Newly diagnosed - Update

[meab2]

Hi everyone
I just wanted to update on my latest hospital visit .Its been 1 month since I had my blood sugar tested .last month it was 168mg/dL or 9.3mmol/L and Im pleased to say yesterdays reading was 99mg/dL or 5.5mmol/L.
I put myself on a low carb diet as the first advice I got was to not eat pasta,bread,rice potato and that was basically it .I have since lost just short of 6kg which I am happy with .
I have a few questions that I want to ask and things that I am curious about . I am curious to know why people feel the need to self test ? I know we are all different but for me I think I would get more stressed if I was to self test .My second part of the question would be do you actually feel any different if you have a spike when you have eaten a certain food? I think I would go in panic mode to think I could not eat a certain food agaın !
I have stuck to the diet pretty well but I am still eating 2 small slices of wholemeal bread everyday for breakfast and I dont feel any different and I dont feel any worse for wear . I read the forum quite a lot and I know we are all different but I do get a bit panicky when I see people say they can never eat this or that because it spikes them... anyway I also visited the dietitian while I was at the hospital ,lucky for me its a new doctors post so I dont have to travel 1 hour away now. My blood test also showed my uric acid was up even more then from last time . I had no idea what this was so I googled it and now I understand it . Apart from the odd toilet troubles and not being able to get rid of a cold I have in general been feeling ok but I have had pain in my big toe and this is due to the uric acid .The dietitian gave me a list of what I should be eating and she said I could eat a small portion of pasta or rice once a week ,well yesterday I gave myself a treat for getting my blood down so I ate 4 dessert spoons of pasta and later I ate 2 small cup cakes ,homemade and silly as it sounds my toe pain started to ease and today I dont feel anything,possibly psychological but the pain has göne so Im happy.The dietitian also said I could eat a small piece of fruit which I am happy about because I really miss orange juice .I asked about grapefruit and she said it shouldnt affect the metformin I take but only to have a small portion .the diet sheet she wrote out for me does seem more then I eat now so Im not going to follow it sticktly ,Im just gonna keep to low carb but have the odd piece of fruit or pasta or rice as a treat .The only thing I found a bit strange is she told me to drink either a glass of milk ,kefir or have some plain yoğurt 1 hour before bed to settle my stomach? I wont be doıng that as after my main meal I dont feel like anything .One really hard part of this diet for me is water .I need to get up to drinking 3 litres a day but I stuggle to drink a few glasses unless I have done some exercise .
Sorry for the long post but I just wanted to ask also if anyone has göne off any food or drink since the change of diet . I feel I cant drink tea or coffee anymore .Im also not fussed on eating cheese too which I used to love .

 

[Element137]

First off, very well done on your results so far, you have made significant progress - for me testing, or eating to my meter has allowed me to identify what I can eat without getting spikes - as you point out, we are all very different and each have different tolerance to foods - by testing you can find out for yourself what works/what impacts you and then you can choose to either eliminate / or limit the foods that affect you the most - if nothing else it allows you to make informed choices. Ultimately you can choose to eat whatever you want - its up to you to choose the degree of management you want to take - think of your meter/testing as the tool that allows you to make choices and measure your progress, for me its a very powerful motivational tool also. Keep up the good work ! You have done very well in a short amount of time- well done.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

For me personally, self-testing is a blessing. Rather comforting, even. I eat according to my meter, more often than not. When I'm at home I stick with a rhythm, but on the weekends I'm considerably more active. I might hit a low, or need more than I usually ingest because I'm burning off more. Makes it easier to know what to order; salads or something a little more (slow-) carby. And when I'm high I can take action to burn it off. Once you reach a certain equilibrium, -took me about 6 months- a sugarspike may cause you to feel ill; in my case, a slight hyper may feel like a hypo. So I check, to see what's what. And you know, some fruits are more diabetic-friendly than others. I don't know how you feel about blueberries and strawberries, but... Good stuff! As for OJ, loads of sugar in that, but a whole orange every now and again should be okay. The fibres help. As for spikes, well... I can't eat a slice of cake. But... If my husband has one, we share. That I can get away with! Which I only know because I self-test. If used to re-assure or simply inform, it doesn't have to be stressful at all. Just don't beat yourself up over it and you'd be fine. But it's up to you, of course. It's a handy tool, not a guilt-trip device, should you choose to get one. Good luck, and congrats on the improved numbers!

