Effects from Diabetes or Metformin?

[bulkbiker]

Why are you eating so little?
Sounds like you are starving.. not a great idea as it can lead to metabolic slowdown.
More fats required to make you feel fuller and get more nutritious food in.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

I’m not shocked at quantities. I wouldn’t be eating the bread or crackers myself. And definitely not the fruit in syrup! Fresh fruit if you must, berries are much better. If it absolutely must be tinned (and I can’t think of a single reason that would justify it for me) then get juice not syrup and drain it first. Is that the breaded chicken things? Why not have uncoated chicken and save the carbs?

Where’s the fats? Most of us don’t bother with calories.

I've been counting the carbs and read that 45-60 per meal was ok. I am having it sink in though, that everyone is different in what will spike their GL. Plus, the info isn't always reliable. No, not coated, just chicken tossed in Olive Oil, same with all my meat. I have blueberries in the freezer almost all the time, and eat fresh when their in our markets. The breads, again, I was counting carbs but may be necessary to cut back. I can reset my macros this a.m. Just getting ready to check my GL and will edit this when I'm done with the numbers

I wanted to mention today that I read back on my medical records and had a lab workup that showed a 6.1 and an A for abnormal. Funny I wasn't notified then what that meant. Honestly I didn't notice it before, maybe wouldn't have even asked about it if I had because I only started understanding how to read those records/test results. That one was 2018. I hear folks talk about pre-diabetic but I was never warned. Thanks for being here for me, appreciate it.

I don't eat from cans or processed foods as a rule but broke it because I had a bout of depression after the diagnosis and just ate what I had stuffed up in the cupboard I never used. I feel a lot better now that I have the meter, and folks like you to talk with. Thanks again, Denise

 

[jjraak]

Same here.

Got DX in 2018

Went back over blood test to 2010.
(UK, mine all online)

Seems I was quite poorly back then, and no one mentioned, if I read the blood results correctly

Little was in range and some wildly out

With the help n guidance on here, I got all the main metrics into optimal or good range.

Several apps to use posted on forum.
I can see if I have link, if your interested.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

I don't know what to do now. I've messed up 2 times, first I inserted the strip backwards Now I tried a second time and got the ER1 reading on a whole new strip and fresh blood. I am barely handling the little poke, let alone doing 2 in a row. Is the meter broke because I inserted the bloodied end?

Oh Lord, I got it now, 124. I forgot the directions, thought I had them memorized. Have to put the strip in first and then poke my finger ;( Pulled out the directions again and saw what I'd done wrong, along with inserting the dang thing wrong way. So 124 and my "wonderful" chart doesn't have the mg/dl %. You guys will know though.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Same here.

Got DX in 2018

Went back over blood test to 2010.
(UK, mine all online)

Seems I was quite poorly back then, and no one mentioned, if I read the blood results correctly

Little was in range and some wildly out

With the help n guidance on here, I got all the main metrics into optimal or good range.

Several apps to use posted on forum.
I can see if I have link, if your interested.

We're at their mercy I'm afraid, or at their lack of knowledge anyway. Yes, I'm interested, and I'll stick with you guys because I think you're a God-sent Mine is all online too, and I only recently started looking at it. I normal avoid conventional medicine but "docter" Dody insisted I come in for labs so I did. I was never a regular in the doctors office, only if I thought I was dying so don't have a long history with any doctors. Moved around like a gypsy and prefer that over any kind of living. But I suppose there's something to be said for roots.

 

[HSSS]

Many of us were not warned about prediabetes sadly. 60g per meal is fairly mainstream advice and only just reaching into low carb territory. It’s enough for a few people but many find they do need to go significantly lower. Sometimes as low as 20g a day! Trial and error is the only way you’ll know where you sit on that scale. Testing will tell you how you’re doing. And that gets easier as you practice more.

