Life with a pump
Diabetes and eating
Understanding diabetes and the impact of food on your glucose levels is an important part of diabetes management. There is no specific diet one should follow when living with diabetes; however, different foods can impact glucose levels in different ways. Food planning, understanding carbohydrate intake and regularly monitoring blood glucose levels are all important when managing diabetes.
Carbohydrate counting is an approach to meal planning. When mastered, it allows to closely match insulin needs and gives enhanced freedom in food choices.
Fabienne
When I was diagnosed, my HbA1c was 11% (97 mmol/mol). I started with MDI and I was not counting carbs, so I had to eat the same quantity of carbs and vegetables every day, which was pretty boring. When I began carbohydrate counting, my daily life improved. Then, when I started on the MiniMed Veo insulin pump it was obvious to me that my control was better than with MDI. After 3 months my HbA1c dropped from 8% to 5.6%! Now, I eat normal meals like everyone else, and when I go to a restaurant I order what I like. When my dish arrives, I just add the necessary bolus without having to inject myself. Being on a pump definitely gives me better control over my diabetes!
All food fall into three main nutrient categories: protein, fat and carbohydrate. Out of all three, the main nutrient which affects blood glucose (sugar) levels is carbohydrate. When carbohydrate is digested it is turned into glucose. Glucose enters the bloodstream and causes blood sugar levels to rise, this usually starts happening 15 min. after eating, depending on the type of food. Insulin is then required to allow sugar from the glucose to move the bloodstream into cells for energy.
Knowing how to calculate carbohydrate amount in food makes it easier to match the amount of insulin needed. This is known as carb counting.
What foods contain carbohydrates?
- Starches: Breads, cereals, crackers, rice, pasta and grain
- Starchy vegetables: Potatoes, peas, beans and corn
- Fruit and fruit juices
- Milk and yoghurt
- Sweets: Honey, table sugar, syrup, jelly, sweet, sport drinks, cookies, cakes, pastries, ice cream and pudding
Two methods of counting carbohydrates:
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Carbohydrate Exchange System
This is a system based on counting servings of food that contain 10 grams of carbohydrate. Each 10 gram serving is equal to one exchange/carbohydrate choice/carbohydrate portion. -
Carbohydrate Gram Counting
This is a system based on weighing and calculating the exact number of grams of carbohydrate in each meal. Weighing scales, food labels, food lists and meal planning books are good tools for carbohydrate gram counting.
Keeping Blood Glucose levels under control
In managing diabetes, it is important to take into consideration many factors, including blood glucose monitoring, carbohydrate intake, physical activities and insulin requirements to ensure good blood glucose control and to reduce the risk of complications.
By understanding the body’s needs, the effects of food and learning how to keep blood glucose within recommended levels, it is possible to manage diabetes effectively. It can be a challenge to reach and maintain the HbA1C goal whilst minimizing the risk of hypoglycaemia.
HbA1c: an important measure of how effectively diabetes is being managed using a measure of the amount of glucose that has attached itself to each red blood cell over the preceding 2-3 months to assess the level of diabetes control.
So, as someone living with diabetes, how can I better manage my glucose control and have flexibility when eating?
Diabetes, Eating and Insulin Pumps
Food plays a central role in diabetes management and keeping blood glucose levels under control. With Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) it can be more difficult to manage delayed meals, skipped meals or diverse diets. With an insulin pump, eating can be easier and meal types and timing more flexible.
An insulin pump is a small device, about the size of a mobile phone that can be easily carried on a belt, inside a pocket, or even attached to a bra.
An insulin pump can help you and your healthcare team to more closely mimic the way a healthy pancreas delivers the basal insulin to the body by providing small amounts of rapid acting insulin during the day and night. It can help to better manage the need for insulin dose adjustments, particularly after meals and overnight, and can thus help to achieve better glucose control.
Clinical studies* confirm that many Type 1 patients of various ages who switch from MDI to insulin pump therapy report improvements in their quality of life and increased satisfaction with their treatment.
Fabienne
When I started MDI, I had 2 injections of long-acting insulin at fixed times so I had to get up early even during weekends. For my meals, as I was not carb counting, I had to eat every day the same quantity of food and vegetables. It was pretty boring. To be honest, now that I’m doing carb counting and that I use the Bolus Wizard on my pump, I can’t even imagine how I did it before!
How does the MiniMed® Veo™ help control glucose levels?
The MiniMed Veo allows for better glucose control due to the ability to adjust insulin delivery, reducing the risks of hypers and hypos. With insulin pump therapy users can benefit from:
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Easier dosing
Calculating insulin requirement can be a complex task with many different aspects to be considered. In the MiniMed Veo, the built-in Bolus Wizard® feature helps to ensure accurate dosing by taking into account the insulin already in the system, the current glucose levels, carbohydrate intake and personal insulin settings to determine the right dose. -
Fewer injections
Precise amounts of rapid acting insulin are delivered throughout the day by the infusion set which is easily removed and replaced every 2 to 3 days. -
Greater flexibility
The MiniMed Veo can be instantly adjusted to allow for exercise, during illness or to deliver small boluses to cover snacks. This can be easily done with a touch of a button, rather than with another injection. There is even a temporary basal rate option to proportionally reduce the basal insulin rate, an option that can be used during exercise, for example. -
More convenience
The MiniMed Veo offers the additional convenience of a wirelessly connected blood glucose meter. This meter automatically sends blood glucose values to the pump, allowing more accurate Bolus Wizard calculations. It also stores this information in a digital diary along with your insulin doses.
Is an insulin pump right for me?
Many people with Type 1 diabetes may benefit from an insulin pump without even knowing it. In general if they experience any of the following, they could get better control with an insulin pump:
- Concerns about long-term complications
- The first symptoms of long term complications
- Fear of needles
- Difficulty in managing highs and lows
- Fear of hypoglycaemia, especially at night
- Outside targeted HbA1c levels
- Reduced hypoglycaemia awareness
- Seeking more flexibility in everyday life
The best way to stay within a healthy glucose range is to test blood glucose levels (SMBG) at least 4 times per day and make adjustments to the therapy as needed. The MiniMed Veo with the use of the Bolus Wizard can make these calculations and adjustments to help improve glucose control.
Delphine
A slice of bread is very different in France than in the US or in Nepal. Thanks to my pump, I was just adjusting my bolus and it was easier.
Additional options available with the MiniMed® Veo™
The MiniMed Veo is also available with the additional integrated options of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) and CareLink™ Therapy Management Software.
The MiniMed Veo when coupled with CGM is the only insulin pump with a feature which can help reduce the impact of hypoglycaemia*. If glucose levels fall dangerously low, the MiniMed Veo can turn off insulin delivery for up to 2 hours. It can also advise if glucose levels are rising or dropping quickly. This can be a big advantage compared to SMBG as the MiniMed Integrated System alerts when crossing pre-set threshold limits and shows current glucose trends.
*References are kept on file and are available on request; please contact your local Medtronic representative for copies.