carb counting?

[joanne22]

hi all another newbie here i have been reading through the forum and found that alot of people are talking about carb counting my son james is 7 and was diagnosed on the 17/3/06 i have never been showed how to count carbs but would really like to learn if anyone can tell me how to do this i would really appriciate it or is their any books i can buy hope to hear from you soon

[pookas]

It depends on what kind if insulin regimen you are on. For example, Hunter is on Novalog to cover meals and Lantus. His carb ratio for novalog is 50:1, meaning, for every 50 g. carbs he has, he gets 1 unit of Novalog. So, if he had 25 g. carbs total in his meal, I would give him 1/2 u. Novalog. He gets his insulin after eating, since he's 5 yrs. old and we never know if he'll eat more or less. He also gets mid morning and mid afternoon snacks [about 15 g. each] not covered. Talk w/ your endo. It's really good control and you will need to know how to count carbs if you're thinking of the pump.

Linda-[NEPA]-Mom to:
Hunter, 5 yrs, dx'd 11/14/05 type I
Colby, 7 yrs, migraines

[wendyc]

Hi,
This is something your diabetic team/endo will establish for you. I would contact them and discuss carb counting. This is tailored to work with your insulin regimine. For example, prior to the pump we were on a Lantus (long acting) and Novolog (short acting) insulin regimine. The insulin to carb ratio (how much insulin is given for carbs eaten) is designed to work with the child. For example, my daughter was going high after breakfast, so they set a ratio of 1 unit of insulin for every 18 grams of carbs eaten at breakfast, then it switches to 1:25 at lunch, 1:26 at dinner. These ratios can change depending on what the sugars are doing, so we report in weekly to our d-team.

If you want to explore the option of putting your child on the pump, you will need to learn carb counting (very easy once you get the hang, and a good scale!). Talk to your endo about it.

[joanne22]

thank you for your replys this is something i will speak to them about thanks at the minute james is on mixtard 30 am and mixtard 10 pm doses vary as hes quite unstable at the minute from one extream to another highs one minute hypos the next :confused:

[selketine]

Is the mixtard a mix of 2 insulins - regular and NPH?

You might want to consider putting him on unmixed insulins depending on his needs. Using lantus as the long acting (background) insulin and novolog or humolog as the short acting is a good regime but your son would need several shots a day - a shot generally every time he eats.

Using NPH as the long acting is also a possibility along with a short acting insulin. NPH is a somewhat difficult insulin in my opinion - it has so much variability with the way it acts (leading to unexpected highs and lows) that I just hated it frankly;)

I would think you would need to go on some type of long and short acting insulins (2 different insulins) in order to make carb counting worth it. However this affords greater freedom and flexibility for eating and could help with the highs and lows. The downside is more shots. Your endo team would establish what your child's carb ratios are and you would give the fast acting insulin based on how many carbs he eats.

Good luck!

[Ben'sMommy]

You should discuss carb counting with your endo. It is a big help and allows more freedom.
Alot of places only have you count carbs if you are pumping. We were never taugt until Ben got his pump.
But it is a great idea to get going with it. Tell your team that you are interested and they will establish an insulin/carb ratio for your son.

Best of luck!

Carol.

[T_Adelaide]

Hi Joanne. We were taught to carb count at diagnosis, I was really surprised to hear not everyone was.
I have no idea how you'd even begin to get control of diabetes without counting carbs!! :eek:

[lisamomtotwins]

We were taught carb counting but not a carb to insulin ratio just yet. Hailey is suppose to get 15 carbs and snacks and 30 at meals. We are gonna be on the pump in about a month, we are in the process of getting it now! ANd i cant wait!

[cydnimom]

Just out of curiosity - for those not carb counting, how do you know how much to feed your child? Are they still teaching exchanges (so many starches, so many fruit, etc).

When I was first diagnosed, many many years ago thats what it was like, but now with the carb counting/weighing food it is so much easier to be accurate, which I find you have to be with a child.

Of course, even with carb counting, the best meal plan is a balanced meal plan including carbs from all the food categories.

[allisa]

I, too am surprised to hear that carb countig wouldn't be part of Normal Diabetic Traiing/Education.

I was never taught a "carb to insulin ratio"...but rather just figured it out over time and practice.....I can see the ratio and know how much he needs, but of course it changes a couple times a year when a growth spurt hits, but hten regulates itself again.

But counting carbs and understanding their impact and use is vital to maintaining a diabetic regimen.....I'd defintiely ask your endo team....they usually have nutrinalsts right in the office....perhaps you guys just "fell through the cracks" and they thought you had already had an appt.

Good luck !
Allisa

[joanne22]

hi all i think it must be different over here in the uk as in diabetic clinic no one i asked knows about carb counting is it not just those who use the pump? i have no clue yes the team does have an nutrisoinist but shes told me nothing? ill speak directly to our diabetic nurse about this but i am pleased to say james levels over the past few days have been rather steady hope it stays like this thanks again for your replys will let you know how i get on
on another note does anyone have a child that suffers from petit mal epilepsy it turns out hes showing lots of signs of having this the symptoms have gone on for that long i honestly didnt realise anythihg was wrong just thought he was ignoring me when i spoke to him it just gets better doesnt it :mad: still waiting for his eeg appointment to come through hope it doesnt take too long i would rather get any treatment needed started sooner rather than later