It’s not really that helpful trying to converter between fingerprick tests and hb1ac % as a regular thing. They are different tests measuring bloods differently so will only ever be a “ballpark” comparison. You need an awful lot of fingerpricks done at all points of the day catching the highs and lows to get an accurate equivalent. Hb1ac effectively averages 3 months of glucose exposure. There’s lots of ways to get the same average too remember. Fingerpricks are a measure of right now, caused by the last couple of hours or even less perhaps.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Ok @HSSS Looks like I best go a lot lower to start, maybe just get used to it. I know I've read somewhere before that our bodies need Carbs though. I don't want to be deficient either. Lesser of 2 evils or what would you say?

So I won't bother with the Hb1AC and just take that when I get into the lab in about 2 more weeks. The meter is ballpark but it will tell me if I am going down at least. I do not want to poke my fingers all day long, and hope no one has to do that?

I love your Phoenix btw The hidden object game I've been playing has a lot of them, very artsy.

 

[bulkbiker]

I don't know what to do now. I've messed up 2 times, first I inserted the strip backwards Now I tried a second time and got the ER1 reading on a whole new strip and fresh blood. I am barely handling the little poke, let alone doing 2 in a row. Is the meter broke because I inserted the bloodied end?

Oh Lord, I got it now, 124. I forgot the directions, thought I had them memorized. Have to put the strip in first and then poke my finger ;( Pulled out the directions again and saw what I'd done wrong, along with inserting the dang thing wrong way. So 124 and my "wonderful" chart doesn't have the mg/dl %. You guys will know though.

124 is mg/dl
the % is for the HbA1c which is a different reading altogether.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

124 is mg/dl
the % is for the HbA1c which is a different reading altogether.

No fruits or Vegies? I will have to look into the Keto Diet as I don't know anything about it but curious. I've never fasted before so maybe you could share how that's done. I'm sure it's all over the net but hearing from another of my kind would be great The Metformin stinks for me as well. I felt way better for 2 days I didn't take it, and now back to headaches and I'm pretty sure stomach upset. I admit it scared me for my numbers to go up so much last evening.

I'm confused about the Meter now because I thought that was going to be my main compass but it only reads out whole numbers for one thing, and, it's been pointed out to me twice, it's only ballpark. I guess "in the park" is ok though. My HbA1c was 7.0 when I was told by my physicians assistant I had type 2 diabetes. So I only know my true count after labs at the clinic? Different "altogether"??

 

[bulkbiker]

I will have to look into the Keto Diet

Keto is just super low carb.. usually less than 20g per day.
Meat, fish, above ground veg and dairy. Some berries as a treat (with cream).

I've never fasted before so maybe you could share how that's done.

Fasting is just not eating anything solid.
I use coffee with what we call in the UK double cream (thicker form of HWC without the thickener) as a crutch.
I tend to eat in a restricted time window but don't restrict what I eat. I now follow a fairly meat heavy diet ith little to no veg or fruit.

I'm confused about the Meter now because I thought that was going to be my main compass but it only reads out whole numbers for one thing, and, it's been pointed out to me twice, it's only ballpark.

It will only give you the reading at that specific time in mg/dl. And whilst not 100% accurate its enough to show which foods cause sudden rises(spikes) and which don't. That's why we suggest right before you eat and then 2 hours after eating.. you want your post food reading to be about a max of 36 mg/dl higher.

The HbA1c reading which is the % you talked about is a kind of average of your readings of the past 2-3 months which in the UK is used to diagnose T2.

Hope that helps a bit. It's all kind of confusing at the start but we've all been there and it does get easier.. really!

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Yes, you helped a lot with your explanations @bulkbiker I especially appreciate that 36 mg/dl! Dang, how do I get to there! I know, 1 day at a time Thanks so much

 

[HSSS]

I know I've read somewhere before that our bodies need Carbs though. I don't want to be deficient either.