 

[Daibell]

Although many of us welcome knowing where our BS is and hence use a meter, some like yourself would rather not and that's fine. It's most important if you are on insulin or know that you have widely fluctuating sugars. Keep up the low-carb diet but don't worry about the occasional bit of fruit or carb or even an occasional really carby celebration! This is where the meter can help guide you. I'm not sure who may have guided you on the 3 litres day of water? If it's for a medical condition then fine or if you like it also fine but other than that there is no reason to have that amount. The (in)famous 'have 2 litres a day' is merely an invention and not based on any good science; just make sure you don't get de-hydrated.

 

[ringi]

In the UK most doctors tell people with Type2 that they should be eating lots of carbs, hence that is what people do unless it is proven to them it is a bad option. Self-testing is a good way for people to see for themselves what they should eat, without having to believe someone who does not keep to the standard NHS advice......

Self-testing can also be very motiving as the results of food choices at a meal can be seen within 2hrs. The key is testing before the meal, then 2hr after starting the meal and only considering the change in the reading, trying to avoid any meals that increase BG by more than 2 mmol/L.

If you have a good understanding of low carb diets, there is no need to self-test.

 

[meab2]

Thank you everyone for your advice .
Before I got diagnosed I felt really really stressed and a sence of heaviness if that makes sence but with this new low carb diet I feel much better ,mentally better so its definitely a way of life from now on but with the occasional treat. I would like to eventually get off the medication and stay low carb as I have seen some others do on here. As for self testing I don't feel its the right thing for me to do right now but never say never .
Yes it was the dietitian who advised 3 litres of water .I do need a bit extra to flush out the uric acid and she told me to just gradually drink a bit more every day until I feel comfortable but I don't think I could manage 3 litres ,maybe in summer when its hot but winter months I struggle .

 

[carol43]

@meab2 Be careful with drinking too much water, it can flush too much salt out of your system.

 

[oh_dear_me]

Hello, I do have a meter and I do test before and after most meals. I've been able to really see which foods spike me but also it's helped me learn which foods I can "get away with" . I was very low carb for the first 5 months and following the 16.8 diet (fasting for 16 hours) but actually haven't been feeling well on it at all. So just recently I have started to introduce the odd spoonful of brown basmati rice, low carb bread/protein rolls and I have found a breakfast granola (Liz's high fibre granola) which for some unaccountable reason I am absolutely fine with. I certainly wouldn't have known about the granola if I hadn't been able to test before and 2 hours after. Now I'm eating 3 meals a day I'm feeling so much better on it.
I still avoid all fruit juice and most fruits (apart from berries or apple) potato, pasta...not been brave enough to try pasta and I do miss it..and unless it's low carb bread I avoid. I personally know when I have a spike because I can feel it- tingling down my arms and legs, shaky and tummy oddness! ...well the only way to described it is like internal flutters???? Anyone else get that?
I find it amazing how different we all are ....how some can eat certain foods and be just fine and others not. The most important advice I was given is to do what's best for you. I've certainly found it very much trial and error over the last few months! I seem to learn something new every day

 

[Bluetit1802]

@meab2 Be careful with drinking too much water, it can flush too much salt out of your system.

The answer to that is to add some salt to your food.

 

[David22272]

I get bored with plain water, so I buy those bottles of lemon juice available in supermarkets and keep in the frig (also lime juice). A couple of squeezes make an acceptable drink and is cheap. In spite of concerns in forums on sweeteners, I sometimes add a sweetener to get a lemon cordial effect. Sometimes I use soda water with these drinks. Another alternative is lemon, lime and bitters. Occasionally I buy sugar free cordials for variety, currently I have an apple and raspberry cordial (check the label when buying as you can be caught out). I have tried food flavourings but most of these are insipid and, in water, have a very artificial flavour. Sugar free hot chocolate drinks is another option, especially when feeling peckish in the evening.

I find testing to be very useful and in the past have kept a spreadsheet which has two benefits. First, it keeps me on track and aware. Secondly, I bring extracts to medical appointments which both reassures my doctor and gives him confidence to adjust medication downwards if things are going well.

