Debra's Story

I have been a Type 1 Diabetic for sixty years, and still going strong, fingers crossed. I was 4 years of age when first diagnosed in September 1960. I inject insulin several times a day, a fast acting one before meals and a basal one morning and evening. I have an Abbott Libre with a Miaomiao attached, to which gives me constant blood sugar readings on my phone and watch. It also tells me if my blood sugars are going too high or low.  It is such a luxury, I love it.

My diet in my early days was very high carb, much different to what it is now. My lunch and dinner contained 8ozs/225 gms of potatoes, which was a lot for an 8 year old. Over the past 25 years my diet has been moderately low carb, ranging between 70 and 80 grams of carbohydrates a day. My HbA1c is on average around 6.5mmol/L. Of course I have the odd occasion where my carb intake might be higher, but as long as I have taken enough insulin to counteract it, that’s fine for the odd event.

I am aiming to get my average HbA1c lower, so that levels remain constant, less insulin and overall better health and wellbeing, short and long term.

I am currently on a low carb diet of around 30 – 40 gms of carbohydrates a day and take regular exercise. This is to get a better HbA1c average, constant levels, keep trim and feel good in myself.  Mind you, if I have to give a number 1 reason, it’s so that my HbA1c is lower. As my school report used to say, Debra could do better.  I am not saying that my insulin levels are high, as they are not.

I was asked last year by a Diabetic Consultant to undertake additional blood tests to confirm that I was a T1D, as my insulin dose was low.  I did have a good laugh about this and thought I might have to send my 50 years with diabetes medal back to the Diabetic Association. Needless to say, I am a Type 1 and thankfully will not be arrested for fraud.

As Dr Ian Lake states about insulin intake, “as much as needed and as little as possible. Once you get used to doing this, life is so much easier and it is a great way to live life.  I can recommend it to anyone wanting to lost weight and stay healthy.

I have always followed Katie Caldesi’s cooking and have nearly all her books.  When carbs are present, I reduce the amount of carbs to a smidgen not to increase my insulin levels.

Now with Katie’s new books, she has brought a breath of fresh air to my way of cooking and eating. I can eat low carb breads and treats without skimping and remain within my lower carb levels.  What is there not to like.