Finding my feet at last!

[coby]

Although I've been diagnosed with type 2 since January this year, I have only just got myself a meter and started testing my blood glucose levels, and I'm so glad that I made myself do it (with lots of encouragement from members on here)
I did my first test on Monday this week (19th) and already I'm learning far more about my body than I ever managed to take in from trying to read about what happens following food consumption.
Straight off I was shocked at the steep rise in my glucose levels just from two tiny Maryland cookie biscuits (now banned)
I was also thrilled that I CAN still eat my morning cereal of Muesli as it has no effects on me YEAH!
Yesterday I learned ... with amazement and horror ... that adding two dumplings to my braised steak, cauliflower, and green beans evening meal made my levels rise from 7 before food to 10.2 an hour after eating! The highest reading yet for me since testing. However it DID come down to 6.7 after the two hours, so I'm not sure if that's usual as I've not tested after an hour before?
Today at 11am I decided to test ... so that I could try out the effects from my favourite fruit .. banana ... as I've heard so many people say they can't eat them now.
My reading at 11am (three hours after breakfast) was 4.3 ... I then tested an hour after having the banana and to my delight it was 5.2 so I'm really really happy that I don't need to quit them.
I'm interested to hear what others have discovered since testing .. and especially with meals they love.

 

[GrantGam]

Well done to you! You've gone down the right route through purchasing a meter.

As you've said, where you land after 90mins to 2 hours is the end goal. Testing between 30mins to an hour will give you a very clear indication of what foods are causing you BG spikes.

I'm not sure if you're aware, but if you combine fat and/or protein with your carbs, you can slow the spiking action of the carbs you are taking in. So for example, if you did want to eat some Maryland cookies as a treat, you could combine them with something like a small glass of full fat milk.


For main meals with carbs that are higher on the GI scale, you could throw in some fat as well. Avocados are a good source of healthy fats which many diabetics combine with carbs at meal times.

Once again well done

Grant

 

[coby]

Well done to you! You've gone down the right route through purchasing a meter.

As you've said, where you land after 90mins to 2 hours is the end goal. Testing between 30mins to an hour will give you a very clear indication of what foods are causing you BG spikes.

I'm not sure if you're aware, but if you combine fat and/or protein with your carbs, you can slow the spiking action of the carbs you are taking in. So for example, if you did want to eat some Maryland cookies as a treat, you could combine them with something like a small glass of full fat milk.


For main meals with carbs that are higher on the GI scale, you could throw in some fat as well. Avocados are a good source of healthy fats which many diabetics combine with carbs at meal times.

Once again well done

Grant

No ... I didn't know that Grant but I can do without the cookies. I am still on the starting block with food choices, but at least I now know a few things ( all that I love) don't affect me. I have a long way to go.

 

[chalup]

For a type 2, especially in the beginning while still learning your own tolerances, I would stick to very low carb and experiment with one food at a time until you know what works for you.

Good for you for getting a meter and tackling things head on.

 

[Tabbyjoolz]

Well done you! Testing out foods is fun and quite rewarding, and it's always a victory when a food you love doesn't create a spike.

Sometimes a spike may be down to quantities eaten. A big bowl of lentil dal caused a horrendous spike for me, but a tablespoon of dal, or a green salad with a few borlotti beans some slices of nice fatty avocado are tolerated very well.