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Metformin+Diet+Exercise = 7.2 - 7.9 Now what?

J

Jual

Active Member
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Location
United Kingdom
Hi. :) ..been a while since I posted anything as it's been an up and down time. :? Now been Type 2 for nearly a year.Taking 500mg Metformin twice a day for 3 months.After much trial and error I'm now getting readings regularly between 7.2 -7.9. I am not a person who loves exercise for the sake of it but now I haven't got a dog I joined a gym. I make myself do 40 minutes of vigorous exercise 4 - 5 times a week.Don't think I'll ever get to jogging but I try and walk pretty fast on the treadmill. An average days food is probably: porridge made with water and a handful of fresh or frozen berries in it for breakfast. Usually the same for lunch at work.Fruit and or a biscuit in the afternoon.green vegetables and baked meat or pasta and vegetables for tea.3 or 4 cups of tea with semi skim milk + sweetener,couple of glasses of water ,couple cans diet coke.

So...what do I do now as I gather it's still not low enough? Any suggestions on tweaking it further please :?:

Many thankyours in advance :D
 
Are those hba1c readings or blood glucose meter readings? Try posting on the food and low carb forums, they might have some diet suggestions?
 
Hi Jual
For me all of those readings would be too high.
HbA1c above 7% is definitely undesirable and BGs of over 7 are also in the danger zone.
You mention porridge. Is it perhaps that your carb intake is still too high?
In addition, did you realise that vigorous exercise on a Bg which is too high is likely to put it up still higher.
Might you try reducing your carbs, particularly starches?
Exercise won't correct what your diet doesn't unless you do a LOT
 
Hi Jual,
As Hana says there are a lot of carbs in porridge. How about reducing the portion size and adding some protein, i.e. flaked almonds? You need protein in every meal because this slows down the digestion and reduces the spikes. Nuts and beans, are a good source if you don't fancy the more obvious ones at breakfast time.
Hope this helps,
Catherine.
 
Hu Jual,

The rise in blood sugar is very simple - you are consuming more carbs than the combination of meds and exercise is able to deal with. Porridge once a day is a no-no for most diabetics . . . but twice a day??? As Catherine said, try substituting protein for the carbs in either your breakfast or lunch, or preferably both.
 
Okay then..I'll make a start tomorrow and replace porridge with....are baked beans Ok ? maybe with grilled or tinned tomatoes for lunch? Are beans in tomato sauce OK or are you talking rather mixed beans like you put in salads or casseroles?

I think I'm getting confused over what to eat to bring cholesterol down..that's high too....which is porridge...and finding a balance with bringing BG down as well. I need to find a 'one diet does all' really so any advice gratefully received.

I have to admit I'm confused about the exercise though as all I'm told when I go to the clinic is ' you must exercise more' which Is what I thought I was doing well considering I hate it.

Hmmmm....have to read up more.....thankyou all......
 
Hi Jual,
Have you got a meter and testing strips? This is very important in the beginning to see what effect your food choices are doing to your blood sugars.
As long as you are enjoying the exercise I would keep doing it, when it becomes a chore is the time to consider what other methods you can use. Walking at a steady pace in the fresh air may be all you need.
There are cholesterol lowering drinks on the market, benecol or flora spreads and almonds all help.
Beans are also good but it is essential to test. I can eat beans in salads, casseroles and stews but find that baked beans make my sugars rise.
Any questions, keep asking as nothing is considered trivial.
Catherine.
 
Hi Jual,

I would give baked beans a miss as they usually contain a lot of added sugar. How about fried egg and bacon, or scrambled eggs with tinned or fresh tomato, or a mushroom omelette, or those berries but with a tub of low sugar yogurt poured over them. For lunch ham or salami or cheese or tuna or mixed beans with a salad. Or a chicken pasta salad, but with a low-carb pasta (like Dreamfields), cook the pasta the night before and chill overnight in the fridge. Mix in some shredded chicken, and finely chopped chives, with a little mayo or pesto sauce to bind it together.
 
OK you've persuaded me now and as it's the Tesco day tomorrow I'll stock up for next week. I didn't know you could get low carb pasta but I'll see if I can find some.If not in Tesco then maybe the health food store might have it.I've been avoiding too much as I thought it would be too high carbs.

