Bs Questions?????

[lil'Man'sMom]

I consider myself pretty new to this whole carb/insulin regimen (dx 08/07) and am trying to learn as we go...

So here is my question.

lil'Man's bs for today:

111 @ 9:38 am (middle sons b-day, Friendly's for breakfast)
3/4 lg pancake w/whip cream, butter and 2 M&M's (30 cb ??)
1 pc bacon (0 cb)
1/4 c. choc. milk (7 cb)
1/4 c. home fries (10 cb)
1 unit Novolog @ 10:15 am for 47 cbs

264 @ 1:10 am (in car not a lot of activity)
2 pcs ham slices (1cb)
5 pcs sharp cheddar (2 cb)
1 go-gurt (13 cb)
1.5 unit Novolog @ 1:20 for 16 cbs plus correction

76 @ 3:35 pm (rode 4-wheeler)
3/4 orange (10 cb)
6 crackers w/peanut butter (17 cb)

88 @ 5:05 pm (playing on the computer)
2 pcs sliced ham (1 cb)
4 crackers (8 cb)

200 @ 7:00 pm (hanging out with me reading)
1/2 c. Mac&Chez (25 cb)
Chicken pattie on bun (36 cb)
1.5 units Novolog @ 7:18 for 61 cbs plus correction

208 @ 9:09 pm
no snack (usually has low carb snack but he didn't ask so I didn't give)
4 units Lantus

193 @ 11:07 pm

Except for the Lantus everything else is 1 hour off regular schedule due to school vacation. My two biggest question are did I under estimate the breakfast carbs for the 264 at lunch and why did he go from 88 to 200 in two hours with only 9 cbs ( he usually is allowed 15 for snacks without insulin) mind he is off schedule and still has a lingering of sinus stuff.

OH his I:C is 50 for all meals and daytime range is 80-150 night is 120-200

[Treysmom]

Hidden fat could be some of the problem. I do add some extra insulin for fat in foods. Bacon of course has fat, the butter, whip cream, and how much could be in the pancake batter? I always underestimate my carb counts when out to eat, so I'm working on that myself.

[Jenna'sMom]

Perhaps the 3:30 snack was still contributing to the high BS at supper time. The peanut butter would slow the absorption of carbs, so it could have maybe delayed the effects.

I'm assuming your son is still honeymooning, as Jenna is a pretty small 4yo with a 1:15 IC ratio. When she was first diagnosed, the dietician planned for 15 carb snacks 3 times per day with no cover. We found out very quickly that 15 carbs was way too much not to cover. We stuck around 5 carbs. But now on the pump, we bolus for everything unless she's low.

[twodoor2]

I consider myself pretty new to this whole carb/insulin regimen (dx 08/07) and am trying to learn as we go...

So here is my question.

Manning bs for today:

111 @ 9:38 am (middle sons b-day, Friendly's for breakfast)
3/4 lg pancake w/whip cream, butter and 2 M&M's (30 cb ??)
1 pc bacon (0 cb)
1/4 c. choc. milk (7 cb)
1/4 c. home fries (10 cb)
1 unit Novolog @ 10:15 am for 47 cbs

264 @ 1:10 am (in car not a lot of activity)
2 pcs ham slices (1cb)
5 pcs sharp cheddar (2 cb)
1 go-gurt (13 cb)
1.5 unit Novolog @ 1:20 for 16 cbs plus correction

76 @ 3:35 pm (rode 4-wheeler)
3/4 orange (10 cb)
6 crackers w/peanut butter (17 cb)

88 @ 5:05 pm (playing on the computer)
2 pcs sliced ham (1 cb)
4 crackers (8 cb)

200 @ 7:00 pm (hanging out with me reading)
1/2 c. Mac&Chez (25 cb)
Chicken pattie on bun (36 cb)
1.5 units Novolog @ 7:18 for 61 cbs plus correction

208 @ 9:09 pm
no snack (usually has low carb snack but he didn't ask so I didn't give)
4 units Lantus

193 @ 11:07 pm

Except for the Lantus everything else is 1 hour off regular schedule due to school vacation. My two biggest question are did I under estimate the breakfast carbs for the 264 at lunch and why did he go from 88 to 200 in two hours with only 9 cbs ( he usually is allowed 15 for snacks without insulin) mind he is off schedule and still has a lingering of sinus stuff.

OH his I:C is 50 for all meals and daytime range is 80-150 night is 120-200

The uncovered snacks might have caused the high (a 200 to me isn't super high, but borderline hyperglycemic).

With a breakfast like that, with high fat, protein, and fries (a high GI food), my daughter would skyrocket to the stratosphere (or perhaps the nearest galaxy), so it doesn't surprise me that he's 264 by 1:00. If I just give her a single lowfat whole grain waffle, I have to be careful about those after breakfast spikes!!

He sounds like he's honeymooning big time. When his honeymooning starts to curtail, you may need to cut back on those types of foods, high fat in particular, or dose more. In all, I don't think the numbers are that bad, especially for the kinds of foods you are feeding him.

I noticed that you assigned carbs to cheese, but cheese does not have any carbs, nor does the ham you assigned one carb to. He's very insulin sensitive, so you have to be careful about the carb counting. I think the only thing you should have dosed for at lunch was the go-go-gurt (some type of yogurt I presume?). Your correction factor might also have caused the subsequent low if it's not accurate, or it's a scale (I don't like correction scales for highly insulin sensitive children, they can cause hypoglycemia).

[Jenna'sMom]

I noticed that you assigned carbs to cheese, but cheese does not have any carbs, nor does the ham you assigned one carb to. He's very insulin sensitive, so you have to be careful about the carb counting.

