Six months ago I had severe acute pancreatitis. I got a trip in an ambulance and 2 weeks in hospital. They couldn't find any reason for the pancreatitis, no gall stones and I was a regular but not heavy drinker. I can't remember most of the first week but I spent the 2nd week on a combined insulin and glucose drip, with the ratios adjusted 2 hourly. This drove me into hypos a couple of times. Other times I was hitting 18 to 20 mmol/l when they took me off the drip.
I finally got seen by a diabetes nurse, who said some rude words about her colleagues. She made them take me off this regime, and sent me home with a blood glucose meter, novorapid insulin and instructions to test before meals and inject if higher than 15 mmol/l. I was given zero dietary advice (other than no alcohol) after describing my usual diet and the only follow up was to be a HbA1c test at 3 months.
I followed a diet of no sugar or bread, but continued to eat pasta, rice, potatoes, beans and some meat but not large amounts. I didn't need the insulin after the first day home. My BGL readings slowly came down and stabilized around 8.2 mmol/l pre-meal. I lost 10 kg in the first 6 weeks or so but my weight has stabilized since then.
My physio prescribed a steroid injection into an inflamed bursa not long before the 3 month blood test. I had no idea this wasn't such a good idea until I read the handout I got after the injection.
My 3 month HbA1c results were 63 mmol/mol and 68 mmol/mol repeated 2 weeks later. All my other bloods are perfect except just on the top end of the cholesterol stuff. BMI is also 22.5.
The doctor gave me diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, and a diet plan of lots of meat and vegies except potatoes, no rice, pasta, bread, sugar, dried fruit or bananas, some beans. (I also don't eat dairy). I've followed this and my pre meal BGL average is now 7.2 mmol/l. I calculate I'm eating under 100 g of carbs/day. I mostly walk about 5 km/day and I'm now getting back to riding an ebike and doing 2 to 6 hours of gardening stuff 3 days/week.
The doctor recommends no drugs (tablets or insulin) until we see whether diet and exercise is enough.
I'm a scientist (physics, measurement, data) and tend to over analyze things. I guess I'm doing OK? Enough?
Questions
My pre breakfast reading is always higher (8 to 8.5 mmol/l) than my pre lunch and dinner (5.8 to 7.5 mmol/l).
I've read about dawn syndrome and such. Is this a problem? How could I get it down?
I've started taking a reading 2 hours post dinner and its 8.5 to 10.5 mmol/l.
The data scientist in me is going to self-fund a CGM for 15 days and do some experiments.
Things I want to try
- How much does a 30 min walk lower my BGL?
- High glycemic vs low glycemic carbs - does it matter?
- What happens overnight?
Does any one else have some recommendations for things I could try over the 15 days on a CGM?
I hope this isn't too long a read.
I finally got seen by a diabetes nurse, who said some rude words about her colleagues. She made them take me off this regime, and sent me home with a blood glucose meter, novorapid insulin and instructions to test before meals and inject if higher than 15 mmol/l. I was given zero dietary advice (other than no alcohol) after describing my usual diet and the only follow up was to be a HbA1c test at 3 months.
I followed a diet of no sugar or bread, but continued to eat pasta, rice, potatoes, beans and some meat but not large amounts. I didn't need the insulin after the first day home. My BGL readings slowly came down and stabilized around 8.2 mmol/l pre-meal. I lost 10 kg in the first 6 weeks or so but my weight has stabilized since then.
My physio prescribed a steroid injection into an inflamed bursa not long before the 3 month blood test. I had no idea this wasn't such a good idea until I read the handout I got after the injection.
My 3 month HbA1c results were 63 mmol/mol and 68 mmol/mol repeated 2 weeks later. All my other bloods are perfect except just on the top end of the cholesterol stuff. BMI is also 22.5.
The doctor gave me diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, and a diet plan of lots of meat and vegies except potatoes, no rice, pasta, bread, sugar, dried fruit or bananas, some beans. (I also don't eat dairy). I've followed this and my pre meal BGL average is now 7.2 mmol/l. I calculate I'm eating under 100 g of carbs/day. I mostly walk about 5 km/day and I'm now getting back to riding an ebike and doing 2 to 6 hours of gardening stuff 3 days/week.
The doctor recommends no drugs (tablets or insulin) until we see whether diet and exercise is enough.
I'm a scientist (physics, measurement, data) and tend to over analyze things. I guess I'm doing OK? Enough?
Questions
My pre breakfast reading is always higher (8 to 8.5 mmol/l) than my pre lunch and dinner (5.8 to 7.5 mmol/l).
I've read about dawn syndrome and such. Is this a problem? How could I get it down?
I've started taking a reading 2 hours post dinner and its 8.5 to 10.5 mmol/l.
The data scientist in me is going to self-fund a CGM for 15 days and do some experiments.
Things I want to try
- How much does a 30 min walk lower my BGL?
- High glycemic vs low glycemic carbs - does it matter?
- What happens overnight?
Does any one else have some recommendations for things I could try over the 15 days on a CGM?
I hope this isn't too long a read.
