Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeska on May 21, 2011 at 5:10pm

I use Apidra in my Pods and my TDD runs between 26-32. I am also 5'7" and 150lbs, and trying to lose the same: about 10-15lbs. Unfortunately due to a spinal injury I'm somewhat (not completely) limited as far as physical activity so I can no longer be a gym rat and it's hard to lose those few pounds.

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Permalink Reply by Kari on May 21, 2011 at 5:21pm

Roughly 50 units a day. However, compared to a lot of other T1s I've seen posting here at TuD, I seem to need double the basal rate many of them need. My I:C ratio seems more in line with other T1s...HOWEVER, I don't go low carb. I have cut back a bit on carbs in the past few months, taking my TDD from 60ish to it's current 50ish, but it's still not 'low carb' by any stretch.

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Permalink Reply by Doris D on May 21, 2011 at 5:54pm

I'm a pumper myself and my total insulin useage is around 30 units a day. I'm 5' 5" and weigh around 135. I have no idea how to lose weight b/c if I get upset I will lose like 10 pounds while I fret & fuss.

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Permalink Reply by Jag1 on May 21, 2011 at 9:37pm

Knowing that insulin contributes to fat storage etc. etc.

Although this "fact" is thrown around a lot by low carbers (thanks to Taubes), this is actually not accepted wisdom for the majority of research scientists. Most believe that weight gain or loss is fully dependent on the number of calories you consume and the number of calories you burn. As long as you balance your food with the proper amount of insulin, it doesn't matter whether your calories are from eating carbs or protein or fat.

I'm not a pumper, but am a T1 using MDI of Levemir and Humalog. My TDD is currently about 45. I am 6'5" and about 185 lbs. I don't eat low carb, but do exercise regularly.

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Permalink Reply by Heather on May 21, 2011 at 9:55pm

Yes ... the calories in/out explanation makes most sense to me and seems, as far as I know, to be accepted by many low-carbers.

Interestingly, though, I've found that by reducing my carb intake, I'm much less hungry than I am when consuming more carbs ... so less likely to consume excess calories. I'm not sure about the physiological relationship between insulin and hunger, but when I mentioned to my endo that I was hungry all the time, she suggested that I was probably "over-insulinized."

As for insulin and fat storage, I'd be interested in reading more from those in the know!

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on May 21, 2011 at 9:48pm

My TDD seems to run about 35-43U/ day. I am not sure about the Taubes/fat/ insulin thing although I got his book today and it seems interesting so far. A lot of what he seems to be writing suggests that weight loss trends towards the apocryphal however I was 275 lbs @ my peak and am around 185 lbs these days? This is since maybe 2006 or thereabouts so it has not been quick. I have exercised quite a bit too so I'm not sure how to interpret the remarks in the bits I've read so far suggesting that exercise is a waste (waist?) of time? My pre-pumping regimen was all over the place.

I also think that TDD tends to be very individual and that it may not be super useful to compare yourself to other people's TDD? I think that it's better to compare it to food and BG numbers.

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Permalink Reply by Heather on May 21, 2011 at 9:57pm

I also think that TDD tends to be very individual and that it may not be super useful to compare yourself to other people's TDD?

Oh, I agree that the comparison isn't particularly useful ... I was just curious!

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Permalink Reply by Tumy on May 22, 2011 at 1:32am

My TDD runs between 19-24. I've been also cutting back on carbs in attempt not only to lose weight, but also to stabilize my blood sugar.
I also agree that not only carb intake is important, but mostly your calorie intake. :)

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Permalink Reply by Heather on May 22, 2011 at 10:22am

BG stability is my other (and ultimately more important) goal as well. I've found that eating fewer carbs / taking smaller boluses has resulted in a smoother ride on the gluco-coaster (Bernstein's famous law of small numbers, I guess). It's not perfect by any means, but it's better. I've seen less progress in the weight loss department — boo! — so it's probably time I started paying more attention to calories.

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Permalink Reply by Tumy on May 22, 2011 at 11:23am

Totally agree! Since two months I've been really cutting on carbs and there is no weight loss. I'm only happy that the BG is way more stable than before. And that's what matters most.

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Permalink Reply by Scott E on May 22, 2011 at 11:08am

I'm about 5'7", 145 lbs and my total daily units are generally about 30, maybe a few units less on some days, a few units more on others. My weight has been relatively consistent for the last 20 years.... so has (unfortunately, but expectedtly) my height.

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