Low Carb diet question

[Zeddedhed]

Having got through Covid unscathed (I had it 3 times with no symptoms) and thus feeling fairly bulletproof I fell off the wagon somewhat. I stopped testing and paid little attention to my diet.

I've clambered back on said wagon and found that my levels are higher than I'd like (no surprise there).

I'm back to counting carbs VERY carefully and testing six times a day - 06:00, 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 & 21:00
My daily carb count is ALWAYS below 30g.
My blood sugar level is refusing to drop below 8mmol/l

I realise that after only starting the regime a week ago I'm probably expecting a bit much, but here's the question...

Does a low carb work by actually improving the bodies response to Insulin, or do the sugars drop because of the low carb levels? Or is it a bit of both?

For the record I'm currently on 1500 Metformin, a dash of Pravastatin with a shot of Lisinopril. Add to that a dollop of Omaprazole, some Montelukast and a couple of Asthma inhalers (Blue & Purple) and a hayfever tablet here and there.

I'm not overly concerned at the moment - just curious to better understand how LC diets work.

 

[ianf0ster]

Apart from food, illness, injury& stress are major causes of raised Blood Glucose.
So were you on all those medications when you felt that your BG levels were good?
Why do you test at those fixed times rather than before each meal/snack and then 2 hrs after first bite? - This would show whether the main cause is food. If you are correct in your carb counting, then a food cause seems unlikely.

Have you considered the possibility of LADA ?

 

[Zeddedhed]

Apart from food, illness, injury& stress are major causes of raised Blood Glucose.
So were you on all those medications when you felt that your BG levels were good?
Why do you test at those fixed times rather than before each meal/snack and then 2 hrs after first bite? - This would show whether the main cause is food. If you are correct in your carb counting, then a food cause seems unlikely.

Have you considered the possibility of LADA ?

I was on the listed meds before (apart from the Montelukast)
I don't eat at regular times during the day, hence the fixed times. The first test is just after getting up in the morning. The last two are just before an evening meal and then 2 1/2 hours after. The daytime tests are more or less randomly chosen as I will graze on my daily allowance - it's never possible to fix a lunchbreak at work, so I grab a bite when I can.
Whats LADA?

 

[ianf0ster]

LADA is Late onset Adult Diabetes - basically a version of Type 1 which only slowly becomes apparent and is usually diagnosed as Type 2 at first.

Note 'grazing' is very bad for Type 2 diabetes because it keeps nudging the insulin levels up every time you eat something. Much better to just have 1 or 2 or 3 meals good sized meals per day with a nice long gap (the bigger the better) between them.
Those meals don't have to be at fixed times just eat until sated. for example, I usually eat 'brunch' at between 12 noon and 2pm and 'dinner' at between 7pm and 9pm on weekdays but on weekends I only eat one meal per day 'Linner' at between 3pm and 6pm

 

[Lamont D]

The asthma inhalers contain steroids. Has your doctor or you considered this?
Maybe, the adjustment time necessary for the lower results to come through hasn't come about yet!
Random testing doesn't give you the information you need for where you are at this stage. Fasting levels should be done at least half an hour after getting up, before you eat. A pre meal and two hours after first bite. Are the recommended tried and trusted way of how foods affect your blood glucose levels. Keeping a food diary is also a good idea. Every bit of information will help your doctor understand what is going on.

Best wishes.

 

[Lainie71]

I have asthma and take a preventative x2 puffs twice a day (moring/night). I have consciously dropped the night dose and just kept the morning one, as discussed with asthma nurse. Be interesting to see if the bg levels become lower due to dropping the evening dose. Never liked taking it anyway. I have not had the need to use my blue inhaler since I gave up smoking years ago. That's is not to say that my asthma does not kick me up the bum and make is presence known at times though

 

[JohnEGreen]

The amount of steroids contained in the inhaler is quite low I take both night time dose and morning dose does not seem to make much difference to BG though I must admit I take 15 mg of prednisolone daily so the extra tiny amount of steroids probably would not show up any way

 

[Lamont D]

I have asthma and take a preventative x2 puffs twice a day (moring/night). I have consciously dropped the night dose and just kept the morning one, as discussed with asthma nurse. Be interesting to see if the bg levels become lower due to dropping the evening dose. Never liked taking it anyway. I have not had the need to use my blue inhaler since I gave up smoking years ago. That's is not to say that my asthma does not kick me up the bum and make is presence known at times though

I only brought this up, in case the cause for his diagnosis was steroids.