T1D Nutrition | Insulin: The Double-Edged Sword | Type 1 diabetes

In a continuation of posts about the three key elements in successful Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management, today, we're diving into the second key element: Insulin.

TLDR: 👉 THE FORMULA: 👈

⬇️ Blood Glucose Impact from Food ➡️ ⬇️ Required Insulin ➡️ ⬇️ Insulin Unpredictability➡️ ⬇️ Blood Glucose Variability 🟰 Safer environment ➕ ⬆️ Chance of attaining normal Blood Glucose levels 🟰 Improved Type 1 diabetes management outcomes ➕ ⬆️Quality of Life

In today's post, I will provide you with 2 important tips on what you need to know to improve your Type 1 diabetes management!

Whether with or without a T1D diagnosis, insulin remains the elixir of life, orchestrating vital roles such as blood glucose regulation, cell growth, and metabolism.

For those navigating the T1D landscape, insulin becomes a lifesaving medication, and as parents, we step into the role of the pancreas, striving to closely replicate the body's natural insulin secretion. The American Diabetes Association underscores the critical role of insulin replacement therapy in mimicking normal physiological insulin secretion patterns (ADA, 2018).

However, replicating the pancreas is no easy task❗️

Dr. Jake Kushner, a pediatric endocrinologist, aptly points out the challenges in replacing this unique hormone.

To truly master Type 1 diabetes, understanding insulin medications is crucial, as insulin therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

🎯 Mastering Type 1 diabetes

To master Type 1 diabetes, parents have to understand the following 2 important factors related to insulin use:

1️⃣ Understanding How Different Insulin Medications Function:

Insulin therapy isn't uniform, and each insulin type comes with distinct characteristics, including time action profiles, activation periods, and potency.

This knowledge allows for tailored insulin administration to specific needs, such as mealtime coverage or basal requirements. The timing of insulin doses can significantly impact blood sugar levels, and knowing when and how to use different insulins ensures better glycemic control.

Understanding how food and which foods affect blood sugar levels, and the unique characteristics of certain insulin allows you as a parent to use appropriate insulins for appropriate meal compositions.

Ultimately, this knowledge is a key tool for navigating the complexities of insulin therapy, contributing to more predictable and manageable diabetes outcomes.

2️⃣ Understanding the Challenges of Insulin Administration:

Despite efforts to manufacture stable insulin with replicable results, insulin medications are far from perfect. Each insulin injection introduces variability in absorption rates and action effects.

A study by Heinemann (2008) revealed the intraindividual variability of insulin action after subcutaneous administration, ranging from 15% to 35%, depending on the insulin type. This unpredictability creates an unsafe environment for children, particularly with larger insulin doses amplifying the challenge in achieving stable blood sugar levels.

👉 The Law of Small Numbers

Dr. Richard Bernstein's Law of Small Numbers emphasizes the need for just enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels, avoiding unpredictability and blood sugar variability. Decreasing insulin's unpredictability requires a reduction in the possible blood glucose rise from food, offering a safer environment and improved chances of attaining normal blood glucose levels.

👉 THE FORMULA:

⬇️ Blood Glucose Impact from Food ➡️ ⬇️ Required Insulin ➡️ ⬇️ Insulin Unpredictability➡️ ⬇️ Blood Glucose Variability 🟰 Safer environment ➕ ⬆️ Chances of attaining normal Blood Glucose levels 🟰 Improved Type 1 diabetes management outcomes ➕ ⬆️Quality of Life

Unfortunately, insulin medications pose a significant challenge in T1D management, and are one of the reasons why the Clinical Guidelines are set so high, which I will post about.

In addition, the current nutrition guideline recommendations for those diagnose with Type 1 diabetes to consume between 45%-65% of your total daily intake of food as carbohydrates lead to poor outcomes and an unsafe environment.

In an upcoming post, we'll dive into the third key element: Food, unraveling the impact of different foods on blood glucose levels and the essentials for human survival and development.

As you understand the intricate interplay between Blood Glucose, Insulin, and Food, you understand how the current Type 1 diabetes management guidelines and practices fail those with Type 1 diabetes, and why Type 1 diabetes management requires a tailored nutritional strategy to improve management outcomes, health and quality of life, and provide a safer environment for your child.

What questions do you have about insulin❓

Which insulin medications are you currently using❓

If you are interested in successfully implementing a Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction/Low-carb nutrition strategy so you can safely achieve normal blood sugar levels, and nourish your child's growing body, please don't hesitate to visit:

🖱 https://www.t1dnutrition.com/
📨 [email protected]
📬 message me at any time!

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P.S. this was our dinner the other night, Air fryer frittata, grilled salmon, and arugula. You can add an avocado or olive oil based mayo, or aioli. YUM!

The air fryer frittata recipe can be found: https://www.instagram.com/p/Czs7l9kornb/

REFERENCES:

Chiang, J. L., Maahs, D. M., Garvey, K. C., Hood, K. K., Laffel, L. M., Weinzimer, S. A., Wolfsdorf, J. I., & Schatz, D. (2018). Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes care, 41(9), 2026–2044. https://doi.org/10.2337/dci18-0023

Heinemann, L. (2008). Variability of Insulin Action: Does It Matter?, Insulin, 3 (1), 37-45. , https://doi.org/10.1016/S1557-0843(08)80010-3. page 37