Actually, it depends upon what type of meat it is. Many luncheon meats have carbs (low, mind you, but carbs nonetheless). The summer sausage we have now has 2 carbs per serving. And the American cheese singles I have in the fridge right now are 2 carbs per serving as well.

[vettechmomof2]

I noticed that you assigned carbs to cheese, but cheese does not have any carbs, nor does the ham you assigned one carb to. .

I have to disagree here. THey are normally very LOW in carbs and sometimes do not have any but some lunchmeats and cheeses do have a low carb count. We have to count every carb consumed and that includes cheses. We measure on the salter for them.
Just had to pipe in here about that.Allene

[Mama2H]

I noticed that you assigned carbs to cheese, but cheese does not have any carbs, nor does the ham you assigned one carb to. He's very insulin sensitive, so you have to be careful about the carb counting.

I have string cheese in my fridge right now that is 1 carb per serving and ham that is 2 carbs. I think it is good practice to be using even the smallest carb counts. We have to dose Hailey for every single carb that goes in her mouth and once your child is done honeymooning you will probably have to also.

Can I come eat at your house? Sounds like a yummy day! Those numbers look really good to me. You easily could have had the higher numbers from adrenaline when he was riding the 4-wheeler (adrenaline highs can be delayed many hours after the activity) or it could be the fact that it wasn't a full 3-4 hours between checks and he still had insulin working in his system. Looks to me like you are doing a great job :D

[twodoor2]

Actually, it depends upon what type of meat it is. Many luncheon meats have carbs (low, mind you, but carbs nonetheless). The summer sausage we have now has 2 carbs per serving. And the American cheese singles I have in the fridge right now are 2 cars per serving as well.

That's true, they sometimes add sugar to meats. I did not know American cheese had carbs, that's a new one to me!!

[lil'Man'sMom]

The uncovered snacks might have caused the high (a 200 to me isn't super high, but borderline hyperglycemic).

With a breakfast like that, with high fat, protein, and fries (a high GI food), my daughter would skyrocket to the stratosphere (or perhaps the nearest galaxy), so it doesn't surprise me that he's 264 by 1:00. I just give her a single lowfat whole grain waffle, I have to be careful about those after breakfast spikes!!

He sounds like he's honeymooning big time. When his honeymooning starts to curtail, you may need to cut back on those types of foods, high fat in particular, or dose more. In all, I don't think the numbers are that bad, especially for the kinds of foods you are feeding him.

This was a special day, he usually eats whole wheat waffles and a banana for breakfast. Does the fat slow down how the carbs are absorbed? Would I change his carb ratio for fatty foods? He loves bacon and sausage, so when he does have it I would like to accommodate for it.


I noticed that you assigned carbs to cheese, but cheese does not have any carbs, nor does the ham you assigned one carb to. He's very insulin sensitive, so you have to be careful about the carb counting.

I have always counted cheese and ham (very low). I count everything he puts in his mouth with the Calorie King and with package listings.

[twodoor2]

This was a special day, he usually eats whole wheat waffles and a banana for breakfast. Does the fat slow down how the carbs are absorbed? Would I change his carb ratio for fatty foods? He loves bacon and sausage, so when he does have it I would like to accommodate for it.




I have always counted cheese and ham (very low). I count everything he puts in his mouth with the Calorie King and with package listings.

Fats tend to slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, so what happens is the insulin has already peaked before the food is absorbed. These are generally known as fat spikes.

If you're getting the carb counts from packages, then ignore my comment on the ham and cheese. We're not big cheese eaters in our house, and I normally do not count carbs for cheese, but Elizabeth is not anywhere near as insulin sensitive as your son, so for us, one or two carbs is not a big deal.

Here's a trick for carb counting from packages that I always use. Since the food item is not always the proper serving size weight as labeled on the package, in particular if it's not a uniform size (breaded chicken breasts come to mind here), then you can obtain the carb factor for any packaged item with the following formula:

grams of carbs / grams per serving.

Divide the carb grams by the grams per serving. So for example, the label might say that a 29 gram serving size of a breaded chicken breast might yield 10 grams of carbs. Therefore the carb factor is 10/29 or .34. Then when you weigh the chicken breast, say it comes up to be 22 grams. Multiply the 22 grams by the .34, and it's around 7 grams, and that's the carbs in that particular chicken breast.

[lil'Man'sMom]

Here's a trick for carb counting from packages that I always use. Since the food item is not always the proper serving size weight as labeled on the package, in particular if it's not a uniform size (breaded chicken breasts come to mind here), then you can obtain the carb factor for any packaged item with the following formula:

grams of carbs / grams per serving.

Take the food serving size and into that divide the carb grams. So for example, the label might say that a 29 gram serving size of a breaded chicken breast might yield 10 grams of carbs. Therefore the carb factor is 10/29 or .34. Then when you weigh the chicken breast, say it comes up to be 22 grams. Multiply the 22 grams by the .34, and it's around 7 grams, and that's the carbs in that particular chicken breast.

I do not have a scale yet...DH have talked about it but...Manning is usually so in range (except for illness and school vacations) that we have just really procrastinated about one. Guess I will start searching for one because we are in this for the loooonnnngggg haul!

[twodoor2]

I do not have a scale yet...DH have talked about it but...Manning is usually so in range (except for illness and school vacations) that we have just really procrastinated about one. Guess I will start searching for one because we are in this for the loooonnnngggg haul!

I highly recommend a digital scale that can do grams, ounces, fluid ounces, and conversions back and forth. I think it's necessary to have a good digital scale to do accurate carb counting. Many parents recommend the Salter Scale with the food database. I have a travel one I use on my counter, and I take with me everywhere we go.

[Ryans-Rock]

Do you give the insulin right before or right after he eats? Our Endo told us to give Insulin right before meals to keep the bs from going high.