Medical Director’s Hints on Valentines Treats and Other Carb Tricks!
There are so many sweet Valentine’s Day festivities and candies. That includes eating the Reese’s Cups, Dove
Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Covered Cherries and Sweethearts with your sweetheart! However, when you or your
campers are eating these goodies, remember that high fat foods slow the absorption of carbohydrates and may
affect the amount of insulin needed and the timing of the insulin delivery.
If you need to choose between the Reese’s Cups or Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries, go for the
strawberries! Depending on the size of the berry, these delicious delights are about 6 grams of carb for one with
only 1-2 grams of fat depending on the kind of chocolate used. However, when you have 1 Reese’s cup there are
12 grams of carb and 7 grams of fat. You can have more bang for your unit of insulin if you choose the chocolate
covered strawberries!
Also, when indulging in that peanut buttery deliciousness or any other carbohydrates, remember that it is good
most times to take insulin 10-15 minutes before eating. This will help match the insulin dose with the
carbohydrates absorption. You should consider doing this even when you’re not positive of the exact amount of
carbs you/your child will eat if you are a pumper. This way, you can “pre-bolus” for half of the total carbs you
think you’ll consume. For example, if I plan to eat a fried chicken sandwich and fries, I know that it contains at
least 60 grams of carb. Therefore, 15 minutes before I start eating, I can pre-bolus for 30 of the grams of carb.
This allows for the “I’m full” before you’re done factor or the “This chicken tastes bad” response. If you/your
child are on injections, you may be surprised at how willing they may be to take 2 injections for 1 meal if it means
more in target BG levels. Be sure you don’t forget to take the second dose of insulin to cover the remainder of
the carbs immediately following the meal.
If you are pumping, high fat foods may respond well if you try a combo, dual or extended bolus option. This
feature is especially helpful when eating foods like pizza, peanut butter-filled sweets, or macaroni and cheese.
For example, every time I eat that fried chicken sandwich and fries, I use a dual wave bolus option on my pump. I
take 70% of my insulin upfront and tell my pump to deliver the other 30% over the next hour. This is helpful
because the high fat content of that food prevents immediate carbohydrate absorption and may lead to
increased BG levels 4-5 hours down the road. However, with 30% of the bolus being released over the next hour,
the peak of the insulin is more likely to catch the late absorption of carbs. This is how my pancreas would work if
it were still creating its own insulin.
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org
If you have more questions about these types of dosing techniques, please ask your healthcare provider and/or
e-mail/call me at any time! [email protected] or 404-250-1811.
Here are a few more carb counts for this sweet day from http://blog.calorieking.com/2012/02/caloriekingsguide-to-valentines-day-candy/ :
Conversation Hearts
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Brach’s: Classic,
60
0
12
60
0
12
0
28
63
0
14
Dove Hearts
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Dark Chocolate &
Cherry Swirls
230
14
25
Milk Chocolate
230
13
25
Ferrero Rocher
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
10 pieces 0.5 oz
BrachLarge,
5 pieces 0.5 oz.
Necco Sweethearts 110
1 box, 1 oz
Smarties Love
Hearts
1 roll, 0.6 oz
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org
Hazelnut Original,
220
16
17
8 count box
585
43
45
Rondnoir,
220
14
21
8 count box
585
37
56
Godiva Gems
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
4 pcs, 1.5 oz
210
13
22
3 pcs, 1.3 oz
4 pcs,1.4 oz
Hershey’s Kisses
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Air Delight
22
1.5
2.5
11 pcs, 1.4 oz
200
12
24
Meltaway Center
23
1.5
2.5
210
13
24
1 pc, 0.15 oz
1 pc, 0.2 oz
9 pcs, 1.4 oz
Milk Chocolate Giant, 7
oz
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org
1/5 pkg, 1.4 oz
180
11
23
Milk Chocolate Original
22
1.5
2.5
9 pcs, 1.4 oz
200
12
25
With almonds
22
1.5
2.5
9 pcs, 1.5 oz
200
12
25
With Caramel
21
1
3
190
9
27
20
1
3
9 pcs, 1.5 oz
180
7
29
Special Dark
20
1.5
2.5
180
12
25
1 pc, 0.2 oz
1 pc, 0.15 oz
1 pc, 0.16 oz
9 pcs, 1.5 oz
With Cherry
1 pc 0.16 oz
Cordial
1 pc, 0.15 oz
9 pcs, 1.4 oz
Hershey’s Marshmallow
Calories
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Fat (g)
Atlanta, GA 30328
Carbs (g)
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org
Heart
1.1 oz
200
3.5
20
Lindor Valentine
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
3 balls, 1.26 oz
230
18
15
Reese’s
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
¼ pkg, 1.2 oz
180
10
20
Peanut Butter
Hearts
210
13
24
Russell Stover
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Assorted
Chocolates
150
7
23
12 oz box, 20 pcs
1500
70
230
2 lb box, 57 pcs
4275
200
655
Truffles
Giant Heart, 7 oz
5 pcs, 1.4 oz
2 pcs, 1.16 oz
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org
3 lb box, 82 pcs
6150
287
943
Sugar Free
Assorted
190
13
26
8.25 oz box
950
65
130
See’s
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Assorted
Chocolates
160
9
20
1 lb box, 13 pcs
1040
58.5
130
2 lb box, 27 pcs
2160
122
270
3 lb box, 40 pcs
3200
180
400
5 lb box, 67 pcs
5360
302
670
Nuts & Chews only
240
16
25
1 lb box, 10 pcs
800
53
83
2 lb box, 19 pcs
1520
101
158
3 pcs, 1.6 oz
2 pcs, 1.2 oz
3 pcs 1.65 oz
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org
3 lb box, 29 pcs
2320
155
242
Soft Centers only
170
9
25
1 lb box, 12 pcs
1020
54
150
2 lb box, 23 pcs
1955
104
288
Butterscotch
90
2.5
17
Chocolate
90
2.5
14
Vanilla
70
2.5
11
Whitman’s Samplers
Calories
Fat (g)
Carbs (g)
Assorted
Chocolates
180
10
21
240
11
34
1200
67
140
2 pcs, 1.37 oz
Lollipops:
Per pop, 0.7 oz
3 pcs, 1.2 oz
Sampler Mini
4 pcs, 1.75 oz
12 oz box, 20 pcs
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org
1.5 lb box, 60 pcs
3600
200
420
2.5 lb box, 84 pcs
5040
280
588
Sugar Free
Assorted
180
13
25
1260
91
175
3 pcs, 1.5 oz
10 oz box, 21 pcs
5885 Glenridge Drive, Suite 160
Atlanta, GA 30328
404.250.1811
www.campkudzu.org