Oskar Minkowski was a German physiologist who, in the late 19th century, conducted research on diabetes that would eventually lead to the discovery of insulin. As important as his research was, it’s the way in which he made the discovery that was quite peculiar. A chance meeting and a friendly bet between Minkowski and his colleague Joseph Von Mering is what changed everyone’s understanding of diabetes.
[Read more…]20+ Struggles of Parents who have a T1D Toddler
T1D isn’t a pleasant thing to have at any age. You’re getting poked and prodded all the time, there are about a million decisions to make, and everything just gets a little more complicated. But there’s something particularly unpleasant about navigating T1D when your baby or toddler is the one with the disease. Here are 20 things that parents of T1D babies and toddlers have to deal with that other people with T1D usually don’t.
[Read more…]How to Dose for Pop-Tarts without a BG Spike
Pop-Tarts. Not the healthiest breakfast or snack by any measure. However, they’re fun and easy to grab and go. Having a little treat now and then is nice. But at 65ish grams of carbs per pack, these little guys pack quite the punch! So, if we’re going to be having Pop-Tarts, we should come up with a solid plan for insulin dosing.
[Read more…]Bolusing for Bananas
Often, people with T1D find bananas cause spikes in bg. So much so that many people stop eating bananas altogether. They are definitely a tricky food to dose for. Let’s talk about why they are so tricky, what we can do about it, and see if we can figure out how to eat them without the dreaded bg spike.
[Read more…]Benedict’s Solution: Before CGM Systems and Glucometers
With CGM and FGM systems becoming the norm to manage type 1 diabetes, it can be hard to imagine what we ever did without them. At-home glucometers weren’t available until the 1970s. Knowing what we know now, it’s kind of scary to think of how people measured glucose levels before that. One of the most common ways to test glucose levels was to use Benedict’s Solution or another similar urine analysis method.
[Read more…]Carb Ratio Testing: How to Determine if your ICR is Accurate
You’re seeing roller coaster bg numbers. You know you need to change something, but what? Is it your carb ratio? Your basal? Maybe it’s your ISF? It could even be a mix of two or all three of them! It can be really difficult to know where to start. So, let’s see if we can find the problem.
[Read more…]Pray for Us if You Like
Something interesting happens when people find out that someone has an illness. When they really understand that it’s serious. That it’s stressful and overwhelming. Often, they decide to pray. While it can be a nice gesture, sometimes people don’t understand the harm they may be causing. And it’s not just because the other person might not be religious…
[Read more…]Carb Factors: What are they and how do you use them?
Do you know what a carb factor is? If your answer is “no” don’t worry! Lots of people in the T1D community haven’t even heard of carb factors before. But, they can be a really helpful tool for insulin dosing. All you need is a nutrition scale and the nutritional information for your food. Don’t have the nutritional information? There are ways around that. Let’s go over what carb factors are, how to use them, and how to calculate them for your favorite recipes!
[Read more…]Carb Counting and Confusing Nutrition Labels
You know how to count carbs. And how to dose for them. Maybe you even know how to handle protein and fat. You’re quickly becoming a T1D superstar, but sometimes, nutrition labels throw a wrench in the whole process. Here are some confusing things that are often on nutrition labels, and the best ways to figure them out!
[Read more…]I Forgot my Basal Insulin. What do I do now?
You’re having a great day. You’ve accomplished everything on your “to-do” list. The kids are content, the pets are taken care of, and the chores are done. You’re patting yourself on the back for the wonderful job you’ve done today. But you have a little nagging feeling in the back of your mind. Suddenly, it hits you. You forgot to do your basal insulin!
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