What was your fasting blood glucose? (with some chat)

ziggy_w

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,019
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello all.

Have been without testing strips for 3 days -- as DHL delivery was late.

Didn't test in the morning, but at 11:30 a.m. -- approx. two hours after two decaf espressos with cream and a piece of low-carb cheesecake. Blood sugars were 4.3.
 

alf_Josiah

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,896
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
People that point out my spelling mistakes
Tongue in cheek post.......
O woe is me the forum is down.....
My blood sugars are an acceptable winning 1.3 after a 320 hour fast, my BMI is now at 2.3 and I've nowhere to boast and crow about it because the forum is down.
O woe is me........
O woe is me.......
hehehehe
 

Keesha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,261
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Morning...had a good sleep which was desperately needed...the sun is shining...I am two cups of good coffee in...breakfast done...so no excuse I have to tackle this house...then possibly settle down to a classic Black & white film.

Bubbsie, no food, just coffee? I won't be able to do anything without food.
 

HarryBeau

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,815
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Bubbsie, no food, just coffee? I won't be able to do anything without food.
No Keesha I had breakfast...even though often I am not at all hungry I eat...I've found I my numbers tend to go up if I eat nothing in the mornings.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Emma_369

Hello Emma and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions if you need to and someone will reply to you.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 235,000 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 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

brassyblonde900

Well-Known Member
Messages
331
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Glucomen Lx2 @ 06:10AM 5.2mmol/l
Frestyle Optium Neo @ 06:10AM 4.4mmol/l
CareSens Dual @ 06:10AM 4.2mmol/l
Accu-Check performa nano @06:10AM 4.4mmol/l
Cofoe (Chinese brand off ebay)@06:10AM 3.9mmol/l

I eat to my meter, and I want no more than a(n)FBS reading of 4.6mmol/l
I don't know which meter to believe.
Clearly my Glucomen believes I'm not there yet.:banghead:

YES its driving me nuts.....I'm practically obsessed with achieving and maintaining optimal BG readings.
Those who think I'm certifiable, I agree with you 100%.:facepalm:
 

Emma_369

Well-Known Member
Messages
874
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Its a good number Emma...right in the range you should be aiming for...are you testing regularly through the day?
Yes testing two hours after every meal. Only got my monitor yesterday afternoon - highest reading so far has been 8.8. Recording all my meals with full breakdown of carbs/protein etc. Being a typical newbie I guess and weighing and measuring everything I eat or drink. Hoping over time I’ll be able to just look and judge if a sweet potato is the right size or too big for me
 

PenguinMum

Expert
Messages
6,782
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Looks like Kent agrees with you @PenguinMum. I did like the villages there when I used to play cricket for Westerham.
Westerham is delightful..my pal and I did our Christmas shopping there last year. It has Chartwell and Chapel Down winery both excellent. Itbalso has the best kitchen shop. I am glad you have good memories of playing cricket in Westerham.