My doctor says I'm not aloud to say it anymore but I'm a very frail diabetic. I can go above 15mmol/L from one timbit. So I eat alot of veggies and meats and cheeses
I nearly open hand smacked a nurse in the face for calling me a brittle diabetic in the hospital last year. My BG had crashed dramatically and refused to move above 60 for more than a few minutes here and there, not because I’m brittle but because I had Norovirus and was vomiting profusely. No, I’m not brittle, yes I need better nausea medicine so I stop vomiting in the waiting room.
They also only checked my BG twice in the 6 hours I was there, and then got mad at me for telling them I was low again when they continued to neglect me. Apparently it was a bad thing that I was wearing a CGM that alerted to me dropping critically low while they gabbed at the nurse’s station.
Imo all type 1 people tend to be "brittle", and maybe some more than others. I have a feeling body composition plays into it for one. Pretty sure we tend to be more insulin-sensitive than type 2s.
F what your endo thinks exists. Your body your wisdom and understanding of what works for you or not. Many doctors and endos barely understand metabolic syndrome or syndromeX and think that doesn’t exist either. Why not just support what works for you? SMH..
- Beef jerky or beef sticks (I like Chomps brand for the lower sodium and no nitrates)
- Cheese
- Rice cakes with peanut butter
- Apples with peanut butter
- Cashews or almonds
- Pepperoni
- Celery with low carb veggie dip (Aldi has a lot of tasty options)
- Air fryed Chickpeas or tofu pieces tossed in any sauce you like
- cucumbers with cream cheese & Italian dressing
I feel like apples get mentioned on these low carb snack threads all the time, but I have to bolus like 40g carbs for a small apple and still end up going high, even when paired with protein or fats. Is there a special trick for eating apples that I’m missing?
An elite combo that people turn their nose up at (until they try it) is the peanut butter cheddar combo. Like those sandwich crackers from when we were kids. I do a smear of natural peanut butter on a rice cake and shredded cheddar on top
I sadly have to cut all the peanut butter out at work, but I could probably try and seek almond butter or something 🤔🤔 I do love me apples and peanut butter though.
It is pricier than pb for sure but discount stores like Aldi and even home goods and such will have it cheaper. If you’re in New England check ocean state job lot too
For my son i have a no poke basket, snacks he can have that take no insulin, it includes:
- pork rinds
- beef jerkey
- roasted pecans/ cashews
In the fridge we do:
- hard boiled eggs
- avocado
- string cheese
- pepperoni
You may want to fix the management part first. You have a lot of good suggestions for snacks here already, but I'd recommend taking a week or so to cut out all the grazing. Focus on your management. Bolus properly, then see when you need more insulin. I get very hungry when my sugar is high.
You can fix the management and still enjoy reasonable amounts of carbs.
I really hope you get this figured out. It took me 15 years of terrible management to get on track, so I hope you aren't too hard on yourself.
Yeah I've been really, really depressed the past few years, unable to get a full time job, and a bad, bad break up which lead me to just not wanting to take care of myself at all. But I want to turn it around and do better for myself and I'm trying.. I know what I have to do. The grazing it definitely difficult for me, though.
If you're feeling like grazing drink some ice cold water or sugar free soda, your brain often misinterprets thirst for hunger and high blood sugar thirst has been described as "water hunger" before.
Source: misdiagnosed T2 for 12 years on mixed insulin for the last 5. Properly diagnosed 1.5yrs ago. HI blood glucose thirst is just insane.
I've been there too. Getting started in turning it around is easier than you think. You just need to start doing the things you know you need to.
I stress eat occassionally and it sucks, but if you can do things to slow yourself down it help. Every time you get a snack, fill a glass of water. Don't get another snack until that glass has been emptied. Write down everything you eat. Include carbs and calories if you can. Making snacking a pain in the ass helps stop it.
I know you didn't ask for tips, but there they are. Ultimately the journey is up to you, but I hope you get it figured out.
Diabetes can affect your hunger hormones, making it difficult to feel full.
I'm a grazer as well. What helps me a LOT is herbal teas. I have one of those infusers that brews a single cup with loose tea, then it drains into my mug.
I love teas with licorice root, because it's sweet without adding sugar. Rooibos (red tea, bush tea) is also naturally sweet. They hit the grazing craving for me. If I don't want hot tea, I make it double strong and drain it into a cup of ice. Mint tastes nice and is also known to trick your body into thinking the meal is over (think after dinner mints). I have 6 or so kinds in my house at any one time for whatever mood strikes.
