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How long does it take to get BG readings under control?

D

Diafite

Member
Messages
9
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
About 3 weeks ago following a blood test at the surgery I was advised by the doctor to start taking Metformin to help control my Blood Sugar levels. I have also completely changed my diet (low carb).

The metformin dose was 1x500g for the first two weeks, 2x500g for the following two weeks and then 3x500g permanently.
I have purchased a blood suger monitor and the readings are averaging out at around mmol/L 12.

My question is how long does it take to get the levels down to the magic 7.8 area?

I have to confess the T2 Diabetes is weighing heavily on my mind to the point oaf being paranoid about it.

Any help adivice much appreciated.
 
I can only answer for what I saw and that was that by the time I started testing (2 months after diagnoses) I was at lower levels than those 7s. However, I was on a very low calorie diet and not low carb but I expect you will see the same on low carb. May be someone like @Scandichic can tell you what she saw as I know she low carbs and I think she tested from the start
 
Diafite said:
About 3 weeks ago following a blood test at the surgery I was advised by the doctor to start taking Metformin to help control my Blood Sugar levels. I have also completely changed my diet (low carb).

The metformin dose was 1x500g for the first two weeks, 2x500g for the following two weeks and then 3x500g permanently.
I have purchased a blood suger monitor and the readings are averaging out at around mmol/L 12.

My question is how long does it take to get the levels down to the magic 7.8 area?

I have to confess the T2 Diabetes is weighing heavily on my mind to the point oaf being paranoid about it.

Any help adivice much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Andrew Colvin said:
I can only answer for what I saw and that was that by the time I started testing (2 months after diagnoses) I was at lower levels than those 7s. However, I was on a very low calorie diet and not low carb but I expect you will see the same on low carb. May be someone like @Scandichic can tell you what she saw as I know she low carbs and I think she tested from the start
Click to expand...
You should start seeing improvements within a week. What do you eat? In th first three months I ate nothing sweet, dropped rice, potatoes, pasta and bread from my diet and didn't drink. I ate plenty of cheese, fish of all varieties, used only olive oil or butter to cook with and ate lots of green veg. Hugsx
 
That's a really hard question to answer, and I can't speak from personal experience because I didn't start testing til after I'd been on LC for quite a while.

How often are you testing?
And are you testing at consistent times?
I ask because you (we) often have a high reading first thing in the morning, and then the levels vary through the day. Often we see the lowest level just before the evening meal.

If you are tracking your numbers consistently you might start seeing some interesting changes that show things are starting to shift, if you compare the same time each day.

With me, if I clamp down really hard on carbs for a few days, I notice that my reading before the evening meal will drop quickly. But my first morning reading never drops much.

Hope that helps.
 
I reckon about two weeks as long as you stick to the program with exercise thrown in
 
it took me nearly a month to see 5mm in the afternoon
I cut all grain, rice etc..all grain product, bread, pasta etc..all starch veg, potato, corn etc..sugary stuff inc, fruit and juice

it’s a long page and a few good video’s
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
For me, the more carbs we eat the more carbs we want. they don’t give up easy
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm
http://www.practicaldiabetes.com/SpringboardWebApp/userfiles/espdi/file/March 2014/PP Unwin final proofs revised.pdf
 
Diafite said:
I have to confess the T2 Diabetes is weighing heavily on my mind to the point oaf being paranoid about it.
Click to expand...
It can do that to you. But if you get those BS under control, you will be doing all you can to avoid any associated complications. You'll have a learning curve in front of you but for me (and many others I suspect) it is accepting the fact that you have this condition.

Changing the diet, losing weight, testing and exercising is FAR easier than anything else ...... and good results will set your mind at ease a LOT. Keep working at it and you may well be taken off Metformin bit by bit

What were your readings when diagnosed ?

