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First month ups and downs

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Seagal75

Member
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Hi everyone,
So I'm nearly at a month since t2 diagnosis. I've been following low carb 800 cal (20-50g carbs a day) diet and have so far lost 8lbs, which is great. My BMI is now 27.
Last week I had a few days where my blood was getting down to the low 6's and this was really encouraging, but this week I have been going up into the 8's and 9's. I test about 5 times a day.
The previous week was packed with exercise, but I've not done much this week due to the hot weather.
I'm at a loss why BG is going up this week. I also have very noticeable tingling in my hands, feet and feel like I'm 'buzzing'. I'm assuming this is neuropathy and it's stressing me as not a symptom I've noticed before.
I have been having Atkins shakes as meal replacements up to 2 times a day, but can't see why these would be an issue. I read in the Newcastle research that shakes were used in that diet plan and proved so successful.
Should I just stick to real food? Are these ups and downs normal at the start?
Also, is exercise everyday vital to get my glucose down? I can do 10k steps a day if this is the way to go.
Any advice gratefully received.
I still haven't taken any metformin yet as hoping diet alone would help me.
I'm feeling a bit despondent as really hoping I could reverse and get encouraging, steady progress.
 
HIT exercise is supposed to really help. I know that my glucose is lower if I have been working. As you BMT isn't high it may be that you need to cut the carbs and exercise more. Don't give up, it is early days.
 
Seagal75 said:
Thanks. I'll give the HIT a go. Managed a big walk this evening so hoping that helps too.
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Although exercise is very helpful in helping manage diabetes, it has been found even just standing up for 5 minutes every hour makes a decent difference. It is the deployment of the large muscle groups that's key. Doing more than that is obviously helpful, but small changes can show decent impacts.

I've just tried finding the paper involved, but I can't quite pin it down. It is by Dr Joe Hanson, based in Leicester.
 
DCUKMod said:
Although exercise is very helpful in helping manage diabetes, it has been found even just standing up for 5 minutes every hour makes a decent difference. It is the deployment of the large muscle groups that's key. Doing more than that is obviously helpful, but small changes can show decent impacts.

I've just tried finding the paper involved, but I can't quite pin it down. It is by Dr Joe Hanson, based in Leicester.
Click to expand...

Thank you - that's good to know. I'm pretty desk bound in my work so will give that a try.
 
I am in my 70s and have arthritis so can't do HIT but I have horses and mucking out etc helps to lower my glucose after a meal, if I am sitting at the computer it is always higher
 
Seagal75 said:
Thank you - that's good to know. I'm pretty desk bound in my work so will give that a try.
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Maybe you can adopt the approach of standing up to make and/or take phone calls, or using a smaller glass/water bottle, so that more refills are required?. Small things can rerally help. I have always strolled (some would say paced) on longer phone calls. I did smile when I realised I might just have inadvertently be doing something positive.

I've always liked to be active, but I'm absolutely not a gym bunny.
 
Hi on a recent Desmond course it was suggested that exercise was one of the key ways of reducing blood sugars as the muscles are able to use the glucose directly from the blood stream. even small changes to life stye will help like parking the car further from a shop or office etc
 
Thanks for all the advice so far. It seems that exercise is a key factor for me. I went for a fast paced hour's walk last night and BG dropped right down to 7.2 and has remained that way after dinner and this morning's fasting reading.
I will make sure to always get some exercise in. Thanks everyone x
 
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