Thank you for taking the time to reply me.Hi Pao Wow, welcome to the forum. The first thing to realise is that you are not alone, and that there is help available. I have been a diabetic most of my life, but I am new to the low carb diet. My suggestion is to read Dr Bernstein's complete diabetes solution. It answers a lot of questions, and also suggests a number of medical tests that can be useful for a diabetic to get. Dr Bernstein is a diabetic himself, and has been following a low carb diet since the 1970s, so he is fairly well informed!
There is also a very useful video that Dillinger, another member of this forum, alerted me to. It's an Australian doctor with diabetes explaining his reasons for going low carb. Here is the link:
If you are committed to a low carb diet, the other thing you should do is to research side effects and how to avoid them. For instance, I have found it very easy to get dehydrated on a low carb diet. I have had some unpleasant experiences of sever abdominal cramps, and bright orange urine! Thankfully, the solution for this was just to drink more water, and the symptoms immediately disappeared. The main thing is to scour recipe books and the internet for foods you enjoy. I am actually eating a far more interesting diet now than I ever had when I was high carbing. The particular stars for me are celeriac, almond meal (also called almond flour, it's essentially almonds that have been ground up. You can get them in most supermarkets) and cauliflower.
The best way to manage diabetes is to get as much information as you possibly can. High readings are something to work on, but there are solutions available. If you are indeed type two, my advice may be limited in its usefulness. I have been on insulin since the age of three, so the idea of injections is a perfectly normal part of everyday life for me. However, for a type two, it may not be necessary or even beneficial to take insulin. There are medications available that can help control bloodsugars as part of a diet controlled regime. The key is to really grill your healthcare team. Always remember that the NHS is funded with taxpayer money, so in effect you are paying your healthcare team's wages. Never feel like you are being an inconvenience, because your health should be just as important to them as it is to you. When you get a medical test, ask them what the results mean. Ask 'is this normal, and if not, what steps are available for me to correct this?' It is very easy for doctors and long term diabetics to forget that new members of the diabetes club are often coming in blind to what is generally a vastly misunderstood condition. If someone says to me 'My HBA1C was 12.6' I will know their diabetes is wildly out of control. On the other hand , that sentence may have meant nothing to you.
It sounds like you are taking appropriate steps to understand what you are going through. This forum is a wonderful place that has helped so many people, myself included. At all times please realise that you are not alone, and even if your doctors are not giving you the answers you need, someone here might be able to. Best of luck to you
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/high-bg-reading-and-scared.53462/
I'm seeing things ..... there's an echo
ha ha sorry ! Don't mean to scare you !http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/high-bg-reading-and-scared.53462/
I'm seeing things ..... there's an echo
No problem haha !ha ha sorry ! Don't mean to scare you !
That's no problem at all, happy to help. In the long run, aiming to further lower your blood sugars is a good idea, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. 8s and 9s are a great improvement on what you were having before. Gradually getting your bloodsugars lower is much better than than trying to immediately reduce them, as low bloodsugars can be just as dangerous as high. The levels that are generally seen as 'safe' are between 4 and 7.8, although there is plenty of debate on this topic. Another thing to note is that sometimes, if your bloodsugars have been running high for a long time, getting them down to normal levels can actually make you feel quite strange. Thankfully in my experience this is a temporary problem. I have had very erratic readings until I started the low carb diet, and I have found that I have felt hypo when my levels are around 5 or less. (I don't want to assume anything as you are newly diagnosed, so I will just check, do you understand low bloodsugars and their side effects? If not, I will be happy to give you info regarding this, as low bloodsugars are just as important as high to avoid). This is now disappearing as my body gets used to running at normal levels again. This is why testing is so integral to good diabetes management, whether type one or two. If you feel low bloodsugared, it is most likely you will feel hungry enough to eat anything and anyone in sight. If you are able to test, you will know if you do need food, or whether your body is complaining in the short term about the low carb diet.Thank you for taking the time to reply me.
I am really appreciated it .
I did feel very confused and scared when the nurse just guessing my type and refused to give me a meter and said Ionly need to test myself every 3 months. I did pushed it and she finally agree to hand me one and give me one prescription on strips. ( one off she said)
I am now taking half pill aday with dinner, and I do fast walking twice a day. After my one and half hours walk yesterday I found my reading came down to 7.7. I was so happy and I will keep up doing exercise Today my reading mostly 8 before meals and 9 after the meals. Thats the good improvement, isnt it ?
Now I am much positive.
I will get the book as you recommend and read it through.
Btw, thank you for sharing the video. I just finished watching it, and feel helpful.
HeyThat's no problem at all, happy to help. In the long run, aiming to further lower your blood sugars is a good idea, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. 8s and 9s are a great improvement on what you were having before. Gradually getting your bloodsugars lower is much better than than trying to immediately reduce them, as low bloodsugars can be just as dangerous as high. The levels that are generally seen as 'safe' are between 4 and 7.8, although there is plenty of debate on this topic. Another thing to note is that sometimes, if your bloodsugars have been running high for a long time, getting them down to normal levels can actually make you feel quite strange. Thankfully in my experience this is a temporary problem. I have had very erratic readings until I started the low carb diet, and I have found that I have felt hypo when my levels are around 5 or less. (I don't want to assume anything as you are newly diagnosed, so I will just check, do you understand low bloodsugars and their side effects? If not, I will be happy to give you info regarding this, as low bloodsugars are just as important as high to avoid). This is now disappearing as my body gets used to running at normal levels again. This is why testing is so integral to good diabetes management, whether type one or two. If you feel low bloodsugared, it is most likely you will feel hungry enough to eat anything and anyone in sight. If you are able to test, you will know if you do need food, or whether your body is complaining in the short term about the low carb diet.
Hopefully I have not rambled for too long, and if you need further clarification about anything, feel free to ask!
That's brilliant, it's good to know things are improving! It's all about finding what works and what doesn't. For instance, I have found that a glass of white wine does not spike my bloodsugars. However, this evening I had three glasses, and my bloodsugars have been up at 10.4, so I will not be doing that again!Hey
Thanks again for your advices.
I have bought Dr. Bernstein's book that you recommended, still resding it but realised I had too big portions of low carb"- Chinese restuarant effect !! But since then (2 days ago)I now count my carb intake properly.
Good news is my BS level seems coming down a bit more today. 6s pre meals and 8s after meals.i was so happy
Hello Charlie Robin..That's brilliant, it's good to know things are improving! It's all about finding what works and what doesn't. For instance, I have found that a glass of white wine does not spike my bloodsugars. However, this evening I had three glasses, and my bloodsugars have been up at 10.4, so I will not be doing that again!
The best thing to do is keep a diary of your results, food and exercise, and see if you can work out what was different if you get a result you are not happy with.
ttIf hungry, eat! If you want wine, have a glass or two. It seems very simple to me. Have some cheese at least, or a handful of nuts or almonds. I find it hard to sleep if hungry. And being hungry wont do you much good, will it? Good sleep is essential. As is food.
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