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Blood sugar question.

Emerald14

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
I am so glad I found this forum early. ( next day) I can only thank you all for all the info I keep learning through the various posts I read daily. I've currently lost 15lb since the beginning of June on the LCHF and can say I feel less tired and more energy. I am not currently on any medication. I haven't even had a diet sheet and just getting all my info from here. Low carving definitely seems the way to go.
Problem seems to be if I eat really well and go to bed with blood sugars in the 5s, fasting morning reading is usually around the 6.6 - 6.8. Yesterday evening meal I had full roast beef dinner with one square of 81% lidl choc. Two hours later it was 8.6. Last thing 6.8. This morning however, it's 5.4. I know it's perhaps the dawn phenomenon but am I healthier with higher readings going to bed and lower in morning? Or lower in evenings and higher 6s in the morning? This is perhaps a common thing with everyone, am still learning but wondered if anyone had any advice.
Thanks.





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Hi,

Your evening meal will determine what you go to bed on. Yesterday you had a full roast dinner, which will have taken a long time to digest with a mixture of carbs, protein and fat. The 2 hour reading of 8.6 was still on its way down when you went to bed. During the night it will have come down some more, hence a lower morning reading. Normally a bedtime reading should be in the 5's, maximum of 6. When you wake up it should still be under 6, but sometimes this is affected by the Dawn Phenomenon and is slightly higher on waking. This is normal. Do you do your morning test immediately on waking? If you get up and potter about first, you will get the DP. Does this make sense?
 
Hi bluetit Thanks for your reply. Yes I do normally test on waking, but often don't sleep well and maybe I get the DP at the 4am slot. I have only just started testing two hours after meals. Up to now I've been doing a fasting morning one and one last thing. I may even try doing a middle of night one just to see what the levels are then. I have noticed though that if I have a glass of wine the evening reading is often in the 5s and if I've not had wine it can be often in the 6s.


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Yes, red wine can slow things down and be beneficial to blood sugars! I usually have one when I'm having a meal I know will spike me. I've only tested once during the night. It was much the same as the going to bed level. I sleep too soundly for doing it more often, and when I have to get up for the loo I'm too bog-eyed. I used to get some dawn phenomenon but all of a sudden it stopped. No idea why. My levels now on fasting and going to bed both average the same at 5.6. I'm level most nights. I believe that not sleeping well has an effect on fasting levels. Anyway, keep up the good work!
 
Thanks Bluetit , I will. How strange your dawn phenomenon stopped - am hoping I am going in that direction too! My new aim is 5.6 morning and evening. Up to now have not really known what is realistic. Am encouraged by all the positive feedback.
Thanks so much.


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Thanks jack, yes weight not doing too badly. Am now at 10st 8lb but am only 5ft 2in when standing full stretch. My waist is 37 so need to get that down then hopefully the insulin can work better and beta cells pick up maybe. Type 2 is in the family and am already on statins and been on high bp tabs ten years or more.


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What is in your full roast beef dinner?
Hi, I had home cooked roast beef, a few small potatoes in hemp oil. Kale, broccoli, green beans, gravy with a little corn flour and one auntie bettie Yorkshire pud ( carbs 6.9each ). Maybe I should have omitted the potatoes although am not sure of carb value of roast potatoes - they were new potatoes ( home grown in fact) but probably more than the 6.9 Yorkshire am thinking.


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