How much do your sugars jump after eating?

joules said:

I am interested to know how everyone else sugar levels behave after eating (say) 40grams Carbs, at breakfast (vogal seeded bread/toast)?

For me, I take 2u/10grams; 30mins prior to eating. My blood glucose rises for the first 2 hours then reduces back down to normal. Does this suggest I should stay clear of this type of food?

Please share what happens for you when eating carbs?

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No, that's what is supposed to happen! As long as your blood sugar is back in the right range about two hours after starting it eating, you're fine. If it's taking too long to come down, you probably need more insulin for the meal. If it keeps coming down slowly, it can mean that you are taking to little bolus, and too much basal. That means it is not the bolus insulin that it is bringing it down, because that's all finished 2 or 3 hours after the meal, but the basal is working on it. That means your basal is too high. So you should drop your basal a little and increase your insulin to carb ratio.

RuthW said:

No, that's what is supposed to happen! As long as your blood sugar is back in the right range about two hours after starting it eating, you're fine.

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For judging your correct bolus, that's absolutely right - back down to the pre-meal level at 2hrs. The only thing I'd add is that if you want to keep post-meal spikes below a certain threshold, test sometimes at 1hr, because that's when you'll see the spike at its highest. With testing only at 2 hrs, the peak is invisible.

You'll then know whether you're okay with that, or whether you want to steer clear of that food combo in future.

I work hard to keep under 6.5, for example. Not that it always works, but I learn.

Ah, well the CGM will give you lots and lots of information which you'll find incredibly helpful. I use the Libre sometimes for that purpose, and it's made me much better at the whole thing.

You'll also be able to see how foods affect you in real time. Lots of learning going on!

joules said:

I am interested to know how everyone else sugar levels behave after eating (say) 40grams Carbs, at breakfast (vogal seeded bread/toast)?

For me, I take 2u/10grams; 30mins prior to eating. My blood glucose rises for the first 2 hours then reduces back down to normal. Does this suggest I should stay clear of this type of food?

Please share what happens for you when eating carbs?

Click to expand...

joules said:

I am interested to know how everyone else sugar levels behave after eating (say) 40grams Carbs, at breakfast (vogal seeded bread/toast)?

For me, I take 2u/10grams; 30mins prior to eating. My blood glucose rises for the first 2 hours then reduces back down to normal. Does this suggest I should stay clear of this type of food?

Please share what happens for you when eating carbs?

Click to expand...

Hi, my names Gary and I've been a diabetic for the last 36 years and use Humalog and Lantus insulin. I am at present participating in a Sensionics study using a real time blood sugar monitor and I have to say that even after all these years, I'm astounded on the effects different foods have on my blood sugars. All foods have what is known as a Glycaemic Index (GI) which is a ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods and their effect on blood glucose levels. Another factor which I cannot emphasise enough is how your body deals with the interaction of insulin to the food just consumed when considering how active you have been and/or will be after eating. It just amazes me on how my blood sugar levels drop when taking my dog on a 5km walk, or how differently my body reacts after an aerobic session in the gym. One things for sure and that is that there are hardly ever two days that are the same regarding how I react to controlling myself due mainly to my varied lifestyle.

Going back to food though, you really do have to try and understand what foods will shoot your sugars up quickly and what will be a more gradual rise. For instance, the food I have the most problem controlling is pasta, because at first it raises your sugar level up quickly due mainly to the sauce and then hours after that will kick in again due to it's slow releasing properties which requires another injection or two to counteract it.

My best advice is to basically check your blood sugars as often as is practical which for me can range from 5 times a day to as much as 12. That way you will feel a little more in control of yourself and try not to over react to much with trying to counteract high blood sugars if the initial insulin you have taken hasn't had time to work fully yet.

Thanks for the advice,I will try to monitor mine more as at the last bt it had spiked for no reason and doubling sr metformin has made no difference at all morning readings are still around 10.

Hi @chrissiemids and welcome to the forum.
As you are a Type 2 and this thread is about Type1 responses, you might like to post and introduction here and you will be able to have a thread of your own and get advice from other Type2s.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/greetings-and-introductions.20/

Another thing you might like to take into account is even one or two cups of coffee in the morning, can shoot your sugars up by increasing your adrenilin which consequently triggers your liver to releasing sugar into your body. I have to inject between 3 to 5 units of Humalog to counteract this effect. It seems to work more aggressively with me in the morning than any other time of the day, so don't forget that it's not only carbs that you have to watch out for.

Jules, really good of you to post your results - so I'm not the only one that gets varied fluctuations! I'd love to have a week with a continous monitor, how did you pull that one?

I've been a lab rat before and was just asked if I wanted to participate. There are only two or three hospitals in the U.K. taking part unfortunately, but it's been a fantastic device and I'll really miss it when my 6month test finishes. I can honestly say that this is the first time that I can say that I feel in total control of myself 24/7, it's a nice feeling to have.

Gary61 said:

I've been a lab rat before and was just asked if I wanted to participate. There are only two or three hospitals in the U.K. taking part unfortunately, but it's been a fantastic device and I'll really miss it when my 6month test finishes. I can honestly say that this is the first time that I can say that I feel in total control of myself 24/7, it's a nice feeling to have.

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And that feeling is why so many of us have bought into the Libre.

Sorry for the late reply. My experience with the continuous monitor is that if I'm doing a sedentary role then I require a little more insulin where as if I'm doing my 5K walk with my dog then I require less insulin. However if I go to the gym before eating anything and do an aerobic session, then as long as my sugars aren't too high, I will inject about 3 - 5 units to combat the sugar released by my liver. I kid you not when I say it's an absolute minefield when considering on the best option. I know it sounds very confusing, but the best way I found in controlling myself before having my device fitted, was to keep a very close on my sugar level for the first couple of hours so that I could make a reasonable judgement call on if I required more insulin.

RuthW said:

No, that's what is supposed to happen! As long as your blood sugar is back in the right range about two hours after starting it eating, you're fine.

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I'm no expert but from what i've been lead to believe is if you allow yourself to spike every meal (i.e. over 8 mmol) consistently then you're at risk for some complications eventually.

I try and keep my blood sugar 'flat lining' at all times, with low carb , careful carb counting or smaller meals it's achievable. Maybe what I have read is inaccurate to a certain degree ,but who wants to put it to the test ?

To be honest I'm not sure either. All I can tell you is, that I have generally peaked for the last 36 years before eventually getting my sugar level to a reasonable level and have shown no signs whatsoever of diabetic complications. To me, eating is an experience to be enjoyed and I'm certainly not going to exclude myself to that pleasure. Each to their own I guess : )

My blood sugars before meals are about 120. I take 7 units of NovoRapid fast acting insulin and they jump to 200 in one hour post meal, but after 2/2.5 hours they are usually back in range.