glucose levels advice

[coleyd]

Hi everyone

I would like some advice. I got more strips today to carry on testing my blood. I ate breakfast then tested it in the car about 2 hours later I was 7.1 then I ate some dark chocolate and cashews then about 2 hours later I tested it was 7.4. Then I retested about 15 min later it was 6.5 and then at home again it was 6.1 so those last 3 readings where I'm within an hour .

Is that normal ? Like I mean for it to fluctuate like that ?

 

[Alison Campbell]

Yes perfectly normal levels change a lot through the day and it is only a tiny amount of blood.

Please remember that there these machines are not that accurate. They are allowed to be out by plus or minus 15% I think so you need to focus on the trends.

 

[coleyd]

Ok that's good to know. How do I work my average out ? Should I average per day ?

Sorry I obviously don't have a clue. I'm new to everything and new to the lower carb diet.

 

[sally and james]

Yes, blood sugar readings do fluctuate. Chocolate and cashews will put your sugar levels up, then your body will start to deal with it and, hopefully, levels will gradually come down, as you saw. Meters are also not quite as accurate as we might hope and the very same drop of blood can give varied readings, by up to 15%. Also, as someone said on here a year or two back, visualise the sugar in your blood as being lots of sugar lumps being pushed round, sometimes, when you test, you will get a sugar lump and sometimes you won't.
While it is interesting, when you first start testing, to follow through the effects of, say, a bowl of porridge for several hours, what you should be looking at is the effects of different food stuffs, ie, does porridge suit me, with before and after tests. I am making the assumption here, that you are not on insulin or an insulin stimulating drug, so needing to keep a very close eye on what was going on.
Sally

 

[coleyd]

Hiya Yes that's right im no on meds and im trying to avoid it as I lose the rest of my weight I've to lose.

I read as long as it's under 8.5 I'm ok ?

 

[sally and james]

I read as long as it's under 8.5 I'm ok ?

We aim for 4's to high 5's before meals, under 7 at one hour after a meal and under 6 at two hours. This is what I understand to be "normal" and can be achieved on a low carb diet. 8.5 from time to time, but not all the time, is probably not too terrible, but who knows, best to keep as low as you can.
Sally

 

[catinahat]

Here's a link that explains how to eat to your meter
http://www.diabetic.pub/Eat to your Meter.htm

 

[coleyd]

Ok good to know. So should the chocolate and nuts be ok ? After breakfast was 7.1 amd the highest it got about 2 hours after the snack of chocolate was 7.4

 

[coleyd]

Thanks for the link

 

[Alison Campbell]

No need to average per day. You might want to average per week or month and comparing to the previous month to see what direction you are going in.

Depending on your meter, it may work out the averages for you and there are some smartphone apps that will do this.

Targets are personal to everyone, yours is to loose weight and avoid medication. Did your doctor and nurse give you a target HBA1C?

 

[coleyd]

No target yet i haven't had my 1st nurse appointment yet. The doc wasn't that helpful really . I also need to lower my blood pressure it'd high . My cholesterol is normal but its 5.1

 

[Alison Campbell]

Ok well this is a good question to ask your DSN, diabetic specialist nurse. Find out what your HBA1C was and agree a target. Start making a list of questions for your appointment as well.

Read around the forum, try to learn as much as you can about diabetes.

You are doing well getting your blood glucose down and finding this forum.

 

[BrianTheElder]

Just a note, as a type 2, cashews are not the greatest nut to eat, they have 30g carbs/100g nuts.. Try walnuts or brazil nuts instead.

 

[coleyd]

Thanks think dr did say my hba1c was about 58

 

[coleyd]

Thanks I will switch to Brazil nuts . Thanks for the tip

 

[Alison Campbell]

58 HBA1C would be the equivalent to testing at home and getting 9-12 through the day. You are doing well, please see http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html

 

[coleyd]

Thanks. Ok so after lunch I was 7. 8 at 1 hour and 6.9 at around 2 hours that ok ?

Plus I was about 6.1 a wee while before before I had the lunch

 

[coleyd]

This is my low Carb diet. Lunch was chicken salad cup of tea and plain Greek yogurt

 

[sally and james]

No target yet

I'll give you a target! Aim to join The Five Percent Club. This is the old measurement of HbA1c, which translates to Less than 42mmol/mol in the new system - rather less catchy, I'm sure you will agree. This is, of course, "normal".
By the way, I think your low carb lunch was excellent.
Sally

ps The 5% Club was something much talked about on this site, http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/

 

[coleyd]

Wow brilliant thank you! Yes I liked lunch will check it out. Do you eat low Carb too ?