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Need advice

N

nsh2111

Well-Known Member
Messages
321
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dear all,

I am type 2 and have been controlling with diet only. Was diagnosed at hbac 50, which k manage to bring down to 42 but then it shot up to 50 in an year. During this phase I didn't do low carb and continued life as it is.

However,now I have reduced my carb , still around 50g or 60g or more , but I am loosing weight and not BS level. I don't want to loose weight as I am looking sick now :)

What can I do to lower BS but gain some weight . Do I have to increase fat and protein?


I have had some tips form fellow members so will be following them but has anyone else had same experience. Would love to hear such experience.
 
Not quite the same experience but I had trouble with my BS levels with the advice I was given. Once I did my own research and went low carb the weight just fell off. I wasn't overweight to start with (5'3" and 8 stone 10 to 12 lbs) but quite quickly went down to 7 stone which puts me on the verge of "critically under weight" according to my medical records! I seem to have stabilised at that and haven't lost any more so I can live with that although I would like to be a bit heavier; as you say, makes one look a bit healthier!
I have very few carbs but do eat a lot of protein (mainly chicken, lean pork (I don't like the fat) and eggs. I am guessing if I ate more fat, cheese is good for that, my weight would go up a bit but I do still struggle to keep my BS at a reasonable level and have to be really careful with my diet, have virtually no carbs.
 
I am in same boat. Don't know what drives my BS level. This morning I had ,6.6 fasting BS, had two eggs and some milk and then checking 4 he later I am still 7.6

Can small amount of carb in milk cause this much spike ? I take no medication right now.

I am afraid to say at anything
 
Plenty on this forum are slim but follow a successful low carb diet and maintain our weight without losing more. I am one of them. As you say, there are only 2 things you can do - increase fats or increase protein. What I did was increase fats from protein sources such as eggs and cheese. To lower your blood sugars you may find you need to reduce your carbs. We each have different carb tolerance levels, so you need to find yours.

Use a food diary with portion sizes included, use your bathroom scales, and use your blood glucose meter. These 3 tools will guide you. The fewer carbs you eat the more fats/protein you need. It is a fine balance and takes a lot of planning and a bit of effort. Lots of recording and analysing what is happening. If your weight creeps downwards - add more fats/protein. If it creeps upwards too far - reduce the fats/protein. The fewer carbs you eat the better your glucose levels will be.
 
Thanks . It's just frustrating to live life like this. Suppose no choice
 
Bluetit1802 said:
What is it that makes you frustrated?
Click to expand...
Just living life with so many constraints. I am only 38 and just see that life long struggle ahead will not be pretty and life will not be as I imagined. Can't do what everyone around me does without thinking. Since my last doscudidis with nurse, this is the only thing in my mind and it's ruling my life .
 
That is a pity you feel that way, and letting diabetes control you rather than controlling it.

You know that carbs are the problem with blood sugars, but fats and protein aren't. Do you enjoy a good fry up? Bacon, eggs, mushrooms and a tomato? That makes a very satisfying breakfast/brunch or lunch. Omelettes are a good choice too. A lovely juicy steak is delicious, or a roast dinner with one spud, followed by a few strawberries and cream. Nuts as snacks, plenty of cheese, eggs, butter on your veggies, chicken, beef, pork, lamb. Coffee with cream? Plenty of fish, especially oily fish. Delicious freshly cooked meals. What could be better?
 
Bluetit1802 said:
That is a pity you feel that way, and letting diabetes control you rather than controlling it.

You know that carbs are the problem with blood sugars, but fats and protein aren't. Do you enjoy a good fry up? Bacon, eggs, mushrooms and a tomato? That makes a very satisfying breakfast/brunch or lunch. Omelettes are a good choice too. A lovely juicy steak is delicious, or a roast dinner with one spud, followed by a few strawberries and cream. Nuts as snacks, plenty of cheese, eggs, butter on your veggies, chicken, beef, pork, lamb. Coffee with cream? Plenty of fish, especially oily fish. Delicious freshly cooked meals. What could be better?
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I do not doubt it and I am trying my best to get in with it.