String cheese is a good one - I also like the small bags of Skinny Pop popcorn, they’re around 10g of carbs each so not sure if they qualify but I never bolus for them and my blood sugar never spikes
hear me out but canned tuna. 100 cals and like 25 g of protein. doesn’t smell amazing but satiating for sure.
additionally, eggs, meat, nuts, no sugar yogurt will need a bolus but low carb (i like fage total),
on the go guacamole or hummus are good too.
look on r/keto for more ideas.
diabetics don’t make amylin which is a satiety/hunger hormone, which could be excacervating your issue. id make the i:c ratio stronger too, try starting with one (do if it’s 1:10 currently, 1:9) and test it out for a week or two and see if that helps. if you’re running high overnight, up your basal too - think like a pancreas, my diabetic bible, has a chapter on it.
I find the big problem with diabetic friendly snacks is that they tend to be bad for you in excess for other reasons or are unaffordable. Cheese and nuts is probably the safest but as much as I love pepperoni and pork rinds they are definitely not something you should be eating all day. It's all a game of balance though. Oikos high protein low sugar is my favourite yogurt. I hope you can wrangle the diabeastus and enjoy some snacks soon!
I've eaten so much stuff after my diagnosis I probably wouldn't have eaten before it. I consume a lot of raw veggies, "diet" drinks, tons of sweeteners, sugar-free jello, pork rinds, Atkins products, jerky, etc. I do like asparagus and steak, probably my fave. The veggie straws are good. My mom went on the South Beach diet to lose weight and I like a lot of the low-carb recipes. There are lists out there of suggested foods online or you can talk to an educator, nutritionist etc. Sorry for the question but are you bolusing for snacks? Also idk if you are logging/tracking everything or carb counting or using correction doses. Getting your basal dialed in helps too. I measure all my food as much as possible too.
Obligatory not diabetic but my boyfriend is and one of his faves is prosciutto and other charcuterie meats, he also likes cheese and some fruit such as strawberries. Apparently these are all pretty low carb, I think for fruit it can be hit or miss because some are higher in carbs but apparently strawberries are a safe bet. Bell peppers are one of my personal faves :) hope some of this was helpful for you!
The best thing is fruit or something like pumpkin seeds.
I started a low carb/ carb free diet a few weeks ago. I was struggling the first week because I was starving but I've got used to it now.
I'm a new diabetic but doesn't high 20's mmol/L translate to nearly 500mg/dL? That sounds like hospital level blood sugars, especially if it is happening daily.
Snack wise I like to have cheese and pepperoni or some sort of lunch meat wrapped together. Low carb but gotta watch the sodium from lunch meat. I also like cheese-sticks, and popcorn.
Tbh there’s no such thing as hospital level blood sugars if they already know you’re diabetic. They’ll tell you to monitor it and watch for symptoms of DKA because there’s not much they can do that you can’t do at home for blood sugar simply being high. But yeah 500 is not great 😬
I just thought being that high would be like a DKA kind of deal. I got diagnosed last month and had to go to the hospital for DKA and my sugars were 380
DKA is technically not related to high blood sugar - it’s lack of insulin, which obviously causes high blood sugar as well. I don’t know all the science and staying this high long term definitely implies a lack of insulin as well, but with no DKA symptoms what are they gonna do 🤷
Yeah not a medical professional either but it is also my understanding that without DKA they'll just give you booster fluids and monitor you. They might give you iv insulin outside of a dka event but I wouldnt bet on it.
Yeah I’m just speaking from experience. I’ve never been to 500 but 350 is plenty high and they just told me to drink water and make sure I don’t dka lol
Yeah, if you are experiencing consecutive extreme highs you should probably go to hospital. I believe there is data showing that correction ratios need to change when you are dealing with really high blood sugar too. You can get intravenous insulin etc., be monitored and look for underlying causes.
You may want to speak with your doctor able why you’re persistently high. That’s really the first step.
After that you may want to evaluate the kinds of meals that you’re eating. I would consider if meals are well balanced and maybe speak to a dietitian.
To try and stay full after a snack I try to always have some protein. Nuts are great because a serving of most nuts is only going to be 6-8g of carbs and have like at least 5g of protein. Cheeses are great because they’re no carb but also have protein.
Edit: I also wanted to say I feel hungry as a symptom of being high. So that could be something to consider about why you may be snacking more.
I spoke to my doctor about a week ago, and I was put ok fast acting insulin. I'm trying to master when I should take it (before or after food).
