I don't get it!

Hello Merluna

Stress is bad for the levels, so obviously that has to be taken into account given what's been happening in your life. Sometimes it seems unbelievable when blood results vary so dramatically and it's hard to work out why.

All I would say is that, in my experience, a banana can do quite a lot of damage to the glucose readings as they are packed with sugars/carbs. So a banana, plus a pear would definitely raise the glucose for a while. Add stress and maybe dehydration from being in the situation you were in, coupled with the fact that you probably didn't get chance to burn those foods off with any exercise and that's no surprise that you tested quite high.

And if you are having an apple at break,plus other carbs in the form of pulses, and potatoes then you are having quite a few carbs throughout your day. Some people would feel that they could not even tolerate 50g of carbs in one day.( I have around 50g in any one day)

It's all very much down to the individual - and I don't think any way is wrong if it works for someone ... but I would say maybe there is too much fruit there in one day. Especially your apple on its own at break time. There is advice in certain books to always eat a few almonds if you eat fruit on an emptyish stomach ... the nuts slow down the absorption of glucose from the fruit.

Of course it may be different for you. But have a go at slightly changing the way you eat fruit and maybe the amounts.It might show good results.

I hope your husband is all right and that you get a good sleep tonight.

Congrats on the weight loss and on reducing your levels .... great reductions!

CathyN x

Merluna said:

Just tested again and it's down to 8.5!

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We are all different as individuals and many of us 'eat to our meter' as a way of finding out what foods we can eat without adverse spikes in blood glucose.

Merluna said:

Can anyone explain please?
Not long diagnosed and I've been trying really hard to get levels down! Considering they were18-20 when first diagnosed them now being 8-10 most of the time I am considering ok! I know they need to be lower!

However

Yesterday I has to rush my hubby to hospital with suspected collapsed lung, with one thing and another I didn't eat for 8 hrs and the last meal I had was lunch.....

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Could have been what you ate Merluna but I would guess the extra high reading you experienced was mainly down to stress, you were obviously worried and concerned for your husband and stress is well known to raise bg levels.

Once things have calmed down and your husband is on the road to recovery you will probably see things return to normal and then you can get on with improving your control but some times your control has to take a back seat.

I hope your husband is feeling comfortable now, and wish you good luck

Hi. Watch the Mueller Light yogurt. Most 'light' yogurts are light on fat and heavy on carbs! I have Irish Yogurts Diet type. They are one of the very few fruity no-sugar added types. Overall your diet looks good but do watch the bananas.

Hi Merluna,

Merluna said:

I think muller lights are 16gs of carbs per pot 14g sugar. Is that too much? It is less than the banana!
What amounts of sugars should I be looking for in something like that? I know it's less than 3g fat per 100g but what is low sugar?
Again with the Nhs advice! They say low fat fruit yoghurt scare fine!
Steep learning curve!

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Only my personal view but I always look for yoghurts that have less than 10g carbs per pot. The Weightwatchers ones are all pretty good. Agree wholeheartedly about bananas - pears are a lower alternative, or plums. I would recommend that you get a copy of the Collins Little Gem Carb Counter book. It fits easily in a pocket and gives the carb values of just about any food you can think of. Costs about £3 in Smiths or Waterstones.

Re "NHS advice" you need to bear in mind that the NHS does not give dietary advice specifically for diabetics. The advice is aimed primarily at people who have pancreases that are able to process the carbs in their diets. Unfortunately most diabetics find they need to eat less carbs than the NHS recommends to be able to control blood glucose levels.

Dennis

Hi again

Greek yogurt is great ( the authentic Greek one is called TOTAL and the full fat is better for you than the low fat ) - to this you could add a few berries or cherries or grated apple or nuts or a little bit of honey. Or 1/2 a small banana!!

Nuts are a great filling snack.

Hope your husband is feeling better today.

CathyN

Hi Merluna,

I'm not surprised you are losing weight & hungry - all that stress plus trying to cope with diabetes & improve your diet is making life difficult.

Low carb plus low fat will leave you short of calories & hungry - an increase in fat should be beneficial. Fat is slow digesting & therefore more sustaining. Snacks of full fat cheese & yoghurt (I like full fat Greek yog - about 10% fat.) Low fat & low sugar means low food value. Nuts are also very good. I make a bread-cake using powdered nuts instead of flour (ground almonds, coconut flour) in a normal cake recipe.

Hope that helps, & your husband recovers well.

Hi. Ref guideline carbs level in yogurts etc. 14gm is far too high. My view is why add 10 or 14gm to your daily carb intake when sweeteners will do the same job. As I like my bread, bakery snacks and fruit I reserve my daily '150' gms for foods where I can't avoid the carbs. The food industry wants us to consume loads of sugar so we get hooked on it and they make loads of money and we become obese; I like to vote with my feet and keep my blood sugar lower. Tesco at least do the Irish Yogurts and I think several other supermarkets do

Hi Merluna,

I'm not sure where you got the 5g per portion from. Unadulterated popcorn is between 73g and 78g carbohydrate per 100g. Sweetened popcorn is 90g per 100g. So even with a savoury topping it's mostly carbohydrate. Something I would definitely avoid like the plague.

Sorry,
Dennis

All the berries are low in carbs. Blueberries and strawberries yum. Also nectarines

Merluna said:

Thanks so much for all your advice, really appreciate it! My hubby is a lot better now, thank you for your well wishes! We will both be more balanced soon I hope as he has early onset Parkinson's as well!
I like the sound of the nut bakery thing do I just substitute normal flour for nut grounds?

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Basically, yes - I made 2-3 batches a week, with recipe variations.
Very approx -
Sieve together:
120-159 g total - ground almonds, coconut flour, milled flax seed (at least half or all ground almonds)
1 1/2 teasp baking powder
1/3 teasp xanthan gum (if available - it strengthens the product)
spice to taste

[optional ingredients - about a tabsp each seeds, sultanas - sliced ripe banana - pinch of salt, herbs]

100-120 g olive oil & melted butter
3 eggs, beaten with the oil mix
Beat together - should be dropping consistency - add another egg if necessary

Put into baking cases - I use silicone, individual or 1 big one
bake at 175 C for 20-25 minutes

The result is a spongy texture, semi-sweet or savoury as desired.

The savoury version can be used as pitta bread. I use it with main meals in place of potato - it soaks up the gravy.

You should find it very sustaining.

CathyN said:

Hi again

Greek yogurt is great ( the authentic Greek one is called TOTAL and the full fat is better for you than the low fat ) - to this you could add a few berries or cherries or grated apple or nuts or a little bit of honey. Or 1/2 a small banana!!

Nuts are a great filling snack.

Hope your husband is feeling better today.

CathyN

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Greek yogurt great with nuts and strawberries - v. little BS in strawbs!!! dont give up on bananas - try a smallo amount spread on toast instead of jam; also very good for when out and going a bit low before you can get fed. I always carry one around with me when out on a long day shopping - most cafes in this part of Wales specialise in exceptionally high carb cakes, scones, tarts, flans etc. often the only thing I can have is a cuppa and sneak a digestive biscuit from my shopping!!!

Not a surprise over high readings you need to eat regular or risk liver dump add to that stress which shoots glucose up a high reading is the only outcome.
lf it goes high do some intense excercise it will help bring the glucose down and may help work off some stress......dont over do it if you havent eaten though.
And if stressed can you can do something positive you enjoy to help you relax even if for a few minutes.