Scared of high BS resultstoday

[Halfhybrid]

Type 2 diabetes is to some extent genetically predisposed, ie you inherit the predisposition from your ancestors. You developed it sooner than your father, although he is only prediabetic at the moment. keep the thought that your relatives who are scathing in their comments are also predisposed to it, so at some point will probably catch you up.
Avoid carbs as much as possible, eat plenty of Protein and real fats, if you get hungry you need more at mealtimes, the blood levels will fall gradually where it might be averaging 15 one day a couple of days later it may be 14. Slow and steady wins the race. Your father is lucky that you have gained some insight as to how to deal with his situation, he may also now have a different opinion as to your diabetes as he's facing the same thing, and didn't think he would be.

Hi Filly, sounds like you could be right as Dad had a phone call today from the diabetes support people and he asked if he had been lucky to only have high BS levels at his age and they said it could have been building up since his 40s!

I am feeling that I ought to tell them, if only to support Dad but I am still so scared of their immediate reaction and the remarks that will come later once they have thought about it. I suppose I could support him in diet and lifestyle and tell him I'm doing same because it's healthy and I need to lose weight.

I like your comment "Slow and steady wins the race". Guess I thought taking a tablet would mean instant results.

Incidentally, he attended his first diabetes prevention support session and walked out of it as rather than focusing on diet, lifestyle etc, the adviser was asking them to exchange some personal details with the person next to them and one of their questions in the preliminary phone call was about sexual orientation. Dad does not wish to exchange personal details that have nothing to do with diet and exercise and does not see it as anybody's business and I'm inclined to agree as I would not be comfortable with this either.

 

[Halfhybrid]

Well, after 3 years of keeping it secret, I finally told my Dad and sister that I have T2 diabetes. We had been talking about how to get Dad's prediabetes under control and were talking about diet, lifestyle etc and I felt I couldn't go on with the conversation without telling the truth.

Was really surprised by the mild reaction from both and was asked why I felt I had to keep it secret. So I told them - shame, self-blame, dreading their reaction i.e. blaming me, their sleepless nights etc. They said they didn't blame me and would not have thought to do so. My sister's sleepless nights have already started though and no doubt she will have gone off and thought about and got herself worked up.

Am relieved that they did not overreact after all. Will still not be telling my brother though as he will definitely be unpleasant and nasty.

At least now, I can turn down various foods with good reason and we can do some sensible meal planning.

 

[AloeSvea]

@Halfhybrid, I notice that you really like ice cream - me too. Trouble is store-bought ice cream is a double whammy of high sugar and high fat - a really bad combo for us, that does not exist in nature outside of mother's milk! (And we are not growing like a baby is.)

If you go low-carb, high healthy fat, you can healthily up your fats, as in the cream, and use some of your beloved fruit/berries as a natural sweetener, and/or use a sweetener like stevia crystals, ethritol, xylitol - whatever works for you as a sweetener for your ice cream. (Working meaning doesn't raise your blood glucose, and doesn't mess your guts up!)

To really have real ice cream you will need to invest in an ice cream maker, which is a tiny fridge and churner. As you would imagine with any tech - you pay for it.

I recreated most of my favourite flavours with my ice cream maker, and am very very happy for it.

I am a staunch believer in substitution when it comes to saying no to added sugar and carby food - find low carb versions or make your own low-carb versions of your favourite foods, and eat those instead. (I, like many with type two, have a pretty strong sweet tooth!) And, eat and meter to find out if your substitution food is working for you.

The one thing I warn you with, and thinking about your dad, I know no one in my life who likes my low-carb versions as much as I do! After many years (I tried for social reasons to share my low-carb baked goods and desserts and things) I have learnt to just say that they won't like them (they are not of course as sweet, or even sweet at all, as the 'real thing' and non-diabetics will be very disappointed, is my experience, and how depressing to see that reaction when so much time, effort, and money on my part has gone into the prep and cooking and so on. Better to keep it for myself!)

Anyway. That's me on low-carb subs and ice cream.

 

[MrsA2]

Well, after 3 years of keeping it secret, I finally told my Dad and sister that I have T2 diabetes

That's really good. You and Dad can now support each other

 

[Halfhybrid]

@Halfhybrid, I notice that you really like ice cream - me too. Trouble is store-bought ice cream is a double whammy of high sugar and high fat - a really bad combo for us, that does not exist in nature outside of mother's milk! (And we are not growing like a baby is.)

