable weight at 137 pound ,5 feet 6 -ish inches tall , living with type 1 for over 26 years.
I met insulin pumper Canadian Olympic rower , Chris Jarvis the other day …and when in training he consumes 800 grams of carbs daily, his A1C is just over 5 …we need to include daily exercise in our plan and the more you do , the more food you can/need to consume , unless you need to loose weight .Possible food choices prepared with non-sugar sweeteners , unless diet jello , other ??still may contain carbs which requires insulin , when one has diabetes…I hope your Educator also told you not to neglect the daily balance between amount of food ,amount of insulin , amount of activity .
Stay well Marina .
can’t say low carb works for everybody. Try talking to a nurtrionist and a dibetes educator. I was told that i couldn’t just eat whatever i wanted, Plus i have and believe taking extra extra humalog(insulin) and it working through your system is tough on your body and over all energy. You situation sounds very different, i don’t know why your doc would say you could eat what you want. I was told to keep things like carbs and medicine intake consistent so that you could see where your body is at everyday. For example if you eat a low carb meal for lunch one day and eat a high carb lunch the next day, then test your sugar, you might not get the same results. (and the insulin intake would be different, which could result in “who knows what” blood sugars)(did i say any of this right??) Though i say this, i don’t always practice what i preach… Does what i say still hold true while using the pump? I’m on shots as well.
Good luck~
It was the Diabetes dietician who told me this, but also she knew the things I ate and my background and probably knew that I wouldn’t go crazy with what she was telling me either. At the time, I was not eating too much regardless because of my recent surgery and everything made me nauseous. But I was asking her if I needed to go back to how I was eating when I was type 2 and she said no, I don’t have to be restricted like I was then. That’s where the “eat whatever you want”- I don’t know if that was my interpretation or not came from
That is a good question you raise though- is it different for the pump versus shots? I go on the pump in a couple weeks and am excited!
i’m curious about the pump because i know it has more “freedom,” but also you still have to be careful. I know your insulin needs can change based on exercise, how much food you eat, etc. I was wondering if the same held true with the pump. When you’re on a schedule of healthy eating and taking medicine you can figure out your carb to insulin ratio. But i know certain foods can make your sugar higher, like for me maple syrup. So i wonder about the pump.
How will taking your medicine for breaking down food affect your insulin intake?
As a type 1 diabetic, I count my carbs to ensure I take the right amount of insulin to cover those carbs. Ultimately the goal is always to maintain good control of your bgl’s. I do not restrict the number of carbs that I eat. I focus on eating a healthy diet, and take insulin accordingly. It works.
I’m curious and new to this. I will need to have my Pancreas removed at some point due to Islet Cell Tumors. I have done quite a bit of research about living without a Pancreas but have yet to have a dialogue with someone who has already gone through it. I understand the diebetes part pretty well and was told an insulin pump is the way to go if possible. (I suppose ones personal opinion) I would like to know more about the enzyme part and how it affects everything. Does it take awhile to get used to them along with the diet? Tell me what you can. Thanks,
Definitely check out Jenny’s book, it has tons of info to help you decide how you want to approach this. You have to find what works best for you. My brother in law is type 2 and eats low carb (40g a day) and it has worked for him. He is able to maintain this as a lifestyle choice. I am type 1 and that doesn’t work for me at all, I love carbs too much! I do not eat whatever I want in any amount, I try to eat a moderate carb load and choose healthier carbs. It is harder to avoid highs and lows since I chose to eat carbs but I am not ready to go low carb and I may never be ready to.
I also choose sugar free stuff so I can have more volume of food sometimes. Some folks hate the way the stuff tastes but I am used to it. I will say I never eat sugar free baked goods, they taste gross as heck to me! Sugar free pudding or ice cream taste fine to me and if it means I can have a cup versus 1/2 a cup of the regular stuff, I want the cup! I do this as a treat, not an every day thing and it keeps me away from foods that would make my sugars totally out of control, like donuts Once again, you have to find what works for you!
Hi David,
Enzymes are not a huge deal to get adjusted to. Basically you MUST take them if you get your pancreas removed. I have gone through the phase where I would forget them and still eat, but will never do that again. Sorry if it’s gross, but you get really bad diahrrea if you forget to take them with your meal. I actually thought for a week that the diarrhea was caused by taking too many enzymes but it was due to not taking enough, so needless to say I was corrected on this mistake but not until I was miserable for a couple of weeks. So far I take 3 pills for every meal, but there are some people who have been on them for so long they take 10-14 every meal! I think your body gets used to them after a while and you have to do what is right for you and you will feel it. But you get used to them where you just remember to take them and don’t even notice!
I have been diabetic over 12 years, and non- compliant for about 6 of those years, mostly non-compliant with diet. When I was in my teens I thought as long as I took my meds it didn’t matter what I ate, but that is not right. In my personal experience, I just feel better when I eat the way I am supposed to. I don’t do the low-carb thing. I hate artificial sweetners! So I measure every single bite I put into my mouth, and try to cook almost everything I eat at home, so I know what is in my food and I can control it. I have the pump and if I eat the right way, there is no reason why my A1c shouldn’t be spot on. I am not perfect when it comes to eating by any means, but as a nursing student, I feel like a total hypocrit if I tell my patient’s how to eat then don’t do it myself. After 12 years, I see visit with a dietian at least annually, just to make sure I am on the right track.
If you don’t do the low carb thing, what do you mean when you eat the way you are supposed to? Just being sensible? Just wanting to make sure.
Another question to people- do you take out sugar alcohols when calculating your carbs? I heard no but I also heard you can take 1/2 of sugar alcohols from your total carbohydrates.
Read my story in my first blog if you want to learn a little more about my background- thank you!!