Confused

[Rachelpoppet]

Good Morning all, I’ve now spent weeks trying to find information but everything just seems contradictory. So I have a couple of questions, I’ve been testing my blood regularly throughout the day and it keeps saying ketones. I have been swimming and walking loads to try and get rid of it but today I’ve read I shouldn’t be exercising with ketones? Also I suspected I was diabetic about 3 months ago and last week the doctor rang to confirm it. He said to take 1 metaformin a day and stick to low carb diet. How long do people normally have to wait to see a diabetic nurse?
thanks

 

[Goonergal]

Hi @Rachelpoppet

I see from your other posts you’re type 2. Are you taking any other medication alongside the metformin and have you significantly reduced your carb intake? What were your blood sugar readings when you found the ketones?

The reason I ask all of this is that it is ketones in the presence of high blood glucose that are dangerous, with diabetic ketoacidiosis (DKA) a risk. If you are using metformin only alongside a low carbohydrate diet then it’s most likely that you’ve entered nutritional ketosis. This is entirely different to DKA and would not prevent you exercising.

The time to being seen by a specialist diabetes nurse can vary significantly. If you have worries or concerns, I’d suggest chasing your surgery.

 

[Rachelpoppet]

Hi @Rachelpoppet

I see from your other posts you’re type 2. Are you taking any other medication alongside the metformin and have you significantly reduced your carb intake? What were your blood sugar readings when you found the ketones?

The reason I ask all of this is that it is ketones in the presence of high blood glucose that are dangerous (with diabetic ketoacidiosis (DKA) a risk). If you are using metformin only alongside a low carbohydrate diet then it’s most likely that you’ve entered nutritional ketosis. This is entirely different to DKA and would not prevent you exercising.

The time to being seen by a specialist diabetes nurse can vary significantly. If you have worries or concerns, I’d suggest chasing your surgery.

The readings are generally between 13&17, I just take the 1 tablet and have cut out carbs and sugar, I’m drinking around 2.5ltr water a day.

 

[Goonergal]

The readings are generally between 13&17, I just take the 1 tablet and have cut out carbs and sugar, I’m drinking around 2.5ltr water a day.

Those are pretty high. When are you taking the readings and what does a typical day of food look like?

Sorry for all the questions. Trying to get some context.

 

[bulkbiker]

The readings are generally between 13&17, I just take the 1 tablet and have cut out carbs and sugar, I’m drinking around 2.5ltr water a day.

Have you unexpectedly started to lose weight recently?

 

[Rachelpoppet]

Those are pretty high. When are you taking the readings and what does a typical day of food look like?

Sorry for all the questions. Trying to get some context.

I test my blood as soon as I wake up, then about 2 hours later, before lunch then couple of hours after that and the same for dinner and just before I go to bed. Food wise I have 2 eggs either boiled, poached or scrambled with 1 slice brown bread. Lunch is ham, chicken sandwich with cucumber, and dinner will be chicken, broccoli, peas with rice noodles or whole grain rice but only a handful of rice. Strawberries throughout the day. I have a glass of semi skimmed milk late evening the rest of the time it’s water.

 

[Mr_Pot]

Good Morning all, I’ve now spent weeks trying to find information but everything just seems contradictory. So I have a couple of questions, I’ve been testing my blood regularly throughout the day and it keeps saying ketones. I have been swimming and walking loads to try and get rid of it but today I’ve read I shouldn’t be exercising with ketones? Also I suspected I was diabetic about 3 months ago and last week the doctor rang to confirm it. He said to take 1 metaformin a day and stick to low carb diet. How long do people normally have to wait to see a diabetic nurse?
thanks

I am confused by this, are you saying your meter measures ketones without using a ketone strip?

 

[Rachelpoppet]

Have you unexpectedly started to lose weight recently?

I’ve been trying to lose weight.I’ve been swimming in a morning and walking a couple of times a day as I was told exercise will reduce the blood levels

 

[Rachelpoppet]

I am confused by this, are you saying your meter measures ketones without using a ketone strip?

Yes I use a blood glucose monitor and it gives the reading and says ketones

 

[TashT1]

Does it give you the number of ketones? 0.5-1 isn’t something to worry about but 2+ certainly is alongside high BG.

I’m not aware of a test strip that tests both glucose & ketones, usually you have separate test strips. But I could be wrong.

Given the food you’ve listed is about 80g carbs I don’t think that would generate nutritional ketones.

 

[bulkbiker]

Yes I use a blood glucose monitor and it gives the reading and says ketones

Can you tell us which meter you use?

So you aren't losing weight without trying?

Reading your food list there are a few things that stand out brown bread.. best to avoid all grain products fr at least three months the re-introduce (if you feel you need to) and test to see what they do to your blood.. just have another egg to replace.
Lunch has even more bread so again drop that and just have more fillings.

Rice noodles and rice would also be spikers for me so again just have more meat and veg and drop all the carby stuff.

 

[bulkbiker]

Does it give you the number of ketones? 0.5-1 isn’t something to worry about but 2+ certainly is alongside high BG.