If you go low-carb, high healthy fat, you can healthily up your fats, as in the cream, and use some of your beloved fruit/berries as a natural sweetener, and/or use a sweetener like stevia crystals, ethritol, xylitol - whatever works for you as a sweetener for your ice cream. (Working meaning doesn't raise your blood glucose, and doesn't mess your guts up!)

To really have real ice cream you will need to invest in an ice cream maker, which is a tiny fridge and churner. As you would imagine with any tech - you pay for it.

I recreated most of my favourite flavours with my ice cream maker, and am very very happy for it.

I am a staunch believer in substitution when it comes to saying no to added sugar and carby food - find low carb versions or make your own low-carb versions of your favourite foods, and eat those instead. (I, like many with type two, have a pretty strong sweet tooth!) And, eat and meter to find out if your substitution food is working for you.

The one thing I warn you with, and thinking about your dad, I know no one in my life who likes my low-carb versions as much as I do! After many years (I tried for social reasons to share my low-carb baked goods and desserts and things) I have learnt to just say that they won't like them (they are not of course as sweet, or even sweet at all, as the 'real thing' and non-diabetics will be very disappointed, is my experience, and how depressing to see that reaction when so much time, effort, and money on my part has gone into the prep and cooking and so on. Better to keep it for myself!)

Anyway. That's me on low-carb subs and ice cream.

Thanks so much for the advice and the low carb food advocacy. I take Xylitol in coffee and no sweetener of any kind in tea. I would happily make low carb ice cream with no added sweetener/sugar, except for the fruit that goes into it.

To be honest, I don't eat a lot of rice or pasta anyway and little potato. The bulk of my carbs is in breakfast toast and having tried some low carb breads, I cannot take to them at all so am sticking to conventional bread but wholemeal, wholegrain, seeded versions.

Bought some sugar free fruit salad chews the other day - only to find that although they were low sugar, they were very high in carbs but I'm not sure which ingredient constituted the carbs as it seemed to be some kind of gum and flavourings - so I had a few but didn't overdo it. I do crave sweets and chocolates at times, not that I ever ate them regularly but rather, binged on them at intervals.

Good luck with your journey with this condition, disease, disorder or whatever we should call it.

 

[Halfhybrid]

Got a BT this Friday to check BS now I have been on Metformin for a couple of months. I stopped testing my BS because when I found it was high, was getting so frightened with each test, that I was in a constant state of anxiety and couldn't sleep at night. I'm worried about the result in case nothing has changed or if the BS levels have not fallen very much.

Have been trying hard with diet and have persisted, though am disillusioned with what I can eat. Sometimes feel so hungry that the hunger pangs hurt and I daren't have anything. Previously, might have had an apple or something. Now l feel like I can't even eat fruit since summer fruit contributed to the BS highs. Can't go totally carb free or I would go out of my mind. Am trying to keep it low. Proteins are not filling me up and I'm trying to be careful not to have too much saturated fat like cheese and cream as I know I have high cholesterol too. I don't think I can look another nut in the eye either. I like nuts but having them regularly has made me start to dislike them.

Any ideas for tasty and filling snacks?

 

[Liam E]

Got a BT this Friday to check BS now I have been on Metformin for a couple of months. I stopped testing my BS because when I found it was high, was getting so frightened with each test, that I was in a constant state of anxiety and couldn't sleep at night. I'm worried about the result in case nothing has changed or if the BS levels have not fallen very much.

Have been trying hard with diet and have persisted, though am disillusioned with what I can eat. Sometimes feel so hungry that the hunger pangs hurt and I daren't have anything. Previously, might have had an apple or something. Now l feel like I can't even eat fruit since summer fruit contributed to the BS highs. Can't go totally carb free or I would go out of my mind. Am trying to keep it low. Proteins are not filling me up and I'm trying to be careful not to have too much saturated fat like cheese and cream as I know I have high cholesterol too. I don't think I can look another nut in the eye either. I like nuts but having them regularly has made me start to dislike them.

Any ideas for tasty and filling snacks?

The less carbs you eat, the less you will want them. The more snacks you eat, the more you will want them.

Eat bacon and eggs with butter for breakfast and half a kilo of fatty meat for you main meal and I doubt you'll be thinking about snacks.

