New T2 And Confused About Blood Levels.

[Fergum10]

Hi everyone,
I was given the news on 5th August that I had T2 after I went to docs with infected parotid, and had bloods taken. What joy...not. My mum and gran had T2 so I was a case waiting to happen, so given Im overweight it didn't come as too much as a shock. My GP was kind enough to issue me with a meter and prescription for testing strips (although I had to ask him!) still waiting for DESMOND, so I've made use of this wonderful site and also the other one diabetes.org. Thank heaven for such support.

What I cant understand is that since I started testing mid last week, my BG levels are lower 2hrs after I eat than they were before I ate..Sometimes higher but always less than 8. Is this normal if you cut out a lot of carbs...Im going back to my Atkins diet, although not as strictly as I have included fruit. Mostly berries and also zero fat yoghurt.
I decided to test as soon as I woke up and bizarely despite not eaten (after 9pm-10am)

For instance, at lunch my BG before was 6.1, yet after a lunch of 2egg omelette with mushrooms, cheese and toms it was 4.6! (I did have a 30 walk with my mutt around the park just before lunch).

Can someone tell me if its normal to be 6.1 on waking the last two days. or should I test a little later to give myself time to 'wake up'. Should I worry that my glucose levels are lower after eating, or does the metformin help? (Im on 1 x 500mg twice a day)

On the plus side I've lost 2 stone, 4lls and my BP has dropped too, so at least everything is going in the right direction!


best
Mary

 

[sally and james]

@Fergum10 Hi Mary, welcome to the forum. It sounds as if you are doing all the right things, though I would be wary of zero fat yoghurt. The fat has to be replaced with something and that something is usually a heavy dose of carbs.
My husband (the diabetic in this low carb household) not infrequently has post meal readings almost the same or lower than the "before" readings. Checking back on some old records, one example was 5.7 before lunch (this was unusually high for him and followed a morning fast) and 5.2 after 2 hours. At one hour it was 5.6. The meal was cheese omelette, with a bit of leafy salad. Bear in mind that readings on a home meter do not have pin-point accuracy, so the "truth" may actually have been the reverse.
I would guess this lower reading phenomena happens when your body pumps out some sugars when you are waiting for your meal, the meal stimulates some insulin production, but you have hardly had any carbs, so your blood sugar level ends up being reduced.
My husband has no diabetes meds.
Sally

 

[Sirmione]

You are bang on target! It is not uncommon for a very low carb meal to result in a lower blood glucose level in the first couple of hours after a meal.
Protein rich low carb meals can sometimes take 3-4 hours to convert to a rise in blood glucose.

 

[Hiitsme]

Hi @Fergum10 and welcome.
I will tag @daisy1 who will post some information for newcomers.
You do seem to have made a good start with both diet and weight loss so well done.
My understanding is that non diabetics are normally back to pre meal levels after 2 hours so that is what some of us aim for. Also a walk does really help
The first thing in the morning level is normally the last to come down so don't get too worried about that and 6.1 is quite good for only having been diagnosed a month ago.

 

[Fergum10]

Hi Everyone, thanks so much for your positive responses. I was overwhelmed at first regards what to eat and not. I will ditch the zero fat Yoghurt..it has 4g carbs of which 4g is sugar so I guess that wasnt the right kind, thanks for letting me know about that. My diet has been fairly good and Im eating more than I ever did, but no junk, and Ive no cravings at all. Im relatively happy. I hoping that its possible to go into remission...with the right exercise too. Fingers crossed!

 

[Kristin251]

When I was type 2 I would take a moderate 20 min walk after each meal. Nothing overly strenuous and it always brought my bs down. Walking is great. If you want it to come down more, just walk more. I found moderate walking or some yoga to be more helpful in lower ping me than brisk walking or weight lifting as they tended to raise me but we are all individuals. Keeping a food and exercise journal will help you emensly.

 

[Fergum10]

When I was type 2 I would take a moderate 20 min walk after each meal. Nothing overly strenuous and it always brought my bs down. Walking is great. If you want it to come down more, just walk more. I found moderate walking or some yoga to be more helpful in lower ping me than brisk walking or weight lifting as they tended to raise me but we are all individuals. Keeping a food and exercise journal will help you emensly.

Thanks for this. Yes Im back at work tomorrow, and I will be walking there and back. I would like to do Yoga too, but I will wait til my weight is down a little more. I think I will also take up my golf again!

