Hi I felt unwell dry mouth etc so went to chemist and did fasting test which was 8.7. Pharmacist said go and see doctor. Had to wait ages for blood test etc so decided to buy a meter and restructure diet etc. I already exercised by walking several days weekly ad had s reasonable diet. I have upped exercise to every day for an hour and have stopped all sweets cakescetc. I have also cut the carbs right back. I have been doing reading first thing in morning and 2 hours after meals. I have got pretty regular readings of around 8.5 first thing then slightly lower after breakfast as I exercise first thing. My after lunch/dinner are around 8.5 . Am I doing the right thing and are these readings really high and is there anything else I can do. I am seeing doc wed for results. Thanks for anymore advice
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- Thread starter Annewalks
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Art Of Flowers
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- Kent
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
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- Diet only
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- Statins
If you have type 2 your HbA1C blood test will show this. Using your blood glucose meter, you should be looking for results in the 4 to 7 range first thing in the morning. Best way to reduce blood sugars for type 2 is a low carb high fat diet. See the video by Sarah Hallberg in my forum signature for a good explanation. Cut out high carb foods such as breakfast cereals, bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. Avoid fruit juice and fruit such as bananas and grapes. You can eat more fat such as avocados, cheese, nuts. Avoid low fat food since it frequently has extra sugar.
It may take a few weeks to get your blood glucose down. Intermittent fasting can also help. You can eat within an 8 hour window (16:8 fasting) or maybe do 5:2 fasting where you eat less two days a week.
It may take a few weeks to get your blood glucose down. Intermittent fasting can also help. You can eat within an 8 hour window (16:8 fasting) or maybe do 5:2 fasting where you eat less two days a week.
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daisy1
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@Annewalks
Hello Anne and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 250,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
Hello Anne and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able to help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 250,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Guzzler
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Hello and welcome to the forum. You are doing the right thing so far, even if your test results come back as non diabetic your efforts will not do you any harm and will probably have done you some good.
Fingers crossed for good results.
Fingers crossed for good results.
I was talking to my next door neighbour who was diagnosed 6 months ago with similuar readings to me. She was told cut back on sugar and go for brown bread etc also given tablets . Told to come back in 6 months. She not got a monitor so not getting her own readings. She seemed quite relaxed about it all . Did wonder if I was being over the top
Alison Campbell
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- Type 2
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- Tablets (oral)
Hi @Annewalks it sounds like you are doing a lot to benefit your health in the long run and it does not sound over the top to me. Are you feeling better in yourself? I feel awful and lethargic when I test in double figures. Well done for getting those test down to 8.5.
Not everyone is aware of how effective lifestyle changes can be for prevention and reducing the impact of type 2 and some people are not able or prepared to put the work in, especially when the damage and complications from high blood sugar levels is so gradual and can take many years to cause permanent problems.
After nearly 6 years I do struggle to stay motivated but that it where this forum helps so much. Do let us know how you get on with your results.
Not everyone is aware of how effective lifestyle changes can be for prevention and reducing the impact of type 2 and some people are not able or prepared to put the work in, especially when the damage and complications from high blood sugar levels is so gradual and can take many years to cause permanent problems.
After nearly 6 years I do struggle to stay motivated but that it where this forum helps so much. Do let us know how you get on with your results.
Thanks for your advice . The only real symptom I had was the dreadful thirst which has subsided a reasonable amount. I did have some high reading after eating prob too much carbs but now seem steady . I am seeing doctor for results on wed sovwill let u know what he says. I don't want to be packed off with tablets so will continue as I am til I get tocacctptablr levels
Alison Campbell
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,443
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
That is definitely a question for the docs on Wednesday, it is a good idea to make a list of questions for your doctor's appointment.
Been to doctor hbc1a is 58 . Made appointment with nurse for fri. Given me I think 400 mg day jystcwaiting for medication to arrive. Still eating the right things and feeling quite positive. Then woke up in the night we an awful sore throat. Done text the morning and it was 9 which lit higher than the 7.5/8 it has been. Assume I got a cold coming which not surprising with all coughing in the doctors surgery .
well