Make sure to keep your salt intake up as a lack of salt from not eating processed rubbish feels a lot like hunger

If you do still need to snack I find a little cheese or meat far more satisfying than anything else. Occasionally a few nuts or dark 85%+ chocolate works well too. A bit of salmon and cream cheese... oof. Some full fat Greek yogurt or kefir might work for you too.

 

[HSSS]

I'm trying to be careful not to have too much saturated fat like cheese and cream as I know I have high cholesterol too.

Almost all of us get better cholesterol results by cutting the carbs out. And that’s the breakdowns not the totals as they are meaningless. You are at a bigger and more risk having high blood glucose than high cholesterol so focus on that first and then see what’s happening with cholesterol. I would say bought ice cream isn’t a good idea as they have way too much sugar.

so have the cheese, eat the fats on meat, have nuts (not cashews), avocado, add olive oil to salads etc, have full fat dairy if you have any etc. going low carb is NOT about going hungry and you will give up if that’s the case.

have a read of pages on the dietdoctor website if you want some reassurance. Here’s a couple of links https://www.dietdoctor.com/diabetes and https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/cholesterol-basics

 

[Lainie71]

Thank you valann. I will try to take it on board.
Unfortunately, telling the family is just not an option. I have an elderly father and two siblings. All of them would have hysterics, play the blame game in a very hurtful way and then tear me apart behind my back with one of them enlightening me about what was said afterwards. My brother in particular would make cruel and hurtful remarks at every opportunity. He already mentions my weight with every breath that concerns me even though he is vastly overweight himself. These are middle aged adults by the way.
Well done with your journey through this - what is it? A condition, a disease.

Yer but just imagine when you turn your diabetes around and become non dependant on the carbs, what they will say then - not much I guess! I have a sister who bleated on and on about healthy life choices etc for years, undermining me at every chance, but she herself was diagnosed pre diabetic some years back. It frightened her so much but not enough to give up the booze, red wine and fish and chips that she never had except on a Friday night, (turned out it was every night) and she is now in a worse condition than me! Karma that's all I say! Had years of being told I was "big boned" and felt inferior/common - not anymore I have my life and sanity (some sanity) back!

 

[Halfhybrid]

Yer but just imagine when you turn your diabetes around and become non dependant on the carbs, what they will say then - not much I guess! I have a sister who bleated on and on about healthy life choices etc for years, undermining me at every chance, but she herself was diagnosed pre diabetic some years back. It frightened her so much but not enough to give up the booze, red wine and fish and chips that she never had except on a Friday night, (turned out it was every night) and she is now in a worse condition than me! Karma that's all I say! Had years of being told I was "big boned" and felt inferior/common - not anymore I have my life and sanity (some sanity) back!

"Big boned", "big ox", "the big one" - then "the fat one", "the obese one". Well, now we know there is a tendency in the family as Dad is prediabetes, the others had better watch themselves. I can totally identify with your situation.
Not enjoying my diet particularly but I have lost half a stone since getting my high HBCA1. Not a lot in two months but weight loss is weight loss.

 

[Liam E]

"Big boned", "big ox", "the big one" - then "the fat one", "the obese one". Well, now we know there is a tendency in the family as Dad is prediabetes, the others had better watch themselves. I can totally identify with your situation.
Not enjoying my diet particularly but I have lost half a stone since getting my high HBCA1. Not a lot in two months but weight loss is weight loss.

Half a stone in 2 months sounds like a perfect rate to lose weight to me.

 

[Lainie71]

Half a stone in 2 months sounds like a perfect rate to lose weight to me.

Too right

 

[Lainie71]

"Big boned", "big ox", "the big one" - then "the fat one", "the obese one". Well, now we know there is a tendency in the family as Dad is prediabetes, the others had better watch themselves. I can totally identify with your situation.
Not enjoying my diet particularly but I have lost half a stone since getting my high HBCA1. Not a lot in two months but weight loss is weight loss.

