Still confused and getting more so!

[Margaretindevon]

Hi All,
Please could I beg a little more help? I have been busy reading a lot of books, reading a lot on forums, and reading a lot on the internet and to be quite honest I don't know what is fact and what is fiction.

Firstly can someone tell me exactly what BG levels I should be aiming for to be as normal as possible with this disease? My cousin who is also type 2 says his range to aim for is between 5 and 10? Also is it the case that it should never, ever, be over 7? If so, what about non-diabetics who test higher than 7 after a meal? Why is it Ok for them and not for diabetics? If over 7 kills off diabetics beta cells then does it not do so for non-diabetics?

Next, can someone clear up for me the time to test after meals? I have seen recommended 1 hour, 11/2 hours, and 2 hours? I can be quite a bit lower at 2 hours than 11/2 hours. So if two hours is what I should be doing it at then my numbers are appreciably better than I thought!

If you are eating a low carb diet, do you have to count calories as well? Surely, if energy intake, in whatever form, exceeds energy output, then you are going to gain weight? I worry about the total calorie count of some of the low carb recipes I have seen.

Has anyone anything to say about the low carb cereals and bread mixes available? I have Fergus' recipe for a low carb bread, which I intend to try, but wondered about the other things advertised on such sites as Avidlite? I am not an enthusiastic cook, and like my food simple. Having raised four kids I always said if the day ever dawned where I could issue them with a pill in the morning and say that was it for the day I should be in seventh heaven. So simple, quick and easy is the way for me. I am not a lover of salad, hate tomatoes and will eat fish at any time! The thoughts of being able to have a low carb "summat" at bedtime, other than cheese makes me drool. Also, what is the benefits of all the different flours I have seen in the recipes? When I looked on the packets at our local health food shop they all seemed pretty high in carbs to me, so I can't see the point in substituting one for another?

How long after starting on a low/restricted carb diet would it be before one should see some results? I seem to be all over the place at the moment. Is it a matter of two or three weeks or more like six months? I appreciate exercise comes into the equation, but I AM 71 next month and not in my 30's! There is a limit as to how far my joints like walking, I am sorry but 10,000 steps and mountaineering is not on!
Sorry about all the questions. I just don't seem to be able to get a grip on all this at all.
Margaret

 

[sugarless sue]

Hi All,
Please could I beg a little more help? I have been busy reading a lot of books, reading a lot on forums, and reading a lot on the internet and to be quite honest I don't know what is fact and what is fiction.

Firstly can someone tell me exactly what BG levels I should be aiming for to be as normal as possible with this disease? My cousin who is also type 2 says his range to aim for is between 5 and 10? Also is it the case that it should never, ever, be over 7? If so, what about non-diabetics who test higher than 7 after a meal? Why is it Ok for them and not for diabetics? If over 7 kills off diabetics beta cells then does it not do so for non-diabetics?

Range should be under 7 ,Margaret.Yes nondiabetics can go up as well,it's how fast they come back to normal that is important.

Next, can someone clear up for me the time to test after meals? I have seen recommended 1 hour, 11/2 hours, and 2 hours? I can be quite a bit lower at 2 hours than 11/2 hours. So if two hours is what I should be doing it at then my numbers are appreciably better than I thought!

Test 2 hours after meals

If you are eating a low carb diet, do you have to count calories as well? Surely, if energy intake, in whatever form, exceeds energy output, then you are going to gain weight? I worry about the total calorie count of some of the low carb recipes I have seen.

Lowering carb intake is important to lower your blood sugars.Do you need to lose weight?

Has anyone anything to say about the low carb cereals and bread mixes available? I have Fergus' recipe for a low carb bread, which I intend to try, but wondered about the other things advertised on such sites as Avidlite? I am not an enthusiastic cook, and like my food simple. Having raised four kids I always said if the day ever dawned where I could issue them with a pill in the morning and say that was it for the day I should be in seventh heaven. So simple, quick and easy is the way for me. I am not a lover of salad, hate tomatoes and will eat fish at any time! The thoughts of being able to have a low carb "summat" at bedtime, other than cheese makes me drool. Also, what is the benefits of all the different flours I have seen in the recipes? When I looked on the packets at our local health food shop they all seemed pretty high in carbs to me, so I can't see the point in substituting one for another?