I find the forums on diet often have insufficient reminders on exercise. I would encourage readers to include exercise on a spreadsheet and look at its effect on glucose levels and cholesterol levels. Made a big difference to me. However, we all have lapses. Whilst I am doing well in limiting carbohydrates, during the Australian winter I have been eating too much fat and not doing enough exercise, so whilst my spikes are few my weight has crept up and so has my blood pressure. Not too badly but corrective action is needed

 

[meab2]

I still avoid all fruit juice and most fruits (apart from berries or apple) potato, pasta...not been brave enough to try pasta and I do miss it..and unless it's low carb bread I avoid. I personally know when I have a spike because I can feel it- tingling down my arms and legs, shaky and tummy oddness! ...well the only way to described it is like internal flutters???? Anyone else get that?
I find it amazing how different we all are ....how some can eat certain foods and be just fine and others not. The most important advice I was given is to do what's best for you. I've certainly found it very much trial and error over the last few months! I seem to learn something new every day

Thank you ,yes I have been avoiding fruit juices , Ive never been a huge fizzy drinker but orange juice is my favourit drink so its a bit tough but the dietitian said I could have a small piece of fruit so that helps a little.
Thats good to know about the flutters ,because I was wondering do you actually feel anything if you get a spike with me not testing I was curious . When I first started on the new low carb diet I fancied an apple and not long after I did get some flutters also last night when I ate a small handful of peanuts (I know not the best choice but thats all we had )anyway I think I will stick with the almonds ın future .

 

[meab2]

I get bored with plain water, so I buy those bottles of lemon juice available in supermarkets and keep in the frig (also lime juice). A couple of squeezes make an acceptable drink and is cheap. In spite of concerns in forums on sweeteners, I sometimes add a sweetener to get a lemon cordial effect. Sometimes I use soda water with these drinks. Another alternative is lemon, lime and bitters. Occasionally I buy sugar free cordials for variety, currently I have an apple and raspberry cordial (check the label when buying as you can be caught out). I have tried food flavourings but most of these are insipid and, in water, have a very artificial flavour. Sugar free hot chocolate drinks is another option, especially when feeling peckish in the evening.

Thanks .The only drink I can get here in Turkey is a sugar free lemon drink which I tend to dilute further so that I can add some more water to my diet .We get the usual fizzy drinks but I dont tend to drink them . There are a couple of cordials but they are awful. I checked the flavoured mineral waters but they seem to have too much sugar/carbs in them. I picked up a hot chocolate packet but its 8.5g of carbs per 100m ,( I cant find any sugar free) I was thinking of halfing it but Im not sure if thats still too much because when its made up in a mug it wıll be around 180-200ml so it will still work out as 8.5g ? have I worked that out right?.
I really miss a warm drink at night especially with the colder weather and as I said before I have gone off drinking tea and coffee now that I cant have sugar in them .
I think I will have to grin and bear it until I get a visit from my family next year.I will ask them to bring me some sugar free drinks form the U.K .

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I still avoid all fruit juice and most fruits (apart from berries or apple) potato, pasta...not been brave enough to try pasta and I do miss it..and unless it's low carb bread I avoid. I personally know when I have a spike because I can feel it- tingling down my arms and legs, shaky and tummy oddness! ...well the only way to described it is like internal flutters???? Anyone else get that?
I find it amazing how different we all are ....how some can eat certain foods and be just fine and others not. The most important advice I was given is to do what's best for you. I've certainly found it very much trial and error over the last few months! I seem to learn something new every day

Thank you ,yes I have been avoiding fruit juices , Ive never been a huge fizzy drinker but orange juice is my favourit drink so its a bit tough but the dietitian said I could have a small piece of fruit so that helps a little.
Thats good to know about the flutters ,because I was wondering do you actually feel anything if you get a spike with me not testing I was curious . When I first started on the new low carb diet I fancied an apple and not long after I did get some flutters also last night when I ate a small handful of peanuts (I know not the best choice but thats all we had )anyway I think I will stick with the almonds ın future .

Those "internal flutters" etc are VERY familliar indeed. I get tingly, restless and ill when I go over 12 or so these days... So yeah, it's a thing, apparently!

 

[brianmt]

Today was a milestone for me less than 6 months ago I was diagnosed with diabetes, hha1c of 95 and 112 kilos, now hba1c of 35 and 89 kilos ( need to lose anothe few kilos ). I could not have achived this if I was not self testing. I , like you was told to watch my diet and go easy on the carbs. What did that mean ??????
Testing myself, I quickly became aware even 1 slice of bread raised my BG but oranges and apples didn't. Boiled potatoes wow, may have just eaten lumps of sugar, but small new potatoes in their skins hardly had any effect. I learnt very quickly what to avoid and for me that was very important. I've found low carb bread which I can eat , a slice or 2 a day (i could polish of a loaf of bread a day). I found a glass or 2 of red wine had no effect and had an actual positve effect on BG when eating out , for instance a poppadom or 2 or half a chapati and a spoonfull or so of rice, could be tolerated washed down with wine. Testing can be traumatic but who knows , you may be avoiding foods that you can tolerate