bg high for 3 hrs then drops?

[red]

I wondered if any one could explain to me why this happens ( it is probably obvious but I am fairly new to all this). I have read a lot of times on this forum that you should test 2 hrs after eating. when I eat I test before I eat then 1hr after + 2hrs after + 3hrs after. what I have noticed in a very consistent way is that after 2hrs my bg seems to have risen to its peak, and then at the 3hr point it seems to drop back down quite swiftly. eg it starts at 7.5 b4 a meal then at 1hr its 8.9 at 2hrs its 10.2 then at 3hrs its dropped back down to 7.5. does this simply mean I am diabetic. I am t2 diet only but just gone for a blood test and think I will be put on metformin. as most of my bg readings at between 7 and 10. low carbing about 40ish a day. I am also about 19.5 stone so is this why? if you loose lots of weight like about 8 stone can your system start working normally again?

 

[sugarless sue]

Hi red,what exactly are you eating when you get these readings?

Most diabetics find a peak at 1 hour then the drop at two hours unless they have eaten a lot of fat in which case this slows down the absorption and the peak takes longer.

Can you give us some idea of a typical days diet ?

 

[red]

I get them all the time after every time I eat. Breakfast 2 eggs and 2 bacon 2 mini babybell.
lunch a large portion of salmon with large salad ( just herb salad) with measured portion of low cal salad cream plus 3 strawberries. dinner 2 100% beef burgers with coke sometimes with salad if I can take it. does this mean I am really ill. also some times I have some nuts omega mix or almonds in afternoon. my carbs are usually less than 40 a day. I have never eat so less or so healthy in my life and its still not good enough.

 

[sugarless sue]

My comment on that Red is portion sizes!! I realise that cutting down is not easy,i have been struggling to do that for two years!! Try cutting down to say one egg ,2 bacon and one babybel see how you get on.Try using smaller sized plate to eat off as well ,it sounds strange but it does work!! Gradually cut down the portion sizes over a week and see how you get on especially in regard to your blood sugar levels and weight lose.

 

[sugarless sue]

Also what kind of Coke are you drinking?
Check the carb value on the beefburgers as well if they are bought as even though they say 100% they often contain 'fillers' as well that are carb based.

 

[red]

thank you for the reply. It is just so hard for me to do that, I guess I will have to, but it already feels impossibly hard having so many restrictions on what I can eat and the amounts that I explained that I do eat now and very drastically reduced. I know this is obviusly why I have a weight problem and I believe why I have diabetes with no doubt, but for me eating is an extremely emotional issues I started massively overeating when both my parents got terminally ill when I was a teenager and then subsequently died. And food is the main thing provided by my parents when they were alive. I want to make EXTREMELY clear this is no a sob story, food is just the thing that I have always been able to depend on, I have never had or needed anything or anyone else and this diabetic situation is really pushing me over the edge to a place I have never been before, everything that I have faced and dealt with in my life I have done so with food, with the comfort and reliance on food. Food is the only thing that doesnt let you down and has been the only thing that life and people cannot ruin for me. I am going to too much sorry, this is just monumentally hard for me already and I just dont think I can cope with it much longer but I know if you dont take notice horrible things can happen to you. I am really sorry for being so negative on this board. I am really not a negative person really, I have alway coped really positivly and been a glass most definately half full and flowing over sort of person. up till now.

 

[red]

I have checked the carbs sue, they are 3.5 per beefburger (have 2) and I am haing coke zero ( which i think has no sugar). I have counted the carbs of every single measured thing i have put in my mouth even of a few slices of cucumber. the salmon I eat is 3.7 carbs each as it has a chilli sauce on and I have 2 peices. I have about 40 carbs a day counting it all carefully.

