-
Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
Would you eat this?
- Thread starter IanBish
- Start Date
Is 8.0 a "diabetic" number though? I can't think of a way to eat where BSL is NOT going to rise
We have many T2's who usually don't go above 8.
You have a different type of diabetes, you don't produce insulin. T2's do, it just doesn't work that well.
So if they're lucky, they can find how many carbs they can eat without going above the levels a non diabetic would.
D
Deleted member 527103
Guest
Regarding the “spike after 2 hours” strategy, please please please note that this is for people who do NOT take fast acting bolus with their food. Given fast acting injected insulin remains active for about 4 hours, it is not reasonable to consider the 2 hour mark.
The key is whether BG has returned to “normal” after 4 hours.
And if it hasn’t that doesn’t mean we cannot eat that food, it means insulin dose and timing was not right.
The key is whether BG has returned to “normal” after 4 hours.
And if it hasn’t that doesn’t mean we cannot eat that food, it means insulin dose and timing was not right.
Considering this is in the T2 subforum, I have the feeling we (myself included) are pretty much derailing and cross posting, I'll stay out.
HSSS
Expert
Again this highlights the difference between type 1 and 2 does it not?
As far as I took it the whole “adjust your food to keep within 2mmol at 2 hrs” (not continuously within the interim btw) thing was aimed at type 2. Nb That’s not to say there isn’t value in adjusting foods for type 1 for those to choose to either. I guess we just need to be clear who it is aimed at.
D
Deleted member 527103
Guest
I completely agree.
I wrote my comment as there are others with Type 1 discussing the “2 hour rule” on this thread.
Guilty
Well-Known Member
Most of the time us T2s don't have CGMs. In my experience of using a CGM - by 2 hours after eating my bg will be headed down from it's peak.
So if I get a reading of 7.8 two hours after eating, it's more than likely been higher before that.
For me white rice and quinoa are no go's. Brown rice causes less of a peak. Freekeh is better than brown rice. And pot barley is the best grain I've found for my bg. All taste good with curry, full of fibre. But still have to stick to a modest portion
There are tons of other whole grains out there. Curious if anyone has found any that don't spike them as much.
So if I get a reading of 7.8 two hours after eating, it's more than likely been higher before that.
For me white rice and quinoa are no go's. Brown rice causes less of a peak. Freekeh is better than brown rice. And pot barley is the best grain I've found for my bg. All taste good with curry, full of fibre. But still have to stick to a modest portion
There are tons of other whole grains out there. Curious if anyone has found any that don't spike them as much.
- Messages
- 4,386
- Location
- Suffolk, UK
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Diet drinks - the artificial sweeteners taste vile.
Having to forswear foods I have loved all my life.
Trying to find low carb meals when eating out.
Few things:
(1) Were you by any chance sleeping on the sensor between about 1 and 4 am? Only a T2 on diet only would be fairly unlikely to have BG that low unless your natural BG level is around 3.5. I tend to see these after sleeping on the sensor arm.
(2) Looking at that BG recording I'm not sure how you were diagnosed as T2 as virtually all the readings are below 6. Unless you have made radical changes to your diet and are on the way to remission. What was your last HbA1c?
(3) Have you calibrated your sensor against finger pricks to confirm that the readings are reasonably accurate? Libre2, especially, sometimes turn out to be consistently low or consistently high.
(4) Yes, I would eat that again. I would also probably kill someone to get that BG trace. Looks as though you were above 6 between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm so not perfect but I have seen much worse (especially as a long term Libre user).
NICE guidelines state that a non-diabetic should be under 7.8 after 90 minutes as a minimum:
Normal and Diabetic Blood Sugar Level Ranges
Normal blood sugar ranges and blood sugar ranges for adults and children with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and blood sugar ranges to determine diabetes.
www.diabetes.co.uk
T2's, like myself, are trying to replicate that, but through limiting carbs to compensate for insulin resistance. T2's also have different levels of insulin resistance. Me and another T2, let's call them Bob, could eat exactly the same meal, identical in every way. However, my reaction in terms of blood glucose levels may be entirely different to Bob's. If my insulin resistance is lower than Bob's, it could contribute to his blood glucose levels being higher than mine at all relevant points of post-meal testing. It's also why you'll see some T2's saying they have to eat under 20g of carbs a day, while others can eat 100g (for example). Speaking from recent experience of going low carb 3 months ago, most T2's on the forum seem to be careful when recommending low carb substitutes for high carb items because of this, as one person's low carb might not be another's, and many tend to remind each other to test and caveat with "this substitute works for me".