Is there a rough guide of carbs to try and aim for as a starting point? :roll:

I do have a meter and now have the strips on prescription so am starting to test 3 or 4 times a day but only just started. I've just registered with MyLifestyle and been using that for a week which is brilliant. It really makes me take notice and I can see easily what's happening BG wise at a glance.

I think I must know about all the bits but I find it difficult understanding how they all fit together and getting it right. You seem to get all this info thrown at you within the first 6 weeks and then it's like..we'll see you in 6 months. I know I can ask but I don't actually know what to ask all I know is that it all has to gel together so your Hba1c is under 7.0.

So...thankyou for being patient and i'll take a flask with me tomorrow as I'm sure to be in there a few hours checking the labels!
:D
 
You'll get there, it is trial and error and it takes time for all the information to sink in. This forum is great because nobody minds you asking questions.
Happy shopping tomorrow.
Catherine.
 
Hi Jual,

What has been suggested by many, including a dietitian who has contributed on here in the past, is to set yourself an initial target of 50g carbs per day, but test at least twice a day to see what effect that has on your BS. Once you know how that works you can adjust it upwards or downwards as appropriate.
 
Hi there,

Seems the questions here are around Type 2 diabetes, carbs and exercise - and not necessarily related to metformin intake?

Check out the new book "Diabetic Athletes Handbook 2009" (I have some copies in the UK for sale) by Dr Sheri Colberg Ochs PhD. this covers all basics re: diabetes (type 1 and 2) and exercise issues. You can dip in and out, and it covers all the issues that are discussed so far in this thread.

There are some points surrounding Metformin (especially for altitude, but also for at sea level), in that it increases the bodies pH level - but I'll bring these up on a separate new topic. Nobody get worried at this point, Im sure all salient points regarding the pharmacokinetics and exercise physiology will come out in the thread.

Nikki
 
Hi all,

I am so glad for these postings as it has given me all the information I need in one go! I have read all different bits and pieces on other Topics and have probably been told in the past some bits of information! However, as the struggle continues along with other issues and the BG figures fluctuate like a yo yo during a month, I do lose the will to bother. Then, I catch myself, and start all over again!

At present, I don't have the time nor the energy to exercise much. It's not an excuse, my job takes all my energies! Due to early retirement, I am hopeful that from 30th March that I will gradually increase my walking speed and distance, and therefore reduce my BGs!

So, thanks again!

Have a good weekend!

Sadia
 
Hope no one minds if I ask what might be a silly question. I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic when I went to hospital for surgery on 27 Jan and my op. was therefore cancelled. My surgery has been rearranged for 7 April and the consultant has put me on a mixture of insulin and Metformin. In the last couple of weeks the tablet has been increased from 1 at tea time to one at tea time and one at breakfast and the insulin has come down from 24 units to 10 in the morning and 18 at tea to 8 and my bloods are staying nicely in the 4.5 to 6 range. I have been very careful what I eat and am exercising regularly. I am disappointed that I have not lost any weight although everybody is commenting on me looking thinner and I do notice a difference in my clothes. The consultant says it is mormal to gain weight after starting treatment so the fact that I haven't put on any weight is actually very good. I would like any advice or tips on weight loss as obviously this would help when I go back to hospital for my surgery.
 
Today I started with a 1egg cheese omelette,handful of pistachios and tinned tomatoes for lunch...just done 40 mins exercise and guess what....................
YES........4.4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First time ever under 6.8 for a year.....Thankyou all so much......I just need to carry it on now! :D
 
Sorry to have to say it but you both appear to be victins of the Heathy High Carb Low Fat diet - which isn't, and is especially bad for diabetics

Have a read here

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/d-day.html

check out the Sticky threads and the Success Stories for more ideas

As to lipids, here were mine on a Heart Healthy diet

HDL 0.66 LDL 5.16 trigs 3.70

here they are on a low carb diet

HDL 1.40 LDL 2.40 trigs 0.70

I'm taking 10 mg simvastatin which only affects the LDL, the others are the result of eating less carbs and MORE FAT. The horror!
 
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