Hello dear Ambera 1,
I hope you are well.
Firstly, the problem with doctors is that they crunch the numbers like accountants do.
For example, if your overall 3-month HbA1c is at a good or acceptable level, then they rarely care if you hit 12mmol on a carbohydrate spike or crush to 3mmol on a hypoglycemic episode. It is in rare occasions that they check that the numbers are balanced and in equilibrium.
Even more so, in your case, when you haven’t been accepted in the hospital in a diabetic coma (like most of us have). In relation to someone who has been hospitalised with a blood sugar incident of 22+, your 12mmol spike is a walk in the park… I don’t wish to discourage you and I understand your concern but, chances are your case isn’t their priority… It is sad, but it happens.
Secondly, as a type 1 diabetic for the past 7 years, I cannot emphacise enough that the Keto-diet works for some people but not for everyone. It, certainly, has never worked for me. I belong to the kind of diabetics that EVERYTHING turns into sugar; protein, fat, carbohydrates. Meat, fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, cheese, they all raise my blood sugar. Particulalry dairy (cheese and yogurt) are as bad as chocolate, they raise my blood sugar and the fat content keeps my sugar high and I have to inject several corrections to normalise my levels. Therefore, Keto works for some but not for everyone.
Thirdly, to manage your blood sugar without any medication (including metformin) you have to “play” with your food and your exercise.
Use the glycemic load index, choose food groups that don’t spike your sugar, have a very low glycemic load and break down into sugar very slowly. For example, nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, they are calorie bombs (most diabetics avoid them because we have to be mindful of our weight) and they break down into sugar very slowly.
As an example, for breakfast, don’t have oats or all bran with milk; Have Alpro unsweetened yogurt and nuts and seeds with a tbs of canderel (for some sweetness) or eat dark rye bread instead of white bread.
Try to create meal combinations that don’t spike.
Let me know if you need more options – happy to offer suggestions. Btw, these will work for cases like yours, not for type-1 diabetics like myself. The low glycemic foods are a bolus surfing for me – and I prefer to avoid 2-3 injections to balance a low glycemic meal.
Fourthly, test in the morning, your fasting glucose. This has to be 5.5-7.7.
2 hours after breakfast, test again. You should be no more than 8.0
Test before lunch/dinner, you have to be 4.5 – 7.7
Similarly 2 hours after lunch you have to be no more than 8.0
Pre-bed you need to be 6.5 – 8.0
Again when you wake up in the morning, 5.5-7.7
Check at what times during the day you have an elevated sugar. Come back to inform us so we can feedback you.
If your sugar spikes 2 hours after meals, then after your meal go for a brisk walk to burn the sugar down.
Furthermore, the more you stress about it, the more you bring your sugars up. Calm down, relax, you will get it under control..
Remember that epinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormones help maintain blood sugar levels. They, along with glucagon, are called “stress” or “gluco-counter-regulatory” hormones – which means they make blood sugar rise.
Also, don’t be afraid of metformin. If you can avoid it, do it.
But, if you have elevated fasting sugar in the morning, chances are you will have to take it.
However, Metformin kept me on a prolonged honeymoon for 2 years. I only have good words about it…
Doctors prescribe metformin even for gestational diabetes so, don’t be afraid of it.
There are type 1 diabetics who take metformin to help them regulate their weight. Metformin also helps with osteoporosis, arthritis and can help promote ovulation among nonobese women with PCOS. Trust me, amongst the medications we have to take, Metformin is like ***** bears (minus the sugar).
Finally, don’t be frustrated. Chances are, the community here will give you good guidance.
Calm down, take care of yourself, stay safe and be optimistic and happy. You will handle this.