 

[sugarless sue]

Don't worry Red,it is hard!! but if you want to get the weight down and consequently the blood sugars you have to motivate yourself.
Get a copy of Collins Gem carb counter and then work out the carbs in things that you like to eat,snacks as well.this way you will not be tempted to stray off the diet. In fact ,do not think of it as a diet,more a change of life style for life.
Once the weight starts to come off that will be even more motivation.I have lost three stone so far by just setting 'do-able' goals and then, once I achieved them setting more.I exercise more as well now that I am fitter.I also used to comfort eat a lot but changed the unhealthy nibbles for things like nuts instead.
As I said in the above post ,portion size is now the issue so take it a bit at a time.

 

[red]

I am not bothered about loosing weight so that is not a motivation for me and I am I dont really want to be all singing and dancing healthy, I just dont want my legs to fall off or go blind or whatever else horrible happens to you. There was only one thing I really wanted: to be able to eat what I want when I want. So I guess I am stuffed.

 

[sugarless sue]

Sorry Red but the easiest way to get your blood sugar levels under control is to lose weight and reduce your insulin resistance.I would discuss this with your doctor as he can put you on medication to help lower your blood sugars if you are not willing to eat less and lose the weight.

 

[Vikingepigen]

Hi Red,

May I just comment on this portion size issue too? I know where you are coming from as I am a compulsive overeater and quite simply I will eat whatever is in the house, hungry or not!! I have been obese since my early 30s and until 2 years ago, when I slowly started to make changes to my lifestyle - thanks to practical support of friends.

It has been a massive struggle to change and I have fallen by the wayside many times, some times for days on end, but have managed to pick myself up and get "back with the programme". I was diagnosed T2 just 3 months ago and have found it hard at the beginning too. I started a food diary, literally writing down everything I had during the day - that was an eye opener, for starters!!

I have gradually managed to reduce my portion sizes - mainly by planning my meals and using a lunch size plate instead of a full dinner plate. I still write everything down, I have to to control my eating - otherwise it is out of control in an instant. I have between 50-70 carbs a day, I have been below 30 but just cannot function and I am not a big salat person, either!

I have two eggs, 1 rasher of back bacon, 1/2 slice Oberland (sourdough bread) with 5g butter and a mug of coffee with a little milk, for breakfast. Lunch typically 50g roast chicken with 50g cucumber and 1/2 Muller Light yogurt with 25g fresh berries. Dinner (e.g. tonight) 2 Toulouse sauges, with 50g fried onions/gravy, 50g broccoli, 50g coliflower, 25g carrots with a dessert consisting of 50g mixes berries with 50g Greek Yogurt and a spoonful of double cream and a drizzle of flakes almonds. I will have 1 can diet coke during the evening and 25g cheddar cheese before bedtime. Most days I will have a coffee w/milk and 2 squares of 85% chocolate (20g) in the afternoon.

It HAS taken time and effort and no small measure of trial and error of what I can eat, how to cut down portion sizes, but it has a lot to do with listening to your body, when it is actually full. It will not be easy, but I think you know it is necessary.

Take it one step at a time - start with your breakfast and when you find your level there after a few days, look at your lunch and so forth. As for the burgers, make them yourself from fresh mince. I started with one burger of 200g but is now on a more reasonable size of 125g. I started out with 300g Veg to go with the burger and now do 100-150g but do allow myself a little mayo!

Do try and keep come back here and ask questions - but your own trials are so important. I too find things quite restrictive at the moment, but I know that when I have better control I will be able to be a bit more flexible with foods, hopefully! :lol:

God luck
Alice

 

[DiaBetty]

Sometimes we can't always have what we want in life Red,if you want to control your diabetes then you are going to have to change!!
I think most of us have had to make sacrifices and we are healthier for it,at the end of the day it is your choice,eat what you like and lose your feet or eat less and live!!!

