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How to go about high sugar readings

lacerta

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Recently I have had handful of stressful moments and did slip on bindge eating. I got readings of 10-11 1h and 9 2h after eating, which is first time so high, usually I had max 8. When I'm going through this I feel extremely tired and sleepy. What would be the best way to go through this? Sleep it through, get some walk to lower sugar?
 
Surely it would be better to avoid the situations by avoiding binge eating. You have identified the problem which is more than half way to finding the solution.
 

A lot of diabetics use walking as a way to lower their immediate high blood glucose levels. Just a brisk walk if you can for half an hour. And it's relatively good exercise to boot!
If you want to lower your levels nearer normal levels, have a read of the low carb forum and success stories forum.

If you give us an idea of what you eat, we could give you some pointers as to how you can do that.

I've tagged @daisy1 to give you the newcomers welcome information if you haven't received them already!

Hope that helps!
 

Thanks, that means I have had right guess. Will try to do that next time.
 
Sampat said:
Surely it would be better to avoid the situations by avoiding binge eating. You have identified the problem which is more than half way to finding the solution.
Click to expand...
Thanks for being supportive. I'm so ashamed of having this problem with bindge eating
 
@lacerta

Hello and welcome to the forum Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Have a read up about low carbing and the Low Carb Program which should help you. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 over 150,000 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-and-whole-grains.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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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 bloodglucose 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.
 
Hi. I think it's as much to do with what you eat as the quantity of it. For example, are you aware of the basic fact that most of us seem to not find out until we find forums like this...it is a simple but potentially life changing fact...carbohydrates to all intents and purposes change to glucose/sugar in the blood. This mean that while we are busy following our GPs advice to cut sugar and added sugar products, we arr ignoring the larger problem - cabrs. Now, not everyone agrees...coz some people are wrong ...but if you check you levels before stuff like toast, cereal or spuds and then again a coupla hours later - you will find your blood sugar level has spiked; conclusion for me - no bread, no cereal, no spuds...no rice, no pasta....result - low readings. Voila.
Binge...well not ruled out at all if you are chowing down on steak, pork, lamb, chicken, fish and veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce etc. With your kind of levels...the odd bit of stodge is probably fine. Look into it, if you haven't already. The LCHF diet has worked for a hello of a lot of people. My levels are now manageable and in or near enough the normal range most of the time. I'm off to France soon for a holiday..and expect to loosen up a bit for a coupla weeks. My point is that what you eat is more important for a pre-diabetic than you may know....and it can keep you in control....
 
Hi Lacerta,

I am really sorry that you have this affliction - as a recovering lifelong binge eater I appreciate that it is a bad combination with diabetes. As a general rule exercise, journalling, identifying emotional triggers, physical exercise and any form of diversion - calling friends, going for a walk(as you mentioned) all help. I have found two other resources that were of a great help to me:
1. Overeaters Anonymous - Is basically a worldwide support organisation for people with eating disorders. They hold meetings along similar lines to alcoholics anonymous. You may want to have a look at their website - www.oagb.uk . They offer wonderful support, guidance, education and advice.
2. Minfulness: has its origin in Buddhist thought but is thoroughly modern in its application. It trains you to monitor your mind, thinking and reality. The website in the UK is www.bemindful.co.uk.
As I am an Aussie I am not familiar with the setups in your country. However, if you wanted some other details you can always send me a private message.
Best of luck in both areas, you will certainly find plenty of support here for diabetes.Worth looking up the other sites for the eating part.
 
Sampat said:
Surely it would be better to avoid the situations by avoiding binge eating. You have identified the problem which is more than half way to finding the solution.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, avoiding binge eating can be complicated - very different from diabetes as it often follows addicted patterns of behaviour.
 
Beware of Overeaters anonymous. A cult-like pseudo-religious organisation.
 
lacerta said:
Thanks for being supportive. I'm so ashamed of having this problem with bindge eating
Click to expand...
You are not alone my friend. I bet there are lots of people who read and contribute to this forum who binge eat in times of stress but wouldn't admit to doing so. Well done on your honesty and in trying to find a solution to your high BG levels. Good luck friend!
 
Hopefully a walk will work for you--it seems to help most T2s.

I haven't found exercise to make a short-term difference (or if anything it raises my sugars--but I was a pretty regular exerciser when diagnosed), but a nap or a glass of wine lower my BG. Unfortunately those aren't very practical solutions most of the time!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oh, also, I find stress causes my sugars to rise. So I would think the more you can forgive yourself and move on after a slip up the better, in terms of the impact. Try not to beat yourself up if you backslide!
 
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