Bringing it back to Ian's original question regarding his curry, I (and presumably others) know that Ian is trying to limit carb intake due to previous discussions. This may influence how we answer his question and what our view of a spike is.
HSSS
Expert
Yes it was likely higher between eating and the 2 hr reading. That would be true for non diabetics too though. It’s is a normal response that food will raise glucose levels. The key point is for how long and how high. Expecting a totally flat line throughout the day is not normal, for anyone. Heading “back down” at 2 hrs isn’t my goal. Back close to pre prandial is.Most of the time us T2s don't have CGMs. In my experience of using a CGM - by 2 hours after eating my bg will be headed down from it's peak.
So if I get a reading of 7.8 two hours after eating, it's more than likely been higher before that.
For me white rice and quinoa are no go's. Brown rice causes less of a peak. Freekeh is better than brown rice. And pot barley is the best grain I've found for my bg. All taste good with curry, full of fibre. But still have to stick to a modest portion
There are tons of other whole grains out there. Curious if anyone has found any that don't spike them as much.
Yes different carbs, and grains as specified here, will have different effects. And that will vary person to person to some extent, though for all type 2 they are a definitely a caution-able item to be individually tested. Personally I tend to avoid all grains, aiming to get fibre from veg nuts and seeds instead. I generally don’t enjoy them much anyway and “none” is easier for me to manage than “some”.
I cant drink booze at all, makes me so sick.I can’t drink alcohol anymore, if I have half a glass of wine or beer I feel quite unwellI was staying at friends and to be sociable had half and half of wine with sparkling water. I left 2/3rds as even that made me feel iffy, it’s a strange feeling and can’t quite describe it.
According to your profile you're a T1 treated with diet only.
Is this correct?
IanBish
Well-Known Member
I've no way of knowing, but probably. I know about compression lows.
I was diagnosed with an HbA1c of 69 back in April, I think. Since then I've been trying hard to cut the carbs (and to lose weight).
I haven't, but I just did. The Libre 2 shows 4.6 at the moment, and the glucose meter shows 4.8.
That's good. I'm going to make it again, with beef rather than chicken, and no rice for comparison.
I wasn't trying to elicit a reaction with the graph I posted, I was just a bit concerned with the spike.
Today's graph shows the usual compression low, plus the dawn phenomenon, and my sirloin steak with broccoli & cauliflower and mushrooms for tea, plus a couple of glasses of wine quite recently.
As a self-confessed stats and data nerd, you're making me want a CGM soooo bad!
Sampling | Diabetes Care | Abbott
Claim your 15 day free sensor if you have diabetes and have not tried the FreeStyle Libre 2 plus sensor before
www.freestyle.abbott
IanBish
Well-Known Member
I've been doing the testing before and after meals, but I often got errors. So someone suggested a CGM, which I now have. I have indeed been trying to limit my carb intakes, not totally successfully, but I've been trying. Hence my question.
I really didn't mean to cause disagreements. But it clearly states below my avatar that I'm Type 2, and the question was posted in the Type 2 forum. The title of the post, and the first post was meant to be a bit provocative, but I did say what I'd eaten shortly afterwards.
We're all in this together, regardless of type, so I hope, at least, that this thread has been useful to some people.
IanBish
Well-Known Member
Try the Libre free trial. What have you got to lose?As a self-confessed stats and data nerd, you're making me want a CGM soooo bad!
Thanks for that. My first post-diagnosis blood tests are on Tuesday, so I think I'll use that link after I get the results so I can see any weak areas my fingerprick tests have missed.First two weeks are free, assuming you have a smartphone.Sampling | Diabetes Care | Abbott
Claim your 15 day free sensor if you have diabetes and have not tried the FreeStyle Libre 2 plus sensor before
I don't think you've caused any disagreements at all. In fact, I think your thread here has had some really good discussion in it and it's been very interesting to read the different perspectives regardless of diabetes type.
Agree with this, it's always my feeling on it too. We may have a lot of differences between how we manage our respective diabetes types, but we're all pushing for the same goal - to be healthier and to keep blood glucose in check.
I've been on the fence about it, mainly because once I have it, I won't want to give it up. So, the real question here I guess is how will I explain to my kids that Santa couldn't afford presents this year, because he used the money for a CGM in December?
