raising my basal rate a little to lose weight

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Permalink Reply by Katarina on August 7, 2009 at 1:14pm

I don't know if it's me but this doesn't make sense. I'm doing the exact opposite. I too have a pump and I've lowered my basal rate in order to reduce food intake. I also work out without my pump attached. For every 30 minutes I work out, I eat 15g carbs (not adding g of sugars) without injecting for it. I feel better than at the beginning of the summer. I'm also drinking more water and eating more veggies and fruits. Don't know how much weight I've lost but I have lost almost 2 pant sizes.
I'm 125-130 lbs. My BMI is like 22.4. Not too sure. Don't have a scale. But I definitely feel better.

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Permalink Reply by Peggy Hall on September 24, 2009 at 1:25pm

I have lost weight on the pump before (I gained it back) but I lost quite a bit qith diet and exercise - eating mostly fiber, and some cardio , but a LOT of weight lifting - that is where your body burns sugar, and you turn your basal rate DOWN.

Don't eat to make up for the lows - use the rule of 15 - 15 carbs raises your Bg 50 points in 15 minutes. Carry a liquid 15g glucose with you. If you're truly low (Under 65-70) then 50 up won't take you too high and you won't have to bolus for it. Turn down your basal rate for tomorrow. Check your BG before, during and after your work out. Weight lifting will initially raise your BG because of the stress on the body, but burns more on the long run, so try doing some weight bearing exercise first to keep yourself stable during the cardio. One you have it dialed in - if your pump does it, have a basal setting for work out days and non work out days!

High blood sugar will make you hungry too - if you don't keep tight control, then all the energy (sugar) your body's cells need to function are flowing around in your blood teasing them and causing all sorts of damage in the process, so your cells send out signals "FEED ME! NOW!" and you start to crave carbs. (So, if any of you have a diabetic in your life that eats sugar too much, please understand that their body is starving, and it's trying to save itself - and if it's any of you that did that - let go of the guilt and move on)

A 2000 calorie diet should eat
3 good fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds) (1 fat is 5 grams)
2-3 veggie fiber (about 1 c raw is 1)
2-3 carbs (15 grams is 1 carb)
1-2 protien (7 grams is 1 protien)

per meal (3 times per day), and eat the carbs last if possible- Some things count as one of each like a glass of FF milk is a protein and a carb.

Per snack (3 times daily)
2-3 veggie fiber
1-2 fat
1-2 protein
1- 2 carb

To cut down calories - cut down the fats & proteins by one serving, and then drop a carb as you loose weight - keep the veggies, don't go under 1200 K-cal per day. - always eat the fiber first if at all possible - it changes how your body assimilates the rest of what you eat, and the carbs won't spike your sugar as much! make the best of your carbs with a couple fruits, and some whole grain breads, cereals (Kashi go lean has a very low glycemic index) and pastas.

The goal is to take less and less insulin and as you get your body in better muscular shape, and loose weight, you'll use less and less. In my sedentary state with virtually no movement, I took 5 U per hour as my basal rate - ending up over 175 U per day. i load my pump with U500 insulin because I use so much. I did yoga yesterday and went on a bike ride, and had to turn my basal rate down already! YAY!

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Permalink Reply by isela on October 1, 2009 at 2:12pm

i got discourage after setting myself on a tight weight loss excersice program i lost two pounds the first week... then it seemed that i gained 4pounds more... i am confused i am doing healthy eating... my excersice... what to do? what to do?

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