Type 1 Diabetes

Hi there. You've gotten some good responses over the the other board. I know a few folks from this board and will see if I can round up some more answers for you.

Take care.

Cora

Hmmmm.....I would say this is a yes and no answer.

Yes, you can eat whatever and bolus for it but, I wouldn't encourage this too often. Maybe for special occasions.

No, because eating whatever she wants will not only cause weight gain but, with weight gain also increases the need for insulin and then it's becomes a visous cycle. This can also result in her becoming insulin resistant.

It's better to eat small amounts of healthy foods and eat more often then to eat large amounts of food. This will help her to keep her energy level up and it also helps prevent spikes in bgs.

This is what I use but, it depends on a persons size and age.....No more than 45 carbs per meal and 15 carbs per snack.

Have you checked how many carbs are in a donut? When people ask me if I can eat a donut I tell them sure I can. BUT, I'm allowed no more than 45 carbs per meal and I would rather eat a healthy meal that will hold me up and satisfy me than eat "ONE" donut. See where I'm going with this.

By the way, you can always rely on what MrsCora tells you!!!! She even has her own 1-800-ASKCORA phone line!!! LOL

wow! your great thank you for all your help

If your daughter is t1, you will never become insul resistant beacuse her pancreas in producing very little no insulin at all. Honestly she can eat whatever she wants as long as she takes the correct type of insulin, assuming that she's taking a fast-acting insulin right before she eats. She could also skip a meal if you wanted too.

The same goes for T1 diabetics as non-diabetics that we should be eating healthy properly portioned meals throught out the door. I am a 33 yr old t1 diabectic. I am not quite as young as your daughter but young enough stil want some flexability in what and when I eat. I recommend that your daughter visit with a dieatian to develop a meal plan and perfect the art of counting carbs. I hope that this helps.

I have been told by a diabetic nurse than you can be T1 and become insulin resistant. If you are over-weight, the same problems as T2s have can become evident.

My daughter was just diagnosed t1 Easter and her Dr said she can eat anything she wants as long as she counted the total carbs of what she was about to eat and take insulin to match. The only thing she could not have was regular cola's because they peak faster than the insulin. My daughter is learning that she wants to eat low or no carb meals so she doesn't have to take a shot. We don't have to calculate for meat or salads. You do have to count carbs for some veggies like corn though.

DITTO mayborn..........

When/if a type-1 also becomes insulin resistant they are sometimes called DOUBLE DIABETICS. That can make their diabetes even harder to control, NOT GOOD.

Isn't being (single type) diabetic enough?

Gomer (calling 1-800ASKCORA......lol)

Hi hkosea,

My 13 year old son was diagnosed almost a year ago and he went through that same phase - where he typically didn't need to take insulin at lunch, so he tried to talk us into letting him eat fewer carbs and skip snacks to avoid taking shots at other meals as well. It didn't take him long to figure out that he was getting really sick of eating meat, cheese, and salad....and when he would eat balanced meals and take his shots he just felt better. So, give her time, but encourage her to eat the number of carbs her dietician recommends. You do need to count the carbs in veggies like corn, beans, peas, potatos etc.. because they are starchy foods and starch is a carb. One of the best pieces of advice we got early on is to get "The Calorie King" book. It has carb information in there for everything you can think of....including major fast food places, etc.. It makes counting a lot easier and eating out a lot less scary. After he was diagnosed, we also made a point to keep eating the same meals that we have always had at home. It was enough for him to deal with the needles & insulin - we tried to keep everything else as normal as possible. He loves rice, so we continued to eat rice (just in smaller portions). He loves fruit roll-ups, so we made sure to include a fruit roll-up in our dinner plan.

The other thing you need to keep in mind is that during honeymoon period, her pancreas is still producting some insulin....but once the honeymoon is over, the amount of insulin she needs is going to increase. At Ben's last dr. appt in May, they were speculating that his honeymoon period is almost over...and we've been noticing a need for more and more insulin even with him eating the same number of carbs each meal as when he was diagnosed a year ago.

Ben also struggled with sticking his fingers for the longest time...he would bring himself to tears when he had to poke his finger - so we let him use his arms and other places to test until he could work up the courage on his own...and now he uses his fingers almost exclusively. It was the same with the bedtime shots in the beginning, too....it would sometimes take us 20-30 mintues to give him his bedtime shot because he said it hurt....so we would just talk until he calmed down and then we gave him his shot. Now he gives his shot to himself at night.

I think some of the lessons he has learned the hard way is that "yes" you can skimp on the carbs, but a needle stick feels much better than a crash. A balanced diet makes him feel better...and there is nothing he can't do because he's diabetic. We constantly tell him how proud we are of him for being responsible and we reward him when he takes responsibility for managing things himself - like remembing to pack his snacks and taking his own bedtime shot. He needed lots of hugs and encouragement in the beginning, but now he's accepted things as the are and he'd be motified if I huged him! ;o)

He was at boy scout camp a couple of weeks ago - without us. Scary for us - but great experience and sense of independance for him. He had no trouble at all...and his sugars were perfect all week long and no crashes. The first year is really, really tough on the whole family...but hang in there, it does get better.

"If your daughter is t1, you will never become insul resistant beacuse her pancreas in producing very little no insulin at all"

This is SOOOOO not true. Just because one does not produce insulin does not mean they can not become insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is how your body handles insulin wether it be natural or injected.

I am an example of a type 1 diabetic that does have insulin resistance. I do not produce insulin at all but I do take Metformin to help my body utlize the insulin that is introduced into my body. I am what you call.. or rather I am diagnosed "double diabetic".

Now as for the stepdaughter and the A1C being a 10. That is terrible and her health can be at risk. Her father is correct that she can eat what she wants so long is she takes the PROPER dose of insulin. Evidently, she is not boulseing correct or her A1C would not be that high. An acceptable A1C for a diabaietic is a 7.0 and that is on the high side. One wants their A1C to be about 5.0 or so. Mine is usually about 5.6 unless I'm sick and my bg runs high. You are correct in being concerned.

LOL It's nice to see you Gomer and Cora, (and the others). I love that last line there. Made me LOL... literaly.

(where's the spell check on this new forum?)