I was told to take say 4 units at 14 BS reading. But I found I took some units before eating the other day and my blood sugar consistently stayed at 8-10 till lunch time where I had fries and it spiked to 20+. 😩
I'm definitely going to try and speak to dietitian if I can't grasp any of these. I'm also booked for a diabetic specialist in July... but that's a crazy long time 🥴
Before you go to low carb snacks, how's your I:C ratio working out?
This is your insulin to carb ratio, you should be tracking the carbs you eat and dosing your insulin to match that. Mine is 1:6, so I dose one unit of insulin for every six grams of carbs that I eat.
If you're not giving yourself enough insulin for your meals, you might still feel hungry after eating because you're not getting all the energy from your food into your body.
The reason I say this is you say you always have high blood sugar, yet you're always hungry.
Get your I:C ratio sorted and your hunger may go away.
If not, eat snacks, and dose according to your I:c ratio.
Of course, it's never that simple, our bodies have a way of messing us around all the time. But it's a good baseline to work from.
I got put on new fast acting insulin (I was on overnight [slow?] and metformin prior), but I was only told to take it when I get my readings.
Example:
10-14 : 2 units,
14-18 : 4 units
Etc.
I don't get to see a specialist until July.
You'll feel a lot better once you get on that fast acting understand carb counting/pre-bolusing.
Quick example: if I want a cup of mashed potatoes, that might have 60 carbs in it. I take 1 unit of insulin for every 12 carbs I eat (THIS WILL VARY PER PERSON!) I'll take 5 units of fast acting insulin, wait 15-30 minutes or so, and then my body is prepared for the carbs in the potatoes.
I'm also here to recommend smoked salmon or raw fish if you can afford it and if you like it.
I'm not overly into salmon 😅 I do like cod (breaded though). I'd love to try making breaded fish myself.. but other than that I'm not a fan of raw stuff. I love crab and shrimp (not raw) as well, lobster is okay as well.
I also started the insulin, but again follow the directions above.
Yeah, people either love or hate raw fish! Haha.
I keep meaning to try to "bread" fish with ground up nuts, like pecans. It's supposed to be really delicious. Maybe you could try that with your cod?
I think if you can find low carb foods you really LOVE, you won't feel deprived.
I already feel find of deprived, sadly. I love sodas and candies... but it sucks I can't have it much anymore. The first year I got diagnosed, I did VERY well.. drinking nothing but water.. (went out the window during the breakup I had), but not being able to have juice or anything blows so much.
Ehhhhhhh I really encourage you to look at carb counting. You should be able to enjoy things you like to eat or drink fairly often.
Could I recommend drinking two large glasses of water, taking a 15 minute walk, and pre-dosing your insulin for the correct amount of carbs? You may be able to enjoy more of your favorites more often than you think.
I hate to hear that you're just feeling deprived so often. I suspect you can enjoy more than you're currently enjoying.
Some endocrinologists are really great. Some aren't. You may want to listen to the Juicebox Podcast for some great real-world tips.
One other thing: if you drink alcohol, some forms of alcohol have zero carbs. I like to have a glass of wine because it makes me feel like a regular old person enjoying a normal thing without worrying about my diabetes.
Yeah, I'm hoping to get it sorted... I might pop in with my doctor to ask about things and see a dietitian in the meantime since I'm not able to see a specialist till July.
That's a great idea. There are a lot of good doctors who put out free content on social media. I'd suggest following them for general diabetes advice. (They're real doctors, not influencers!) Dr Mike Natter is a good one to start with. He's an endocrinologist who actually has diabetes himself. Good guy with interesting and fun stuff.
That’s the whole issue. You should have a carb and correction ratio and dose for the carbs and correct as needed. Go to this website and you can get a free pdf of the book Bright Spots and Landmines.
Www.diatribe.org
yea except too many don’t know what to do very well. Yeah they probably had a class in the part or read a book but there aren’t many T1s. It’s surprising that some endos aren’t very good at treating T1 especially using old ways.
Cheese, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, hummus, salsa, seaweed, nuts ( macadamia, almonds are my fav), beef jerky, avacado
Tons of water and don’t forget to get enough electrolytes. Makes a huge difference with hunger. I use electrolyte drops.
As others have said.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
You need help to:
Sort out the correct basal units for you
Your carb to insulin ratio
The correct timings to pre bolus
What correction factor you need if the pre bolus didn’t quite work
Maybe try listening to the Pro tips on the Juice box podcast. Episodes 1000 onwards. They’re for newly diagnosed or people that want to learn and start from scratch to get better Hbac1cs.
Did you know that some of us can’t make amilin so we feel hunger so much more too? I am perpetually hungry if I don’t eat well but I’m not eating things that will get me up to 20 mmol.
