First time Glucose Test

Bluetit1802 said:

It is normal for you at the moment, but not acceptable. It is too high. However, don't worry, you haven't started yet and your levels will come down if you commit to a suitable diet. It isn't a sprint, it is a marathon and you need to be patient.

The NHS recommends these levels as a target to aim for initially:

Non-diabetic before meals 4 to 5.9, and at least 90 minutes after first bite under 7.8.
Type 2 diabetics before meals 4 to 7, and at least 90 minutes after first bite under 8.5.

Now you have a meter you can use it to test out your food choices. Test immediately before you eat and again 2 hours after first bite. Keep a food diary including portion sizes and record your levels alongside. Look particularly at the rise from before to after and try to keep that under 2mmol/l. Anything over 2 mmol/l and you need to look carefully at the carbs in that meal and either eliminate some or reduce the portion size.

You can also test at bedtime and again as soon as you get up (before doing anything else other than washing hands)

Once you get the hang of it and your numbers keep coming down, you can vary when you test and try testing an hour after food, or 3 hours after.

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Bluetit1802 said:

Keep us posted on how your tests are going.

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Resurgam said:

I was diagnosed at 17.1 but was able to drop the levels quite quickly just by eating low carb foods, avoiding things with lots of starch and sugar. Now I have normal readings, and despite eating the fats which are present on the meats I cook, putting cream in my coffee, and eating full fat yoghurt my cholesterol is a bit lower, but the ratios are good or ideal.

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