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Carb counting - why no changes?

D

Defren

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,106
I am not so much angry as gutted. Since diagnosis I have kept to what I believed was a very low less than 30g of carbs a day. Knowing I have some weight to shift as well, my diet is healthy and portion size very reduced. I bought ketostix to check if I had ketones in my urine that would suggest that my body has changed from using what I am eating as fuel to using stored fat. Tested my urine, no ketones. So, I ask why and put up today's diet.

It is from that I learn that the carb content of what I have been eating is higher than I thought ( purchased the Collins little gem carb counter book and it arrived today). The place where I have been measuring my carbs is much lower than the little gem carb counter. So, all the effort and hard work I have put in making sure my carbs were as low as possible is out the window. I don't mind saying I am feeling really emotional, as I am terrified of diabetes complications, and even on what I thought was a low carb diet am only getting mid 5 readings, once or twice a 5.0. 5.5 - 6.7 seem to be an average range for me.

Why can't I find one place that gives me good carb counting guidelines, and why can't I get my readings down? I have a multitude of other health issues, but have made diabetes my top priority, and yet the readings are making me more worried. I can't eat breakfast and lunch is quite literally the bare minimum to take my medication with.

PLEASE, please, can some one help me understand why my hard work and determination is getting me nowhere?

Thank you - off to find a Kleenex!
 
Defren said:
I thought was a low carb diet am only getting mid 5 readings, once or twice a 5.0. 5.5 - 6.7 seem to be an average range for me.
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Stop being a drama queen Defren! Your BG readings are excellent. At the end of the day those are what matters, not pounds on the scale, not purple ketostix readings.

You're doing brilliantly. The vast majority of T2 diabetics would kill for readings like those.

Low-carbing is a learning experience, all of us make mistakes, mostly much bigger than yours. Think of it this way, you've just found a way of getting even better readings.

You can start being a drama queen again now Def.
 
borofergie said:
Defren said:
I thought was a low carb diet am only getting mid 5 readings, once or twice a 5.0. 5.5 - 6.7 seem to be an average range for me.
Click to expand...

Stop being a drama queen Defren! Your BG readings are excellent. At the end of the day those are what matters, not pounds on the scale, not purple ketostix readings.

You're doing brilliantly. The vast majority of T2 diabetics would kill for readings like those.

Low-carbing is a learning experience, all of us make mistakes, mostly much bigger than yours. Think of it this way, you've just found a way of getting even better readings.

You can start being a drama queen again now Def.
Click to expand...

You know what? I needed that kick up the ass. I will debate the drama queen bit :mrgreen: but in the main, yes, you're right. I guess I am just hoping/wanting/needing to much too soon. I can't begin to tell you how much getting complications scare me, hence the low carb diet and today the panic. While I could take the easy way out and say I'm hormonal :lol: I won't. I shall accept the smack on the legs and move on. Again, you've done it, said exactly what I needed to hear. I may not like what you have said, but accept it. Again - thank you.

Incidentally, even with the beetroot my two hour reading was 6.7. Knowing what I know now, next time I have a similar meal minus the offending beet, it should be lower again. Glad I don't know you in the real world, I have a feeling I would have a very bruised rear :lol:
 
borofergie said:
Defren said:
I thought was a low carb diet am only getting mid 5 readings, once or twice a 5.0. 5.5 - 6.7 seem to be an average range for me.
Click to expand...

Stop being a drama queen Defren! Your BG readings are excellent. At the end of the day those are what matters, not pounds on the scale, not purple ketostix readings.

You're doing brilliantly. The vast majority of T2 diabetics would kill for readings like those.

Low-carbing is a learning experience, all of us make mistakes, mostly much bigger than yours. Think of it this way, you've just found a way of getting even better readings.

You can start being a drama queen again now Def.
Click to expand...

Seriously Defren don't worry about the Ketostix, I blubbed on Stephen's manly shoulders (privately) about the same thing a couple of weeks ago. Got irritated when wifey who does the same low carb as me was lovely shade of purple but best I can get is just the first mark and then only sometimes.

Your BG's are what matters and are great and will come down more in time so just be a bit patient. In some of us it seems the BG turn around can be slower than others. Took me weeks to drop to the levels you are reporting even on low carb. I think there really is a detox period in some of us where the sugar has to just gradually disappear no matter how low carb you go. Do you take any other meds?
 
xyzzy said:
borofergie said:
Defren said:
I thought was a low carb diet am only getting mid 5 readings, once or twice a 5.0. 5.5 - 6.7 seem to be an average range for me.
Click to expand...

Stop being a drama queen Defren! Your BG readings are excellent. At the end of the day those are what matters, not pounds on the scale, not purple ketostix readings.

