Type 2 Daily blood sugar variance

[frankesb]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 3 months ago. I take metformin not insulin and have been keeping my blood sugar ranges within acceptable levels (I think-usually 5.9 and under in the morning and usually 6.5 and below 2 hours after a meal).

I swim 4 times a week, have lost a significant amount of weight and eat a low carb diet that is high in protein, some fat, fresh fruits and vegetables.

I get readings as low as 4.4 mol in the morning and 2 hours after a meal it can be between 5.0 and 6.9.

The only information I was told by my doctor was that I should try and keep the afternoon number close to my morning reading. He did not or would not say specifically how close or what he meant by close.

I would be interested to know what people's usual variance is? Also how important is it to keep the variance as small as possible and why?

Thanks!

Sam

 

[andcol]

Well Sam with those readings I wouldn't be surprised if your next HbA1c will blow your doctor away. I expect you will return with a result in the normal range. Be aware though that protein generally has a longer impact span than carbs as far as BG levels.

My variance depends on what I ate for my evening meal and at what time. If I eat at 5 an go to bed at 10 then my BG level will be at my baseline (4.8 - 5.2 on my meter). If I am still processing protein I will be 5.6 and if it is carbs around the 6s (rice does this to me).

Generally in the morning I am baseline unless I am still processing protein and I will be 5.6 - an interesting anecdote when I went to a brailian all you can eat resturant and they just keep bring around the steaks was I went to bed at 5.6 and stayed at 5.6 until 11AM the next day. I was worried and tested every 30 mins; thought I had broken myself or meter, but I have redone the experiment a few times now.

 

[Kristin251]

I do take insulin but it's not nearly as easy as it sounds. I've been taking it for 2.5 years and I am 52. I was T2 for years before and eat the same way then as I do now. Very low carb, moderate protein and healthy fats. Macros are 5%, 15% and 80%. I try, and more often than not succeed at keeping them between 4.2 and 5.5 other than some crazy 3 hour spike after BF no matter what I eat or don't eat. I try to keep very steady with very slow rises and drops. Other than BF I rarely go over 100. Lunch I stay completely flat.

Different meals act different at different times of day. Many of us or T2's need a very low carb BF and can eat more as the day goes on.

It has been said if you stay under 6.6 most hours of most days you should not get complications but who knows, everybody is different. Personally I don't like anything over 110 but more importantly I don't like fast spikes or drops. Your numbers look good. Is there a certain meal you are having trouble with? Lots of us struggle with BF.

How low carb is low carb for you?

 

[Freema]

my numbers are greatest in the mornings, after 2 hours from a meal my numbers are usually not higher than 6 but mostly in the 5´ves, my morning blood glucose is when I did not train the day before often in the area 6.3-6.5mmols and I am so tired of that.

But it seems to be a typical problem and maybe even the basic problem in diabetes type 2 that the liver is extremely leaky and overactive...

For people with a high cortizol level/high basal stress level it can sometimes be benificial to do meditation and do non cortizol-raising sports like long brisk walks and yoga and alike.. to get their levels of cortizol down and thereby if lucky their liver spitting out sugars in a lower rate.

Maybe I have that problem too having cronical stress.... but to me it is in first hand most important to get my weight down as much as possible and to get as fit as possible also building my mucles up as much as possible... then later when max fit, I´ll look into lowering my basal stress...as I am alone mother and have to live long for my only child who has no other...
I train at least 4 hours 3 days a week , today 1450 calories burned...

I do eat a reduced calorie menu & low carb higher fat diet.

 

[frankesb]

Thanks Andcol! Hi Kristin251,

In terms of diet I avoid any kind carbs like pasta, rice, potatoes and bread (including the brown varieties). I avoid processed and added sugar where ever possible though I do have some dark chocolate which has not seems to spike my numbers!

I have some fruit (apples and berries) 2 portions a day spread out over the day and 2 Ryvita crackers at breakfast and 2 at dinner. Thats about it for carbs! Unless something I'm eating has carbs in it that I dont know about!

How important is it to keep the daily reading variances (morning and post meal reading) to a minimum? Because I have been assuming, since my diagnosis, due to lack of clarification from my doctor that morning readings should be between 3.5-5.9mol and 2 hour post meal under 7.8 (from the website). I keep my numbers to that criteria and have not paid attention to the daily reading variances. For example today my morning reading was 5.2 mol and 2 hours after a meal it was 6.2 mol. The variation between morning readings and 2 hours after a meal can be anything between 0.1 mol and 1.5 mol on a really bad day.

My main concern at the moment is that I have been monitoring but really doing nothing about these variances assuming that provided I keep to the target levels I am ok. Am I ok in this assumption or am I completely off course?

Thanks!

Sam

 

[frankesb]

Exercise 4 hours a day! Wow! I do about 45 minutes 4 days a week!

 

[andcol]

those variances are fine. The 2 hours varies on what you eat eg a pizza will not really show much of a rise at 2 hours but will reach its peak at 3. Most fat laden/carb foods peak late.

 

[frankesb]

Thanks Andcol! Just one more thing! I have been testing my BG 2 hours after meals. I dont eat carbs eg pizza but I do have protein instead. Fat is not usually high. I am wondering wether I should change from testing 2 hours after to 3 hours after? I was just told to test 2 hours after. I'm on a low carb but moderate fat diet.

 

[Freema]

Exercise 4 hours a day! Wow! I do about 45 minutes 4 days a week!

I only can do that because I am retired ;-) maybe I am more insuline resistent than you are

I think you do an excellent job all in all , very fine numbers

 

[Kristin251]

Everybody I see different, reacts to food differently and has different goals. There are many things out of our control that can effect our readings. Illness, activity, straw, sleep and as some of us say it can depend on which way the wind is blowing. Doing the best we can is the best we can do.

That being said, I personally never like to see anything over 120. It is said damage can occur over 140. My goals as I said are between 75-100. I like to keep spikes and dips low and slow. I feel that is very important. Everybody fluctuates throughout the day, even non diabetics but those crackers would most likely give me more of a spike than they would be worth. Probably the apple too. I keep MY carbs to above ground d veggies only. Most people,e can tolerate some dark chocolate but I don't eat it or I crave it. I found the best BF that works for me ( though none are great) and same with lunch and dinner and eat pretty much the sameness thing everyday. I do switch up my proteins but use the same macros at each given meals. Many would find this too boring but I prefer it to chasing bs.
Just a tip, avocado at each meal keeps my rises low and slow and same with my dips. The fat and fiber seem to slow everything and can't imagine a meal without it.

Your numbers look good but IF YOU CHOOSE to you could probably tighten your variances a bit if it concerns you. Maybe skip the crackers and fruit at BF or eat the berries then rather than an apple. Try avocado. I love lettuce wraps or salads with avocado and topped with protein and a few choppped celery and onion. I need plenty of fat to keep from spiking. Protein will spike me a bunch especially without avocado to slow it down.

Again, IF you are concerned you can play around with different meals and macros to find which one and spike and which don't. 140 would be much too high for me but many are ok with it.

 

[Freema]

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

 

[asparagusp]

"Normal" levels are 4-7 fasting and less than 8.5 two hours post prandial. You are doing very well!