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Confused - what is a 'good' level?

J

jaykay

Well-Known Member
Messages
439
Okay, I'm a newly diagnosed T2. After the initial reactions of denial and anger, I buckled down, did some research and planned my course of action. I am in my final month of a 3 month waiting period before I have my blood test. I decided to go the low carb route and have been testing fairly regularly 2 hours after meals. In the 1st month, my levels were around 8 to 9, by the second month they were down to under 8, and in the last week they have dropped below 7. I realise this is good but I don't know how good. I'm obese but used to be a sporty girl so found it quite easy to get back into a workout routine, although due to time constraints I only work out every other day. I've lost about 20 kg in 3 1/2 months(I started exercising in April before I was diagnosed after hitting the big 50 ) but need to lose lots and lots more. So I suppose my question is, if I keep exercising, keep dropping some weight, will my levels keep going down and if so, do I stop being diabetic? Or am I in a kind of honeymoon period at the moment and it's all going to go pear shaped ( haha ) any day now?
Thanks in advance for anyone taking the time to answer.
 
jaykay,
You seem to be doing really well, especially with the weight loss and exercise. That will really start to cut down potential diabetes complications. I was diagnosed with T2 around the same time as you. I'd already lost a lot of weight before being diagnosed and only have another 10lb to go before I'm in the "normal" range. I've also been following a low carb diet and it seems to really hlp. I'm exercising every day which makes me feel a lot better and is helping to reduce my blood pressure.
Are you taking any medication for your diabetes? I'm on Gliclazide and have to be a bit careful about food intake and when I do exercise as I've had a few hypos.
As for your question about will you still have diabetes I'm afraid that once you have it you've got it for life. There's no cure, just ways to manage it.
 
As you are on diet only what you have done is a fantastic achievement. What is a good level....... :?:

Well, the 2010 guideline Bg levels for a T2 are:
Fasting (waking)............between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals............no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
If you can get the post meal numbers lower then so much the better.

Your levels seem really good so far, and as you lose more weight your Insulin resistance will also decrease. So it's good news all round. What you decide is YOUR good level is a matter for you alone.

As previously stated, you will always be a Diabetic until such time as a 'cure' is found. What you will be though is a 'well controlled Diabetic'. An achievement in itself.

Keep on doing what you are doing now......it obviously works for you.

Ken
 
Thank you both. I think my main confusion lies in reading on some sites that you have to keep your level below 5 after a meal to avoid organ damage but perhaps that isn't neccesarily so? Does it depend on the individual? And if the levels need to be that low, will I ever achieve it on diet only or would I have to take tablets? The diet is tough sometimes but not impossible. I don't eat pasta, rice or potatoes at all, just protein and veggies most days. Don't seem to have a problem with tiredness ( yet ) which I was told would be a problem by the diabetes nurse, so I guess I could carry on like this for ever. Luckily, a bite of 'naughtiness' ( choc cake or a single chip ) has always been enough for me.
 
jaykay said:
Thank you both. I think my main confusion lies in reading on some sites that you have to keep your level below 5 after a meal to avoid organ damage but perhaps that isn't neccesarily so?
Click to expand...


I have to say that is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard in a while......I don't know what website you were looking at but it simply isn't true at all. Complications MAY start if your levels are consistently above the normal levels I posted, that's all. I do know that there are some internet 'gurus' around who have some very odd ideas about Diabetes.

Ken
 
Phew, thank you Ken, that makes me much more hopeful! Can't remember where I read it. Probably just after my initial diagnosis when I was reading everything and anything I could get hold of!

Jeri
 
I have read on this site where people have been told by the doc or DN that their readings should be below 5 and it did confuse me as I was told between 6 to 7 I should look for. I assumed this might be because of my age (then 60) and that younger people are told lower. But the standard advice that is given to newbies here is after eating (2 hours later) no more then 8.5 if memory serves me right and if lower even better.

I also always make sure that I wash my hands before testing as this does ensure a better reading as you don't know what residue is on your hands.

all the best
Sue
 


Hi Sue.
Can you point us to this particular information you refer to. It may be a member has made this comment prior to the site being monitored more carefully or was even just missed and not challenged.

cugila
Forum Monitor
 

I can't see any gp, consultant or dsn would advise this Sue, but would have a guess who might have told you this on the forum......... :roll: :lol:

Nigel
 
This is a pretty useful graph from Wikipedia showing how non-diabetic BG levels change during the day - looks like it is not a simple decline after meals as is often assumed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sucka ... in_day.jpg

The dotted curve shows what evil happens if you eat a mid day meal with fructose content (or presumably drink a soft drink with HFCS - High Fructose Corn Syrup) compared to a 'normal' carbohydrate-derived glucose input.

(editted to only include the link - sorry for the delay, been away)

Many graphs of 'normal' glucose levels are the average of a number of volunteers - I thought this was interesting in that it shows how wide a variation there can be in 'normal - and how the 'best' time to measure varies too.

Mark
 
Hi Jaykay
You have come to the right place. This forum has done wonders for me.
I am a little confused - you have been diagnosed and yet no meds yet. Probably trying you out with diet and exercise first - a more enlightened GP perhaps. But metformin, despite its side-effects, might help you three times over, with the BG control, losing weight and free strips... then again others consider it to have only a small effect on BG. I have not been able to find conclusive information on this, however.
Acceptable levels depend on several factors and present numbers are under review in some quarters. Again this is another hot topic for debate. 8)
 
I think I must be very lucky with my GP. I actually thought that the 3 month wait was standard but presumably that depends on how bad you are when the diabetes get picked up. After doing some research on the net, I phoned my surgery up and asked for a meter and strips so that I could get to do some testing and have some understanding of what food was doing to my body. My GP agreed right away and gave them to me. He also gave me a repeat prescription for the strips and sharps. As far as I understand I go back in a few weeks for a blood test that will see where my bs levels have been for the past 3 months and a decision is made then on what meds I need.
Jeri
 
Well done jaykay. I'm also T2 and 52 years old. I have lost 7 stone in a year following the GL low carb regime. I'm also on Byetta, which I think has stirred me into doing something positive with my body!! The only problem I have is I can't seem to lose any weight from my midriff!! I look positively pregnant all the time and I don't know how to shift it. Unfortunately, with me, any weight loss goes from the 3 B's - back, bum and boobs!! I can't exercise because of chronic arthritic pain, so any ideas would be really helpful guys
 
Me too - I can't shift it from there. I 'only' lost 3 stone though. One more to go.
Congratulations on losing 7 stone - fantastic loss Sue
I am having trouble exercising too, because of chronic headaches.
 
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