You're doing brilliantly. The vast majority of T2 diabetics would kill for readings like those.

Low-carbing is a learning experience, all of us make mistakes, mostly much bigger than yours. Think of it this way, you've just found a way of getting even better readings.

You can start being a drama queen again now Def.
Click to expand...

Seriously Defren don't worry about the Ketostix, I blubbed on Stephen's manly shoulders (privately) about the same thing a couple of weeks ago. Got irritated when wifey who does the same low carb as me was lovely shade of purple but best I can get is just the first mark and then only sometimes.

Your BG's are what matters and are great and will come down more in time so just be a bit patient. In some of us it seems the BG turn around can be slower than others. Took me weeks to drop to the levels you are reporting even on low carb. I think there really is a detox period in some of us where the sugar has to just gradually disappear no matter how low carb you go. Do you take any other meds?
Click to expand...

Do you want a list of the other meds? I warn you, you could be here a loooooooooong time. :D All in all I take 13 different meds for different things (I have included the Metformin, Simvastatin and the Vit D) so ten other meds apart from diabetes related.

I will be honest, there are a few people here who I will take a kick up the rear from - Stephen is one. Others I wouldn't and would have something to say if they tried. I truly do think it's a case of I want to run before I can walk in an attempt to keep all complications away. With many other medical issues, the idea of diabetes complications, it's all just to much to bare. Hence the panic and tears today - fear, good old fashioned fear. I do think I need to perhaps be a bit more objective, and knowing I am likely to be told off should I go into meltdown again :lol: I think I may just think before getting wound up. :lol:

I truly do thank you all for caring about a silly middle aged woman who is probably more fearful as the sugar bogey man than I need be, considering the tight reign I am (trying) to keep on my BG.
 
I too have just bothered to work out exactly how many carbs I am eating I do a general add up in my head and although nothing like as low as you all I was thinking 70 to 80 actually I added up yesterday which was an OK day in my eating thoughts and it is nearer 90-100 so for me my readings are now down to 6s and 7s and with the occasional 5 and 8 are still slowly reducing. I still spike high 10s sometimes in the morning after breakfast but by afternoon I seem OK. Once I work out the spike which may be something I have to work hard at as my intolerance for carbs in the morning is far far worse than any other time of the day. I think you should look at this carefully it is the readings you are interested in isn't it? not the fact that you managed to stick to Atkins limits. Your readings are really good and what I am aiming for. If you are getting these sort of readings and eating more carbs than you thought, that is a good thing. You have leeway to improve still. We do have to realise I think that we can only do so much with diet, we will plateau eventually and we can turn ourselves into obsessive individuals who have food issues. Not the way to go, be pleased with yourself instead. I am sure there are more experienced here that would agree.
 
We do have to realise I think that we can only do so much with diet, we will plateau eventually
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I thought, if I control with diet, I may halt my Diabetes and not get worse? Is it progressive anyway, no matter what i do? :(
 
We have no idea how much pancreatic function we have left or how much insulin resistance we have.

To get the figures I get, I am on 2550 mg Metformin (the max is now 2000 mg but they won't reduce me) and 40 mg of Gliclazide a day. I eat about 100 grams of carbs a day.

I want to stay as healthy as I can for as long as I can. It seems the longer you have been undiagnosed or that you don't change your diet, then it is progressive. Lots of people who follow the NHS diet just get put on more and more meds. I want to drop the Gliclazide as I feel it is wearing my pancreas out more, it is my plan to do this in the next month.
 
+1

None of us knows how much damage we did pre-diagnosis (or pre control). I can't prove it, but I am convinced that if you keep your BG under control then you'll minimise the chances of future complications. I'd go further than that, one year after my diagnosis I am healthier, fitter and happier than at any time in the past 10 years. I'm glad I got diabetes, it was exactly the shock I needed to get my life under control. Rather than reduce my life expectancy, I'm fairly certain that I'll live for much longer than I would have done if I had carried on the way I was going (4 stone heavier and unfit).
 
borofergie said:
+1

None of us knows how much damage we did pre-diagnosis (or pre control). I can't prove it, but I am convinced that if you keep your BG under control then you'll minimise the chances of future complications. I'd go further than that, one year after my diagnosis I am healthier, fitter and happier than at any time in the past 10 years. I'm glad I got diabetes, it was exactly the shock I needed to get my life under control. Rather than reduce my life expectancy, I'm fairly certain that I'll live for much longer than I would have done if I had carried on the way I was going (4 stone heavier and unfit).
Click to expand...

