Type 2's: What was your fasting blood glucose in a morning?

[Gezzabelle]

Hi everyone....5.2

 

[loulou99782]

Thanks. I still need to lower my [already significantly improved] numbers, but I'm also not up to my maximum anticipated insulin dose either, I just wanted to keep it as low as I can. Hopefully as I improve my exercise and drop some more weight, that will help too.

I am on Insulatard twice a day and do as much walking with my crutches as I can normally about half an hour in two or three goes. I also do armchair exercises and Phsyio routine. Keep going and you will get there slowly. Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[vit90]

Good morning. 8.6 this morning - obviously not as good as yesterday, but that's deliberate.

I had been gradually dropping my carbs to improve my numbers and was happy with that aspect of improvement, but by lunchtime I had a wicked false hypo (actually 5.8), accompanied, I think, by my ketones going quite high, making my kidneys throb painfully. I felt very poorly during the day and my husband said I was positively grey when he came in from work.

So I've gone back to the moderate carbs regime (approx 60-70g) that was working well for me and feel significantly better today for it. I think an even more gradual approach is needed - for me. My BG has been so high for so long that it's going to take longer to adjust and feel improvement than I was expecting.

60-70g carbs should be safe but, personally, I would want my numbers below 8 and preferably in the 6s to be sure of avoiding complications in the long term. It's tough - diabetes is a tough condition and motivation is the key but there is no beating around the bush, if anyone here lacks motivation to deal with the situation then sadly there will be consequences. There are plenty of anecdotes where people in a similar or worse condition have had great outcomes by low-carbing, doing things like the Newcastle diet and of course exercise - coming off insulin and medication. Not everyone can because of other medical complications but if that's not an issue, then it does boil down to motivation.

 

[vit90]

Thanks my friends drank plenty of water , went for a walk just got back bs down to 5.1

It could have been a faulty reading; if that happens again it might be worth re-testing. cleaning and drying your hands before testing is highly recommended.

 

[IzzieS]

This morning 7.4 after bed time reading 8.7.Didn't have my 2 oatcakes before bed, so will try that again tonight.

 

[BooJewels]

60-70g carbs should be safe but, personally, I would want my numbers below 8 and preferably in the 6s to be sure of avoiding complications in the long term. It's tough - diabetes is a tough condition and motivation is the key but there is no beating around the bush, if anyone here lacks motivation to deal with the situation then sadly there will be consequences. There are plenty of anecdotes where people in a similar or worse condition have had great outcomes by low-carbing, doing things like the Newcastle diet and of course exercise - coming off insulin and medication. Not everyone can because of other medical complications but if that's not an issue, then it does boil down to motivation.

Did you actually read my post you quoted - and the reason why I decided to slow down the rate of my carb reduction? Diabetes varies enormously individually, but for anyone, it's not safe - and at best it can be unpleasant - to reduce BG at too fast of a rate - slow and steady is advised to allow your body to adapt to the changing glucose levels - to protect your eyesight etc. I did reduce my carb intake too much this week and paid the price - with a particularly unpleasant false hypo that left me wrong for the rest of the day.

You've been diabetic for about 6 months - I've already been doing it for over 23 years now - 47 times as long. For 90% of that time I kept my diabetes under good control through nothing other than my own efforts - only going on medication about 3 years ago after a medical emergency enforced changes in my health. If anything, this week I went at it too hard in my eagerness to make further improvements - how is that lack of motivation?

I'll be happy to discuss it with you in 22½ years and see if your motivation is still enough. Considering your post #22000, maybe not.

 

[orchid5]

Whoooo just got home to a parcel a free bayer glucometer, downside strips are expensive compared to my little codefree! Needless to say had to try it and bs 5.8 wahooo. I'll keep that one for sunday best!

 

[Daphne917]

9.9

Wow Ali - single figures well done

 

[orchid5]

10pm Code free bs 6.7, contour next 5.9. See what they say in the morning.

 

[hankjam]

Did you actually read my post you quoted - and the reason why I decided to slow down the rate of my carb reduction? Diabetes varies enormously individually, but for anyone, it's not safe - and at best it can be unpleasant - to reduce BG at too fast of a rate - slow and steady is advised to allow your body to adapt to the changing glucose levels - to protect your eyesight etc. I did reduce my carb intake too much this week and paid the price - with a particularly unpleasant false hypo that left me wrong for the rest of the day.

You've been diabetic for about 6 months - I've already been doing it for over 23 years now - 47 times as long. For 90% of that time I kept my diabetes under good control through nothing other than my own efforts - only going on medication about 3 years ago after a medical emergency enforced changes in my health. If anything, this week I went at it too hard in my eagerness to make further improvements - how is that lack of motivation?

I'll be happy to discuss it with you in 22½ years and see if your motivation is still enough. Considering your post #22000, maybe not.

I was going to write a reply on long these lines but could not have put it better myself, so glad I didn't, but happy to like your response... actually feeling your kidneys coz you've crashed your carbs clearly shows you may have over done it... as @Welshgooner said gently does it.
I wish you well.
Hj

 

[vit90]

Did you actually read my post you quoted - and the reason why I decided to slow down the rate of my carb reduction? Diabetes varies enormously individually, but for anyone, it's not safe - and at best it can be unpleasant - to reduce BG at too fast of a rate - slow and steady is advised to allow your body to adapt to the changing glucose levels - to protect your eyesight etc. I did reduce my carb intake too much this week and paid the price - with a particularly unpleasant false hypo that left me wrong for the rest of the day.