This morning I had the boiled eggs and some milk. Despite that my BS as elevated even 4 hr after breakfast at 7.6

Lunch was a bit of cheat as it was Mexican , I left rice but still my BS went to 10.6 after two hrs. All I had was some chicken , some sauce , beans etc.

Episodes like this make me frustrating.
 
Are you also testing before meals and looking at the amount of rise from before to the 2 hour mark? That is the best way to gain control (alongside a food diary) Organised testing before and at 2 hours will help you, especially if you record the levels alongside the food so you can look for patterns and discover your personal danger foods. The aim is to keep any rise down to under 2mmol/l. More than that and there were too many carbs for your body to cope with, so you have the chance to decide which to reduce in portion size or eliminate.

In the case of your Mexican, it was most likely the sauce that did it as it will have been full of sugar, plus maybe the beans. That would have spiked me, too, and best kept for a special treat very occasionally.
 
nsh2111 said:
Thanks . It's just frustrating to live life like this. Suppose no choice
Click to expand...
nsh2111 said:
I do not doubt it and I am trying my best to get in with it.

This morning I had the boiled eggs and some milk. Despite that my BS as elevated even 4 hr after breakfast at 7.6

Lunch was a bit of cheat as it was Mexican , I left rice but still my BS went to 10.6 after two hrs. All I had was some chicken , some sauce , beans etc.

Episodes like this make me frustrating.
Click to expand...

I do sympathise with you; I too hate the constant watching my husband eat all the things I can't and leaving sis goodies on the coffee table in front of me and I am in my 70s so don't have the years looming in front of me like you do at your age. However, you may be able to reverse your diabetes with strict control for a year or two and MIGHT then be able to add a few treats occasionally.

I have recently been eating just breakfast and lunch, no evening meal, and for the first time ever I have had a few BSs in the high 5s or low 6s. It seems to work better for me to have the longer fast rather than three meals.
 
Hmm, that may be some food for thought :)

I will try to give fasting a go tonight. No dinner for me then. Will see how I fare tomorrow morning.

May be I do this once a week to not have dinner
 
nsh2111 said:
I am in same boat. Don't know what drives my BS level. This morning I had ,6.6 fasting BS, had two eggs and some milk and then checking 4 he later I am still 7.6

Can small amount of carb in milk cause this much spike ? I take no medication right now.

I am afraid to say at anything
Click to expand...
What spike?
You are not following the 'rules' for testing foods - and you are not eating much so your liver will provide glucose, as it does for many people., but if you are seeing levels under 8mmol/l that seems fine to me.
 
Resurgam said:
What spike?
You are not following the 'rules' for testing foods - and you are not eating much so your liver will provide glucose, as it does for many people., but if you are seeing levels under 8mmol/l that seems fine to me.
Click to expand...
What are the rules? I thought it was that we have small meals with more fat . I currently have breakfast around 200 300 calories and the lunch after 4 hr or so. Around 500 or so calories. Dinner after 6-8 hours and usual 300 400 calories. In between tea and some nuts . Stopped eating fruit
 
Yes, smaller meals but no snacking, few carbs and more fat, normal protein. You seem to be calorie counting. That is OK as long as you are also carb counting - number of grams of carb per meal.

I believe the "rules" were regarding testing.
Test immediately before you eat
Test again 2 hours after first bite
Look at the rise from before to after and keep it under 2mmol/l preferably a lot less.
More than 2mmol/l and there were too many carbs in that meal, giving you chance to reduce them or eliminate some.
 
