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    • 44 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      same here. I was able to get a neurologist to diagnose it as that.
    • 45 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I have developed this very weird numbness and pain in my left outer thigh which I attribute to neuropathy, although there has been no official diagnosis. Of course, like every good diabetic, I did my own research and found that it is called meralgia paresthetica. It only comes on intermittently and rarely interferes with daily functions. Rest remedies it. Having lived with T1D for 56 years so far, I consider myself to be pretty lucky...so far.
    • 46 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I feel the same way. I'm never sure who to believe or how to get a valid assessment.
    • 46 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. There have been slight indications of neuropathy for a number of years. However it is not severe. Whenever I go to orthopedics, I try to stop at endocrinology first and get an accurate assessment of my current neuropathy. Whenever a non-endocrinologist doctor reads I’m T1D every problem I’m having is caused by T1D. Then the root, non-diabetic, issue is never addressed.
    • 3 hours, 29 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      Gastroparesis
    • 3 hours, 30 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      In late summer of 2017 I lost all feeling in both lower extremities to my hips and both upper extremities to my shoulders. It was not all diabetic related though. Lowered the drug in my chemo regimen but didn't reverse by next treatment, so that drug was stopped. Slowly I regained feeling in my arms and legs; left with no sensation in hands & feet up to ankles & wrist. I'm thankful that my oncologist realized that it wasn't just a diabetic thing.
    • 6 hours, 19 minutes ago
      Sandra Rosborough likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. There have been slight indications of neuropathy for a number of years. However it is not severe. Whenever I go to orthopedics, I try to stop at endocrinology first and get an accurate assessment of my current neuropathy. Whenever a non-endocrinologist doctor reads I’m T1D every problem I’m having is caused by T1D. Then the root, non-diabetic, issue is never addressed.
    • 7 hours, 8 minutes ago
      KSannie likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. There have been slight indications of neuropathy for a number of years. However it is not severe. Whenever I go to orthopedics, I try to stop at endocrinology first and get an accurate assessment of my current neuropathy. Whenever a non-endocrinologist doctor reads I’m T1D every problem I’m having is caused by T1D. Then the root, non-diabetic, issue is never addressed.
    • 10 hours, 15 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      My feet were killing me when I started taking insulin. Saw on another website that alpha lipoic acid (ALA) was good for neuropathy. Once I started taking it, the pain was gone within a week! Still using it 20 years later, still pain free
    • 10 hours, 15 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. There have been slight indications of neuropathy for a number of years. However it is not severe. Whenever I go to orthopedics, I try to stop at endocrinology first and get an accurate assessment of my current neuropathy. Whenever a non-endocrinologist doctor reads I’m T1D every problem I’m having is caused by T1D. Then the root, non-diabetic, issue is never addressed.
    • 10 hours, 35 minutes ago
      magoo likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. There have been slight indications of neuropathy for a number of years. However it is not severe. Whenever I go to orthopedics, I try to stop at endocrinology first and get an accurate assessment of my current neuropathy. Whenever a non-endocrinologist doctor reads I’m T1D every problem I’m having is caused by T1D. Then the root, non-diabetic, issue is never addressed.
    • 10 hours, 35 minutes ago
      Mike S likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. There have been slight indications of neuropathy for a number of years. However it is not severe. Whenever I go to orthopedics, I try to stop at endocrinology first and get an accurate assessment of my current neuropathy. Whenever a non-endocrinologist doctor reads I’m T1D every problem I’m having is caused by T1D. Then the root, non-diabetic, issue is never addressed.
    • 10 hours, 48 minutes ago
      Dennis Dacey likes your comment at
      Do you live with diabetes-related neuropathy?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. There have been slight indications of neuropathy for a number of years. However it is not severe. Whenever I go to orthopedics, I try to stop at endocrinology first and get an accurate assessment of my current neuropathy. Whenever a non-endocrinologist doctor reads I’m T1D every problem I’m having is caused by T1D. Then the root, non-diabetic, issue is never addressed.
    • 23 hours, 45 minutes ago
      ConnieT1D62 likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      I spend a bit of time in my garden, yardwork , the animal shelter. Days I'm not with the Shelter my herd gets walked.
    • 23 hours, 46 minutes ago
      ConnieT1D62 likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Good old WALKING!
    • 1 day, 5 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      avid cyclist for many years now ........... OK ..... add in resident year around maintenance yard work
    • 1 day, 5 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Walking and hiking.
    • 1 day, 7 hours ago
      Steven Gill likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Try pausing insulin on your pump if you are below 150mg/dl.
    • 1 day, 10 hours ago
      Daniel Bestvater likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Really struggle with bouncing blood sugars and so I don’t exercise. I know this is a bad thing but really end up with so much bouncing hard to figure it out.
    • 1 day, 10 hours ago
      Dennis Dacey likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Good old WALKING!
    • 1 day, 10 hours ago
      KCR likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Good old WALKING!
    • 1 day, 10 hours ago
      KCR likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Really struggle with bouncing blood sugars and so I don’t exercise. I know this is a bad thing but really end up with so much bouncing hard to figure it out.
    • 1 day, 10 hours ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      What types of exercise do you participate in regularly? Select all that apply.
      Really struggle with bouncing blood sugars and so I don’t exercise. I know this is a bad thing but really end up with so much bouncing hard to figure it out.
    • 2 days, 7 hours ago
      Bonnie Lundblom likes your comment at
      What event(s) prompt you to calibrate your CGM? Select all that apply.
      I always do 3 successive finger sticks about 1 day after applying a new G7 sensor. I'm amazed at how much variability there is among sensors. Some are spot on, and remain so during the entire 10 days, while the worst I saw was off 100 mg/dl at the start (reading half of the actual level) (I demanded -- and got -- a replacement for that outlier, since I did't want to have to trust it for days and go through piles of strips just to see if it was as bad as it seemed). I generally also do another batch of 3 tests several days later, just to check. I care about accuracy. I've found that it is essential to do multiple sequential finger sticks to get an accurate number from strips, since they too are far more variable than I am comfortable with. If the variability in strips is too great, I do 4 tests rather than 3, and throw out one, averaging the rest. I love my CGM, but it doesn't completely replace strips.
    • 3 days, 10 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Have you ever been on a ketogenic or “keto” diet (low carbohydrate, high protein)? Please share more in the comments.
      I’ve been a T1D for about 50 years. After about 10 years I moved towards a more whole food diet with only small amounts of meat. I seem to consume 100-150 grams of carbs per day and try not to eat more than 30-40 grams at a time.
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    Do you bolus for caffeine?

