Type 2 diabetes..Pump User, issues with irregular blood sugars..?

[Triskeliongirl]

In my experience even maltodextrin and 'complex carbs' raise my blood sugar too high for too long. Please get her to look at the resources that I recommended. But certainly, a lower carb diet like south beach or protein power would be much better than how I imagine she is now eating, or how the ADA currently recommends that diabetics eat. But for me, going very low carb is the only way I can stay off of medication. If she does want to go 'moderate carb' than a book like the paleo diet for athletes is a good resource.

[KnottedYet]

My mom is a brittle diabetic and was in the trials for the first insulin pumps way back when. (1970's)

+1 on the high protien/complex carbs diet. Mom ate that way before the docs started recommending it, and it really helped.

+1 on carefully watching what happens during exercise.

Also, consider the insulin. Different folks need different insulins. Beef and pork insulin lost effectiveness for my mom just as Humulin came along, which saved her butt.

Is it possible her pancreas is making some insulin of its own? (Mom's is completely dead, so I don't know what that would look like.)

Will your insurance pay for her to go to a diabetes specialist? Unstable diabetes can wreak havoc, and if it goes on you will see effects for years.

Mom's insurance is pretty bad, she goes to Canada for some of her supplies (even paying full price there is cheaper than her co-pay here) and gets her pump sets on eBay.

(I won't give my political opinion on the state of US healthcare when someone gets medical supplies necessary to live off eBay because it's cheaper than buying them with insurance at the pharmacy.)

[davidlee]

In my experience even maltodextrin and 'complex carbs' raise my blood sugar too high for too long. Please get her to look at the resources that I recommended. But certainly, a lower carb diet like south beach or protein power would be much better than how I imagine she is now eating, or how the ADA currently recommends that diabetics eat. But for me, going very low carb is the only way I can stay off of medication. If she does want to go 'moderate carb' than a book like the paleo diet for athletes is a good resource.

What is maltodextrin? Is it bad? When I said that I drink Myoplex MRPs, they said it is all maltodextrin and I should stop.

[Triskeliongirl]

Maltodextrin is a sugar polymer that is rapidly metabolized to glucose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextrin
It is a fast acting carb just like pure sugar. A non-diabetic athlete can handle it just fine (that's what gu's and gels are made of) but I do not recommend it for a diabetic.

[davidlee]

Maltodextrin is a sugar polymer that is rapidly metabolized to glucose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextrin
It is a fast acting carb just like pure sugar. A non-diabetic athlete can handle it just fine (that's what gu's and gels are made of) but I do not recommend it for a diabetic.

excellent response. Thank you..

[davidlee]

Thanks for your all replies.