You've been diabetic for about 6 months - I've already been doing it for over 23 years now - 47 times as long. For 90% of that time I kept my diabetes under good control through nothing other than my own efforts - only going on medication about 3 years ago after a medical emergency enforced changes in my health. If anything, this week I went at it too hard in my eagerness to make further improvements - how is that lack of motivation?

I'll be happy to discuss it with you in 22½ years and see if your motivation is still enough. Considering your post #22000, maybe not.

Take my comments in any way you wish but I stand by every word. Trying to justify a rise in BG to above 8 does not make sense even in your context. You appear to be angry. I am very sorry you reacted like this. I'm sure you can improve your condition dramatically but I am not at all sure you think you can and that is the heart of the matter. However, I have no intention of turning this into a slanging match as all the signs are that any further comment from me would be unwelcome. Therefore, this is my last word on this particular topic.

 

[vit90]

Whoooo just got home to a parcel a free bayer glucometer, downside strips are expensive compared to my little codefree! Needless to say had to try it and bs 5.8 wahooo. I'll keep that one for sunday best!

Curious to know if it compares closely with your codefree readings?

 

[BooJewels]

@hankjam - thank you, much appreciated - and that you seem to have grasped the point I was making. I've felt very much better today and managed a good training session on the exercise bike earlier. The nurse that took my bloods earlier said I had to ease off too - they'd rather I was a bit high but stable, so back to a gentler reduction rate - I don't want an experience like yesterday again, thanks!

 

[vit90]

10pm Code free bs 6.7, contour next 5.9. See what they say in the morning.

Interesting, that's a reasonably large difference. The Contour ought to be more accurate. My next meeting with the DN is soon and she will be doing a non-fasting fingerprick test so my intention is to do a codefree test at the same time as whatever she uses. I have only very rarely got below 5 and, grasping at straws, this could explain why!

 

[emptyplate]

Interesting, that's a reasonably large difference. The Contour ought to be more accurate. My next meeting with the DN is soon and she will be doing a non-fasting fingerprick test so my intention is to do a codefree test at the same time as whatever she uses. I have only very rarely got below 5 and, grasping at straws, this could explain why!

Don't forget the margin of error of anywhere up to 15% - 20% tolerance allowed in the manufacturing process. Although meters tend to be more accurate at the lower levels.

Personally, I feel you can't really compare one meter reading agains a different meter's reading. Just compare the meter readings from one meter e.g. pre and post prandial.

 

[Sable_Jan]

Thanks. I've been on my new lower carbs (already ate very sensible carbs as been doing this a long time and struggling with control) and insulin regime since March, so this about week 9, so it's not been overnight, but my body just isn't ready for the lower numbers yet. I spoke to the nurse that took my blood this morning and she wasn't surprised it was taking a while, my numbers have been a lot too high for a long while as we tried different meds etc. that didn't help. She said the fact that they were stable and even was more important than the actual number, I'd been fluctuating wildly before.

I feel quite a weight off this morning, just by making a decision on how to proceed. There feels quite a lot of pressure here not to eat carbs and I felt I was coming up short because I have a slice of bread for breakfast. But I simply feel better doing so - the quest for low numbers all the time is only part of the story.

I don't go ultra low carbs, just reduce them enough to keep my meter happy so a slice of toast us ok, a certain amount of breakfast cereal, a few roasties with my carvery etc....it's such a personal thing. Perhaps be guided by what helps others but I'm sure no-one would want you to feel pressured into doing what they do esp as it is.t right for "you" x

 

[emptyplate]

@hankjam - thank you, much appreciated - and that you seem to have grasped the point I was making. I've felt very much better today and managed a good training session on the exercise bike earlier. The nurse that took my bloods earlier said I had to ease off too - they'd rather I was a bit high but stable, so back to a gentler reduction rate - I don't want an experience like yesterday again, thanks!

@BooJewels do what is right for you. I'd also like to say it's very unwise to not follow the advice of healthcare professionals.

I remember suffering the false hypos and the very scary blurred vision when I went "Hell for leather" at reducing my carbs to reduce my blood glucose.

Luckily I caused no lasting damage to my eyesight but, I certainly skirted the danger zone there! I would whole heartedly concur with reducing high blood glucose levels progressively. Consistency and stability are key factors when it comes to blood glucose levels and their long term effects.

 

[vit90]

Don't forget the margin of error of anywhere up to 15% - 20% tolerance allowed in the manufacturing process. Although meters tend to be more accurate at the lower levels.

Personally, I feel you can't really compare one meter reading agains a different meter's reading. Just compare the meter readings from one meter e.g. pre and post prandial.

Yes that's right - the like for like differences are important but the baseline accuracy is important to me because my aim is to get consistently under 5s and if my meter is reading consistently 0.7 high, for example, I could be hitting my target without realising it. I have had a few pre and post readings recently with a difference of around 1 but the baseline was high 5s or low 6s. Just off to bed now and decided to do a test and it came out at 5.4. Last food I had was about 3 hours ago and also had about 4 glasses of red wine. But have walked 2.5 miles from the venue, which has probably helped. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Sable_Jan]

Whoooo just got home to a parcel a free bayer glucometer, downside strips are expensive compared to my little codefree! Needless to say had to try it and bs 5.8 wahooo. I'll keep that one for sunday best!

Try eBay for the strips...that's,where I get mine...

 

[Sable_Jan]

I was going to write a reply on long these lines but could not have put it better myself, so glad I didn't, but happy to like your response... actually feeling your kidneys coz you've crashed your carbs clearly shows you may have over done it... as @Welshgooner said gently does it.
I wish you well.
Hj

Ditto x