How long after starting on a low/restricted carb diet would it be before one should see some results? I seem to be all over the place at the moment. Is it a matter of two or three weeks or more like six months? I appreciate exercise comes into the equation, but I AM 71 next month and not in my 30's! There is a limit as to how far my joints like walking, I am sorry but 10,000 steps and mountaineering is not on!
Sorry about all the questions. I just don't seem to be able to get a grip on all this at all.
Margaret

You should see a lowering of blood sugars within a week,Margaret if you lower your carb intake.

 

[IanD]

Hi All,
Please could I beg a little more help? I have been busy reading a lot of books, reading a lot on forums, and reading a lot on the internet and to be quite honest I don't know what is fact and what is fiction.

Firstly can someone tell me exactly what BG levels I should be aiming for to be as normal as possible with this disease? My cousin who is also type 2 says his range to aim for is between 5 and 10? Also is it the case that it should never, ever, be over 7? If so, what about non-diabetics who test higher than 7 after a meal? Why is it Ok for them and not for diabetics? If over 7 kills off diabetics beta cells then does it not do so for non-diabetics?

Overnight fasting - 5-6, 2 hours after food - below 7. You will probably go up to 10 1 hour after food. With proper control, the bs will drop quickly , as it does for non-diabs whose normal level is 4-5.

Next, can someone clear up for me the time to test after meals? I have seen recommended 1 hour, 11/2 hours, and 2 hours? I can be quite a bit lower at 2 hours than 11/2 hours. So if two hours is what I should be doing it at then my numbers are appreciably better than I thought!

Occasionally 1 hour after to see the spike from particular foods, but 2 hours tells how your body/medication is coping.

If you are eating a low carb diet, do you have to count calories as well? Surely, if energy intake, in whatever form, exceeds energy output, then you are going to gain weight? I worry about the total calorie count of some of the low carb recipes I have seen.

I don't count calories, nor carbs. I just reduced carbs by about 2/3, & cut out a cereal supper. I fill up with extra veg (not potatoes) nuts & cheese.

Has anyone anything to say about the low carb cereals and bread mixes available? I have Fergus' recipe for a low carb bread, which I intend to try, but wondered about the other things advertised on such sites as Avidlite? I am not an enthusiastic cook, and like my food simple. Having raised four kids I always said if the day ever dawned where I could issue them with a pill in the morning and say that was it for the day I should be in seventh heaven. So simple, quick and easy is the way for me. I am not a lover of salad, hate tomatoes and will eat fish at any time! The thoughts of being able to have a low carb "summat" at bedtime, other than cheese makes me drool. Also, what is the benefits of all the different flours I have seen in the recipes? When I looked on the packets at our local health food shop they all seemed pretty high in carbs to me, so I can't see the point in substituting one for another?

The dietitians will tell you to go low GI, but that means the carbs will stay in your system longer & produce the same amount of glucose with a reduced 1 hour spike. Soya & lentil flour will be lower carb. I've seen ground almonds used as flour, though haven't tried the recipes. I've got a lot of flour to use up on other people, bought before reduced carb.

How long after starting on a low/restricted carb diet would it be before one should see some results? I seem to be all over the place at the moment. Is it a matter of two or three weeks or more like six months? I appreciate exercise comes into the equation, but I AM 71 next month and not in my 30's! There is a limit as to how far my joints like walking, I am sorry but 10,000 steps and mountaineering is not on!

Overnight bs should show in days, weight loss in weeks (I lost a stone in 3 months.) I am 70 next year, & earlier this year I thought my active life was over as my mobility was greatly reduced by muscle pain. Two months of reduced carb & my activity was restored & 3 months I'm back to normal. I go with my wife to a heart rehab gym session at the hospital twice a week, & play tennis at club standard.

