Eating out

Smartphone apps or carbohydrate reference books such as Carbs & Cals can be really helpful as they show the carb content in pictures such as a scoop of mashed potato, a bread roll or a portion of chips on a plate. This gives you a good visual guide which you can match to the portion size you are having.  

Another factor that can affect your blood glucose levels is the fat content. Takeaways and meals out can be higher in fat compared to what you make at home.

Fat slows down the absorption of carbohydrate from your stomach, which can mean that your bolus dose of insulin may hit your bloodstream before the carbohydrate has been fully absorbed, risking a low glucose level immediately after eating and then a late glucose rise.

One way of dealing with this is to split your bolus insulin dose. You could give half of your insulin just before your meal and then the rest 30 – 60 minutes after eating. Over time, with regular blood glucose monitoring and trial and error, you will learn how different meals affect your blood glucose levels.

Insulin pumps

Insulin pumps allow you to programme the delivery of your bolus insulin over a longer period (a “square-wave/extended wave” bolus) or in a way that gives some of the bolus immediately and some over a longer period (a “dual-wave/multi-wave” bolus).

Your diabetes team can support you in choosing the best way of pump bolusing for meals out