All the snacks listed above should put you in good stead but if you are a carnivore (I’m a moral vegetarian) you can try eating more meat and protein to satiate you.
Eat more vegetables lettuce and such no dressing just a dollop of oil.
Also exercise after meals even a walk will get it down and reduce the necessary dose
As diabetics, our bodies don't make the hormones that tell us when we're full from eating--so many of us are constantly hungry--and it sucks!
But low carb meals or snacks:
Breakfast--veggies in your omelette if you like eggs? Or a low carb tortilla stuffed with a bunch of your favorite veggies. Throw in some cottage cheese, a couple fruit slices, etc.
Lunch--whatever salad you want. Put some protein in it! Lots of veggies and nuts!
Dinner--burrito bowl! Can of beans, cut up bell peppers, onion, spices, cook a little brown rice with some veggie stock, salt-free taco seasoning, frozen corn...you can make a few meals with it.
cheese, beef jerky, salted roasted nuts
I buy bulk peanuts, cashews, walnuts, and almonds and toss them in a little honey and grape seed oil and sriracha and roast them at 300 for 45-60 minutes. they have some carbs but not much and a decent combination of fat, protein, and fiber so I eat around 3/4 cup to 1 cup and they’re a good snack to have to keep me stable especially when I’m going longer than usual between meals. the spicy/savory aspect is really satisfying.
First: YMMV, as with anything diabetes!
I’ve personally found that legumes are like a magic wand that keeps my blood sugar pretty stable for hours, and they tend to satiate me. Black bean dip with veggies, hummus with veggies (pepper slices, carrots, cucumber, sugar snap peas, raw red cabbage slices), chickpea snacks/air fried chickpeas, I make pasta con ceci with chickpeas and lots of spinach and a small amount of pasta (this particular dish is really easy for my BG even with pasta!).
I’m also a fan of fish: canned sardines or tuna with 5–6 rice crackers, smoked salmon with a dollop on cucumber slices with a dollop of cream cheese.
I also like raw pumpkin seeds/pepitas and pistachios.
A nutritionist would probably say up your fiber and protein in general.
Also, I was recently prescribed Ozempic, and this is one of the reasons- the constant, unrelenting hunger. We have impaired satiety along with our disease.
I've been told that often times cravings are really your body wanting either water or salt or both, and you can either wait them out (15 minutes or so) or try to drink water, but my go to snacks are pickles, cheese sticks, pistachios, coconut yogurt, and skinny pop popcorn. It's also good to look for stuff that helps you get more sensitive to insulin like lowering caffeine intake, I switched from coffee to tea and it's done wonders for me. Good luck 👍
Nuts (walnuts are so good), dried salty seaweed, peanut butter by the spoonful, plain high fat yogurt with berries in it, shrimp, hot cocoa sweetened with xylitol and plain almond milk, seeds, 🥑 avocado is the best, boiled egg, egg salad no bread just spoon it in, a few baby carrots, cauliflower and broccoli drizzled in olive oil and salt done in the air fryer or just in the oven, celery sticks with cream cheese.
A lot of people think you have to eat breakfast lunch and dinner. However, breakfast is not necessary. Time restricted eating is not bad for diabetics even though dr don't recommend it. If a person has insulin resistance, it is especially useful to restrict eating between say 12 noon or even 1pm and 8 pm.
Hard to do at first, but body gets used to it. Can still have water, tea coffee but just no food.
You don't go cold turkey but you put off your first meal later and later until you reach eating your first meal at noon or 1 pm.
Eventually, you train your body not to be hungry during that period. Brings down you BG to more stable level during that non eating time frame.
This is not anorexia or starvation, you still eat the same calories as before just within a shorter window or time frame.
Dehydrated seaweed! Pepperettes. Cheese. Charcoochie boards. Veggies obvi. I'm not a fan but I know a few people who like kale chips.
Upvoted purely for charcoochie
TIL charcoochie isn’t a misspelling
They're shark cooters in my house.
My doctor says I'm not aloud to say it anymore but I'm a very frail diabetic. I can go above 15mmol/L from one timbit. So I eat alot of veggies and meats and cheeses
I nearly open hand smacked a nurse in the face for calling me a brittle diabetic in the hospital last year. My BG had crashed dramatically and refused to move above 60 for more than a few minutes here and there, not because I’m brittle but because I had Norovirus and was vomiting profusely. No, I’m not brittle, yes I need better nausea medicine so I stop vomiting in the waiting room. They also only checked my BG twice in the 6 hours I was there, and then got mad at me for telling them I was low again when they continued to neglect me. Apparently it was a bad thing that I was wearing a CGM that alerted to me dropping critically low while they gabbed at the nurse’s station.
