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how low is low

N

norried

Active Member
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just found this site this week and finding out loads about carbs. im type 2 taking 1 avandia 4mg and 4 gliclazide M.R per day.

no one had explained to me the full implications of eating carbs so i was eating my normal diet minus all the sugary stuff, doing ok (i thought) dailly tests around 11 (down from 29 :) )

recently i have been going back into the 20s with my levels hence this topic.

i have tried for the last 2 or 3 days low carbing (not easy when you love pasta bread and tatties)

but how low is low

im trying to start with 75g per day doing well as my average count is 8.5 so i feel its good but should i go down to 50g
 
With that much glic I'd test carefully in case you go too low and drop yourself into a hypo.

Here's pretty much the Gold Standard to discover your own limits at different times of day

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

but be sure to keep some glucose tabs or orange juice close at hand while you experiment

standard hypo treatment is 15g glucose and test again in 15 minutes, this may be too harsh for some Type 2s who may do better with a smaller hit of glucose and a followup of slower carbs and protein
 
Hi Norried, i think to be honest you have ticked most of your boxes already which is a good sign. Also the fact that you are aware of the effect that Carbohydrate can have on your readings.

You have adopted the right approach in applying the change gradually until you understand what your system will tolerate and what effect it has. Testing is a key part of the process to identify particular foods. This is usually 2hrs after a meal but what is less well known is that LO GI carbs can produce their peak much later due to their longer release time.

Do read the many threads on the subject on this site, there is a lot of Personal Experience and practical advice as well as recipes in the food forum.

Good luck to you and do come back with the questions you are sure to have
Dave P
 
Hi Norried,

I believe the official figure for low-carb is below 50g carbs per day. This is because 50g is what the average person needs in order for carbohydrate to meet all their energy needs. Below 50g the body has to meet its energy needs by burning fat, which is why you tend to lose weight very effectively on a low-carb diet.

If you are really struggling to reduce BS levels on 75g per day then you should certainly consider a reduction to 50g, or even lower. You will probably find that at least part of your problem is insulin resistance, and running your body at a low carb level for a while can help to overcome this. Once the BS levels are down to somewhere near normal (i.e. readings regularly in the 5s or low 6s) then you can start to up the carb level a bit.
 
Hi Norrid, you can gradually reduce the Gliclazide once your levels come down. I hate the stuff and went low carb to get off it.
 
5 days on 'low carb' seems to be doing the trick highest reading to date (tonight after full chinese meal)11.8, my best before that was about 14. so something is right at last.

i drive a bus for school runs so this is ultra important as if i start injecting i would loose my ticket.

got a couple of books some of the recipies look great. havent had the same meal twice (yet)

thanks guys this is a revalation for me and would never have discovered this myself.

ive been glucose intolerant for 12 years on tabs for 5 and no one has explained the importance of carbs. until i found this site. :D
 
The fried rice and chips would have sent your sugars up quite a bit!! I like chicken chow mein with noodles doesn't seem to have too bad an effect on my levels.
 
shared a full portion of both with my missus so it does give a hit but is much lower than i expected, still experamenting a bit to see what i can and cant have.

was really good with all my other meals yesterday and being really good today to make up :D


things looking better again.
 
To me rice and chips together is odd. Why have 2 kinds of carbs in the one meal?
I personally don't eat either of them, but I like my BG to stay below 6
 
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