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    • 3 hours, 49 minutes ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      Do you know how to test for ketones? Please share more in the comments.
      I test when I have unexpected, or stubbornly high blood glucose that just won't go down. I also test when I feel sick. Testing, for me, involves putting urine on a strip, either by peeing directly or dipping the strip into urine. I may use about 2 or 3 strips in a year. When I test positive, I increase my insulin dosage to a "sick day" level, which can be anywhere from 125% dosage to 400%. I usually start with small increases in dosage, and work my way up until my blood glucose levels even out.
    • 3 hours, 49 minutes ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      Do you know how to test for ketones? Please share more in the comments.
      I have a blood ketone monitor. It works just like a glucometer.
    • 5 hours, 38 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      Do you know how to test for ketones? Please share more in the comments.
      Perhaps only the poets who love alliteration could love the phrase, “killer ketones.” The ungodly pain experienced is your body eating and devouring itself. 🥵 Ketones are relentless killers. Do not give the bad guys a chance.
    • 5 hours, 44 minutes ago
      atr likes your comment at
      Do you know how to test for ketones? Please share more in the comments.
      I test when I have unexpected, or stubbornly high blood glucose that just won't go down. I also test when I feel sick. Testing, for me, involves putting urine on a strip, either by peeing directly or dipping the strip into urine. I may use about 2 or 3 strips in a year. When I test positive, I increase my insulin dosage to a "sick day" level, which can be anywhere from 125% dosage to 400%. I usually start with small increases in dosage, and work my way up until my blood glucose levels even out.
    • 6 hours, 20 minutes ago
      Judith Halterman likes your comment at
      Do you know how to test for ketones? Please share more in the comments.
      Perhaps only the poets who love alliteration could love the phrase, “killer ketones.” The ungodly pain experienced is your body eating and devouring itself. 🥵 Ketones are relentless killers. Do not give the bad guys a chance.
    • 1 day ago
      Anthony Harder likes your comment at
      Do you have ketone testing strips?
      Hi, Marty. Does your specialist have a source for that claim? It makes little sense that ketones would rise faster than BG since the metabolic pathway is much slower. If there's a source, however, I'd look further into the claim. FWIW, I've been a Type 1 for over 50 years; I can't remember the last time I tested for ketones. I possess no ketone testing strips.
    • 2 days, 3 hours ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      Does your insurance cover injectable glucagon, nasal glucagon, or both?
      Covers it with co pay
    • 2 days, 4 hours ago
      atr likes your comment at
      Does your insurance cover injectable glucagon, nasal glucagon, or both?
      It covers both. I prefer to have the the nasal version as I think it would be easier for someone else to administer.
    • 2 days, 6 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you have a non-expired glucagon prescription?
      I’ve been T1D for 60 years. As a child my mother didn’t like needles or injections so she just fed me when low. In college, explained use to dorm mates and classmates would’ve been a waste of time. Now married, my wife assumed the role of my mother and doesn’t like using needles on me either. I don’t have glucagon.
    • 2 days, 6 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you have a non-expired glucagon prescription?
      Yes, always have one or two nasal glucagon kits (Baqsimi) at home in easy to reach locations (ie at bedside and special container in living area) and always keep one with me when I go out ( along with glucose tabs or other simple carbs for treating LBS.). I apparently required injectable glucagon several times as a child and needed injectable glucagon only twice as an adult, both more than 15 years ago . More recently I needed my husband to give me Baqsimi after eating a difficult to dose for, high fat meal. The experience was terrifying so I don’t go anywhere without it now.