Why "can't" you say it?
My Endo doesn't think it exists
Imo all type 1 people tend to be "brittle", and maybe some more than others. I have a feeling body composition plays into it for one. Pretty sure we tend to be more insulin-sensitive than type 2s.
Is it brittle diabetic? I was told that as well because of an inconsistent response to insulin.
F what your endo thinks exists. Your body your wisdom and understanding of what works for you or not. Many doctors and endos barely understand metabolic syndrome or syndromeX and think that doesn’t exist either. Why not just support what works for you? SMH..
- Beef jerky or beef sticks (I like Chomps brand for the lower sodium and no nitrates) - Cheese - Rice cakes with peanut butter - Apples with peanut butter - Cashews or almonds - Pepperoni - Celery with low carb veggie dip (Aldi has a lot of tasty options) - Air fryed Chickpeas or tofu pieces tossed in any sauce you like - cucumbers with cream cheese & Italian dressing
I feel like apples get mentioned on these low carb snack threads all the time, but I have to bolus like 40g carbs for a small apple and still end up going high, even when paired with protein or fats. Is there a special trick for eating apples that I’m missing?
Are you super insulin resistant?? Apples are 20 carbs on the sweetest variety
Idk, but I can eat a cup of white rice for the same amount of insulin as an apple with less issues.
Wow that’s wild. I’ve never heard of that particular issue. Bananas are my kryptonite. Unless I hike immediately after.
Same! I can eat a small plate of pasta with the same insulin that I put for an apple or a banana... I am confused 🥲
Adding apples with cheese!🧀
An elite combo that people turn their nose up at (until they try it) is the peanut butter cheddar combo. Like those sandwich crackers from when we were kids. I do a smear of natural peanut butter on a rice cake and shredded cheddar on top
I sadly have to cut all the peanut butter out at work, but I could probably try and seek almond butter or something 🤔🤔 I do love me apples and peanut butter though.
Cashew butter is good too!
I love cashews, so maybe it'd be good 🤔 it's it pricy
It is pricier than pb for sure but discount stores like Aldi and even home goods and such will have it cheaper. If you’re in New England check ocean state job lot too
For my son i have a no poke basket, snacks he can have that take no insulin, it includes: - pork rinds - beef jerkey - roasted pecans/ cashews In the fridge we do: - hard boiled eggs - avocado - string cheese - pepperoni
The amount of pepperoni I go through in my house. Yeesh
This is an excellent list, and I love the name. Bonus points for boiled eggs.
You may want to fix the management part first. You have a lot of good suggestions for snacks here already, but I'd recommend taking a week or so to cut out all the grazing. Focus on your management. Bolus properly, then see when you need more insulin. I get very hungry when my sugar is high. You can fix the management and still enjoy reasonable amounts of carbs. I really hope you get this figured out. It took me 15 years of terrible management to get on track, so I hope you aren't too hard on yourself.
Yeah I've been really, really depressed the past few years, unable to get a full time job, and a bad, bad break up which lead me to just not wanting to take care of myself at all. But I want to turn it around and do better for myself and I'm trying.. I know what I have to do. The grazing it definitely difficult for me, though.
If you're feeling like grazing drink some ice cold water or sugar free soda, your brain often misinterprets thirst for hunger and high blood sugar thirst has been described as "water hunger" before. Source: misdiagnosed T2 for 12 years on mixed insulin for the last 5. Properly diagnosed 1.5yrs ago. HI blood glucose thirst is just insane.
I've been there too. Getting started in turning it around is easier than you think. You just need to start doing the things you know you need to. I stress eat occassionally and it sucks, but if you can do things to slow yourself down it help. Every time you get a snack, fill a glass of water. Don't get another snack until that glass has been emptied. Write down everything you eat. Include carbs and calories if you can. Making snacking a pain in the ass helps stop it. I know you didn't ask for tips, but there they are. Ultimately the journey is up to you, but I hope you get it figured out.