I think that's actually a lot to lose in two months - please don't underestimate your determination and capabilities, you are doing really well x

 

[ajbod]

I watched a video on here a few days ago about Cholesterol, and cannot for the life of me find it again. But it was another engineer like Ivor Cummins, ie looking at the problem from a different direction. It convinced me that the relationship between ingested fat and Cholesterol is actually diametrically opposite. The more fat you consume the lower your levels, vice versa the less you consume raises your levels. I know it sounds mental, but your body controls your levels dynamically. (Taking statins interrupts the process). We produce virtually all the Cholesterol our body needs as and when needed. Also it showed that the process seems to have an average 3 day cycle, ie your levels reflect what was consumed 2 - 3 days previously. The test regime he used and extra people also tried for him involved eating over 5000 calories of which i think over 250g fat, over 10 days. The one with the biggest drop in levels was the one who managed about 5500 calories and nearly 400g fat.

 

[Liam E]

I watched a video on here a few days ago about Cholesterol, and cannot for the life of me find it again. But it was another engineer like Ivor Cummins, ie looking at the problem from a different direction. It convinced me that the relationship between ingested fat and Cholesterol is actually diametrically opposite. The more fat you consume the lower your levels, vice versa the less you consume raises your levels. I know it sounds mental, but your body controls your levels dynamically. (Taking statins interrupts the process). We produce virtually all the Cholesterol our body needs as and when needed. Also it showed that the process seems to have an average 3 day cycle, ie your levels reflect what was consumed 2 - 3 days previously. The test regime he used and extra people also tried for him involved eating over 5000 calories of which i think over 250g fat, over 10 days. The one with the biggest drop in levels was the one who managed about 5500 calories and nearly 400g fat.

Sounds like one I posted a few days ago. Was it this one you are thinking of?

 

[Halfhybrid]

Thanks for encouraging words over weight loss.
I have my review with the DN on Wednesday. In the meantime, I logged onto my surgery account and discovered my HBCA1 result has come in at 83. This is after 2 months on Metformin. I know it has come down from 95, but 83 is still scarily high.
What have I been doing wrong? I've tried hard with low carb with the occasional but by no means regular treat such as a cream cake on my birthday last week (bread dough based cake, not sweet sponge sort). I treat myself to lagers at the weekend but am not necking alcohol. Have not eaten chocolate for about 3 months. If I really fancy something sweet sweet, I'll have a piece of fruit or a few sugar-free sweets like lemon sherbet.
Feel anxious again.

 

[filly]

It really can take time depending on your body. Do you track your carbs on something like Cronometer? That really helps. What I do is have my carbs at lunch and if needed have no carbs at all for the rest of the day. My target is 30g per day maximum but prefer around 20 grams a day. I am due a new blood test in Dec. As not active at all still expecting it to drop just a few points. Slow but sure. You probably just need to tweek the carb intake a bit still. Good Luck.

 

[HSSS]

Thanks for encouraging words over weight loss.
I have my review with the DN on Wednesday. In the meantime, I logged onto my surgery account and discovered my HBCA1 result has come in at 83. This is after 2 months on Metformin. I know it has come down from 95, but 83 is still scarily high.
What have I been doing wrong? I've tried hard with low carb with the occasional but by no means regular treat such as a cream cake on my birthday last week (bread dough based cake, not sweet sponge sort). I treat myself to lagers at the weekend but am not necking alcohol. Have not eaten chocolate for about 3 months. If I really fancy something sweet sweet, I'll have a piece of fruit or a few sugar-free sweets like lemon sherbet.
Feel anxious again.

Metformin alone won’t do it if diet still needs work. How long have you been really trying with low carb though - without treats? The test covers the 3 months prior to it. What were you’re eating like over that whole period?

Looking back at this thread it seems you are improving but still have a way to go. As you know it’s not just sugar but anything that become glucose you need to watch out for. And being totahonest with yourself how often is “occasional“? It really does need to be once every few months (or at least weeks) not every few days. With levels that high you are probably very insulin resistant which means it’ll take a bit longer and you’ll need to be a bit stricter.

Lager is probably the worst alcohol to choose (they don’t call it liquid bread for no reason). And it’ll be slowing the weight loss too. Dry or red wines are better, as are spirits but watch out for the mixers. Better still is to give it all a miss for now til levels improve. Even the fruit - whilst better than other options-can still be contributing. If you’re buying thing with sweeteners check which one it is. Some of them are as bad as sugar for diabetes despite their claims - anything with maltodextrin or dextrose for example and many artificial sweeteners are bulked out with these. Maltitol spikes a lot of people as badly as sugar too and is in loads of bars and sweets.