I love this post, and it is how I feel about my diagnosis. I have a ton (well maybe not that much) of weight to lose, and have been dabbling at doing that for months. Now I am ultra committed to getting this flab off, and to be around as long as I possibly can for my kids and grand kids.
 
by plateau I mean that we will get to a natural point where our diet is taking us, BS readings and weight will get to a steady point. This point hopefully will be adequate for stopping future consequences of diabetes. I personally think if you can keep your BS readings in control it will not automatically be progressive. But I do not know if there are studies to prove it, it is just my feeling.

I think If we can do this carb counting thing without obsessive tendencies it will be much better for us. Food issues could be a worse consequence if it becomes too compulsive. Counting carbs and taking readings are necessary consequences of having this disease and we have to live with it comfortably without constant guilt for the rest of our lives.
 
I think for me I have two issues that lead to the same thing. I am convinced rightly or wrongly if I reduce my weight, I will help my diabetes. The second prong is, getting my BG down as low as possible to keep complications at bay. It's very true we have no idea how active or inactive our pancreas' are, so all of us are very different. What is driving me crazy at the moment is I can't exercise, I never will be able too, so have to get the weight off with diet alone. At the moment the appetite suppressant in Metformin is keeping my appetite at an all time low, but I worry the weight may come off too quickly, I want it to come off and stay off.

Day like yesterday are times where my head unscrews itself trying to work things out, I panic, end up in tears and feel dejected and frustrated. I am certain as time goes by I will feel better about this, and about the long term future. I just wish the PHC would be a bit more approachable and helpful. I have a great Doctor, but he doesn't agree with testing and live by my meter, and the package I was given as a newly diagnosed T2 was basic to say the least.
 
Defren said:
I think for me I have two issues that lead to the same thing. I am convinced rightly or wrongly if I reduce my weight, I will help my diabetes. The second prong is, getting my BG down as low as possible to keep complications at bay. It's very true we have no idea how active or inactive our pancreas' are, so all of us are very different. What is driving me crazy at the moment is I can't exercise, I never will be able too, so have to get the weight off with diet alone. At the moment the appetite suppressant in Metformin is keeping my appetite at an all time low, but I worry the weight may come off too quickly, I want it to come off and stay off.

Day like yesterday are times where my head unscrews itself trying to work things out, I panic, end up in tears and feel dejected and frustrated. I am certain as time goes by I will feel better about this, and about the long term future. I just wish the PHC would be a bit more approachable and helpful. I have a great Doctor, but he doesn't agree with testing and live by my meter, and the package I was given as a newly diagnosed T2 was basic to say the least.
Click to expand...

Those two points are proven Defren. It has been said to me by everyone I have been in contact over this. I may not agree with the diet advice given to me by the NHS, but on the other points we are in tandem x
 
Jeannemum said:
Defren said:
I think for me I have two issues that lead to the same thing. I am convinced rightly or wrongly if I reduce my weight, I will help my diabetes. The second prong is, getting my BG down as low as possible to keep complications at bay. It's very true we have no idea how active or inactive our pancreas' are, so all of us are very different. What is driving me crazy at the moment is I can't exercise, I never will be able too, so have to get the weight off with diet alone. At the moment the appetite suppressant in Metformin is keeping my appetite at an all time low, but I worry the weight may come off too quickly, I want it to come off and stay off.

Day like yesterday are times where my head unscrews itself trying to work things out, I panic, end up in tears and feel dejected and frustrated. I am certain as time goes by I will feel better about this, and about the long term future. I just wish the PHC would be a bit more approachable and helpful. I have a great Doctor, but he doesn't agree with testing and live by my meter, and the package I was given as a newly diagnosed T2 was basic to say the least.
Click to expand...

Those two points are proven Defren. It has been said to me by everyone I have been in contact over this. I may not agree with the diet advice given to me by the NHS, but on the other points we are in tandem x
Click to expand...

You have the ability to see my diet daily via my food diary, and I think you will agree that I aim for low carbs not specifically low calorie. It's such a fine line and a real balancing act, and yesterday was just a bad day. Today I feel much better, but so far have not been able to face anything to eat at all. I have put into my food diary what I plan to have for dinner, but so far it's still only a plan as I just can't bring myself to eat anything. I so need to get off the Metformin and go onto SR. I can't believe at 7pm I have not eaten anything all day.
 
When can you get to the doc`s? It has been going on for a while now. It can`t be any fun :sick:

I am trying my best to balance carbs and calories. It is no mean feat some days x
 
I have a blood screen test with the nurse in three weeks and I see the Doctor a week later. It's not only hard, but it's so unlike me. I love food and am/was a real foodie prior to diagnosis. Now I struggle to eat a lettuce leaf :mrgreen: Ok, not quite that bad, but I am really struggling to eat.
 
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