I’m not aware of a test strip that tests both glucose & ketones, usually you have separate test strips. But I could be wrong.

Given the food you’ve listed is about 80g carbs I don’t think that would generate nutritional ketones.

I"m guessing the meter is suggesting testing for ketones because the blood glucose levels are high and in a T1 this would be a warning?

 

[Antje77]

Yes I use a blood glucose monitor and it gives the reading and says ketones

Many glucose meters say ketones when your blood glucose is high.
It doesn't mean you have ketones, it is a reminder you should test for ketones if you're a T1.

Your glucose meter does not test for ketones.

 

[Rachelpoppet]

Does it give you the number of ketones? 0.5-1 isn’t something to worry about but 2+ certainly is alongside high BG.

I’m not aware of a test strip that tests both glucose & ketones, usually you have separate test strips. But I could be wrong.

Given the food you’ve listed is about 80g carbs I don’t think that would generate nutritional ketones.

It just says ketones and the blood glucose level

 

[Brunneria]

From what you are saying, my understanding is that you have only just been told to stick to a low carb diet. Yes?
And from your list of typical day’s foods, you have not yet started the low carb diet. Yes?
Apologies if I have misunderstood.

I am certain that if I was eating as many carbs as you (bread, sandwiches, noodles, milk, strawberries, etc) then my blood glucose would be as high as yours too. And introducing Metformin would barely make a dent in those readings. You certainly won’t be in nutritional ketosis eating that many carbs.

I suggest you have a good read up on how to eat an enjoyable, satisfying, well formulated low carb diet.
Www.dietdoctor.com is an excellent intro for this.

If significantly changing your diet (cutting out the breads, noodles, milk and just having a v few berries) doesn’t reduce your blood glucose, then you will need to go back to the doctor for further investigation.

 

[Rachelpoppet]

Can you tell us which meter you use?

So you aren't losing weight without trying?

Reading your food list there are a few things that stand out brown bread.. best to avoid all grain products fr at least three months the re-introduce (if you feel you need to) and test to see what they do to your blood.. just have another egg to replace.
Lunch has even more bread so again drop that and just have more fillings.

Rice noodles and rice would also be spikers for me so again just have more meat and veg and drop all the carby stuff.

I’m using Nexus Glucose R machine and test strips,
If I cut out the bread for breakfast would I be better with 2 weetabix and milk?

 

[Rachelpoppet]

From what you are saying, my understanding is that you have only just been told to stick to a low carb diet. Yes?
And from your list of typical day’s foods, you have not yet started the low carb diet. Yes?
Apologies if I have misunderstood.

I am certain hat if I was eating as many carbs as you (bread, sandwiches, noodles, etc) then my blood glucose would be as high as yours too. And introducing Metformin would barely make a dent in those readings. You certainly won’t be in nutritional ketosis eating that many carbs.

I suggest you have a good read up on how to eat an enjoyable, satisfying, well formulated low carb diet.
Www.dietdoctor.com is an excellent intro for this.

If significantly changing your diet doesn’t reduce your blood glucose, then you will need to go back to the doctor for further investigation.

Oh no I didn’t realise brown bread and rice noodles were bad . The nutritional traffic light on the rice noodles are all green I thought they were good . I’m struggling what to eat as potatoes, pasta and rice were previously my main stable diet. I’ve been told by the doctors receptionist that slimming world is the best diet for diabetes, does this sound right?

 

[Brunneria]

I’m using Nexus Glucose R machine and test strips,
If I cut out the bread for breakfast would I be better with 2 weetabix and milk?

no.
Weetabix and milk both have more carbs than many T2s can handle.
Try to think outside the cereal box.
Protein breakfasts (bacon, eggs, low carb sausage, ham, cheese, tofu, etc) without any bread or toast or potato, are good low carb breakfasts.

 

[Brunneria]

Oh no I didn’t realise brown bread and rice noodles were bad . The nutritional traffic light on the rice noodles are all green I thought they were good . I’m struggling what to eat as potatoes, pasta and rice were previously my main stable diet. I’ve been told by the doctors receptionist that slimming world is the best diet for diabetes, does this sound right?

oh no! That receptionist should NOT be giving out diet advice!

Slimming World diets rely heavily on carbs ‘to fill you up’ and avoid fat because of ‘the calories’. This can achieve weight loss (usually short term) but it does precious little to lower blood glucose.

T2 diabetics tend to do better by cutting carbs and using fat to reduce hunger, and by lowering their blood glucose, and feeling satisfied by what they eat, they often eat less, and lose weight that way.

have a look at that dietdoctor link I gave above, it lays things out beautifully, explains low carbing, and offers some wonderful food lists, menus, recipes and even shopping lists, which will help you get your head around it all.

 

[Goonergal]

I’ve been told by the doctors receptionist that slimming world is the best diet for diabetes, does this sound right?

No. Potatoes, pasta etc are all ‘free’ foods on Slimming World (or at least they were when I tried it). The low carb approach will be far more successful for type 2 diabetes. Just how low carb it needs to be will be guided by your meter.

This website - https://www.dietdoctor.com/ - will point you in the right direction.