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Great start.. then a setback.

D

DannyB

Well-Known Member
Messages
45
In October 2008 I was diagnosed with T2. Got the usual depressing advice from the GP. After much research online (and the purchase of Dr Bernstein's book) I embarked upon a low carb/(relatively) low fat diet. I also started exercising 30 minutes (treadmill) almost ever day.

By the beginning of January the results were quite dramatic:

Weight down from 173lbs to 150lbs
BP down from 159/90 to 120/75
Fasting BG down from 7.5 to 4.5/5.5

Previously I had been a persitent snorer but that too had stopped altogether.

But then this week a setback. I check my BP every day. Last Monday I found it had gone back up to the 150+/90+ range and it has stayed there ever since. My fasting BG was back up to 6.6 and my snoring has started again.

I have not changed anything as far as I can make out - same diet/same exercise. This has come as something of a blow.

Has anyone else experienced this type of setback - if so any ideas/suggestions as to what might be the cause?
 
hya,
im type 1 so arent really sure but are u starting with a virus/cold etc as they are doing the rounds if not then keep an eye on it as maybe you need to see the dr, do u take any meds at all?
are you under any stress? there are many things that can cause this to happen so im just guessing rearlly, :?
 
Hi DannyB ,welcome to the forum. Have you ,by any chance put on weight over Christmas and New Year?
 
Hi dannyb,

Congratulations on such a good start and yet another vindication for low carbing.

Sorry about the setback, but you'll soon start to realise how complex things can be sometimes...

Which came first the high BG or high BP - your own comment that this came as something of a blow could just show how an incease in BG could push up the BP through stress.

On the other hand it could just be that something has crept into your diet unknown to you - a different brand of something with more carbs or even 'hidden' sugars.

Do you do post-prandial testing - this would help pick up the problem meal/product

I would also say that your weight loss was exceptionaly fast - maybe too fast - I'm no expert in this area but wonder as you are low carb and low fat if you've been running on ketosis up to now.

Of course it could be, as suggested, that tomorrow you'll have that sore throat, sneezes, coughing and temperature so many have been fighting recently - if so watch out for the sugar in the cough medicines!

It might be worth looking at a more stress reducing exercise regime than the treadmill (or to complement it) try adding 30 minutes walking outside with some deep breathing (slow release is recommended) I know it's cold but wrap up well and it feels great when you get back in.

Best of luck and don't worry if you never find the cause many of us have similar un-explained fluctuations.
 
Thanks for the responses.

My weight loss was quite quick, although most fell off during the first couple of months and it has slowed down and my weight loss now is very gradual. I test regularly for Ketosis and that is clear.

My diet is fairly bland and comprises mainly of fruit, salads, veg and nuts - calorie intake about 1800/1900 per day. I didn't make any concessions to Xmas and maintained the same diet throughout the holiday period. I know I have not eaten anything different for the simple reason I never eat anything different - absolutely same diet every week - amazingly this doesn't bother me in the least.

Although I exercise on the treadmill it is fairly 'gentle' as I am only wallking (briskly) whilst on there.

I noticed the BP first, then the next day found the BG was raised also.

I'm pleased to report that the BG was back down to 5.1 when I did a fasting test yesterday (shortly after my original post). My BP is down a little but still much higher than recent readings. Although I may now have my own 'white-coat' syndrome in that I'm dreading the reading so probably sending it up anyway. I have decided not to check it again for a while and just try not to think about it.

I am beginning to think it may be stress related - is that possible? The only thing different I can come up with is that these changes coincided with my starting back at work (I work for myself) after a two week holiday.

(I don't think I mentioned my age in my original post - I'm 53)
 
I've got to say,personally ,that I am not that happy with these home BP machines.If you don't get your arm in right position or if you move while the machine is reading then you get a wrong reading! However I do know members who have used these machines and said that they are accurate when tested against the machines at the health centre.
 
They are OK when they give a low reading - but I am not very keen on them when they give a raised reading.

Seriously though I think they are reasonably accurate provided that you fasten the cuff correctly and keep still whilst it is working. If nothing else they certainly give a good 'relative' idea of my BP. Inotherwords it may not be spot on but it certainly reflects if it is up or down over a period of time.
 
I think I've said this before but I've found my meter agrees with the results I get at the clinic. As sugarless sue says, it's important to use them properly or you'll scare yourself to death. When you put the cuff on, ensure that there's just about enough room to insert two fingers beneath it, rest your arm on a surface that's at the same level as your heart and make sure that you're as relaxed as you can possibly be.

Today, 120/72 which is **** close to the readings the medics get.
 
Hi dannyb,

I used to have a bp machine but it ended up in the charity shop. I think you are right when you say you have your own "white coat syndrome".
If I tested and it was high I used to worry and that would send it up higher. Blood pressure does not remain static so readings will differ depending what you have been doing. It is best to test after you have rested for 20 minutes and that should be pretty accurate providing you are not worrying about what the result is going to be. Blood pressure is very complicated and worrying sends it all over the place.
Catherine.
 

Mine seems to correlate pretty well with the results from a 24 hour monitor - on me.

However I did a comparison with the nurse's meter on my mother and there was quite a discrepancy between her upper arm cuff and my wrist meter, she suggested probably calcification of the arteries (she's 93) also a consistent difference between arms.

So may depend on other factors too. I find it somewhat variable but shows trends well.

To the OP, check your postprandial numbers

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

I find mine often go south when I start to be ill, before any other symptoms start to be noticeable.

BP may also follow.
 
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