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Type 2 Newish T2 diagnosed - need advice (please)

J

jonnoras

Well-Known Member
Messages
96
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi. Great forum. Love the support from people. Please could some of you help me with my diabetes.
I was told I was in the diabetic range by my GP in March 2016 with a Ac1 of 7.8. I was put on Metformin but stopped taking it because the GP Practice 'leaflet' said their recommended management regime started with weight loss / healthy eating and exercise in the first instance and it was making me sick.
I had suspected I was diabetic since January 2016. In January I decided to loose weight (19st 6lbs) and now I am 15st 1lb - basically drastically cutting my carbs. I have been monitoring my blood 2 hrs after meals and was quite pleased with the results - my highest reading being a 8.6 m/mmol after 2hrs. In the last 2 months, my readings have only gone above 7.8 3 times (up to the low 8's) after 2 hours. My average after 2 hrs seems to be 5.8 - 6.5. However, I found this website thread
http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/when-to-test-after-meals.html?m=1 and its says I should be testing before and at 1 hr AND 2 hrs after meals. I have been doing this for 2 weeks (my finger tips are decimated) and although I'm generally pleased with my readings - often below 7.8 after 1 hour and below 6.8 after 2 hours I;m confused and getting more anxious. Sometimes when I take my blood I can be 5.5 at 1 hour and then higher at 2 hours. This morning for example, I had 2 eggs, 2 sausage, spinach and parmesan cheese and 3/4 of a slice of burgen linseed bread. My blood was 4.9 before, 5.2 at 1hr and 6.3 at 2 hrs. I think they are OK as figures BUT why are they going in the wrong direction. Shouldn't readings drop. I occasionally test at 3 hrs and my blood has dropped again to the 5's. Any advice or thoughts would be welcome. I'm getting more anxious about the readings than ever.

Thanks J
 
I've been T2 for at least 10 years (could have been a lot longer, but it was that long ago when I was told I had the problem). I've been using Metformin and Gliclazide in varying doses ever since. My HbA1c had been steadily, but slowly, climbing every time I went to my diabetic clinics and my self-tests showed blood sugars significantly higher than yours. A few months ago I decided to follow the low carb high fat diet promoted elsewhere on this forum. I have found that I have much greater control over my blood sugars and the last time I went to my diabetic clinic, there was a notable drop in my HbA1c. I've yet to see if this trend is to continue but I'm going to carry on with the LCHF regime. I totally avoid rice, pasta, all bread, all the root veg that are high on the GI and several other high GI foods as well. I've drastically reduced beer and wine intake (spirits seem to be OK, though!) Look at the LCHF diet and give it a go. I was surprised and pleased, you may be too.
 
David_A_Hughes said:
PS, if my blood sugar readings were like yours, I'd be well happy!
Click to expand...
Hi David. Thanks for the reply. My diet is already very low on carbs. I too don't eat rice, pasta, etc and don't drink alchohol. I think I have reasonable control over my bloods. I was hoping I might get some advice on why my bloods are going up after 1 hr and whether I should be testing before food, at 1hr and at 2 hrs.
Cheers J
 
Hi @jonnoras and welcome to the forum. I don't know the answer to your question, but your figures seem pretty good to me. Well done on your great reductions in bs levels and weight.
 
I think your blood sugars will climb and max out at about two hours after eating, so that's when you need to test. I reckon it will vary somewhat with the foods you've eaten. Just use the two hours as a benchmark and don't worry about others. It's also worth testing in the morning before you've eaten anything - your fasting glucose level. I have occasional treats and slip back a bit (I've just eaten a bag of crisps, for example - I couldn't resist the thought of cheese and onion!). I also eat the very occasional piece of 85% cocoa solids chocolate, but, generally, I'm fairly strict with my diet and exercise (walk and cycle quite a bit) and it seems to make a difference. As for alcohol, spirits (my weakness is whisky), I believe, tend to lower your blood sugars. Beers, on the other hand, have been described as liquid bread - and not wholemeal at that!
 
Hi, testing is important, and testing before meal and one hour, and two hours.
This gives you a really good idea what is personally happening to you.
By the way great weight loss and those figures you have posted are really quite good as well.
The reason you are going up after the hour reading is because of the high fat content of your meals and the slower releasing of energy from your low carb diet.
Both results are excellent.
I wouldn't worry at all about your blood levels and how it's spiking later than others, you are just that way. As long as you return lower than 2mmols after two hours, is good as the food is not spiking you too much.
We have a testing sticky thread on the RH forum.
Hope this helps.
 
Hi, the combination of foods is what dictates the peak of your levels. Fat with a meal will slow the rise down, and that is probably what is happening to you. Forget the 1 hour reading. Try a 90 minute one, then a 2hr and a 2.5hr one. See what that produces.

I find my peaks are at about 90 minutes. At an hour I am on my way up. Peak at 90 minutes, At 2 hours I am on my way down. By 2.5hrs I am back where I started. The aim is to have a gentle curve, even if the curve is a bit longer than a sharper one.

By the way, you are doing really well. Those numbers are very good.
 
Thanks to all of you for your supportive and informative replies. I'm at work at the moment so I can only get to the computer every now and then to respond - so sorry for the delay. I suppose I was worried because today has been the worst day of all. I am not eating anything different to what I have been eating (my carb and fat content has been the same) but today both my readings for breakfast and lunch went up after 1 hour - up to now they haven't been doing. The only thing I'm doing is exercising less at the moment due to a knee injury. Could that be it??

Thanks again for all your supportive comments

J
 
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