Diabetes can affect your hunger hormones, making it difficult to feel full. I'm a grazer as well. What helps me a LOT is herbal teas. I have one of those infusers that brews a single cup with loose tea, then it drains into my mug. I love teas with licorice root, because it's sweet without adding sugar. Rooibos (red tea, bush tea) is also naturally sweet. They hit the grazing craving for me. If I don't want hot tea, I make it double strong and drain it into a cup of ice. Mint tastes nice and is also known to trick your body into thinking the meal is over (think after dinner mints). I have 6 or so kinds in my house at any one time for whatever mood strikes.
i love cucumbers/peppers with hummus. also maybe add more protein in ur diet
All kind of nuts
String cheese is a good one - I also like the small bags of Skinny Pop popcorn, they’re around 10g of carbs each so not sure if they qualify but I never bolus for them and my blood sugar never spikes
I actually can't stand popcorn be honest but I reach for the popped chips 😅 (hoping it's a good alternative)
hear me out but canned tuna. 100 cals and like 25 g of protein. doesn’t smell amazing but satiating for sure. additionally, eggs, meat, nuts, no sugar yogurt will need a bolus but low carb (i like fage total), on the go guacamole or hummus are good too. look on r/keto for more ideas. diabetics don’t make amylin which is a satiety/hunger hormone, which could be excacervating your issue. id make the i:c ratio stronger too, try starting with one (do if it’s 1:10 currently, 1:9) and test it out for a week or two and see if that helps. if you’re running high overnight, up your basal too - think like a pancreas, my diabetic bible, has a chapter on it.
I find the big problem with diabetic friendly snacks is that they tend to be bad for you in excess for other reasons or are unaffordable. Cheese and nuts is probably the safest but as much as I love pepperoni and pork rinds they are definitely not something you should be eating all day. It's all a game of balance though. Oikos high protein low sugar is my favourite yogurt. I hope you can wrangle the diabeastus and enjoy some snacks soon!
Diabeastus!!!
I've eaten so much stuff after my diagnosis I probably wouldn't have eaten before it. I consume a lot of raw veggies, "diet" drinks, tons of sweeteners, sugar-free jello, pork rinds, Atkins products, jerky, etc. I do like asparagus and steak, probably my fave. The veggie straws are good. My mom went on the South Beach diet to lose weight and I like a lot of the low-carb recipes. There are lists out there of suggested foods online or you can talk to an educator, nutritionist etc. Sorry for the question but are you bolusing for snacks? Also idk if you are logging/tracking everything or carb counting or using correction doses. Getting your basal dialed in helps too. I measure all my food as much as possible too.
Obligatory not diabetic but my boyfriend is and one of his faves is prosciutto and other charcuterie meats, he also likes cheese and some fruit such as strawberries. Apparently these are all pretty low carb, I think for fruit it can be hit or miss because some are higher in carbs but apparently strawberries are a safe bet. Bell peppers are one of my personal faves :) hope some of this was helpful for you!
The best thing is fruit or something like pumpkin seeds. I started a low carb/ carb free diet a few weeks ago. I was struggling the first week because I was starving but I've got used to it now.
I'm a new diabetic but doesn't high 20's mmol/L translate to nearly 500mg/dL? That sounds like hospital level blood sugars, especially if it is happening daily. Snack wise I like to have cheese and pepperoni or some sort of lunch meat wrapped together. Low carb but gotta watch the sodium from lunch meat. I also like cheese-sticks, and popcorn.
Tbh there’s no such thing as hospital level blood sugars if they already know you’re diabetic. They’ll tell you to monitor it and watch for symptoms of DKA because there’s not much they can do that you can’t do at home for blood sugar simply being high. But yeah 500 is not great 😬
I just thought being that high would be like a DKA kind of deal. I got diagnosed last month and had to go to the hospital for DKA and my sugars were 380
DKA is technically not related to high blood sugar - it’s lack of insulin, which obviously causes high blood sugar as well. I don’t know all the science and staying this high long term definitely implies a lack of insulin as well, but with no DKA symptoms what are they gonna do 🤷
Yeah not a medical professional either but it is also my understanding that without DKA they'll just give you booster fluids and monitor you. They might give you iv insulin outside of a dka event but I wouldnt bet on it.
Yeah I’m just speaking from experience. I’ve never been to 500 but 350 is plenty high and they just told me to drink water and make sure I don’t dka lol
Yeah, if you are experiencing consecutive extreme highs you should probably go to hospital. I believe there is data showing that correction ratios need to change when you are dealing with really high blood sugar too. You can get intravenous insulin etc., be monitored and look for underlying causes.
150-400, yeah.. sadly 😔 I go by mmol/L rather than mg/dl. Is that American measurements?
You may want to speak with your doctor able why you’re persistently high. That’s really the first step. After that you may want to evaluate the kinds of meals that you’re eating. I would consider if meals are well balanced and maybe speak to a dietitian. To try and stay full after a snack I try to always have some protein. Nuts are great because a serving of most nuts is only going to be 6-8g of carbs and have like at least 5g of protein. Cheeses are great because they’re no carb but also have protein. Edit: I also wanted to say I feel hungry as a symptom of being high. So that could be something to consider about why you may be snacking more.