    • 2 days, 6 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you have a non-expired glucagon prescription?
      I actually have 2 non-expired prescriptions. One for Baqsimi and one for Gvoke. I have not filled either of them because they’re $500-600 each.
    • 2 days, 6 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Does your insurance cover injectable glucagon, nasal glucagon, or both?
      My Medicare Part D essentially doesn't cover glucagon when any form is nearly $500!
    • 2 days, 20 hours ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      Do you have a non-expired glucagon prescription?
      Same here. Been as low as 19 (struggling with a vacuum cleaner bag and refused to let it win) but was still able to swallow food. I did used the “red needle” as my husband refers to it once when I went low but was scheduled for surgery and couldn’t eat or drink anything. Only once in 26 years. Fortunate.
    • 3 days, 15 hours ago
      Karen Newe likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related books in the comments:
      Marcus Aurelius Meditations for the benefits of stoicism. Dante’s Inferno for the nine levels of diabetic hell. Kristen Lavransdatter for the benefits of suffering. And best of all, Cervantes Don Quixote for the absurdity of tilting at so many worthless windmills of frenzied diabetic activity.
    • 4 days, 4 hours ago
      Natalie Daley likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related books in the comments:
      Marcus Aurelius Meditations for the benefits of stoicism. Dante’s Inferno for the nine levels of diabetic hell. Kristen Lavransdatter for the benefits of suffering. And best of all, Cervantes Don Quixote for the absurdity of tilting at so many worthless windmills of frenzied diabetic activity.
    • 4 days, 5 hours ago
      atr likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related books in the comments:
      Marcus Aurelius Meditations for the benefits of stoicism. Dante’s Inferno for the nine levels of diabetic hell. Kristen Lavransdatter for the benefits of suffering. And best of all, Cervantes Don Quixote for the absurdity of tilting at so many worthless windmills of frenzied diabetic activity.
    • 4 days, 6 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related podcasts in the comments:
      I don't do T1 podcasts.
    • 4 days, 6 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related books in the comments:
      Marcus Aurelius Meditations for the benefits of stoicism. Dante’s Inferno for the nine levels of diabetic hell. Kristen Lavransdatter for the benefits of suffering. And best of all, Cervantes Don Quixote for the absurdity of tilting at so many worthless windmills of frenzied diabetic activity.
    • 4 days, 6 hours ago
      Gary Taylor likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related books in the comments:
      Marcus Aurelius Meditations for the benefits of stoicism. Dante’s Inferno for the nine levels of diabetic hell. Kristen Lavransdatter for the benefits of suffering. And best of all, Cervantes Don Quixote for the absurdity of tilting at so many worthless windmills of frenzied diabetic activity.
    • 4 days, 17 hours ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      Which T1D influencers do you enjoy following?
      Currently it’s the Diabetech, Justin Easter.
    • 5 days, 2 hours ago
      ChrisW likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related podcasts in the comments:
      I don't do T1 podcasts.
    • 5 days, 3 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related podcasts in the comments:
      TCOYD Diabetes Nerd Your Best T1D Year Think Like a Pancreas
    • 5 days, 3 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related podcasts in the comments:
      Take Control of Your Diabetes
    • 5 days, 4 hours ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      Share some of your favorite T1D-related podcasts in the comments:
      Take Control of Your Diabetes
    • 5 days, 21 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      Which T1D influencers do you enjoy following?
      And TCOYD
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    Do you consider the glycemic index of different foods before deciding what to eat?