Are you able to exercise or just move more? Get off the bus a stop earlier, park further away, use the stairs not a lift even?

 

[Halfhybrid]

Metformin alone won’t do it if diet still needs work. How long have you been really trying with low carb though - without treats? The test covers the 3 months prior to it. What were you’re eating like over that whole period?

Looking back at this thread it seems you are improving but still have a way to go. As you know it’s not just sugar but anything that become glucose you need to watch out for. And being totahonest with yourself how often is “occasional“? It really does need to be once every few months (or at least weeks) not every few days. With levels that high you are probably very insulin resistant which means it’ll take a bit longer and you’ll need to be a bit stricter.

Lager is probably the worst alcohol to choose (they don’t call it liquid bread for no reason). And it’ll be slowing the weight loss too. Dry or red wines are better, as are spirits but watch out for the mixers. Better still is to give it all a miss for now til levels improve. Even the fruit - whilst better than other options-can still be contributing. If you’re buying thing with sweeteners check which one it is. Some of them are as bad as sugar for diabetes despite their claims - anything with maltodextrin or dextrose for example and many artificial sweeteners are bulked out with these. Maltitol spikes a lot of people as badly as sugar too and is in loads of bars and sweets.

Are you able to exercise or just move more? Get off the bus a stop earlier, park further away, use the stairs not a lift even?

Thanks. I guess I have not tried without treats, though attempting to keep the treats low carb or sugar-free. I discovered my BS was high in mid September and went on Metformin, starting on 21st September, so just short of 2 months.

Feeling very depressed about food and the types of food I can have. I've never thought my diet was high in carbs anyway; just what "normal" people would have, like the mash on top of a cottage pie, roast potatoes with Sunday roast, a dish of pasta and sauce, curry with rice. I thought I was doing OK by reducing the amount of these I eat. Not had mash in months, don't eat rice and pasta very often any more and rice might just be 2 dessertspoons I do have any. Last time I had pasta, made sure it was wholewheat and ensured there was more bolognese sauce than pasta. I rarely ate desserts and might have had chocolate a couple of times a week. Not had choc in about 3 months.

Have been taking xylitol as a sweetener in coffee since diagnosis. Love fruit but I think I ate too many strawberries over the summer which may have contributed to the high BS levels.

Are there any "sensible" recipe books around, where everyday meals can be made without being too over the top like a diet of kale smoothies and piles of salad leaves?

 

[HSSS]

Thanks. I guess I have not tried without treats, though attempting to keep the treats low carb or sugar-free. I discovered my BS was high in mid September and went on Metformin, starting on 21st September, so just short of 2 months.

Feeling very depressed about food and the types of food I can have. I've never thought my diet was high in carbs anyway; just what "normal" people would have, like the mash on top of a cottage pie, roast potatoes with Sunday roast, a dish of pasta and sauce, curry with rice. I thought I was doing OK by reducing the amount of these I eat. Not had mash in months, don't eat rice and pasta very often any more and rice might just be 2 dessertspoons I do have any. Last time I had pasta, made sure it was wholewheat and ensured there was more bolognese sauce than pasta. I rarely ate desserts and might have had chocolate a couple of times a week. Not had choc in about 3 months.

Have been taking xylitol as a sweetener in coffee since diagnosis. Love fruit but I think I ate too many strawberries over the summer which may have contributed to the high BS levels.

Are there any "sensible" recipe books around, where everyday meals can be made without being too over the top like a diet of kale smoothies and piles of salad leaves?

Try a Google search for the recipe you want and add low carb to the name. Loads and loads of online free recipes. I started out with using mostly ditchthecarb.com and dietdoctor but they are the tip of the iceberg.

Eating big enough filling meals (with naturally occurring fats and protein which are essential) should reduce the need to snack (always try a glass of water before a snack as often we’re just thirsty). Most of us think initially of sugars when in fact those mash, pasta and rices all add up. Then think about any sauces, pastry, breads and fruits (especially juices or dried) and it goes a bit higher. For a couple of weeks at least you need to check everything to get an idea of where these hidden carbs are. It looks odd on the plate to start with but for now just ditch the rice and pasta entirely and have more curry and bolognaise. Or try cauliflower rice (grated cauli fried lightly in butter best with added spices) or courgette strips/ sautéed cabbage/steamed broccoli etc instead of pasta.

perhaps list a few days food and we can help trouble shoot.