 

[sandymaynard]

Hi red
I would like to say, that i used to get three hour high sometimes, Stay away from coke i found that this was sending my bloodsugar through the roof!
I drink pepsi max and this does no harm!
I cannot eat the following i found through exepermenting,
fishfingers of any sort,
Shop bought beefburgers,
no oats in any sort breakfast or otherwise
No salad cream or mayo, even a teaspoon i go up to 18 or 19
I have cut down my portion sizes and included exercise daily when i can!
Thing is red you need to find what works for you!
Are you having burger buns with your burgers? As bread can shoot your blood sugar through the roof! On the back of any jar/tin there is a label, I am being honest here red some so called low fat stuff is worse than normal, read the label and check how many carbs!
It takes time to get your head around it all but i am sure you will!
Rome wasnot built in a day we all learn different speeds and learn how to cope better!
I have managed to lose alot of weight! but i needed to lose the weight as well! Have you ever tried chicken breast instead of burgers! I usually have a chicken breast with a little fresh squezzed lemon juice on! it tastes really nice!
Hope this makes some sort of sense for you
Sandy

 

[cugila]

Sorry Red but the easiest way to get your blood sugar levels under control is to lose weight and reduce your insulin resistance.I would discuss this with your doctor as he can put you on medication to help lower your blood sugars if you are not willing to eat less and lose the weight.

Red.
Sue and the others have given you sound advice. It isn't going to change any time soon.

YOU really need to sort this out. See your GP and get on some meds. Y ou know it make sense.

Ken.

 

[dragongirl]

Hi Red

You obviously are fully aware of what has caused you to make food your primary relationship. And yes, it was a good move as it protected you and kept you alive. So don't feel you should castigate yourself for those earlier choices. You did the best thing you knew at the time – as do we all. But that thing that we often call a 'defence' (against trusting people ever again not to let you down) is now playing against you. Obviously, you don't want to give the food relationship up, as that's very risky, but you've realised it's equally risky letting your love of food threaten your toes and eyesight! Bit of a dilemma there!

Can I make a suggestion? There are very good therapists around who would help you sort out some of the feelings around your parents dying and deserting you, leaving you feeling somewhat abandoned, possibly angry and all sorts of other painful things. (Food's a wonderful assuager of grief – I've tried it!) But these people know how to tread gently and go at your pace, and the satisfaction of taking charge and sorting something out is usually considered a benefit by people who have tried it. If you felt like trying this route, you might consider tracking down someone specialising in EMDR or EFT, as they deal with trauma really well and quickly. To find someone, you could visit the BACP site or the Counselling Directory (if you're in the UK - google them, don't like to advertise!) or google the acronym and your area. I think this would be hard for you, as you say you don't need other people. But it's just a suggestion to mull over, and you said you couldn't cope with this state of affairs much longer, so I thought I'd say it. Hope it helps open up choices.

 

[red]

hi dragongirl,
question: do they serve food at therapy lessons?


only joking ha ha ha.
thankyou for your reply.
It is appreciated and interesting.
Red

 

[red]

do people's legs/toes really fall off or do they get cut off and do they really go blind, I was just thinking I've never met anyone who this has happened to. I mean its rare right? And why do they loose their legs/feet/toes or eyesight is it all becuase of high bs. Most of the western world seem to have expanding waists and eat loads of carbs and fast food so are they all going to get this? does it just happen to people suddenly, or would they know its going to happen.

 

[sugarless sue]

Unfortunately Red this does happen but it is caused by a long time of prolonged high blood sugars.The high sugar levels affect other organs in our bodies causing them to fail and the blood supply fails and the toes etc lose circulation and die!!The same with eye sight ,the sugar in the blood damages the blood vessels in the eyes causing lose of vision.
This is why we strive to control our diabetes to stop or at least slow down theses complications occurring.Many on here that came here with complications have actually lessened them by controlling their diets and dropping their blood sugar levels.
This is a gradual process ,Red but it is best not to start the process at all!!

 

[red]

Yikkes, how does one know that "it" hasnt started!!

 

[sugarless sue]

Blood tests will tell you that Red,please don't stress about it .