    Home > LC Polls > Do you bolus for caffeine?
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    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

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    48 Comments

    1. GLORIA MILLER

      I don’t drink coffee so no caffeine that way. I do eat some chocolate but I bolus only for the candy and not the caffeine in chocolate.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Henry Renn

      I’ve used observation of bg. I need to account for caffeine with bolus. I usually trade 1u for 12-16 oz of French press or brewed coffee.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Joan Fray

      If it has apny kind of milk. More for 2%, less for nonfat. .6 to 1 unit depending on bg. I never drink those fancy latte type coffees. Too mapny unknowns and too expensive!

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Eve Rabbiner

      I try to avoid caffeine. On the rare occasions I’ve have it, I wish I’d remembered to bolus.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. Lawrence S.

      I’ve never bolused for caffeine, or thought it was necessary. What are the effects of caffeine on blood glucose? I very seldom knowingly eat or drink caffeine.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. KCR

      Really strong coffee will cause a spike if I don’t have meal insulin still on board. But a cup of breakfast tea or occasional diet Pepsi does not.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Patricia Dalrymple

      Don’t do caffeine if I can help it. Gives me a headache.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Miriam Gordon

      .8 – 1.0 units for first Keurig K-cup. .6 for second. That’s my limit for the day.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Greg Felton

      I drink too much coffee; it’s probably just factored into my basal rate.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Mary Dexter

      I take extra for the first cup.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Mig Vascos

        I take 1 or 2 sugar cubes with my coffee so I bolus accordingly with 0.4 or 0.6 of a unit accordingly for the sugar.

