Still confused !! Blood sugar readings

rebowe1308

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi
I’m 5 weeks in from being diagnosed type2 . I asked the nurse for a blood sugar monitor as I wanted to see what fruits made me have a spike. I have done my first reading.
I had nothing to eat took the reading which was 7.6 had a mini sized apple with a tsp cashew butter. Did another reading 2 hours after and 10.4
Now I understand this has gone up but would someone be able to help me understand a little bit better what this reading means ?
I am still getting my head around all this new information
Thank you so much for any help
 

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
You want the rise from before and 2 hrs later to be no more than 2mmol and ideally as close to the original reading as possible, (also ideally under 7.8 ultimately but that might take a while). When it goes up by more it means your body didn’t deal with the carbs/glucose in the food very effectively. So either don’t eat that food or eat a smaller portion of it.
 
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HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Well done on having a nurse willing to prescribe testing equipment as a type 2 not on insulin - it’s very rare.

and it won’t just be fruit that does this. Any grain (flour, cereal, porridge etc) of any colour, starchy veg such as potatoes (any type) and parsnips too. Keep a log of your tests to remind yourself.
 
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Amanda61

Well-Known Member
Messages
342
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have found that porridge is ok for me. 2 hrs after eating my blood sugar level
only goes to 6.1
But if I had bran cereal then it would spike to around 9.5
Ready brek is also ok. Readings into the 6’s. But I suppose everyone is
Different.
 

Beetlebum

Newbie
Messages
4
When should i start to record my blood sugars? I have no clue where to start and following the GP phone call late evening who informed me im type 2 diabetic he said not to bother? I have appointment with diabetic nurse but thats 2 weeks away. Im to pick up metformin monday and start that so confused.
 
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HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
When should i start to record my blood sugars? I have no clue where to start and following the GP phone call late evening who informed me im type 2 diabetic he said not to bother? I have appointment with diabetic nurse but thats 2 weeks away. Im to pick up metformin monday and start that so confused.
they mostly say don’t test. That doesn’t mean that’s right. It’s more about costs and also about not understanding how to test for a type 2. They see it as an insulin dosing and hypo avoidance thing not appreciating how useful it is for testing reactions to foods.

so in answer to your question, as soon as you can get a kit.

metformin will help your liver not dump excess glucose but it won’t mop up extra you eat, that’s why we advise not to eat too many carbs. The metformin might cause tummy upsets. If it doesn’t settle or is too bad, go back and either get the slow release version that’s usually gentler or maybe try without it if you cut carbs instead (that will have more effect anyway).
 
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WAGR57

Well-Known Member
Messages
49
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi
I’m 5 weeks in from being diagnosed type2 . I asked the nurse for a blood sugar monitor as I wanted to see what fruits made me have a spike. I have done my first reading.
I had nothing to eat took the reading which was 7.6 had a mini sized apple with a tsp cashew butter. Did another reading 2 hours after and 10.4
Now I understand this has gone up but would someone be able to help me understand a little bit better what this reading means ?
I am still getting my head around all this new information
Thank you so much for any help
 
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Reactions: Amanda61

WAGR57

Well-Known Member
Messages
49
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I’m 12 years or so with type2. The doctors I saw gave very little info (In the Canadian medical system), they kept upping my meds and I didn’t question it, my bad, I just wanted to keep eating the way I always had. (I did drop sugary drinks though). About 3 months ago my BG rose dramatically. My A1C tested 8.6 mmol/l my morning fast BG was from 9 to 10 mmol/l. I was also spiking into the mid 20s, sometimes higher. For many years my A1C was in the low 7s and the Dr.s felt it was fine because I was diabetic. For some reason, in my case anyways, my Dr.s would not refer me to an Endocrinologist.


Not being referred to a specialist upset me. I started researching on the internet (weeding out the bad ****). Wow have I learned a lot. I’m eating 20 carbs a day or less, LCHF diet basically and feeling much better, quite a ways to go yet. My BG morning fast is now in the 6s. A couple of weeks before new A1C is taken.

Anyways the point I’m trying to make here is the MDs seem to be more interested in giving the meds instead of sitting down with their patients and going through the types of and type2s and how important low carbs are to type2s. In your best interest do the research if you can and you will make the right decisions.
 

VashtiB

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,283
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello and welcome,

I'm another type 2.

My doctor also gave the advice not to bother testing - the medical profession largely believe it is a progressive illness that you can't do anything about. My view is that if you follow that advice they may be right.

I am almost 7 months after diagnosis (wow didn't realise how long) and brought my levels within normal range within 3 months and my doctor now considers them well controlled. I went very low carb and will continue for a while as I am losing weight and have more to go. After (if I ever have) I have lost all the weight I want and have kept the levels controlled for a few years I plan to experiment to see if I can tolerate more carbs. I may never be able to.

I highly recommend testing- how else can you know what your body can tolerate. I also suggest that you may find that there are no fruits your body can tolerate. Some find some (a few only) berries with some full fat yogurt or cream can be tolerated.

You should also be aware of the carbs in some vegetables such as potatoes, pumpkin....
Here's a link you should read.

basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.17088


Good luck and welcome.
 
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Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
At my diabetic review yesterday the nurse said that my LCHF diet obviously worked for me. She could hardly say anything other than that as my HbA1c result was a 33. But she also was inclined to advocate eating carbs. I had to point out to her that we know that carbs affect our blood sugars adversely through test meter results. I am not convinced she ultimately was convinced but she should be.
 
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Estragon

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,580
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Too many to list here . . .
I am not convinced she ultimately was convinced but she should be.
Yeah - uphill struggle on this one. Had NO idea as to what affects me, and on the "advice" is given. Not too smart. Our Endocrine Systems are so reactive to our circumstances that expecting a local nurse Nurse to be able to fathom this out is asking too much - poor things. As to eating Carbs it takes me a 48 hours to claw back the territory I'd previously gained. . . Take Back Control!

My Magnificent Seven:

1 - Tests: My 5 times a day Blood Testing and my Excel Spreadsheet.
2 - Medication: My Metformin.
3 - Fasting: Under strict GP knowledge, my gradual move towards extending Fasting.
4 - Simple Diets: KETO and LCHF. Reading the Food Labels for Percentiles of Carbs!!!
5 - GP: A Duo of my GPs who understand and applaud my achievements.
6 - DIAB UK: This WONDERFUL Forum and its Members
7 - Estragon: Me, and my total skepticism and loathing of non-evidenced based results. "Give me the Facts Man!! Give me the Facts!"
 
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