How do I develop from here?

[dragongirl]

I have been doing 'quite well' (that's my own positive take on it) for a few weeks now by seriously reducing carbs and testing. Fasting always 4.4ish and pre meal 4 or 5 something, and post meal scores both 5 something with the occasional 6 point something (which upsets me!). But there's one thing I'm still not clear about.

If I need (not want) fruit in my diet, then it's carbs. Whether berries or apple, it will add up and push my bg levels over 6. I'd prefer not to do that but maybe I need fruit? If I want to use Actimel or Activia etc for other reasons, I would be adding carbs. Or a supplement - they have carbs too. If I want a greater variety of veg, it's carbs... and so on.

I'm perfectly happy in one sense but I feel a tad trapped in terms of ongoing diet. If simply adding a few carbs into my diet pushes the bg level up unacceptably, does this prove I won't be able to control this by diet alone? Does it necessarily mean my body is not producing insulin at all?

I'd thought that exercise and low carbing would put my body back a little bit how it was. I begin to fear this was a false thought! I'm pretty much ok with what I am doing right now but not sure if I'm eating correctly for all my needs on a long-term basis. And the only alterations I might want to make involve carbs...

Sorry this isn't too clear. Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say? I'd love some advice from soneone who knows more than I do.

 

[Romola]

I understand exactly what you are saying, dragongirl.

I have chosen not to low carb to extreme for the reasons you set out.

I eat fruit and carbs (in moderation) and follow a healthy low glycemic load diet.

My readings have always, (except once) been within the recommended limits, and I think that a balanced view is important. There are more health issues than just diabetes.

Neither do I want to become obsessive about the minutiae of readings that are based on a very small sample of blood tested on a meter that is probably +/- 10% accurate. I value my mental health too.

We have diabetes, and it will always be with us. Bg levels can be made to simulate normality - but it doesn't make us diabetes free. One size doesn't fil all - so I think it is a question of finding what suits you.

If you never join the 5% club - who cares, so long as you are happy and healthy, and your readings are OK.

Someone will probably come along and strenuously disagree with me - but I've said my piece 8)

 

[hanadr]

Dragongirl,
you don't NEED fruit. You can get all the vitamins and minerals you need from vegetables. You are quite right. Fruit does mean carbs. Beware of those ruits which we call vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers. they contain carbs too.
the choice is yours. Do you go all the way and cut right back on carbs, or allow yourself a little lattitude?
My choice has been to allow myself a little fruit and the occasional crispbread. this means that the 4s are eluding me, but I can stay in the 5s.
If you want the details, read Bernstein or David Mendosa

 

[sugarless sue]

A suggestion Dragongirl. Try a bowl of berries with cream and creme fraiche and then test two hours after ,see what your numbers are .I love fruit and eat this most days.In my case I can handle this but of course this may not apply to you!!

 

[dragongirl]

Thank you, one and all. I like to hear all views!

Romola - I don't hanker after being in the 5% club but I do wonder how "healthy" would look further down the line if I ignored bg levels now – and also if I miss out some important ingredient now. I do wonder also if it is merely (as you reckon) a case of "simulate normality", in fact, as damage will be done or not done on a daily basis. Still, I value your opinion and I'm still muddled!

Hana - if I allow myself latitude, they won't stay in the 5s but go to 6s and 7s. I started off at fasting 8.3 and 7s in the day, so 7 seems high for me. I have just ordered Bernstein, though (thanks), so hope to learn something. I think if I can get my next two a1c tests to be reasonably OK (whatever that is for me) I will be happier to experiment, but as they're an average I daren't let up for now.

Sue - thanks. We were recently eating our way through the raspberry glut in our garden and I can testify to the fact that half a bowl with a very small amount of single cream puts me in the mid 6s or so, only returning to 5s after 3 hours, not two, which is worrying.

