Hey guys.
Sorry for my novel-like posts! I don’t seem to know any other way, try as I might!
I’m giving the Libre 2 another go so I can understand a little better the trends to my eating, i.e., what causes bigger spikes etc. I started using it today.
I tried it once before but it was quite soon after diagnosis with type 2 and I didn’t really understand much about managing the condition. Actually, I only really knew that diabetes was due to excess blood sugar and insulin resistance (in its simplistic form).
Due to the pandemic, I never had chance to sit with my GP (as great as she is) to ask questions or figure things out in layman’s terms. It was just a case of getting on with it by myself. Admittedly, I still feel very much in the dark, but am doing as much as possible to educate myself and improve my health.
For context, historic results are below:
Feb 2020 - HBA1C: 53 (7.0%)
Formally diagnosed with type 2 - diet and lifestyle changes recommended without meds.
August 2020 - HBA1C: 48 (6.5%)
February 2021 - HBA1C: 51 (6.8%)
Most recent results are as follows:
01/07/21 - HBA1C: 76 (9.1%)
10/08/21 - HBA1C: 73 (8.8%)
As you can see, there was a huge rise since February and July 2021. This was bitterly disappointing. I’d been trying so hard to cut some of the worst things from my diet but only seemed to be replacing them with worse (before I put a stop to those too!)
About 2 weeks ago, the diabetic nurse told me it was time to start Metformin. At 37, I was so ashamed at myself. I felt I had lost a grip of my health. At first I refused because I already take a life-long medication for a non-related condition and didn’t want to add any more daily meds. I perhaps also thought, arrogantly maybe, that I knew best and could still it by myself still, even though I hadn’t done a good job up to now.
But I eventually agreed to trial 500mg of Metformin daily on the proviso that if, at my next check in 3 months (which I’d perfectly timed to be my birthday week), the HBA1C was nearer to normal range, I’d want to stop.
After picking them up that first prescription, I sat down to take the first tablet and it was then, at that very specific moment, that it dawned on me. The penny dropped. Finally, I grasped the necessity of change and trying to reverse this diabetes once and for all. I don’t know what it was that happened inside me but since then I feel like I’ve had a complete change of mindset.
Every day since, I’ve been out walking - usually either for a minimum of 2 hours or 8 miles - whichever is more and then some more just to be sure!
I’ve completely cut out all the things that put me in this position in the first place: the bread, the fizzy drinks and the fruit juices.
Having always been a very big drinker since I was 14 years of age (now 37), I knocked that on the head completely too! My drinking over the years has caused health concerns of its own, with frequent ‘abnormal’ liver function tests. 15 weeks on, all liver function tests now show as normal!
Since July, I’ve lost 5.1kg (about 11lbs I believe).
Anyway, in my usual long-winded fashion, I wanted to clarify the ‘normal’ ranges. My understanding is that I should be aiming for between 4-7mmol/l generally and after food 8.5mmol/l. Additionally, once I’ve eaten, it shouldn’t rise by more than 2 points? That’s right isn’t it?
I’ve only had the new Libre on a few hours and when I started, the time was about 10.45am. I hadn’t eaten at that point. The first reading I did was 6.9mmol/l.
At about 11am, I had:
150g plain soya
115g blueberries
100g strawberries
15g chia seeds
18g of peanut butter.
My blood sugar rose to about 8.2mmol/l with one reading of 8.6 before quickly coming back down.
It’s now 2pm and the most recent reading is 5.6mmol/l. I’m of the understanding that’s perfect! Please tell me I’m right
When I had the Libre 2 the first time, only around 15/20% of my readings were within range.
I know it’s only been a few hours with this new one but 100% of the readings are all within the green!
I guess the reason I’m cautious and want to double check is because I felt my eating habits were worse when first diagnosed when HBA1C came back between 47-53. The most recent was 73 but my sugars seems more well balanced.
I’ve still got a lot to learn but want to make every effort to help myself. I decided that I wanted to be at least below 48mmol/l by my birthday. What better birthday present could I give myself?