Sorry about all the questions. I just don't seem to be able to get a grip on all this at all.
Margaret

One final question - Why are there always more questions than answers, Grandad :?:

Ian

 

[Margaretindevon]

There's a law about that............I think it begins with S..!!
Margaret

 

[IanD]

There's a law about that............I think it begins with S..!!
Margaret

Actually it ends with S - Murphy's Law. In chemistry it is known as "le Chatelier's principle."

 

[Margaretindevon]

Thank you Ian for your help. It was late when I posted last night, so I didn't give you my thanks then. I shall do the tests at 2 hours, see where we get to then. Have you any tips on getting one's fasting level down, as mine is higher in the morning than when I went to bed......Dawn Phenomenon?

I shall have to look further into the flour thing, though we have not been in the habit of eating cakes etc for years. Congrats. on the increased mobility and weight loss. Since Christmas I have lost 24 lbs...........though I was only diagnosed about 6 weeks ago. It wasn't until I virtually thumped the desk in the Dr's that they told me the tablets I have taken for about 10 years for migraine actually make you gain weight. My daughter was put on them and gained 2 stones in three months, which was what alerted us as to why I couldn't get my weight down. I am hoping that as the weight comes off I shall see various benefits.
Margaret

 

[hanadr]

Firstly can someone tell me exactly what BG levels I should be aiming for to be as normal as possible with this disease? My cousin who is also type 2 says his range to aim for is between 5 and 10? Also is it the case that it should never, ever, be over 7? If so, what about non-diabetics who test higher than 7 after a meal? Why is it Ok for them and not for diabetics? If over 7 kills off diabetics beta cells then does it not do so for non-diabetics?
Bernstein recommends aiming for non-diabetic sugars which I recalculated from his American units as 4.7. that's difficult to achieve for most people, so about 5.5 is reasonable with up to 7 after meals

Next, can someone clear up for me the time to test after meals? I have seen recommended 1 hour, 11/2 hours, and 2 hours? I can be quite a bit lower at 2 hours than 11/2 hours. So if two hours is what I should be doing it at then my numbers are appreciably better than I thought!
Most people say that 2 hours after meals is best, but Dr. Lois jovanovic recommends the 1 hour rreadin, because the height of the spike canbe important

If you are eating a low carb diet, do you have to count calories as well? Surely, if energy intake, in whatever form, exceeds energy output, then you are going to gain weight? I worry about the total calorie count of some of the low carb recipes I have seen. Several authorities say that total calories don't matter and that it's not about the calories out = calories in equation

Has anyone anything to say about the low carb cereals and bread mixes available? I have Fergus' recipe for a low carb bread, which I intend to try, but wondered about the other things advertised on such sites as Avidlite? I am not an enthusiastic cook, and like my food simple. Having raised four kids I always said if the day ever dawned where I could issue them with a pill in the morning and say that was it for the day I should be in seventh heaven. So simple, quick and easy is the way for me. I am not a lover of salad, hate tomatoes and will eat fish at any time! The thoughts of being able to have a low carb "summat" at bedtime, other than cheese makes me drool. Also, what is the benefits of all the different flours I have seen in the recipes? When I looked on the packets at our local health food shop they all seemed pretty high in carbs to me, so I can't see the point in substituting one for another?I reduce the carbs in my german black bread by cutting the slice in half. Specialist low carb foods are probably too xpensive for every day, but have their place. I can't afford them often

How long after starting on a low/restricted carb diet would it be before one should see some results? I seem to be all over the place at the moment. Is it a matter of two or three weeks or more like six months? I appreciate exercise comes into the equation, but I AM 71 next month and not in my 30's! There is a limit as to how far my joints like walking, I am sorry but 10,000 steps and mountaineering is not on!I'm 61 and started walking a couple of years ago. today i walked in a group, where I was much the youngest. We did about 4 miles around Goring on Thames. which was just over 9,000 steps. I've got up to the 10,000 now. You do need a pedometer.
Sorry about all the questions. I just don't seem to be able to get a grip on all this.
We're all still asking questions. No-one knows it all