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Is a reading of 7.7 breakfast time o.k. if not how can I alter my diet to lower it?

Incontrol?

Incontrol?

Active Member
Hi, I am new to the forum and came on here because after Christmas (when I had been eating too much rich food) my blood sugar went up to 9.5 and the diabetic nurse said I must get it down between 5 - 8. As the result of me halving my portions at meal times I am now reading 7.7 (this is not consistent) sometimes it is a bit lower e.g. 7.2. I take 2 gliclazide 30 mg and two 500g metformin first thing after my breakfast, I was told to take another metformin at night but found I could not sleep and got a pain in my pancreas area, consequently I stopped taking this dosage and in doing so found that it made no difference to my first reading in the morning. I am wondering why that is and am I wrong to not take the extra metformin. I get so confused re my diet, I do not eat a great deal and never have cream cakes, biscuits, mainly eat blueberries, pears, banana (small portions three times a day) small dinners consisting of either fish, chicken and three veg. small amount of potato, soup for lunch. Do not drink much milk, preferring green tea. Breakfast is 1 wheetabix and a few blueberries, or egg on toast. Any advice would be much appreciated as I feel that I have been stuck at my reading of 7.7 since the time I have attempted to bring m,y reading of 9.5. down. Much appreciation for this site and the information that is given, certainly makes me feel less alone with my diabetes, thank you all who contribute.
 
Incontrol? said:
Hi, I am new to the forum and came on here because after Christmas (when I had been eating too much rich food) my blood sugar went up to 9.5 and the diabetic nurse said I must get it down between 5 - 8. As the result of me halving my portions at meal times I am now reading 7.7 (this is not consistent) sometimes it is a bit lower e.g. 7.2. I take 2 gliclazide 30 mg and two 500g metformin first thing after my breakfast, I was told to take another metformin at night but found I could not sleep and got a pain in my pancreas area, consequently I stopped taking this dosage and in doing so found that it made no difference to my first reading in the morning. I am wondering why that is and am I wrong to not take the extra metformin. I get so confused re my diet, I do not eat a great deal and never have cream cakes, biscuits, mainly eat blueberries, pears, banana (small portions three times a day) small dinners consisting of either fish, chicken and three veg. small amount of potato, soup for lunch. Do not drink much milk, preferring green tea. Breakfast is 1 wheetabix and a few blueberries, or egg on toast. Any advice would be much appreciated as I feel that I have been stuck at my reading of 7.7 since the time I have attempted to bring m,y reading of 9.5. down. Much appreciation for this site and the information that is given, certainly makes me feel less alone with my diabetes, thank you all who contribute.
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I have been changing my lifestyle since last year and have got my Bg levels down in the 6 to 7's and have since dropped the glic.

Its all down to checking the carbs and eating the right ones. Try to cut out white bread, rice, pasta, cakes, biscuits, most cereals. Eat wholegrain versions if necessary.

Some of your diet could be changed which would help you. Cut out the bananas, potatoes, weetabix, toast etc. search on here for low carb discussions.




Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Low carb works very well, but you must eat more fat if you reduce the amount of carbs. Some people find this hard, particularly if you have been afraid of fat. Avoid margarine, most vegetable oils except olive oil and coconut oil these are fine, and go for organic butter. Cheese is very nice!

If I have bread or rice my bg goes above 12, otherwise I can keep it down below 5 if I avoid carbs.
 
Thank you both Madbazoo and Totto, really helpful to read about reducing the amount of carbs, I have been afraid of fat because I have bad cholestral. I love bananas and have eaten two a day sometimes as a part of my five a day! Also I have soya bread sometimes four slices a day, so can make changes given your info. I will now alter my diet and will certainly look on the thread re low carb discussions.
 
hello Incontrol

Get hold of the book Crabs and Cals - it si brilliant and shows photos of real food with the carbohydrate, fat fibre etc. It's quite an eye opener!

I loved bread and pasta but I have all but given it up now. And potatoes. It has made a difference and I don't really miss them, which is odd.

