HELP BM Problems

Philipo12

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Enjoying chocolate and sweets when I know I should not have them
I have been and seen my diabetic specialist nurse and she is concerned at my high BM readings they usually top well over 10.5 ans she wants me to get them down to around 5.0 no mater how hard I try with my diet the only way I can get my BM readings to near 5 is not to eat anything and I know this is not good for me, is there anyone any suggestions as to lower my BM reading s and to include eating as at present I am finding life very difficult as I have ATTOS on my back regarding a PIP payment as I have a very debilitating spinal condition and because of all my problems I am suffering with deep depression....
 

Patricia21

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,764
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Animal crualty
Hello Philipo and welcome to the forum.
Dont dispair,you will get lots of help here and your not alone.
Its all about eating the right things and your levels will soon come down.
Daisy will soon post to you and give good advice about not what to eat.
You have to eat or your liver will dump Glucose and your BS will go higher.
Keep off bread,potatoes,pasta rice,pastry cakes and anything with sugar.
All the best
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Philipo12

Hello Philipo and welcome to the forum :)

Basically, what you need to do is to cut down the carbohydrates in your diet as these are what put your levels up. Here is the information we give to new members which includes a lot about carbs which I hope will help you. Ask all the questions you like and someone will be able to answer.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 over 140,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

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

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 bloodglucose 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.
 
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Brunneria

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
21,889
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I have been and seen my diabetic specialist nurse and she is concerned at my high BM readings they usually top well over 10.5 ans she wants me to get them down to around 5.0 no mater how hard I try with my diet the only way I can get my BM readings to near 5 is not to eat anything and I know this is not good for me, is there anyone any suggestions as to lower my BM reading s and to include eating as at present I am finding life very difficult as I have ATTOS on my back regarding a PIP payment as I have a very debilitating spinal condition and because of all my problems I am suffering with deep depression....

Hi and welcome.

Can I ask what you usually eat? Are you following standard NHS dietary advice to eat lots of complex carbs?

Personally, that doesn't work for me. And there are lots of people who post on here who find the same.

So there are many of us who cut down on carbs, either slightly, or a lot.

How much are you testing? With Gliclazide you must have a supply of strips, but how often have they told you to test?

Good to have you join the forum. Keep popping back, keep asking and discussing and reading.
You will find this place a mine of useful information, and you may well find that as your blood glucose levels come down, your mood will lift. High BG is a miserable thing, and getting it under control is a great boost.

:)
 

mekalu2k4

Well-Known Member
Messages
242
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
@Philipo12

Hello Philipo and welcome to the forum :)

Basically, what you need to do is to cut down the carbohydrates in your diet as these are what put your levels up. Here is the information we give to new members which includes a lot about carbs which I hope will help you. Ask all the questions you like and someone will be able to answer.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 over 140,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

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

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 bloodglucose 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.

Very informative, simple, well written and helps a lot
 

rowan

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,462
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
can I ask why some people call it 'BM'? The only other time I've heard that is when I've been in hospital and they come to do my BM. I asked them what BM means and none of them knew!
 

catinahat

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,386
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Reality tv
can I ask why some people call it 'BM'? The only other time I've heard that is when I've been in hospital and they come to do my BM. I asked them what BM means and none of them knew!
Hi @rowan this is from britansnurses.co.uk

  • What does BM stand for in blood glucose readings?
    'Boehringer Mannheim’. They were the company that originally made the ‘BM Stix’. The company is now called Roche but immortalised as BM.
 

rowan

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,462
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi @rowan this is from britansnurses.co.uk

  • What does BM stand for in blood glucose readings?
    'Boehringer Mannheim’. They were the company that originally made the ‘BM Stix’. The company is now called Roche but immortalised as BM.

Oh, thanks, doesn't really make much sense then :confused: The only suggestion they could come up with in the hospital was Blood Meter!