Sorry for my novel-like posts! I don’t seem to know any other way, try as I might!
I’m giving the Libre 2 another go so I can understand a little better the trends to my eating, i.e., what causes bigger spikes etc. I started using it today.
I tried it once before but it was quite soon after diagnosis with type 2 and I didn’t really understand much about managing the condition. Actually, I only really knew that diabetes was due to excess blood sugar and insulin resistance (in its simplistic form).
Due to the pandemic, I never had chance to sit with my GP (as great as she is) to ask questions or figure things out in layman’s terms. It was just a case of getting on with it by myself. Admittedly, I still feel very much in the dark, but am doing as much as possible to educate myself and improve my health.
For context, historic results are below:
Feb 2020 - HBA1C: 53 (7.0%)
Formally diagnosed with type 2 - diet and lifestyle changes recommended without meds.
August 2020 - HBA1C: 48 (6.5%)
February 2021 - HBA1C: 51 (6.8%)
Most recent results are as follows:
01/07/21 - HBA1C: 76 (9.1%)
10/08/21 - HBA1C: 73 (8.8%)
As you can see, there was a huge rise since February and July 2021. This was bitterly disappointing. I’d been trying so hard to cut some of the worst things from my diet but only seemed to be replacing them with worse (before I put a stop to those too!)
About 2 weeks ago, the diabetic nurse told me it was time to start Metformin. At 37, I was so ashamed at myself. I felt I had lost a grip of my health. At first I refused because I already take a life-long medication for a non-related condition and didn’t want to add any more daily meds. I perhaps also thought, arrogantly maybe, that I knew best and could still it by myself still, even though I hadn’t done a good job up to now.
But I eventually agreed to trial 500mg of Metformin daily on the proviso that if, at my next check in 3 months (which I’d perfectly timed to be my birthday week), the HBA1C was nearer to normal range, I’d want to stop.
After picking them up that first prescription, I sat down to take the first tablet and it was then, at that very specific moment, that it dawned on me. The penny dropped. Finally, I grasped the necessity of change and trying to reverse this diabetes once and for all. I don’t know what it was that happened inside me but since then I feel like I’ve had a complete change of mindset.
Every day since, I’ve been out walking - usually either for a minimum of 2 hours or 8 miles - whichever is more and then some more just to be sure!
I’ve completely cut out all the things that put me in this position in the first place: the bread, the fizzy drinks and the fruit juices.
Having always been a very big drinker since I was 14 years of age (now 37), I knocked that on the head completely too! My drinking over the years has caused health concerns of its own, with frequent ‘abnormal’ liver function tests. 15 weeks on, all liver function tests now show as normal!
Since July, I’ve lost 5.1kg (about 11lbs I believe).
Anyway, in my usual long-winded fashion, I wanted to clarify the ‘normal’ ranges. My understanding is that I should be aiming for between 4-7mmol/l generally and after food 8.5mmol/l. Additionally, once I’ve eaten, it shouldn’t rise by more than 2 points? That’s right isn’t it?
I’ve only had the new Libre on a few hours and when I started, the time was about 10.45am. I hadn’t eaten at that point. The first reading I did was 6.9mmol/l.
At about 11am, I had:
150g plain soya
115g blueberries
100g strawberries
15g chia seeds
18g of peanut butter.
My blood sugar rose to about 8.2mmol/l with one reading of 8.6 before quickly coming back down.
It’s now 2pm and the most recent reading is 5.6mmol/l. I’m of the understanding that’s perfect! Please tell me I’m right
When I had the Libre 2 the first time, only around 15/20% of my readings were within range.
I know it’s only been a few hours with this new one but 100% of the readings are all within the green!
I guess the reason I’m cautious and want to double check is because I felt my eating habits were worse when first diagnosed when HBA1C came back between 47-53. The most recent was 73 but my sugars seems more well balanced.
I’ve still got a lot to learn but want to make every effort to help myself. I decided that I wanted to be at least below 48mmol/l by my birthday. What better birthday present could I give myself?