nsh2111 said:
What are the rules? I thought it was that we have small meals with more fat . I currently have breakfast around 200 300 calories and the lunch after 4 hr or so. Around 500 or so calories. Dinner after 6-8 hours and usual 300 400 calories. In between tea and some nuts . Stopped eating fruit
Click to expand...
Heavens no - calories are irrelevant unless you are trying to follow the Newcastle diet plan.
No - test your BG and then tuck into whatever you fancy for breakfast - any meat or fish, shellfish or eggs, cheese, and the carbohydrate food you want to test - I find that I am more insulin resistant in the mornings so I have perhaps 10 to 15 gm of carbs. Two hours later check your BG - if you are less than 2 full numbers higher then that carbohydrate food is probably one to put on the OK list, or if it took you a bit higher try it again in a smaller amount.
Personally I don't eat again until late evening, and have maybe 20 to 30 gm of carbs, but again - any amount of fat and protein is not going to do much to the BG levels, so I usually have some berries cream and sugar free jelly - or Greek yogurt, or other low carb dessert - as you need to add weight then eating several times a day might well be a good idea, as that tends to add weight rather than fasting all day. Eating such small amounts seems rather odd - why so little food and why fast when you want to increase your weight?
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Yes, smaller meals but no snacking, few carbs and more fat, normal protein. You seem to be calorie counting. That is OK as long as you are also carb counting - number of grams of carb per meal.

I believe the "rules" were regarding testing.
Test immediately before you eat
Test again 2 hours after first bite
Look at the rise from before to after and keep it under 2mmol/l preferably a lot less.
More than 2mmol/l and there were too many carbs in that meal, giving you chance to reduce them or eliminate some.
Click to expand...
I don't necsnecessa calorie count as I don't need to loose any weight . If anything I want to gain some. Ok intake all the advice onboard and from tomorrow will have more fat in breakfast with eggs and then will see how I do. I only snack on nuts or blueberry post lunch or when I feel hungry.

Will try to lower carb even more. Sounds like I have become carb intolerant in a short span of time.or may be I was just didn't knew as I only started testing recently.

My readings for last week are with food. You will find some Indian words and local shops.

