Carb Counting Reset: How to Stop Guessing and Get Numbers You Trust
Off track loves to hide in foods we think we know. This episode helps you rebuild carb confidence without a spreadsheet so numbers stay calmer and corrections smaller. What You’ll Learn Why carbs go sideways: portion distortion, restaurant...
The episode, word for word
"Getting off track loves to hide in the carbs we 'already know.' The bowl that's actually two bowls. The 'medium' burrito that's a small sleeping bag. We don't mean to wing it, we just stop checking. Today is the first step in getting your edge back by rebuilding carb confidence without turning meals into homework, so that evenings get calmer and corrections get smaller. I'm Neil Greathouse, and this is Your Best T1D Year."
"If you're new here, 'getting off track' is the quiet slide: fewer quick checks, snoozed alerts, and carb counts from memory instead of labels or menus. None of it screams emergency. It just stacks until you're chasing numbers. Today we'll tighten one thing, so that your decisions get easier and your nights get quieter."
Part 1, Why carbs go sideways (0:55) "Portion distortion is undefeated. Serve sizes are small print; dishes are big vibes. Restaurants free-pour, cereal bowls are optimistic, and drinks are trickster calories. Add holidays, travel, and 'I'll look it up later,' and you've got a reliable path to getting off track."
Part 2, Two tiny tools (pick ONE for 7 days) (1:30) We're not doing a food log. We're doing clarity with training wheels.
The "Three Usuals" Re-Check Pick your three most-eaten foods this week. Look up real carb numbers again (label, app, or menu). Write them where you can see them (note on the fridge or phone). Use those numbers all week, so that your "knowns" stop quietly sabotaging you.
The "10-Minute Nudge" Set a timer the moment you decide to eat. If your usual meals spike fast, pre-bolus on your normal schedule; if they spike slow, dose closer to the first bite. The timer is just a nudge, so that you stop bolusing after the plate is empty.
Bonus if you're eager: Liquid Honesty. Re-check carbs on one daily drink (coffee drink, juice, smoothie). That single swap can save your entire afternoon graph.
Part 3, Why these work (the thoughtful bit) (2:45)
Re-checking your "knowns" fixes the biggest blind spots first, so that the average improves without tracking everything.
A simple pre-bolus nudge aligns insulin timing with absorption, so that you reduce the "eat then chase" routine.
Drinks move fast and are easy to ignore; correcting one daily drink yields an outsized win, so that your corrections shrink.
Pop-Culture Beat (3:15) "Think Great British Bake Off: weigh it, don't eyeball it. Vibes are for Hollywood Handshakes. Your edge comes from one measured thing, so that everything else can stay simple."
Here's what I want you to think about (not homework) (3:35) "Listen, here's what I want you to think about right now. I don't need you to do anything. Take a minute and be blunt with yourself for 60 seconds: 'I'm choosing to re-check ______ for 7 days, so that ______.' Write the first answer. Don't tidy it. If you want, DM it to me."
What's next (4:20) "Next episode we'll stack one more small lever and talk about travel and holidays without turning your backpack into a pharmacy. Dr. David Ahn joins later this month to shorten off-track seasons without the shame spiral."
Sponsor // Blue Circle Health (4:34) Mid-roll F (16-state version): "Tired of hold music? Blue Circle Health connects you with a real team for six months at no cost, CGM coaching, insulin-adjustment support, and help wrangling refills and insurance. Available in 16 states. Check your state and sign up for free at bluecirclehealth.org."
f you've been drifting, this is the moment to grab the wheel again. No guilt, no pep talk, just progress. You can do this. I believe in you. T1D is relentless, but managing it doesn't have to be. New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tools at yourbestt1dyear.com. Nobody remembers easy."
Week 40
Nov 17 - 119
This is the script as read on the mic, lightly tidied for reading. Education, not medical advice. Talk to your care team before you change anything about your insulin.