Exercise will also help your blood levels, as will weight loss if you need to


good luck

Cara
 
Hello Cara, the thing is that I have never been overweight before or after my diagnosis, was told my diabetes is genetic, This information from my GP made me feel hopeless about change to begin with, however, I know now that diet does make a difference in terms of the right foods to eat. I look forward to getting the book you have recommended. thank you for info. Madbazoo I will keep in touch and tell you of my progress and once again thank you all for responding to my concerns, I feel more positive that I can bring my sugars down and hopefully to a constant level.
 
Incontrol?
Chin up!
Te genetic factor does not mean you have to roll over and accept . you can fight to minimize the consequences, as you seem to be trying:)
 
Incontrol? said:
Hello Cara, the thing is that I have never been overweight before or after my diagnosis, was told my diabetes is genetic, This information from my GP made me feel hopeless about change to begin with, however, I know now that diet does make a difference in terms of the right foods to eat. I look forward to getting the book you have recommended. thank you for info. Madbazoo I will keep in touch and tell you of my progress and once again thank you all for responding to my concerns, I feel more positive that I can bring my sugars down and hopefully to a constant level.
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Raised cholesterol can also be genetic as I was told by my GP that mine probably is. I have never been overweight or had a bad diet to account for it. Watching what we eat and lowering the carbs can help with both that and diabetes
 
7.7 might be classed as good control by the NHS but you will be doing yourself a big favour if you can get it down to below 6.0. It's not that far away so take heart.

Switch to low GI foods, brown rice, pearl barley and things like pumpernickel and, limit your portion sizes. Test each food type systematically to see how they affect you. This will reduce the amount of glucose you eat. When I started, I avoided things ike bananas and stuck to north european fruits, apples, pears, berries, plums. White bread has more or less the same glycaemic curve as sugar so toast is off limits I'm afraid.

Becoming more active will improve your sensitivity to the insulin that you do produce which, in turn, will reduce your blood glucose levels.

Losing weight will also help your insulin function, even if weight is not the ultimate cause of your metabolic disorder. It usually works with a combination of exercise to again improve your sensitivity to the insulin that you obviously are producing. The combination of all these factors should be enough to get you down from 7.7 to 6.0.
 
Yorksman said:
7.7 might be classed as good control by the NHS but you will be doing yourself a big favour if you can get it down to below 6.0. It's not that far away so take heart.

Switch to low GI foods, brown rice, pearl barley and things like pumpernickel and, limit your portion sizes. Test each food type systematically to see how they affect you. This will reduce the amount of glucose you eat. When I started, I avoided things ike bananas and stuck to north european fruits, apples, pears, berries, plums. White bread has more or less the same glycaemic curve as sugar so toast is off limits I'm afraid.

Becoming more active will improve your sensitivity to the insulin that you do produce which, in turn, will reduce your blood glucose levels.

Losing weight will also help your insulin function, even if weight is not the ultimate cause of your metabolic disorder. It usually works with a combination of exercise to again improve your sensitivity to the insulin that you obviously are producing. The combination of all these factors should be enough to get you down from 7.7 to 6.0.
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Many thanks for your message, it is true that the NHS consider 7.7 an o.k. reading but personally I would feel more in control if I can get it down to 6.0 at least. It is good to make an informed decision re my diet and you have helped me to do that, much appreciated Yorksman.
 
Hi, I have eaten lower portions, and taken all your good advice re diet and so made some changes. My reading as been consistently 6.4 as a result for the past four days, this for me is a good start to getting my reading down to at least 6.0. I feel less tired and so more motivated to continue being committed to the changes I have made - I do miss my bananas though! Thanks again for to all who contributed to my thread x
 
Congratulations. Don't be surprised if it goes up now and again, it's a general trend yuo are looking for. Whatever you are doing, it is heading in the right direction. Also, your body adjusts and since you have got it to lower, it will probably still go a bit lower over time. There is no time limit on this, all the changes you make can be at your own pace. Just make sure you are comfortable with them because they are the changes you will most likely stick with.
 
Yorksman said:
Congratulations. Don't be surprised if it goes up now and again, it's a general trend yuo are looking for. Whatever you are doing, it is heading in the right direction. Also, your body adjusts and since you have got it to lower, it will probably still go a bit lower over time. There is no time limit on this, all the changes you make can be at your own pace. Just make sure you are comfortable with them because they are the changes you will most likely stick with.
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Thank you so much Yorksman for the encouragement, and support, it means a lot to me
 
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