Blood sugar management

[tonyk7]

Age 70 soon, type 2
Lost 3 stones ,3 lbs earlier this year, calorie Mgt, no alcohol.
Type 2, 12 yrs or so.
HBa1c gone from 81 to 51mmol.
Trying to get it lower by using low carb diet, but seem to be struggling and putting weight back on?
Maybe eating too much fat? Wkg to roughly 80-85 grams a day?
Added impetus now as diagnosed Stage 1 Diabetic Retinopathy per eye screening, which has scared the watsit out of me, already blind in left eye fwg accident at age 10.
I’m already experiencing constipation issues on what is relatively high carb intake daily.
Any advice from those who have gone through this?
Blood sugar test this am fasting 8.4mmol, about normal for me range wise.
Anyone find a monitor for BS without need for finger prick test ?

 

[Lakeslover]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Well done on losing that amount of weight. I think everyone has a different experience on low carb, maybe because low carb as a term can cover very different amounts of carb a day. Maybe give us more of an idea of what you eat in a typical day? High levels of fat could certainly be contributing to a lack of weight loss.

I don’t suffer from constipation (the opposite thanks to taking Metformin for too long) so I can’t help there. But I’m sure others will have suggestions for increasing fibre without carbs. Make sure you are drinking enough as well, especially in this heat.

You could try a continuous glucose monitor for a while. That’s the disc you see people wearing on their arm. Both dexcom and libre usually have an offer for a free sensor trial. It records your blood sugar all the time, so less need to finger prick.

Finally it helps our members give better advice if you can add which tablets you are taking for your diabetes. There is need to be cautious with some treatments and a very low carb diet.

 

[tonyk7]

Meal wise, typically half an avocado on one granary toast with a poached egg on top for breakfast, lunch yesterday was a mackerel salad with French dressing and mayonnaise, dinner was chicken in breadcrumbs with cauliflower and pea mix, with roasted carrots, one coffee, four teas, all with hermesettas. Salad for lunch in one form or another most days and generally one granary toast with one slice of ham and soft cheese for breakfast. Historically, been poor at water drinking, but in recent months have got better coz of the hot weather.
Taking slow release Metformin, Dapafligozin, Irbersartan and Atorvastatin, that’s it.

 

[KennyA]

Meal wise, typically half an avocado on one granary toast with a poached egg on top for breakfast, lunch yesterday was a mackerel salad with French dressing and mayonnaise, dinner was chicken in breadcrumbs with cauliflower and pea mix, with roasted carrots, one coffee, four teas, all with hermesettas. Salad for lunch in one form or another most days and generally one granary toast with one slice of ham and soft cheese for breakfast. Historically, been poor at water drinking, but in recent months have got better coz of the hot weather.
Taking slow release Metformin, Dapafligozin, Irbersartan and Atorvastatin, that’s it.

Hi and welcome.

What level of carb intake are you aiming for? The meals you describe have a fair amount (~20g/slice) of carb content in the bread (granary, wholemeal, makes no difference really), possibly the salad dressings (often high in sugars), the carrots are reasonably carby, and if you're having milk in your teas and coffees there's lactose (a sugar) in that. Dietary fat won't affect your blood glucose levels. You'll see the impact foods have on your BG if you test before eating and then again two hours later, This will show you how well your insulin system dealt with the carb/glucose in what you ate. By plus two hours, it should ideally have returned you close to your starting point.


You might find this website useful:

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/foods

which is a clear and simple guide to where you'll find low carb options, and also the things to avoid. Unfortunately many of the things we're officially encouraged to eat as being "healthy" are high in carb, and for me anyway, best avoided. I eat meats, dairy, cheeses, green veg instead.

best of luck. Questions encouraged.