Hello (and a question about headaches and high morning blood sugar)

[Cathyplus2]

Hi all,

First of all - YAY, I am SO glad that I found this website and this forum, as it has been invaluable to me, so thank you SO much!

About three years ago I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, but not given any advice or follow-up by the doctor. Life got in the way - raising our 12 year old twin boys, going back to work full-time, my mum being diagnosed & going through treatment for breast cancer and then my dad having a severe stroke which caused a slow decline, dementia and his death a year ago.

4 months ago I started having cold systems with really bad cough; after three weeks I went to the doctor, who told me to just put up with it. Another three weeks later and he told me the same thing. End of Feb I saw another doctor, who sent me for loads of blood tests (suspecting that I had whooping cough), I was told that me liver results were abnormal, my kidney results were abnormal, I had VERY VERY low level of vitamin D and I was most definitely diabetic (82 and she told me I should be below 42); she prescribed daily high level vitamin D and told me to see one of the diabetic nursing team.

I then made an appointment with one of the nursing team, who told me that I must give up ALL carbs, ALL fruit juice and that I shouldn't be eating pulses, beans, chickpeas, bananas, grapes, apples or oranges, but should be eating meat, fish, chicken, cheese, high fat butter/yoghurt/cream, leafy vegetables and salads.

Thank goodness I found this website and after reading up loads, doing the online course and watching the various video clipsI felt more informed. I saw a different nurse yesterday - I am now keeping a food diary and monitoring my blood sugar levels; I also have a diabetic eye appointment in a couple of weeks and am being much more proactive about my diet and exercise.

Yesterday at my appointment (about 2 hours after breakfast) my blood sugar was 16, then 11.9 at lunch time, 10.6 two hours after lunch, 9.2 before tea and 12.0 at bedtime. This morning I tested myself when I got to work, before having breakfast and I am up to 14.5. I also often start the day still feeling tired and with a headache and sometimes even nausea.

I really just wanted to say hello and thank you, but if anyone has any ideas about how to lower my morning blood sugar levels and if the headaches might be related, that would be great.

Thanks LOADS and I look forward to chatting to everyone!

Cathy

 

[ziggy_w]

Welcome to the forum, @Cathyplus2.

You've made a wonderful start on your journey. Congrats. Also, I am a bit envious of your nursing team, who has given you some great advice.

The headache and lack of energy is most likely due to the low carb flu. The low carb flu (or keto flu) happens because the body no longer has carbs to burn and is not yet adapted to efficiently using ketones (i.e. fat)
as a fuel. A lot of us have gone through this in the past. So, what you are experiencing is normal. You can either stick it out (which is what I did) and you will probably feel better in a week (or so) or approach this more gradually by slowly decreasing your carbs.

Also wonderful job on testing your blood glucose levels. I am sure you will see results soon.

Tagging @daisy1 for some brilliant info for newbies.

Edited for clarity.

 

[daisy1]

@Cathyplus2

Hello Cathy and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions when you need to and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[Resurgam]

What a surprise to read that a nurse is advising low carb.
I went low carb and my numbers were back to normal very quickly - and I feel great. My Hba1c of 41 was last summer, so hopefully I am even lower now.

 

[LouWilk059]

Welcome to the forum @Cathyplus2!

Your numbers might make more sense to you if you knew which foods affected your blood glucose (BG). I found the attached quite helpful.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/eat-to-your-meter.html

 

[Goonergal]

Welcome @Cathyplus2

Based on my own experience, the headaches may well be related to high blood sugars. As I’ve reduced blood sugars (using a very low carb diet) my lifelong chronic migraines have vanished.

They initially got worse as I went through keto flu, but have now gone.