        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. William Bennett

      I’ve found I pretty much have to. Morning coffee with Splenda and light cream == 32grams/carb for me, like two pieces of toast. Kind of a lot! I’m sure some of it has to do with Dawn Phenomenon, or Feet-on-the-Floor (which I gather is sort of different from DP). Whatever. But it just does seem to be a thing for me. Back in the R/NPH days I couldn’t “bolus” for it in the sense we mean that now, but I’ve always had to take it into account since I was dx’d back in the 80s.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Germaine Sarda

        Your situation is exactly like mine.

        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Meerkat

      I put other because I do not have any caffeine.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Ken Raiche

      I drink a 3 cupper Moka espresso every morning and never do I bolus for this. I’m not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that I don’t use or eat either sugars of any kind or wheat.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. kristina blake

      I drink my coffee blacks and caffeinated. I bolus for 8 grams – always.

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Amy Jo

      Answered no but I do often have to give a small bolus in the morning even when I’m not eating. Unclear to me if this is due to dawn phenomenon, caffeine, or my early morning exercise (I think it’s a combination of the three).

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. Lynn Smith

      I don’t drink coffee, only Diet Dr Pepper. No bolus for that.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Jennifer Wilson

      I do not. I ask the quesion in return… should I bolus for caffeine? What say the endocrinologist medical professionals?

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. AnitaS

        Some people’s sugar rises with caffeine and others do not. If you bolus or not for it depends on your bodies reaction to it. I am not an endo, but I think medical people would say it just depends on your individual situation.

        2
        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Sheri Marcus

      This is news to me! I had no idea that coffee/caffeine would affect glucose. Now I know why I end up having to bolus after having coffee. Thanks!

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Megan W

      Coffee = yes, Diet Soda = no

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Sue Martin

      I misread the question. I bolus if I drink a coffee latte, which has a lot of milk. I do not bolus when I drink tea with milk since it is only a splash of milk. But I do not bolus for caffeine.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. Sherrie Johnson

      I do for coffee otherwise my blood sugar rises dramatically. I count it as 10-15 carbs. Sometimes if my BS is on the low side I don’t. We are all different and nothing is consistent that’s for sure.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Anneyun

      I replied no, but I guess I inadvertently do. I have found that I have to add extra to my carb count for my piece of raisin toast and the milk in my two cups of tea and one cup of coffee each morning in order to stop the mid-morning bg spike. I was feeling guilty about the toast, but now I realize it is the caffeine.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Patricia Kilwein

      I don’t bolus for coffee. I use stevia to sweeten. (I use a product that is only stevia.) If I use a milk, it’s unsweetened no fat creamer. I do make my own espresso lattes that have no carbs.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. Francis Goretski

      When I have a 80mg of caffeine coffee, my glucose always spikes over 125+mgdl points!

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    25. Janis Senungetuk

      No, never have. I drink my drip coffee with 1/2 & 1/2, now limited to only 2 cups in the morning. I bolus for the breakfast I eat while drinking the coffee, but have never added carbs for the coffee or 1/2 & 1/2.

      3
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    26. Becky Hertz

      Other, when I drank coffee (decaf), I had to bolus for 15g cho. Didn’t have to bolus for any other caffeinated beverage.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    27. Kim Murphy

      I would only bolus for a food or drink that contains calories from added flavorings and creamer. As far as I know caffeine does not have any calories.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    28. Karen DeVeaux

      Yes, I have to bolus a half unit for a cup of coffee. If I add a sweetener (yacon syrup) and cream, which is my usual, I have to bolus 1 unit.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    29. kflying1@yahoo.com

      Since caffeine seems to drive my insulin resistance through the roof I just quit it – and man, do I miss morning coffee!