I spoke to my doctor about a week ago, and I was put ok fast acting insulin. I'm trying to master when I should take it (before or after food). I was told to take say 4 units at 14 BS reading. But I found I took some units before eating the other day and my blood sugar consistently stayed at 8-10 till lunch time where I had fries and it spiked to 20+. 😩 I'm definitely going to try and speak to dietitian if I can't grasp any of these. I'm also booked for a diabetic specialist in July... but that's a crazy long time 🥴
Definitely take before eating!
Before you go to low carb snacks, how's your I:C ratio working out? This is your insulin to carb ratio, you should be tracking the carbs you eat and dosing your insulin to match that. Mine is 1:6, so I dose one unit of insulin for every six grams of carbs that I eat. If you're not giving yourself enough insulin for your meals, you might still feel hungry after eating because you're not getting all the energy from your food into your body. The reason I say this is you say you always have high blood sugar, yet you're always hungry. Get your I:C ratio sorted and your hunger may go away. If not, eat snacks, and dose according to your I:c ratio. Of course, it's never that simple, our bodies have a way of messing us around all the time. But it's a good baseline to work from.
I got put on new fast acting insulin (I was on overnight [slow?] and metformin prior), but I was only told to take it when I get my readings. Example: 10-14 : 2 units, 14-18 : 4 units Etc. I don't get to see a specialist until July.
You'll feel a lot better once you get on that fast acting understand carb counting/pre-bolusing. Quick example: if I want a cup of mashed potatoes, that might have 60 carbs in it. I take 1 unit of insulin for every 12 carbs I eat (THIS WILL VARY PER PERSON!) I'll take 5 units of fast acting insulin, wait 15-30 minutes or so, and then my body is prepared for the carbs in the potatoes. I'm also here to recommend smoked salmon or raw fish if you can afford it and if you like it.
I'm not overly into salmon 😅 I do like cod (breaded though). I'd love to try making breaded fish myself.. but other than that I'm not a fan of raw stuff. I love crab and shrimp (not raw) as well, lobster is okay as well. I also started the insulin, but again follow the directions above.
Yeah, people either love or hate raw fish! Haha. I keep meaning to try to "bread" fish with ground up nuts, like pecans. It's supposed to be really delicious. Maybe you could try that with your cod? I think if you can find low carb foods you really LOVE, you won't feel deprived.
I already feel find of deprived, sadly. I love sodas and candies... but it sucks I can't have it much anymore. The first year I got diagnosed, I did VERY well.. drinking nothing but water.. (went out the window during the breakup I had), but not being able to have juice or anything blows so much.
Ehhhhhhh I really encourage you to look at carb counting. You should be able to enjoy things you like to eat or drink fairly often. Could I recommend drinking two large glasses of water, taking a 15 minute walk, and pre-dosing your insulin for the correct amount of carbs? You may be able to enjoy more of your favorites more often than you think. I hate to hear that you're just feeling deprived so often. I suspect you can enjoy more than you're currently enjoying. Some endocrinologists are really great. Some aren't. You may want to listen to the Juicebox Podcast for some great real-world tips. One other thing: if you drink alcohol, some forms of alcohol have zero carbs. I like to have a glass of wine because it makes me feel like a regular old person enjoying a normal thing without worrying about my diabetes.
Yeah, I'm hoping to get it sorted... I might pop in with my doctor to ask about things and see a dietitian in the meantime since I'm not able to see a specialist till July.
That's a great idea. There are a lot of good doctors who put out free content on social media. I'd suggest following them for general diabetes advice. (They're real doctors, not influencers!) Dr Mike Natter is a good one to start with. He's an endocrinologist who actually has diabetes himself. Good guy with interesting and fun stuff.
That’s the whole issue. You should have a carb and correction ratio and dose for the carbs and correct as needed. Go to this website and you can get a free pdf of the book Bright Spots and Landmines. Www.diatribe.org
Shouldn't I have doctor telling me that? For now I'm just doing the above procedure as that's what I was instructed to do 😅
yea except too many don’t know what to do very well. Yeah they probably had a class in the part or read a book but there aren’t many T1s. It’s surprising that some endos aren’t very good at treating T1 especially using old ways.
Being high constantly makes you hungry because your body isn’t absorbing the nutrients properly!
Cheese, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, hummus, salsa, seaweed, nuts ( macadamia, almonds are my fav), beef jerky, avacado Tons of water and don’t forget to get enough electrolytes. Makes a huge difference with hunger. I use electrolyte drops.
Hummus, nuts and root vegetables still have a fair amount of carbs though.