    Home > LC Polls > Do you consider the glycemic index of different foods before deciding what to eat?
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    In the past week, how many nights was your sleep disrupted by device alerts, checking blood glucose levels, or treating a high or low?

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    Have you ever used glucagon? If so, when was the last time used it?

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field 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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    22 Comments

    1. PamK

      I chose “other” because while I don’t really stop to consider the glycemic index of my foods, I eat a high fiber diet which includes alot of low glycemic foods already. I’ve been on this diet for @40 years, long before the lists of low/high glycemic foods became available.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Carol Meares

      I put yes, often but I don’t consider an actual number. I just know foods to be fast or slow or hit me hard and need more insulin. I also consider fat eaten with carbs just as another variable to consider when guesstimating insulin needs.

      7
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Nevin Bowman

      No. I eat a low amount of carbs so it doesn’t really affect me much one way or the other.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Clare Fishman

      Since I started using Loop I have been far more in tune with the nature of the carbs in a meal. When programming a bolus the food icons are labeled fast, medium, or slow indicating how quickly the food will impact blood sugar (glycemic index). Candy is 2 hours, casseroles, soups, sandwiches are 3 hours and fatty foods like meat, nuts, avocados are slow 4 hour foods.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Carol Evans

        Hi Clare, I’ve never heard this about Loop. Can you tell me more, or point me to a website that discusses these Loop food icons? (I’m on tandem pump with dexcom cgm).
        Thanks,
        Carol Evans

        5 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. Denise Lyons

        Hi Carol, can’t reply directly to your post, Loop is a DIY hybrid closed loop system. It works similarly to your tandem system but it is community created. It works on iOS.

        5 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. Lawrence Stearns

      Like some of the previous comments, I don’t actually use a glycemic index number. It’s all done subconsciously after many years of guesstimating carbs, speed of digestion, etc. I try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables as much as possible. But, the fatty foods mess up my digestive process more than anything.

      4
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Joan Fray

      Not so much whether to eat something as how much to eat.

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Richard Vaughn

      I studies the index many times in the past, and I continue now to use it indirectly.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. TomH

      I’m in the US which doesn’t require GI listing on nutrition labels. This means either a working knowledge of GIs or yet another app! Other countries, notably Australia, require posting. It would be helpful to have the info immediately available and is something manufacturers probably already have in hand.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Sahran Holiday

      Been at this for a very long time. It’s a guide not an absolute. I adjust for carbs depending whether fast or slow absorbing and acting.

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. cynthia jaworski

      The answers above indicate that we mostly have internalized concepts abo8t the GI of foods. After all, each one of us has known for a very long time that orange juice raises our blood sugar rapidly. And through the years , I am sure that we all learned that certain other carbs were slower or faster. So we don’t need a number define by a laboratory each time we eat.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Janis Senungetuk

      I consider it in regard to the time of the meal, past history with the food and what else is in the meal. That helps me determine how much of the food to eat.

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Becky Hertz

      I never learned glycemic indices. I just know the more while our complex a food is the slower it absorbs.

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Andrew Carpenter

      I don’t know what a “glycemic index” is. I count carbs and stay away from fructose and granulated sugar. No more than 75 grams of carbs per day in my bland diet…

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Ernie Richmann

      Yes- especially if I am participating in strenuous activity for a longer duration- some higher glycemic foods during the activity. On more resting days- lower glycemic foods. Most times I choose whole foods which are generally lower glycemic. The more processes foods are higher glycemic and not as healthy for a variety of reasons.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Sue Martin

      Ice cream has a lower glycemic index than rice.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. AnitaS

      I don’t actually look up the glycemic index for particular foods, but I will adjust how much insulin I give myself based on how particular foods affect me.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Molly Jones

      I chose other. My stomach is the one who decides and it often feels like it is based on multiple factors along with glycemic index. My appetite at times has no desire for slow digesting foods, if I’ve had too much during the last few days. I think that is my digestion in general.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. MARIE

      I said other as I don’t directly consider the glycemic index as I find it misleading if used without considering overall glycemic load. However we count carbs and stick with a LCHF (low carb high fat) diet so we are indirectly considering both GI and GL.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Chris Albright

      I do consider this factor, but usually do a pretty good job of bolusing based on the GI of what I am eating. Is it always perfect….. no. But if you log those occasions of what you ate and how it effected you, you can improve on it going forward. With that said, life is easier if you meals that are low glycemic…

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Cheryl Seibert

      Not exactly! I’ve been T1D 55 years and know how different foods affect by BG. Lows require fast-acting carbs. I DO consider Total Carbs along with IOB and BG level before deciding what to eat and/or deciding how to bolus (extended vs immediate).

      5 years ago Log in to Reply

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