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How can I lower my BG? It's being very stubborn!

T

tree-peony

Well-Known Member
Messages
686
Hello @ all :)

I was diagnosed Type 2 about 3 weeks ago after a spot test which returned about 23! Somewhat of a surprise to me as I'd not really had any symptoms and felt very well.

GP did fasting bloods which came back at 19, and then the 3 month thingy which showed about 12. I've been on Metformin (500mg x 3) since last Friday.

I started eating "healthily" as soon as I knew there was a problem, although tbh we eat really well anyway, although I will admit to too much cake historically. I have lost 30kgs over the last 3 years through healthy eating and exercise, but need to loose the same again really.

So after 3 weeks on a low GI diet which was working reasonably well, but not really lowering my BG much (stuck at around 18) I noticed that when I started the Metformin my levels went up :? peaking at 22. I decided to try dropping my carb level as low as i could get it. Today for example I have had:-

bacon (2), egg, mushrooms
sliced beef (3 pieces) followed by strawberries with a splash of double cream
piri piri chicken (home made) baked tomatoes (2) and courgette ribbons

3 cups coffee, no sugar
3 pints water

and that's it...

Whilst by BG has been pretty stable all day (I do it fasting in the morning, then just before and 2 hours after food) it's hovering between 15 and 16.

Oh and I'm doing between 40 and 60 mins a day on the crosstrainer.

So my questions are:-

Is there anything else I can do to lower my BG?
Am I expecting it to come down too quickly?
Am I missing something?

Thanks in advance for any replies! 8)

TP
 
That is a good days food! I think it can take a while for some peoples BG to come down.

Daisy will come along with loads of good advice soon, and I am sure it will all make more sense then.
 
Sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing.

Give it a chance. It can take a couple of weeks for your BG to come down to regular levels. Stick with it, you'll probably have a few headaches on the way, but you'll feel wonderful when you remember what it's like not to have blood full of sugar.
 
ditto all of that - there's nothing in that meal that's going to put your levels up. Was it in double figures before the meal then? I would also give yourself a few days with less carbs and keep testing. Make sure you write the numbers down because it's only when you've got a good set of numbers that you can see the patterns and appreciate the improvement.

S
 
yes, 13.2 is the lowest I've managed in 3 weeks :(

I've got a full set of readings and a food diary, Today it's been 16.2 on waking, 16.8 2 hours after breakfast, 15.8 before tea and 16.7 2 hours after.
 
Hi tree-peony and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information that Jeannemum mentioned earlier up this thread and I think it would be very useful for you. Ask as many questions as you like as there is always someone here 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 30,000 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 ... rains.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 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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
Click to expand...
 
Hi. Thanks for the age and weight info. I just wanted to x-check that late onset Type 1 wasn't obviously lurking in the background but it seems that you are taking the right approach and hopefully your sugars will continue to drop.
 
how can one tell the difference? I asked my GP if I was producing any insulin but he said they don't test for that. he's not very helpful tbh :cry:
 
Hi tree-peony, you've had lots of good advice here, but if you continue to get readings that high (and they are high) despite knocking the carb numbers down, I'd go back to the doctors sooner rather than later. It can be dangerous to run continually with numbers that high, and it could be you need more/different medication.
 
I'm thinking of taking a camp bed Grazer! They are coming down very slowly tho, but only since I went seriously low-carb. GP won't pay any attention to my own readings and just says it will take time. Just to complicate matters I'm due to have a cataract op on Tuesday and HAD to get my BG down for that to happen. Consultant is happy with my current levels.
 
LOL I'm not sure of anything tbh! All I know is I felt absolutely fine! Due to go back in 2 weeks after my cataract op has had time to settle but if the side effects of the Metfomin don't go soon I'm going to go back and ask for the slow release ones.

Lunch is 2 slices boiled ham, cucumber, half an avocado and 3 walnuts
 
If it was me, I'd go back now and say I wanted the SR, and while I'm at it, my BGs are constantly too high. The metformin will only drop them by 1 to 2 mmols which is not enough, and your diet isn't working. Most guidance says phone the doctor or other medical help if you get two consecutive readings above, I believe,13.9 I think that's a bit panicky personally but certainly your readings are up there and I think deserve more rapid attention. At most, give it another day then go back. You may feel fine, but that's because you've got used to high BGs, and anyway we often feel fine - but your BGs need attention.
 
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