Date,time,reading,food

28/04/2018,08:04,6.5,
28/04/2018,12:03,6.4,"eggs, milk for bfast"
28/04/2018,14:37,9.5,"2 Roti,Raita"
28/04/2018,19:37,6.3,after tennis
28/04/2018,21:50,9.3,"wine, chinese"
29/04/2018,06:54,7.2,
29/04/2018,09:25,6,after protein shake at 8:15
29/04/2018,13:05,6.3, no food since protein shake
29/04/2018,15:30,6.9, parantha, paneer, courgette, yogurt, blueberry
29/04/2018,19:44,5.9,two tea from lunch
29/04/3018,21:33,8.5,dinner bhindi dahi one roti
30/04/2018,6:20,6.6,fasting overnight for 11 he
30/04/2018,9:30,7.4, breakfast of two eggs and a coffee with milk after an hr
30/04/2018,11:50,6.2,nothing since breakfast
30/04/2018,13:50,8.3,lunch at assenhiem chicken,carrot, broccoli
30/04/2018,19:30,6.1,nothing since lunch
30/04/2018,21:55,7.9, dinner cauliflower,peas,dahi
01/05/2018,06:00,6.5,fasting overnight
01/05/2018,11:38,5.8,breakfast two eggs and one black coffee
01/05/2018,14:35,7.1,good yard haloumi salad,Greek yogurt, raspberry
01/05/2018,18:30,5.5,Brazil nuts snack since lunch
01/05/2018,20:45,6.1,tennis and few chickpeas taste
01/05/2018,22:30,7.4,dinner salmon, broccoli, asparagus,small chocolate
02/05/2018,6:20,6.6,first thing after drinking water
02/05/2018,8:40,6.1,before the pret oats porridge
02/05/2018,09:50,8.6,one hr after pret oats
02/05/2018,10:55,6.1, 2 hr after oats
02/05/2018,12:00,5.5,before lunch
02/05/2018,13:20,10.2, brown rice and chicpeas lunch with Greek yogurt
02/05/2018,14:35,9.7, 2 hr after lunch
02/05/2018,17:15,6.3,a bit of apple at 4:50
02/05/2018,19:30,8.0,two beer
03/05/2018,8:15,7.5,morning
03/05/2018,11:35,8.0,after two eggs and oat crisp at 9:30
03/05/2018,12:30,8.0
03/05/2018,15:30,8.6, After salad at 1 and yogurt strawberry at 3
03/05/2018,18:30,6.2,tea
03/05/2018,20:35,6.1,after tennis
03/05/2018,22:00,11.1,after chicken kotu
04/05/2018,6:00,6.6,
04/05/2018,7:30,7.1,tea and methi drink in morning
04/05/2018,11:00,6.8,two eggs at 8:10
04/05/2018,14:45,7.2,Turkish lamb and salad
04/05/2018,16:40,6.5, tea without milk since lunch
04/05/2018,19:05,6.0,nothing from lunch
05/05/2018,06:40,6.5,fasting overnight
05/05/2018,08:45,7.5,tea with milk no sugar
05/05/2018,10:10,7.2,Protien shake at 9
05/05/2018,12:30,6.5,mango shake sip
05/05/2018,13;46,10.8,achari parantha mushroom dahi raspberry achar (50 gram carbs)
05/05/2018,14:59,7.6,2 hr after lunch
05/05/2018,16:30,6.4,330 hr after lunch
05/05/2018,18:30,6.2, tea with ghee and chakli
05/05/2018,19:40,7.8,two toast with cheese 16 gm carbs
05/05/2018,20:40,8.8,two HR after toast
05/05/2018,22:20,6.2,two glass of wine and nuts
06/05/2018,06:20,6.6,morning
06/05/2018,08:20,7.6,tea with some fat and milk
06/05/2018,12:40,5.7,two boiled eggs and half cup milk
06/05/2018,15:05,11.0,Nero sandwich half and cake
06/05/2018,16:00,8.1,test again
06/05/2018,17:50,4.9,beer fish chicken some potato
06/05/2018,21:00,7.5,wine cheese blueberry chakli
07/05/2018,06:30,7.0,morning
07/05/2018,09:15,6.7,running 5k
07/05/2018,12:20,7.6, breakfast of salmon toast eggs avocado
07/05/2018,16:20,5.8,had coffee and nuts in between
07/05/2018,18:50,6.5,bitter fish few new potato
08/05/2018,05:35,7.0,morning
08/05/2018,09:25,7.5, exercise in gym and protein shake around 7:15
08/05/2018,11:50,6.3, nothing
08/05/2018,14:15,8.1, assenhiem chicken sauce and veg
08/05/2018,21:05,6.5,tennis and had some nuts
08/05/2018,22:59,8.5,lauki sabji and 0% dahi
09/05/2018,06:15,6.6,morning
09/05/2018,11:50,7.6,two eggs and milk and nuts
09/05/2018,14:15,10.6,chilango chicken hotbox



Any pointer on what I should not do will help.
 
You are not testing at the right times from what I can see. You test before and 2 hours after for the best guides, and as I said earlier, look at the rise. It is the rise that is important. Record your levels in a food diary and look for patterns to find your own danger foods. They will soon become obvious if you do this.

By the way, the majority of those readings look OK to me, but I have no idea if they are before food or after food. Your list isn't clear.
 
You asked about milk,
It all depends on which milk, full fat, semi skimmed and so on.
Milk contains lactose, a sugar, which turns to glucose rapidly, the less fat in it, so if you have full fat the less sugars, carbs. The slower the spike. Because the natural fat slows digestion.
The less spike you will get, but it is also dependent on how you tolerate dairy of course!
 
Bluetit1802 said:
You are not testing at the right times from what I can see. You test before and 2 hours after for the best guides, and as I said earlier, look at the rise. It is the rise that is important. Record your levels in a food diary and look for patterns to find your own danger foods. They will soon become obvious if you do this.

By the way, the majority of those readings look OK to me, but I have no idea if they are before food or after food. Your list isn't clear.
Click to expand...
The readings are spaced based on time . Most dates have the morning, two hours after breakfast , before lunch, then 2 hrs after lunch and same for dinner. In early days I went test crazy and was testing ten time a day at different times. Every reading higher than 7 is always the one after meal for sure.
 
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