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Blood Sugar Readings

ardvark

Well-Known Member
Messages
90
Location
Warwickshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I've been told to take my blood sugar reading four times day.
On my diary it's been written that the levels should be between 5 and 7
Atm my levels are up and down depending what I'm doing.
Would it be right in assuming that the average accross the day would be a good way of going?
 
Not really... Testing randomly 4 times a day doesn't really tell you anything, just a waste of strips if you ask me... Test before a meal and 2 hours after the first bite. Then you know whether the meal contained more carbs than your body could handle. (Shouldn't see a rise of more than 2.0 mmol/l). If you are consistently under 2.0, the average bloodglucose will come down too.

Throughout the day, our bloodsugars go up and down all the time. When we wake, our liver dumps glucose, so we're often high in the morning before we even eat. We dip a little before a meal, and will rise after. If you're active you may go a little lower, but if it's intensive training it may go up, as a liver will "assist" again by giving extra energy. A healthy person just bounces safely between 4.5 and 8.5 throughout the day. A T2 will bounce higher. (And can crash lower if hypo-inducing meds are involved). So... Spikes usually in the morning, after exertion and after eating, dips before a meal and often after excersize that's not too strenuous, like a walk.

Does that help?
 
It does help a bit thank you.
The 4 times I have to test is :-
Before Breakfast
Before Midday Meal
Before Evening Meal
Before Bed
Saturday was my first day and since then my levels have been between 4.9 and 13.4
That 13.4 was a banana I had for pudding so that won't happen again.
I noticed also that after a shopping trip my level went down and after a lazy afternoon it went up.
 
Yeah, that's a bit of a large range... A difference of 8,5 between readings in a day is not something you want, especially since big changes can hit you with nausia and the like too. Good to see you hit a 4.9 though, that's encouraging!

I say, ditch the banana's, see what that gets you.
 
When I was in hospital it went up to 23 after tea. The nurse said it was the bakewell tart and custard I had for pudding.
I did'nt know about blood sugars at the time but I tell you what, it tasted great
Banana's are out now and I'm looking for an alternative for pudding.
 
Who told you to test 4 times a day at those times?

It will certainly teach you what your baseline level is, and whether you have very severe insulin resistance, but it won't help you with your food choices. Generally speaking, the before evening meal level is likely to be the lowest of the day providing you haven't been snacking during the afternoon of course. Your morning level before breakfast (on waking - and before any activity) is likely to be the highest reading.
 
Ha! I'm sure it did.

I'm probably repeating myself, but full fat greek yoghurt (yeah, there's the fat again) with some berries and/or nuts would be good. I like mine with some coconut shavings on top as well. Or you could get cream, whip it (so it's unsugared) and have that with berries... Or put cacoa powder in (the unsweetened kind. Maybe toss in some stevia powder if it's too bitter). Or a cup of bulletproof coffee: Coffee with, believe it or not, a lump of butter (you'll want to get a whirly thing to mix it up proper) and some coconut oil... You can leave the oil out, tastes great either way, very smooth & creamy. Couple of squares of extra dark chocolate (with a gulp of cream.... Yum!). Or a cheese platter... All good.

Or you can get creative and start making keto fat bombs. Google for recepies because there are so many kinds, I wouldn't know where to start to advise you.
 
Bakewell tart and custard. Lovely grub.

Yes, I can’t touch that now.
 
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