Carbohydrates are not essential for life. There is zero “need” for them. Nutritional ketosis replaces the need for them and the body can produce the essential glucose it requires from protein via gluconeogenisis. Glucose is essential not carbs.

No fruits or Vegies? I will have to look into the Keto Diet as I don't know anything about it but curious. I've never fasted before so maybe you could share how that's done.

Fruits are more iffy, veggies that aren’t starchy are fine. Fasting is much much easier once you’ve reduced carbs for a while and become fat adapted. Get used to the food changes first is my biggest advice here. Then give it a go.

I'm confused about the Meter now

Your meter isn’t 100% accurate , no test is. But it’s close enough to get a good idea of what food is doing to you. As you use mg just assume it’s within maybe 10 or so of what the screen says. Hb1ac is a different test. I meant converting meter to hb1ac is ballpark, not the meter itself. Both blood glucose (fingerprick and needle draws can be measured this way) and hb1ac are valid tests. But they are different and tell you different things.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Carbohydrates are not essential for life. There is zero “need” for them. Nutritional ketosis replaces the need for them and the body can produce the essential glucose it requires from protein via gluconeogenisis. Glucose is essential not carbs.

Fruits are more iffy, veggies that aren’t starchy are fine. Fasting is much much easier once you’ve reduced carbs for a while and become fat adapted. Get used to the food changes first is my biggest advice here. Then give it a go.

Your meter isn’t 100% accurate , no test is. But it’s close enough to get a good idea of what food is doing to you. As you use mg just assume it’s within maybe 10 or so of what the screen says. Hb1ac is a different test. I meant converting meter to hb1ac is ballpark, not the meter itself. Both blood glucose (fingerprick and needle draws can be measured this way) and hb1ac are valid tests. But they are different and tell you different things.

I'm getting ready for the market here so I will look up non-starchy vegies and get some if I don't have them in my fridge already. Thanks for the info, so helpful, especially for my grocery list. How about beans @HSSS I was almost vegetarian but couldn't handle anymore beans! So I started eating my fish again, then next thing I knew I was buying pork, chicken, turkey again. Seafood when I find it like Shrimp.

Ok, I hear you on the meter as well. I think I also heard about the carbs being important for energy from people that are more athletic than I am, and I'm sure they didn't have diabetes I think I will be able to do some carbs but testing should tell me a lot more. Thank you again!

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Carbohydrates are not essential for life. There is zero “need” for them. Nutritional ketosis replaces the need for them and the body can produce the essential glucose it requires from protein via gluconeogenisis. Glucose is essential not carbs.

Fruits are more iffy, veggies that aren’t starchy are fine. Fasting is much much easier once you’ve reduced carbs for a while and become fat adapted. Get used to the food changes first is my biggest advice here. Then give it a go.

Your meter isn’t 100% accurate , no test is. But it’s close enough to get a good idea of what food is doing to you. As you use mg just assume it’s within maybe 10 or so of what the screen says. Hb1ac is a different test. I meant converting meter to hb1ac is ballpark, not the meter itself. Both blood glucose (fingerprick and needle draws can be measured this way) and hb1ac are valid tests. But they are different and tell you different things.

oh I'm so happy if this is true @HSSS This list has ALL my faves on it!! It's on the ADA site so I so hope they are right on!

 

[bulkbiker]

So I started eating my fish again, then next thing I knew I was buying pork, chicken, turkey again. Seafood when I find it like Shrimp.

Excellent they are the best and most nutritious foods anyway and of course virtually all zero carbs.
Perfect T2 food.

 

[bulkbiker]

oh I'm so happy if this is true @HSSS This list has ALL my faves on it!! It's on the ADA site so I so hope they are right on! View attachment 47413

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/vegetables

There are these pictorials for all food types.. you might find them useful.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Excellent they are the best and most nutritious foods anyway and of course virtually all zero carbs.
Perfect T2 food.

