Blood glucose levels after eating low carbs

[nicki_484]

Hi, I've been testing my BG levels before and after eating.
My fasting was 6.9
Breakfast porridge with a pear
2 hours after it was 6.4
Before lunch I was 6.7
Lunch tin of tuna, 1 tomato and mushrooms
2 hours after I was 7.2

How does this work as porridge and a pear is carbs and the lunch was hardly any?
I hope someone can advise

 

[serenity648]

Hi, I've been testing my BG levels before and after eating.
My fasting was 6.9
Breakfast porridge with a pear
2 hours after it was 6.4
Before lunch I was 6.7
Lunch tin of tuna, 1 tomato and mushrooms
2 hours after I was 7.2

How does this work as porridge and a pear is carbs and the lunch was hardly any?
I hope someone can advise

some of us find that some carbs are ok for us. The type and quantity we can eat is personal, so your testing and experimenting will let you know what carbs you can eat, and how much at any one time.

 

[Hotpepper20000]

I have found that the results are accumulative. So I can have one higher carb meal once and while and I'm ok
But if I over do it then my BG will spike more then usual even with a lower carb meal.
There might be someone on this forum that has more scientific information to explain it.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi and welcome,

My suggestion is you missed your peak after breakfast. Peaks can occur at any time from 30 minutes to 3 hours or more depending on the way the foods digest. The 2 hour level is only a guideline and no way intended as a peak time. It will also depend on what you did between breakfast and the 2 hour mark.

Your lunch was perfect - the rise was negligible.

 

[Alexandra100]

I have found that the results are accumulative. So I can have one higher carb meal once and while and I'm ok
But if I over do it then my BG will spike more then usual even with a lower carb meal.
There might be someone on this forum that has more scientific information to explain it.

That's a very interesting theory. I am finding repeatedly that I can "get away with" more carbs at breakfast than later in the day. I was thinking that this was the same mechanism as makes me less able to digest large meals later in the day, but perhaps not. Perhaps as you suggest I am "paying" all day for the carb debt I run up at breakfast. Sigh!

 

[Hotpepper20000]

That's a very interesting theory. I am finding repeatedly that I can "get away with" more carbs at breakfast than later in the day. I was thinking that this was the same mechanism as makes me less able to digest large meals later in the day, but perhaps not. Perhaps as you suggest I am "paying" all day for the carb debt I run up at breakfast. Sigh!

Shows how different we all are.
I can't eat any carbs before 11 am. And do best with a small supper.

 

[Tannith]

Hi, I've been testing my BG levels before and after eating.
My fasting was 6.9
Breakfast porridge with a pear
2 hours after it was 6.4
Before lunch I was 6.7
Lunch tin of tuna, 1 tomato and mushrooms
2 hours after I was 7.2

How does this work as porridge and a pear is carbs and the lunch was hardly any?
I hope someone can advise

This will be because porridge contains soluble fibre called beta glucans. It forms a kind of gelatinous goo in the bowel and inhibits the uptake of glucose. It does the same for cholesterol and "escorts" it out of the body. Pears like apples also contain a type of soluble fibre called pectin that has the same effect. Whether it actually gets rid of the sugar as it does the cholesterol I don't know, but it certainly slows absorption and reduces spikes.

 

[Resurgam]

It is why glycaemic index is rather misleading - it might be slow absorption, but it is still carbs and adds up through the day

 

[nicki_484]

This will be because porridge contains soluble fibre called beta glucans. It forms a kind of gelatinous goo in the bowel and inhibits the uptake of glucose. It does the same for cholesterol and "escorts" it out of the body. Pears like apples also contain a type of soluble fibre called pectin that has the same effect. Whether it actually gets rid of the sugar as it does the cholesterol I don't know, but it certainly slows absorption and reduces spikes.

Thank you for the explanation, today fasting was 7.1 and I had porridge with blueberries for breakfast, 2 hours after I was 9.2, do you think this was because I had blueberries?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thank you for the explanation, today fasting was 7.1 and I had porridge with blueberries for breakfast, 2 hours after I was 9.2, do you think this was because I had blueberries?

Yes! Blueberries are higher carb than strawberries and raspberries. My meter tells me they are not for me.

 

[Kristin251]

Thank you for the explanation, today fasting was 7.1 and I had porridge with blueberries for breakfast, 2 hours after I was 9.2, do you think this was because I had blueberries?

I'm thinking it was the porridge and your fasting is still a tad high so maybe try eggs and no fruit tomorrow and see what happens?

I too find a cumulative effect but more with protein as I'm vlc. I can eat more for a day or two but then it catches up and my fastings run higher as well as my whole day for about 3 days. It's about filling or over filling glycogen stores. Once they're full and not depleted the bs has no where to go. That's why exercise helps, it depletes glycogen stores. At least this is my understanding

 

[Bluetit1802]

I agree with @Kristin251 about the porridge. I know I said above it was the blueberries, and they probably did cause a spike, but the porridge will have contributed in some way, and adding the total carbs of that meal, including milk if you used it, I suggest it was too much for you. Have a go with an eggy breakfast and see what difference there is.

 

[Kristin251]

Your numbers are relatively smooth but they all should come down a bit.

Also have you tested at the one hour point? This could be where your porridge spike come in. Carbs without much fat tend to spike quickly whether low GI or not. Try testing at one hour? You might be surprised but either way it'll be good information.

 

[serenity648]

Thank you for the explanation, today fasting was 7.1 and I had porridge with blueberries for breakfast, 2 hours after I was 9.2, do you think this was because I had blueberries?

your starting point was 7.1, and your post meal was only 2 points higher, so I think your breakfast is ok In time, your pre-breakfast number will drop. Unless, like me, you get liver dumps.

 

[nicki_484]

Your numbers are relatively smooth but they all should come down a bit.

Also have you tested at the one hour point? This could be where your porridge spike come in. Carbs without much fat tend to spike quickly whether low GI or not. Try testing at one hour? You might be surprised but either way it'll be good information.

No I didn't test until 2 hours, I will tomorrow thanks.
I really want to be able to control my diabetes through diet only and I need to get my cholesterol down as well.

 

[Kristin251]

No I didn't test until 2 hours, I will tomorrow thanks.
I really want to be able to control my diabetes through diet only and I need to get my cholesterol down as well.

Well there's another couple reasons to try eggs and reduce carbs. It is carbs that raise bs AND cholesterol.

Please keep me posted at your one hour test. It's one hour after your first bite. Wouldn't hurt to do another one at 1.5 hours to see how high you go and when you start your decline. Just more pieces of the puzzle and knowledge is power.