How do I calculate “carb-equivalents” from protein if I weigh 70 kg?

Multiply total protein grams by 0.5; 40 g of protein would equal 20 g of carbs for dosing purposes.

How do I adjust insulin dosing for the protein spike in Type 1 diabetes?

What insulin strategy covers a post-protein blood sugar rise?

Protein digests slowly, converting to glucose long after rapid-acting insulin is gone. The goal is to match insulin delivery to this delayed rise without causing an early low.

Count half of protein grams as carb equivalentsMost adults see about 50 % of protein converted to glucose; 30 g of protein behaves like 15 g of carbs.
Use an extended or dual-wave bolus over 3–5 hoursSplitting the dose—40 % up front, 60 % stretched—covers the gradual appearance of glucose. "In pump users we often start with a 4-hour dual wave and adjust in 30-minute increments," says the team at Eureka Health.
Raise the insulin-to-protein ratio at dinnerEvening cortisol nadirs slow gastric emptying; many patients need 10–15 % more insulin for the same steak at night.
Confirm with 2- and 4-hour CGM checksStaying within 70–180 mg/dL at both time points shows your strategy is working; studies link <30 % time above range with 40 % lower microvascular risk.
High-protein meals often need about 30 % extra insulinA pump-based crossover study found that delivering 130 % of the usual bolus (65 % up front, remainder over 4 h) for a meal with 50 g protein and 30 g carbs lowered the glucose excursion by 4.7 mmol/L without increasing hypoglycaemia. (PubMed)
Including an insulin-to-protein ratio lowered average post-meal glucose by 1.7 mmol/LWhen adults on low-carb diets bolused for protein as well as carbohydrate, mean post-prandial glucose fell from 10.0 mmol/L to 8.3 mmol/L (P = .003) in a randomized crossover trial. (DOM)

Which glucose patterns warn that you under-dosed for protein?

Missing the protein spike often shows up as late-evening or overnight hyperglycemia. Recognizing these patterns prevents chronic highs.

A flat line until hour 3, then a climb above 180 mg/dLIf your CGM arrow turns up between hours 3 and 5, protein is the likely culprit. "We call this the ‘steak-rise curve’," explains Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI.
Repeated 3 a.m. correctionsNeeding correction boluses most nights suggests the dinner bolus did not last long enough.
Morning fasting glucose over 140 mg/dL despite earlier lowsRebound hyperglycemia overnight often tracks back to an early hypo followed by unopposed gluconeogenesis from protein.
Sensor glucose variability >36 mg/dL overnightHigh standard deviation on CGM printouts correlates with under-coverage of slow nutrients.
Protein-driven rise peaks between 3–5 hours when ≥75 g is eatenIn people with type 1 diabetes, a 75 g protein load significantly lifted glucose from hour 3 to hour 5, so a late-evening climb after such meals is a red flag for missed protein coverage. (DiabetMed)
Standard bolus left glucose ~47 mg/dL higher 4 hours after a high-protein mealUsing only the usual insulin dose, participants averaged 2.6 mmol/L (≈47 mg/dL) above baseline at 4 hours; adding 30 % more insulin eliminated the spike, showing that the delayed rise signals under-dosing. (PubMed)

How can I adjust food choices and timing to blunt the protein spike?

Tweaking meal composition and timing reduces the insulin you need and smooths glucose curves.

Pair protein with low-glycemic vegetablesAdding 250 g broccoli or similar fiber slows amino-acid absorption by roughly 20 %, lowering the late spike.
Shift high-protein meals to lunchtimeDaytime activity and higher insulin sensitivity mean 12 % less total insulin compared with dinner, according to in-house Eureka data.
Use acid marinades to slow digestionA 2022 trial found vinegar-based marinades cut post-meal glucose AUC by 11 % in T1D; "small culinary tweaks pay off," notes the team at Eureka Health.
Stay hydrated before and after protein-heavy mealsAdequate fluid supports renal gluconeogenesis clearance, trimming peak glucose by up to 8 mg/dL.
Split the bolus for protein-rich mealsDelivering 65 % of the dose up front and the rest over 4 h after a high-protein meal cut late-phase glucose by 4.69 mmol/L without increasing hypoglycaemia. (NIH)
Trim protein portions to curb the delayed riseA dose-dependent study showed that escalating protein content in a meal proportionally increased 5-hour post-prandial glucose, underscoring the benefit of keeping servings moderate. (DME)

Which labs, devices and medications guide safe protein dosing?

Data beyond finger-sticks help tailor the dose and protect organs affected by high protein intake.

eGFR and microalbumin every 6–12 monthsKidney checks ensure higher protein diets are safe; a drop under 60 mL/min/1.73 m² warrants diet review.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with 15-minute granularityCGM reveals the delayed rise; "patients using CGM adjust extended boluses 2 weeks sooner on average," says Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI.
Pump features like ‘square wave’ and ‘dual wave’These delivery modes let you match insulin to the 3–5 hour glucose tail.
Glucagon pen on hand for delayed lowsExtended insulin sometimes overshoots; having rescue glucagon reduces ER visits by 30 % in pump users.
30 % insulin dose increase tames delayed spike from 50 g proteinIn a pump crossover study, delivering 130 % of the usual bolus over 3 h for a 50 g-protein, 30 g-carb meal significantly reduced mean post-meal glucose compared with the standard dose while avoiding extra hypoglycaemia. (PubMed)
Including protein in dose math cuts time above 8 mmol/L by 19 %When adults on low-carb diets calculated boluses for both protein and carbohydrate, time spent ≥ 8 mmol/L fell to 54.8 % versus 73.7 % for carb-only dosing in a randomised cross-over study. (Wiley)

How do I adjust insulin dosing for the protein spike in Type 1 diabetes?

Key Takeaways

What insulin strategy covers a post-protein blood sugar rise?

Which glucose patterns warn that you under-dosed for protein?

How can I adjust food choices and timing to blunt the protein spike?

Which labs, devices and medications guide safe protein dosing?

Frequently Asked Questions