Anyway, I will plough on for now - as I say, I do like what I'm eating but can't see how to venture further without raising levels. I just want to heal what will heal and postpone medication for as long as possible. And I'm starting to feel hungry between meals and that's a recent development. Perhaps starvation is setting in!

 

[LittleSue]

A doctor told me years ago that various foods had been tested to find what would give the most stable bg levels. The result was ..... baked beans! But think how boring (and antisocial) a diet of just baked beans would be. (Before anyone jumps in with 'no, xyz is the best food' - I didn't see the study myself, I'm just saying what he told me.)

His point was, anything else is a compromise. Its just a question of how far you choose to compromise from 'perfect' bs control for the sake of variety, enjoyment, convenience, other medical conditions, etc.

I guess its a question of testing with different foods/combinations and deciding what works for you and how far you're willing to compromise.

 

[noblehead]

Romola and Little Sue

Both great replies, and quite right too. I do think it is a individual choice of how far one wants to go. Diabetes is a life sentence for the foreseeable future, and many of us have to decide whether diabetes should take over our lives completely, and be obsessive about finding that perfect numbers of 4-5 Hba1c, whilst impairing on quality of life. No doubt the closer we can get numbers down to non-diabetic levels the better it is for our long term health, but counting carbs to the extent that some people do, whereby the smallest amount of carbs is considered unhealthy and frowned upon, is not where many, including myself want to go.

I am sure that carb reduction is the way forward in the treatment and prevention of diabetes, and I have cut back my carb intake considerably, but food is one of life's little pleasures and should be a enjoyable experience.

Dragongirl, I think the answer to your question is one of a personal choice, and it is you who know where to go from here. Controlling your bg by diet only does leave you with a choice of increasing carbs and needing meds to control this, or hope that sticking to your present diet will be enough to keep your control below the recommended guidelines. As a type 1 on insulin, I would just have to increase my insulin dose a couple of units to cover a small increase of carbs. Hope all goes well for you.

Nigel

 

[yipster29]

I too agree with many of the comments here.

I low 'ish' carb... I've cut out the obvious bread / pasta / rice / potatoes etc but I will and do allow myself some fruit. I stick mainly to berries but will have the odd apple or something else, it does push my BG up slightly but I try and tie it in with exercise. It is an individual choice, my insulin needs on my regime are minimal. Yes they could be better if I cut that out completely but that's my choice!
1st ever HBA1C result last month was 6.2 so I reckon even the 5% sofa is do-able like that....

 

[dragongirl]

Thank you Nigel and Yipster. I'm probably wobbling because I have done this for 4 weeks and have just had a few days of each of the two main meals (same kind of stuff and quantities as several other times) tipping me into 6.5/6.9 although it goes down by 2hrs or (once) 3 hrs. I guess I just don't understand some things yet. I did do less exercise on account of travelling and work in those same days. But inconsistencies like this have made me query if I've a chance in hell, and also, if this happens with low carb, what the heck would I do if I needed some fruit or something else. That's been answered above, but that's why the slight panic and down-mood.

What I wondered was if one of you who LCs would check out a typical day for me (by PM is fine but I don't actually mind going public, except no one is interested in my minutiae, I imagine!).

Thanks all of you anyway. I know I have to make my own choices, but in the initial stages I guess all of us like a bit of help and info as we go along. And if I lose any more weight, people will be looking round calling DG? DG? Where are you? :lol:

 

[yipster29]

Hey DG

I'm still new to this myself, only diagnosed T1 in March this year and I was very very nervous of what to do and whether it was right to start with! Felt I needed to exercise with an A&E team on side! I started very strict LC and have only in the last 5-6 weeks started to have some fruit as my exercise has increased, almost a reward for the extra as I was missing fruit!

Each to their own! Everyone on here has been hugely helpful and supportive whether I'm strict LC or LCish!! :lol:

I never ever thought I'd relax and get through a day without stressing I was going to pass out or get it wrong but you know what... I do!