Mike
 
Scandichic said:
You should start seeing improvements within a week. What do you eat? In th first three months I ate nothing sweet, dropped rice, potatoes, pasta and bread from my diet and didn't drink. I ate plenty of cheese, fish of all varieties, used only olive oil or butter to cook with and ate lots of green veg. Hugsx
Click to expand...
Thank you, I read Scandichics post, it looks as though I am doing pretty much the same things. I had a good day on Friday with readings between 7 and 9.
Last night went out for Thai meal and readings went back up to 12 and 13. A good lesson for me, I am starting to get my head around this T2 business and will persevere.
My readings when diagnosed went straight over my head, as soon as the doctor gave her diagnosis everything went out of my head.
Diet wise I am eating Greek Yoghurt, Scrambled Eggs with Mushrooms on Wholemaeal bread. Chicken and load of veg. No potatoes, white bread, pasta/rice. Have got some brown rice and may give that a try.
Thank you for all your advice and reassurance.
 
Andrew Colvin said:
I can only answer for what I saw and that was that by the time I started testing (2 months after diagnoses) I was at lower levels than those 7s. However, I was on a very low calorie diet and not low carb but I expect you will see the same on low carb. May be someone like @Scandichic can tell you what she saw as I know she low carbs and I think she tested from the start
Click to expand...
Andrew, thank you for the information a great help and reassuring. I will battle on and try and improve.
 
Brunneria said:
That's a really hard question to answer, and I can't speak from personal experience because I didn't start testing til after I'd been on LC for quite a while.

How often are you testing?
And are you testing at consistent times?
I ask because you (we) often have a high reading first thing in the morning, and then the levels vary through the day. Often we see the lowest level just before the evening meal.

If you are tracking your numbers consistently you might start seeing some interesting changes that show things are starting to shift, if you compare the same time each day.

With me, if I clamp down really hard on carbs for a few days, I notice that my reading before the evening meal will drop quickly. But my first morning reading never drops much.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Great help thank you.
My situation is the same reading wise up and down.
Will stick with it.
 
Mike D said:
It can do that to you. But if you get those BS under control, you will be doing all you can to avoid any associated complications. You'll have a learning curve in front of you but for me (and many others I suspect) it is accepting the fact that you have this condition.

Changing the diet, losing weight, testing and exercising is FAR easier than anything else ...... and good results will set your mind at ease a LOT. Keep working at it and you may well be taken off Metformin bit by bit

What were your readings when diagnosed ?

Mike
Click to expand...
My readings when diagnosed went straight over my head, as soon as the doctor gave her diagnosis everything went out of my head.

I am slowly learning all about this problem and take on board your comment about exercising.

Thank you.
 
Diafite said:
Thank you, I read Scandichics post, it looks as though I am doing pretty much the same things. I had a good day on Friday with readings between 7 and 9.
Last night went out for Thai meal and readings went back up to 12 and 13. A good lesson for me, I am starting to get my head around this T2 business and will persevere.
My readings when diagnosed went straight over my head, as soon as the doctor gave her diagnosis everything went out of my head.
Diet wise I am eating Greek Yoghurt, Scrambled Eggs with Mushrooms on Wholemaeal bread. Chicken and load of veg. No potatoes, white bread, pasta/rice. Have got some brown rice and may give that a try.
Thank you for all your advice and reassurance.
Click to expand...
Ditch the rice and bread. Not surprised about Thai food - probably some hidden sugar or starchy carb:(
Keep going! Have you read diet doctor - this helped me!
Www.dietdoctor.com
 
Diafite said:
My readings when diagnosed went straight over my head, as soon as the doctor gave her diagnosis everything went out of my head.

I am slowly learning all about this problem and take on board your comment about exercising.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
I think diet is 80% and drugs and exercise 20%
exercise is pretty useless at losing weight for most people too and a new T2 can be so unfit it's dangerous, 3 x 30 minute walks a week is recommended.. 3 x 30 min hydrotherapy in a pool if weight bearing exercise hurts your hips, back or knees
 
I went from 10.4 to 6.8 in one month following LC and exercising 5 times a week last 2 Hba1c have been 5.3

mark
 
Agreed with Scandi :)

Try testing with the brown rice and with the bread .... and then without them ......

They are not good for me and they might well not be good for you.
 
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