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spike?

numan43

numan43

Well-Known Member
Messages
262
Location
Glasgow
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
can anyone tell me what they consider a spike two hours after eating? Now that my Bg levels have got back to near normal I'm adding new foods to see what I can tolerate and what I cant but I'm still a bit unsure how to go about it?
 
The nearest thing I know to a definition is the recommendation that after two hours the blood sugar level should be less than 8.5. If it's higher than that then although the graph might look like a bump it's usually referred to as a spike.

Having said that I must add that I don't know what research went into the 8.5 figure and many people find it too high anyway. These people set themselves a lower target.

So I suppose that that is what a spike is, a reading higher than whatever target you set yourself.
 
for type 2 this should be between 4 to 7 mmol/L pre meal and as squire fulwood says above no more than 8.5 post prandial
 
Squire Fulwood said:
The nearest thing I know to a definition is the recommendation that after two hours the blood sugar level should be less than 8.5. If it's higher than that then although the graph might look like a bump it's usually referred to as a spike.

Having said that I must add that I don't know what research went into the 8.5 figure and many people find it too high anyway. These people set themselves a lower target.

So I suppose that that is what a spike is, a reading higher than whatever target you set yourself.[/QUOTE
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himtoo said:
for type 2 this should be between 4 to 7 mmol/L pre meal and as squire fulwood says above no more than 8.5 post prandial
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so is 4 before dinner then 8 two hours later a lot worse than 6.5 before dinner then 8 ?
 
I'm a T1 on insulin, but I think the guidelines are much the same for T1s and T2s. A rise of 2mmol 2 hours after a meal is generally accepted as being ok. I try to keep my bg levels between 5 - 8.5, but now and again I hit 9, but I don't beat myself up about it. Diabetes can be unpredictable at times, so I've learned not to be too fanatical about readings, but just endeavour to keep within my target for almost all of the time.
 
As I said, a rise from pre-prandial to post- prandial should ideally be no more than 2mmol (in a perfect world!). If it's 4, then you must have had a carby meal, but if you started out at say 5, then 9 is still ok, just a bit of a jump. I don't know what you have set as your target range.........
 
A rise of around 2 as @June_C states is the maximum recommend. However if you have had a mega blowout weekend like me that figure gets shot to hell :oops:. I suppose the only good thing about having to take insulin is that I can attempt to compensate. The tighter you can keep the difference hopefully will pay dividends in the long-term.
 
numan43 said:
so is 4 before dinner then 8 two hours later a lot worse than 6.5 before dinner then 8 ?
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dont forget your meter is not That accurate so as a guideline if you are 4.5 pre meal you are aiming for a post prandial of 6.5 max

remember also that this is a marathon not a sprint so 1 day on its own is not the full judgement of any of us -- these are targets to aim for and as you get to know your body you will get to know what foods are good on BG rise and those that are not.

ONE day at a time :)
 
June_C said:
As I said, a rise from pre-prandial to post- prandial should ideally be no more than 2mmol (in a perfect world!). If it's 4, then you must have had a carby meal, but if you started out at say 5, then 9 is still ok, just a bit of a jump. I don't know what you have set as your target range.........
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thanks june, i've no idea about targets and things, I just want to start doing things right after 20+ years of neglect but I seem to be the only one on this forum who finds everything complicated
 
numan43 said:
so we can tell then by the number of points it rises then june?
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You can tell the nature of the meal by how much it rises. A meal with a lot of carbs might just be ok on a day when you start out low and on another day cause a spike. You should be looking for meals that don't put you in danger of a spike even when you don't start out particularly low.

It's complicated task but a necessary one.
 
numan43 said:
thanks june, i've no idea about targets and things, I just want to start doing things right after 20+ years of neglect but I seem to be the only one on this forum who finds everything complicated
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believe me you are not the only one who finds it complicated -- I have been Diabetic for nearly 43 years and I am still learning and having days where I want to SCREAM from the frustration of the BG readings I get
 
Oh no your not the only one that feels that way. With all the variable factors taken into account, it can feel like juggling 15 ball's at once with your eyes closed. Nobody gets it right all the time.
 
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numan43 said:
thanks june, i've no idea about targets and things, I just want to start doing things right after 20+ years of neglect but I seem to be the only one on this forum who finds everything complicated
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It has taken me nearly 15 years to arrive where I am now!
It took a suggestion from a specialist and a dietician and people on this forum to steer me to now!
It is a marathon, things will develop slowly but surely. You will have many failures at the testing stage but treat it as a voyage of discovery, an experiment, an experience to give you the tools to a better future.

Well done to you on getting your fasting level down.
 
Bro hug mate -- you're certainly not stupid -- you have joined this forum == first step to enlightenment !!
 
There are no stupid questions!









Just stupid answers!!!!!!!!!!
 
numan43 said:
thanks june, i've no idea about targets and things, I just want to start doing things right after 20+ years of neglect but I seem to be the only one on this forum who finds everything complicated
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You are by far not the only one to find things complicated and you're definitely not thick. I'd like to make a suggestion. How about setting yourself a target range? I'm a newby T1 of just six months, but from what I've learned from this forum, I've set myself a target range of from between 5 - 9 (preferably 8). I avoid the 4s like a plague as that's hypo land as far as I'm concerned. Experiment and see if you can stay within 5 - 9 for a start. You'll make mistakes, we all do, but I think it helps if we have something to aim for.
 
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