• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

How bad is this?

P

PickledPepper

Well-Known Member
Messages
238
Righty ho then.....

I've been following the advice given to me on this forum with positive results.

I am a bit unclear on a few things that I'd like to share.

First thing concerns just how bad short spikes are for us. I've learned that some people believe having these frequently can be detrimental like having frequent and continuous high bs levels.

Now, I've started taking Metformin (1x500mg) on top of my battery of herbs (as advised by mom) and have seen a general decrease in bs levels especially in my fasting levels which have hit high 4s/low 5s in the last few days.

It does also seem that my glucose absorption ability has improved slightly as well as I can eat a tad more carbs without going sky high.

But this morning I had exactly:

  • 30g Shredded Wheat
    8g almonds
    10g walnuts
    10g linseeds
    5g sunflower seeds

+semi skimmed milk


I tested myself at 1hr and 2hrs as follows:

9.2 @ 1 hr
5.8 @ 2 hrs

I am wondering about the effects of the spike at 1 hour. How significant is it? I have frequently read that us type 2s should try and keep below 8/8.5 at all times. Now if I was to have a breakfast as above regularly, would it be detrimental? Ideally I'd like to stay below 7 at all times.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
 
Here is a link which is not specifically about Diabetes but it is about rises in Bg levels after meals. Have a read.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article ... 44,00.html

Basically, as far as I am concerned it all depends on what you term a 'spike' and if you think they are just slightly high or massive. I sometimes get a small spike up to about 8 mmol/l after certain foods, not what I want to see so I know that particular meal has to be adjusted. Reduce the carb intake. A simple adjustment which will usually get rid of the spike. Your meal probably needs the carb count reducing.

Now if I saw say, 12 mmol/l or so then I would be worried as it does have a detrimental effect if they are consistent as you can see in the article I have linked to. It isn't just Bg levels that should concern you, it is the overall effect on all your other organs. There are some people who think it is of no consequence........I'm not one of them.

Ken
 
Hi PP.
Me again I'm afraid to say..........I'm sure there are others out there ??? :wink:

As far as I am concerned I would never 'settle; for anything other than the targets I have set myself. They are between 5 and 8 mmol/l throughout the day. If I go beyond them then I would want to do something about them, I would never accept that as the 'norm.' If my levels go above those targets then something needs adjusting, either meds or better still dietary intake.

So for me there are no acceptable 'spikes'........not wanted obviously, but also not accepted.

Ken
 
Ken

In your first post you expressed concern at 'spiking' up to 8 mmol and said you would alter food intake if this happened. However in your second post you say you have set yourself targets of between 5 and 8 mmols?

I mean how would you feel with say a rise to 8.0 at 1 hour and then a decline to 6.7 at 2 hours? Would you consider this normal?
 
PickledPepper said:
I mean how would you feel with say a rise to 8.0 at 1 hour and then a decline to 6.7 at 2 hours? Would you consider this normal?
Click to expand...

Ken says Yes. :D Obviously the lower the better though.
 
Hi PP

I don't like to go above 8 1 hr after a meal - if I do I reduce my portion - prefer to be no more than 7.5 after 1 hr and 6 is my ceiling after 2 hrs - although I am not too happy when that happens - prefer to be in the 5's- like Ken if this happens I adjust my portions - anything above 9 I don't have again or very very rarely. I also don't like dropping below 4.3 - will have a SMALL amount of carbs about 5g if that happens

I do sometimes get it wrong but don't beat myself up about it - its trial and error and knowing the size of portion you can tolerate - sometimes even a little over your allowance can have concequences - e.g. - I can eat 3 golf sized new pots but if I have 4 it shows up on my meter as a no-no for me - you might be happier with higher targets - and thats fine, like all fo us you are still learning what is best for you personaly
 
PP.

I have a target range for my Bg levels. Set by me for me, with the approval of my Endo and SDSN. You have to set your own target range in a similar fashion. A range you are comfortable with and that doesn't get your Bg levels too high on a regular basis. As a T2 the recommended max is 8.5 mmol/l. That is too high for me, hence my own different target's.

