The alfajor experience

[M.A.R.]

Today I had to go to the clinic for a check-up (a diabetes test) and, naturally, I went while fasting; at 7:00 a.m., my fasting level was 98 mg/dL (5.4 mmol/L). At 10:30 a.m., after having my blood drawn, I felt a sudden, intense hunger. I was out and about, and the only place nearby was a kiosk, so I decided to eat—not just one, but two—alfajores. If you aren't familiar with alfajores, I’m including a photo so you can see what they are: three cookies held together with quince paste and coated in sugar. Basically, pure sugar and unhealthy carbohydrates. An hour or two later, my level was 227 mg/dL (12.6 mmol/L); an hour after that, it was 206 mg/dL (11.4 mmol/L); and at the three-hour mark, it read 133 mg/dL (7.3 mmol/L). Anyway, that’s the story of the day, and I thought it was worth sharing. Cheers!

 

[Tony337]

Today I had to go to the clinic for a check-up (a diabetes test) and, naturally, I went while fasting; at 7:00 a.m., my fasting level was 98 mg/dL (5.4 mmol/L). At 10:30 a.m., after having my blood drawn, I felt a sudden, intense hunger. I was out and about, and the only nearby place was a kiosk, so I decided to eat—not just one, but two—alfajores. If you aren't familiar with alfajores, I’m including a photo so you can see what they are: three cookies held together with quince paste and coated in sugar. Basically, pure sugar and unhealthy carbohydrates. An hour or two later, my level was 227 mg/dL (12.6 mmol/L); an hour after that, it was 206 mg/dL (11.4 mmol/L); and at the three-hour mark, it read 133 mg/dL (7.3 mmol/L). Anyway, that’s the story of the day, and I thought it was worth sharing. Cheers!

Hi
As a type 1 for over 50 years and i often lurk about early doors on this site in the UK and i came across your post or more accurately what you ate.
Diabetes has twisted my view on food but unlike you i could eat that alfa thing and keep my sugar level with an injection of insulin.
You cannot.
Its not that i wouldn't i simply couldn't eat it.

Please please don't think i'm judging i'm simply saying it as it is for me.

Years ago an old specialist in type one pointed out i have discovered diabetes in reverse as i match my food to the insulin and not the other way round.

To repeat i'm not being rude just giving my view as a type 1.

Interesting thread though as its got me thinking about how i look at things.

Tony

 

[Tony337]

Just to add to that and the way i think.........
I do over do it at times but this usually involves potatoes.
They are tricky customers the british spud but when i get it right i congratulate myself and find the feeling of a level level (LOL) agreeable.

Tony

 

[M.A.R.]

Hi Tony,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I did not take it as rude or judgmental.

Eating two alfajores is certainly not part of my usual diet. It happened after fasting for the blood test, when I was suddenly very hungry and had very few options nearby. I decided to share the experience because I found the rise and subsequent fall in my glucose interesting.

You are right that our situations are different. As someone with type 1 diabetes, you can calculate and inject insulin for a particular food, although I imagine getting the dose exactly right is not always easy. As someone with type 2 who does not use insulin, I cannot correct the rise in the same way.

Your comment about adapting your food to your insulin rather than your insulin to your food also gave me something to think about.

And I understand what you mean about potatoes — they can be difficult customers for people with type 2 diabetes as well!

Thank you again for sharing the perspective of someone who has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than fifty years.

 

[Tony337]

Hi Tony,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I did not take it as rude or judgmental.

Eating two alfajores is certainly not part of my usual diet. It happened after fasting for the blood test, when I was suddenly very hungry and had very few options nearby. I decided to share the experience because I found the rise and subsequent fall in my glucose interesting.

You are right that our situations are different. As someone with type 1 diabetes, you can calculate and inject insulin for a particular food, although I imagine getting the dose exactly right is not always easy. As someone with type 2 who does not use insulin, I cannot correct the rise in the same way.

Your comment about adapting your food to your insulin rather than your insulin to your food also gave me something to think about.

And I understand what you mean about potatoes — they can be difficult customers for people with type 2 diabetes as well!

Thank you again for sharing the perspective of someone who has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than fifty years.

Thanks @M.A.R.
I find emails and texts can appear a little hostile at times and go out of my way to try to avoid it and we both know we are all different.
An example is my neighbour.....
Type 1 fifty years 7 units of lantus and novorapid accordingly.
Me Type 1 fifty years on 24 units split of Levemir and novorapid accordingly.
We both achieve a HBA1c less than 6 mmol.

He is nearly a veggie and i'm a carnivore!

And to put your alfajor thing in perspective every saturday at 4.30 pm my sugar level drops to around 3 mmol.
I do this on purpose as my wife and i enjoy an aperol spritz and the aperol is soooo sweet its the only way i can deal with it as if i take novorapid for it my body cannot match the aperol to fast acting insulin but its fine with background insulin with a low sugar level,,,,,,sounds a bit crackers but its true!

Anyhoo i've waffled a bit but sharing experiences is what this site is about...

Happy times and places

Tony