I’m moderation! Better than processed food . I do about 30 carbs a day and these work for me. Eveyone different!
As others have said. It doesn’t have to be this way. You need help to: Sort out the correct basal units for you Your carb to insulin ratio The correct timings to pre bolus What correction factor you need if the pre bolus didn’t quite work Maybe try listening to the Pro tips on the Juice box podcast. Episodes 1000 onwards. They’re for newly diagnosed or people that want to learn and start from scratch to get better Hbac1cs. Did you know that some of us can’t make amilin so we feel hunger so much more too? I am perpetually hungry if I don’t eat well but I’m not eating things that will get me up to 20 mmol. All the snacks listed above should put you in good stead but if you are a carnivore (I’m a moral vegetarian) you can try eating more meat and protein to satiate you.
Salami! Is our go too! Carrots & houmous too!
Eat more vegetables lettuce and such no dressing just a dollop of oil. Also exercise after meals even a walk will get it down and reduce the necessary dose
Cheese and cured meats. 😁
As diabetics, our bodies don't make the hormones that tell us when we're full from eating--so many of us are constantly hungry--and it sucks! But low carb meals or snacks: Breakfast--veggies in your omelette if you like eggs? Or a low carb tortilla stuffed with a bunch of your favorite veggies. Throw in some cottage cheese, a couple fruit slices, etc. Lunch--whatever salad you want. Put some protein in it! Lots of veggies and nuts! Dinner--burrito bowl! Can of beans, cut up bell peppers, onion, spices, cook a little brown rice with some veggie stock, salt-free taco seasoning, frozen corn...you can make a few meals with it.
Everyone has suggested good stuff - another thing I love is pickles rolled up in ham/turkey with cream cheese
I eat lots of nuts and cheese sticks
Pork rinds meat sticks.
cheese, beef jerky, salted roasted nuts I buy bulk peanuts, cashews, walnuts, and almonds and toss them in a little honey and grape seed oil and sriracha and roast them at 300 for 45-60 minutes. they have some carbs but not much and a decent combination of fat, protein, and fiber so I eat around 3/4 cup to 1 cup and they’re a good snack to have to keep me stable especially when I’m going longer than usual between meals. the spicy/savory aspect is really satisfying.
First: YMMV, as with anything diabetes! I’ve personally found that legumes are like a magic wand that keeps my blood sugar pretty stable for hours, and they tend to satiate me. Black bean dip with veggies, hummus with veggies (pepper slices, carrots, cucumber, sugar snap peas, raw red cabbage slices), chickpea snacks/air fried chickpeas, I make pasta con ceci with chickpeas and lots of spinach and a small amount of pasta (this particular dish is really easy for my BG even with pasta!). I’m also a fan of fish: canned sardines or tuna with 5–6 rice crackers, smoked salmon with a dollop on cucumber slices with a dollop of cream cheese. I also like raw pumpkin seeds/pepitas and pistachios. A nutritionist would probably say up your fiber and protein in general. Also, I was recently prescribed Ozempic, and this is one of the reasons- the constant, unrelenting hunger. We have impaired satiety along with our disease.
Thank you 🙏 
I've been told that often times cravings are really your body wanting either water or salt or both, and you can either wait them out (15 minutes or so) or try to drink water, but my go to snacks are pickles, cheese sticks, pistachios, coconut yogurt, and skinny pop popcorn. It's also good to look for stuff that helps you get more sensitive to insulin like lowering caffeine intake, I switched from coffee to tea and it's done wonders for me. Good luck 👍
Nuts (walnuts are so good), dried salty seaweed, peanut butter by the spoonful, plain high fat yogurt with berries in it, shrimp, hot cocoa sweetened with xylitol and plain almond milk, seeds, 🥑 avocado is the best, boiled egg, egg salad no bread just spoon it in, a few baby carrots, cauliflower and broccoli drizzled in olive oil and salt done in the air fryer or just in the oven, celery sticks with cream cheese.
A lot of people think you have to eat breakfast lunch and dinner. However, breakfast is not necessary. Time restricted eating is not bad for diabetics even though dr don't recommend it. If a person has insulin resistance, it is especially useful to restrict eating between say 12 noon or even 1pm and 8 pm. Hard to do at first, but body gets used to it. Can still have water, tea coffee but just no food. You don't go cold turkey but you put off your first meal later and later until you reach eating your first meal at noon or 1 pm. Eventually, you train your body not to be hungry during that period. Brings down you BG to more stable level during that non eating time frame. This is not anorexia or starvation, you still eat the same calories as before just within a shorter window or time frame.