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    30. Mike S

      I only have a cup of coffee most mornings and save eating until later or even lunch. I always need to figure coffee as about 15 carbs. (Endo and I suspected it might be my body/brain gearing up for the day the same way a stressful meeting at work will raise my bg levels, but I went a week once drinking tea and did NOT need to bolus at all, even though it was also caffeinated) She said to keep doing it because otherwise I spike up, and also always reminds me that she knows book facts, but she also has a long history of seeing patients whose T1 often strays from those facts. She says we’re the one who knows our bodies best and that doctors who don’t listen (and insist we’re doing something wrong) are fools for not listening as they might learn something. Love her and dread the day she retires.

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    31. Tim Moeslein

      It depends on the coffee. Most coffee I am ok without bolusing but there are a few brands that spike me. I try to avoid those brands but if that is all that is brewed then I know to bolus for them.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    32. Kevin McCue

      Coffee or sodas but not tea hits me funny sometimes, no rhyme or reason I can see.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    33. Mark Schweim

      I said “NO”, but then again, the only times I ever drank coffee was while in the Hospital when my T1D was diagnosed in 1991. While I was in the Hospital that time, as my longest stay in a hospital, and only time I was in one for over 24 hours… For every meal during the week I was in the Hospital, they gave me a beverage choice of milk, Tea, or Coffee. For every meal I ordered Iced Tea as my beverage choice and for every meal, the Hospital would give me a steaming cup of hot coffee and a bowl of ice cubes and called that “iced tea”!!!
      Other than week in the Hospital I might have drank a cappuccino or similar coffee based drink once or twice but have never really understood how anybody could drink coffee and claim that it tastes good, so unless it’s the only drink option, I never choose to drink coffee.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    34. Tina Roberts

      Yes. A cup of coffee or tea raises me a lot! I have to count it as 25 carbs.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    35. Annie Simon

      I do notice that coffee does make my Blood sugar go up slightly as I have a coffee first thing in the morning when I get up before having breakfast and insulin.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    36. Lenora Ventura

      Off and on over the years, I’ve needed to bolus for coffee but since I started some unsweetened protein creamer to my morning coffee amongst MCT oil & flavored stevia, I no longer need to

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    37. Molly Jones

      I’ve never noticed a reaction in my BG to caffeine in any form.
      I started drinking coffee before ten trying to be a “grown up”. Caffeine does not stimulate me / keep me awake.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    38. Leigh French

      I give a minimal amount (.05)but only with my early coffee. I think I might need to take a bit more.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    39. StPetie

      I mis-answered. My eyes read ‘caffeine’ but my tiny little brain thought ‘coffee.’ I do not bolus for caffeine. I do, however, usually need a correction bolus after both regular and decaf coffe. Caffinated soft drinks have no effect on my bg.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. StPetie

        Added note: I drink my coffee black with splenda. No added carbs.

        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    40. Mary Oppelt

      What? I never log in or out

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    41. Bonnie Lundblom

      Yes, I drink coffee with just a tiny bit of milk and 1/2 and 1/2. I drink it early in the morning so part of the blame goes to the dawn phenomenon, if I don’t give myself a small bolus my blood sugar skyrockets up!

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    42. n6jax@scinternet.net

      No carbs in caffeine.. none in coffee that most answers were about.. For me the calming effect of a good cup of plain coffee is a relaxer and that keeps my BG from going up!! At night, it helps me sleep better..

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    43. ConnieT1D62

      Sometimes I bolus 0.5 units from pump with morning coffee. Depends on BG.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    44. Nicholas Argento

      I do. I drink black coffee and see this on CGM virtually every morning. BG goes up 20-30 points over 1 hr. So I consider it a carb equivalent and bolus for it. The literature around caffeine is a little confusing, because a number of issues get blended together. There is a nice discussion of this here: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/does-coffee-raise-blood-sugar ……………………… and another here: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-and-caffeine ………..punchline: caffeine can raise BG due to increased resistance to the effect of insulin and thus increased liver production of sugar. But unless you have T1D and are on CGM or check post meal BG levels after taking in caffeine with no milk or sweeteners, you might not realize that this is happening. There are lots of relevant variables: amount of caffeine, if consumed with something else like creamer sweetener etc, and individual sensitivity to caffeine. In life, you see what you look for; this is a good example.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply

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