 

[Fergum10]

Hi @Fergum10 and welcome.
I will tag @daisy1 who will post some information for newcomers.
You do seem to have made a good start with both diet and weight loss so well done.
My understanding is that non diabetics are normally back to pre meal levels after 2 hours so that is what some of us aim for. Also a walk does really help
The first thing in the morning level is normally the last to come down so don't get too worried about that and 6.1 is quite good for only having been diagnosed a month ago.

Thanks. The more info I have the less worried I will be. I guess it takes a while to get into a routine.

 

[Fergum10]

You are bang on target! It is not uncommon for a very low carb meal to result in a lower blood glucose level in the first couple of hours after a meal.
Protein rich low carb meals can sometimes take 3-4 hours to convert to a rise in blood glucose.

Your quote made me smile. I was thinking that T2 makes me think of Arnold Schwarsenegger the Terminator 2 film

 

[Fergum10]

When I was type 2 I would take a moderate 20 min walk after each meal. Nothing overly strenuous and it always brought my bs down. Walking is great. If you want it to come down more, just walk more. I found moderate walking or some yoga to be more helpful in lower ping me than brisk walking or weight lifting as they tended to raise me but we are all individuals. Keeping a food and exercise journal will help you emensly.

Hi there, I just re read this and you said 'when" you were type 2. Has it changed?

 

[Mbaker]

Hi Everyone, thanks so much for your positive responses. I was overwhelmed at first regards what to eat and not. I will ditch the zero fat Yoghurt..it has 4g carbs of which 4g is sugar so I guess that wasnt the right kind, thanks for letting me know about that. My diet has been fairly good and Im eating more than I ever did, but no junk, and Ive no cravings at all. Im relatively happy. I hoping that its possible to go into remission...with the right exercise too. Fingers crossed!

Not arguing, but if you are comfortable with the low fat yogurt stick with it. I follow what I call a low carb good fat diet, so on the yogurt side I only ever eat low fat yogurt. On the good fat side I eat an avocado a day, along with olive oil and several types of nuts. @sally and james are correct that often sugar replaces fat, but 4g in 100 is not much if your portion size is reasonable. Only posting as your progress is good. The great thing about LCHF (or variants) is that there is some flexibility, e.g. I now eat less cashews (my favourite) as they are higher in carbs than many nuts, but have now added pecans to my list.

 

[daisy1]

@Fergum10

Hello Mary and welcome to the forum Here, as mentioned above, is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. You are doing very well already. Ask more questions and someone will be able to answer.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 210,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

 

[Liam1955]

@Fergum10 - Hello and Welcome to the Forum.

 

[mariakatosvich]

It is not uncommon for a very low carb meal to result in a lower blood glucose level in the first couple of hours after a meal.Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

 

[mariakatosvich]

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort. A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels. I found moderate walking or some yoga to be more helpful in lower ping me than brisk walking or weight lifting as they tended to raise me but we are all individuals.

 

[bsinatra]

Hello all,
I am new to diabetes and to this forum.
-Daisy, -Thank-you for the basic info which is going to be very useful.
Anybody point me to any further info, particularly on Hypos - I seem to be getting these more than high sugars - so I am eating some carbs - but Wrong thing to do???

 

[Hiitsme]

Hello all,
I am new to diabetes and to this forum.
-Daisy, -Thank-you for the basic info which is going to be very useful.
Anybody point me to any further info, particularly on Hypos - I seem to be getting these more than high sugars - so I am eating some carbs - but Wrong thing to do???

Hi @bsinatra and welcome.
It might be a good idea to start a new thread, then it will be easier to find replies,
Questions to think about, are you on any medication that might give you hypos? Have you told your GP/nurse about the hypos? Are you type 2? How low are your hypos? Hypos do need to be treated but how are you treating them?
Have a careful read through Daisy's information and do come back and ask questions and people will try and help. I can;t help you with hypos as I've never had one but lots of people on here have.

 

[Liam1955]

@bsinatra - Hello and Welcome to Forum .

 

[Fergum10]

@Fergum10

Hello Mary and welcome to the forum Here, as mentioned above, is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. You are doing very well already. Ask more questions and someone will be able to answer.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 210,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

This is brilliant. Thanks so much.

 

[Fergum10]

Thanks everyone. One thing I need to understand is that I have lost weight steadily til last week, which was when I started walking to and from work. Combined with my evening dog walk, Im walking 5miles average per day. So, why did I only lose the grand total of 7g??! Its bonkers as I have been doing the LCHF diet and no cheating with fruit. Perhaps muscle build up?

The good thing is, that due to this forum I've started Coconut oil three days ago, and take a small tbsp before my main meal. Last night before going to bed my BG level was 3.5. Surely thats too low for type 2 diabetic?