Hi all!
Wow! I thought this thread had died! Great to see all of you here! My work schedule is so inhibiting to following this forum. I really miss a lot. I haven’t even had the time to fully read everyone’s posts, just a skim is all I have managed to this point, but I wanted to check in anyway. So, sorry if I duplicate or misquote anyone!
Anniebovs, it is so wonderful to hear how your energy is on the rise so quickly! It’s interesting that you take your Lantus in the morning. I have always taken it at bedtime. That way the peak occurs about wakeup time, coinciding with the wakeup process glycogen boost. Even so, I still have to take my morning Humalog within a half hour after waking up – even if I don’t have breakfast. Anyway, with that, the Lantus effect remains as desired – in the background.
Regarding the juices, I don’t keep anything perishable. I keep my lunch box, backpack and car stocked with small bottles of juice, example; Motts 100% apple juice in the little 8 oz. bottles. Nonperishable, portable and has a great shelf life. I used to keep little boxes of raisins with me, but have switched to the juices because the raisins are just too slow when needed and adds another peak where I don’t need it. Sometimes, however, when I know a low is going to be broad, such as on a hike or any extended duration activity, I will chase the juice with a box of raisins. If the activity is going to be really long, I will chase it with an “Envirokidz” rice bar (but that is used rarely due to the 22% fat).
Kilij, about my early logging; it did take a while to figure out that different foods had different action rates. Once I realized that, I maintained a constant meal plan every day for a week. I would change one thing the next week, and so on. Somewhat like an elimination diet. Everything was logged; activity, how I felt, insulin, food (everything was weighed – still is), BG (testing average 8 or more times per day – still is). As effects of each food began to surface, it was focused on by either increasing or decreasing the ratio of that food or eliminating it all together depending on the discovered effect. It was also found that the action rates of foods and insulin is not linear. A hypothetical example, if 3 ounces of rice exactly matches 10u of Humalog – that is, BG remains flat-line through pre and postprandial, 6 ounces of rice will not match 20u of Humalog. That seems to be because the effect duration width differs with the amount, so you end up with a high-low-high or vice versa. I suspect that may be because excess calories are stored in the liver, muscle, etc. then released later, extending the duration.
Also, yes my basal / bolus ratio is quite large. My basal is 14 per day and bolus averages 35 per day. It seems most doctors try to associate T1’s with T2’s. I too used to dread going to the doctor because of the constant battle – but no more! I have recently changed my Primary Care Physician to a wonderful vegan doctor (
http://www.allmedphysicians.com/) who actually pays attention and listens! New blood-work was ordered and for the first time ever, blood insulin was measured. The results:
Blood insulin: 0.7 uIU/mL. The normal range is 2.6 to 24.9 uIU/mL
A1C: 5.6%. Normal range – 4.1 to 6.0% for non-diabetics.
This resulted in a round of jumping applause from my new doctor. This is in contrast to my previous doctor that would have been freaked over the A1C. He always wanted me to keep it above 7%! Dr. Carney said that to have a normal A1C with below normal blood insulin was beyond excellent!
Lipid panel:
Total cholesterol: 131 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 71 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol: 46 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol: 14 mg/dl
The 14 mg/dl LDL cholesterol prompted another round of jumping applause.
About the energy thing: I have come to the conclusion that maximum energy occurs with the lowest insulin resistance. With that, everything is the most reactive; small doses of insulin makes big changes, small intakes of fat makes big changes, small changes of anything makes big changes. Sounds awful, but it’s really wonderful! That just means you are really in very sharp control and everything is running super-efficient. I love it!
I just love this thread! It’s so refreshing to actually communicate with other T1’s, hearing about and learning from everyone’s experiences. I use to be a very lonely T1, but not anymore - thanks to all of you!
Ken