Spikes and blood sugar level question

[oh_dear_me]

Hello,
I know that "spikes" in blood sugar levels aren't good but I'm just trying to get my head around numbers etc.

My levels are still mostly in the 7's and 8's every morning dropping to an average of around 5's and 6's by lunchtime. This is after a 16 hour fast (16.8 diet). I'm also on the LCHF diet, aiming for under 60/80g carbs per day, not very low I know but I still eat lentils and beans etc. When first diagnosed I did the 8 week blood sugar diet 800 cals a day and now I try to have under 1,200 a day. Weight bang in the middle of the normal bmi range but was just into the overweight range when I found out I had type 2 in April.

After eating I'm normally 7 to 9 on average but if I eat anything remotely carby it can shoot up to 12 to 16. This happens especially if I've eaten out and struggled to find anything low carb on the menu (veggie options can be tricky). It makes me feel unwell too...tingling arms and legs and then a rotten nights sleep always follows.

I'm trying very hard to do this without medication and my next check up won't be till next year. I'm struggling a bit. Would love to know if these numbers are ok? Too high? Or actually not too bad and i should stop worrying, especially about the occasional spikes. I may be getting a little obsessed with it all but even on the LCHF diet my numbers aren't falling that low...are they?

Thank you for any advice (or reassurance!) you might be able to give.

 

[kokhongw]

To be able to see 5s and 6s are very significant signs of progress. You are definitely on the right track.

Remember the meals that cause spikes that cross 10 mmol and avoid them.

As you improve further, post meal target should be < 8mmol...

 

[oh_dear_me]

Thank you. Can I ask...do you worry if you have the occasional spike after eating out? Long term if this rarely happens should it have little affect on your overall HbA1c results do you know?

 

[kokhongw]

Thank you. Can I ask...do you worry if you have the occasional spike after eating out? Long term if this rarely happens should it have little affect on your overall HbA1c results do you know?

Actually any spikes above 8 mmol on a regular basis would likely have some microvascular damages. But I don't get overly worried about it. Espeically since you are still in the learning phase. We actually have to relearn what is actually healthy for us...which means provide nutrients or energy with minimal glucose/insulin spikes. That is an ongoing process...

 

[barrym]

I saw my consultant a couple of weeks ago, and we were able to look at my Libre reports, so I asked her if the pot meal spikes were ok. She said that as the tech allowing us to see the constant picture of ups and downs, there is no evidence that spikes are harmful. They still rely on HbA1c which indicates extended high levels to identify risk. But spikes for an hour or two, no one knows.

<Sigh>

 

[kokhongw]

This is a good read and reminder why we would like to keep it under 8 mmol.

The studies you will read below, some of which are not cited in the AACE guidelines, make a cogent case that post-meal blood sugars of 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/L) and higher and fasting blood sugars over 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) when found in association with those higher than normal post-meal blood sugars, cause both permanent organ damage and the worsening of diabetes. Some of this data also suggests that maintaining an A1c of 5.7% to 6% is much safer for people with diabetes who wish to avoid developng diabetic complications.

Jenny Ruhl - Research Connecting Organ Damage with Blood Sugar Level
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045678.php

 

[oh_dear_me]

Ah great thank you both so much. There is so much to learn!