If I eat a meal and I hit 8 mmol/l 1 hr later then I might consider that as too high, it all depends what that particular food was. Something like cereal I would expect to 'spike' higher and I might accept it, however it would NOT be on a daily basis. Just once in a while. If I ate other types of foods then I might not accept that. Every food is different in the way it will affect your Bg levels.

I prefer that ALL my levels are somewhere in between, around 7mmol/l, the middle ground being what I am really aiming to be the max. Sometimes it just doesn't work so I avoid that food. I do not want to 'spike' at all. I have adjusted my dietary intake to take account of that. Mostly it is successful.

Ken.
 
Thanks for the elaboration guys.

I could avoid the spikes but I really want more carbs in my diet to give me energy. When I low carbed before my energy levels were zero, hence I am trying to figure out the max carbs I can take healthily to give me more zap.

I have lost a lot of weight which normally would be a good thing but now I feel way too slim and can't seem to put weight on. I know Metformin has this side effect but I only take 1 daily. My muscles have shrunk quite a bit since getting this condition and I don't really feel like myself because of it - plus my clothes now don't quite fit right! lol

Want to get energy levels up to build myself up again.

But seeing as the energy comes from the glucose stored in the cells and muscles in the first place, and this condition essentially prevents the glucose from entering the muscle, it will be tricky I imagine. Or maybe I'm just lazier now I'm older?
 
I low carb PP and my energy levels are good ! :D

For muscle build up try using weights or going to the gym. Building up muscle mass also helps to burn off carbs when you eat them.
 
For muscle build up try using weights or going to the gym. Building up muscle mass also helps to burn off carbs when you eat them.
Click to expand...

I used to frequently....now it's like....flogging a dead horse!! lol

I will be back!


I'd be interested to know how diabetes effects protein retention in the muscle, if anyone knows? It's like the condition has cannibalised a lot of the previously existing muscle.
 
PickledPepper said:
So what are you saying - that even 8 is high for a post meal spike?
Click to expand...

I think that depends on you pp!

As a matter of interest, one of the DAFNE nurses (not diabetic) on my course last year tested her bg 1 hour after eating her lunch and was 8.1, but after 2 hours was down to 5.1, so even in non-diabetics blood glucose does fluctuate and can rises 2-3 mmol.

Like you I tried to low-carb (50g) but felt ill and lifeless, but found a modest rise of 30g was sufficient enough to sustain me throughout the day. Most days I eat between 80-120g, but in all honesty the figure would be around the 100g of carbs daily, but I could quite happily function on 80g as much as I could on 100g, but as I love carbs in my diet, I prefer the upper limit to the lower.

I am type 1 and use insulin, and I know you are type 2 and use metformin, but it really is a case of finding foods that have the least impact on bg's. Like others I use reduced carbs/low-gi/gl to keep within my own personal target range of 5-8, I am more than happy to be in the 7's and even 8 on the 1 hour mark, as long as I am back in the 6's or below (but above 5.5) on the 2 hour mark.

I find reading some diabetes forums that people are obsessed with trying to achieve what they call 'non-diabetic' blood glucose control, when in fact they have no idea what this level is, and cannot accept that people without diabetes have fluctuations in their bg's after eating as much as those with diabetes, it really does depend on the food (carbs) consumed. I have noticed reading this and a particular low-carb forum, that some people who choose to follow a Atkins style low-carb diet are using the same or even more insulin than I presently use, bg control is individual and what works for one may not necessarily work for another, with diabetes there are so many other factors involved.

Try setting your own target range and stick with it, should you need guidance discuss this matter with your diabetes consultant/nurse.

Nigel
 
Do bear in mind that even non diabetics get spikes. I sometimes test my friends and family to share the misery a bit :-) Some of them go up to 9ish after a meal, they just drop back to normal faster than diabetics. So maybe it's not disastrous as long as your spikes are kept as brief as possible?
I had to test my bf to prove to him that coco pops are a ****** breakfast! He now accepts that starting the day with a massive sugar spike is what makes him moody and hungry and headachey. He's much less stroppy since he started eating grown up cereal!
 
Back
Top