I'm a happy camper, not going to starve, lol Love that my fave vegies are on that list I got on the American Diabetes Association (if they can be trusted )

 

[jjraak]

Ok @HSSS Looks like I best go a lot lower to start, maybe just get used to it. I know I've read somewhere before that our bodies need Carbs though. I don't want to be deficient either. Lesser of 2 evils or what would you say?

So I won't bother with the Hb1AC and just take that when I get into the lab in about 2 more weeks. The meter is ballpark but it will tell me if I am going down at least. I do not want to poke my fingers all day long, and hope no one has to do that?

I love your Phoenix btw The hidden object game I've been playing has a lot of them, very artsy.

i agree with @HSSS
few of us are really warned.
hope that is changing.

just to clarify the 60 grams per meal slightly.

pre T2d i would estimate i ate way more often then now.

snack before work, bite at 11, dinner at lunch time, mid afternoon snack to get me through to home time.
then dinner
and a little bite to eat late evening.

easily 2000 carbs if not more a DAY.

now i aim (no saint) for sub 100 grams of carbs
hard at first and then i heard the "it's expensive to eat that well'"

and it likely is, BUT

i eat less often, and smaller portions then before because i get full up quicker
wife takes care of herself, so it's mainly just my meals i cater for, usually.

i have found that Half a steak does tonight.
i cook all the veg and simply use half this evening and half, fried in pan as 'Bubble & Squeak' ( older English dish.)
next day, Whack in the freshly cooked half steak, voila another meal from one nights food.

So from the 60 grams carbs per meal, that for me would be way plenty.

i try for 30-osh per meal so 2 meals a day
(2Mad, some go 1 meal a day 'OMAD' and some fast for a day or so.
beyond me, sadly, but @HSSS perfectly right, try to balance the diet before fasting i'd say too.)

that gets me in and around the sub 100 and around 60+ on a normal day.
never hungry, delicious food i enjoy & good for me as a T2..win/win

carbs needed..mmhh, debateable
but i still eat the share i do.

mysugr app, offers an approximate hba1c over several days of regular stabs.
fbg pre meals / post meals.
don't use it now, but back then, it wasn't too far out..
mysugr said i was 38, but i was 40 officially

 

[jjraak]

Oh Lord, I got it now, 124. I forgot the directions, thought I had them memorized. Have to put the strip in first and then poke my finger ;( Pulled out the directions again and saw what I'd done wrong, along with inserting the dang thing wrong way. So 124 and my "wonderful" chart doesn't have the mg/dl %. You guys will know though.

Guide here, so you can make sense when, over here we say OMG at an FBG of 8.1 or some such
yet leap for joy at sub 5.0.....( and of course vice versa )

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-sugar-converter.html
been rough of late. (Long story)
so i hit 7.0 on a regular FBG test at moment
(126.mg/dl)
happier at my old normal 5.1 (91 mg/dl)

and one for HBA1c.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-units-converter.html

this one seems clearer

i started at 57 mmol and got to 40 mmol my last one.
Us comparable 164 mg/dl ( 7.4% ) 120 mg/dl (5.8%)
https://www.hba1cnet.com/hba1c-calculator/

 

[jjraak]

We're at their mercy I'm afraid, or at their lack of knowledge anyway. Yes, I'm interested, and I'll stick with you guys because I think you're a God-sent Mine is all online too, and I only recently started looking at it. I normal avoid conventional medicine but "docter" Dody insisted I come in for labs so I did. I was never a regular in the doctors office, only if I thought I was dying so don't have a long history with any doctors. Moved around like a gypsy and prefer that over any kind of living. But I suppose there's something to be said for roots.

yep hear that, only as and when really necessary here too.

2 Slipped disc...OUCH ..
Severe Asthma attack.....
heart issue = skeletal.. phew.. (Bonus T2D for asking )..
2019..too scared to go...
broken legs..... xmas 2020

not bad for 5 years..



if you have your latest Blood results this was a good guide for me.

https://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php