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Struggling to maintain blood sugars

F

Farmer234

Member
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 2
hello all just a quick question, I'm really struggling with keeping my blood sugars down ATM, average a1c% has gone from 6 to 7.8 nothing has really changed have been exercising 5 times a week and am basically living carb free but my sugars just keep rising am struggling to keep them under 10mmol has anyone else experienced this or have any advice, panaking a bit atm.
 
Hi and welcome!

If as you say you aren't eating carbs it must be worrying. Have you more stress in your life that could be causing it, or some new medication, illness, injury?

Which diabetes medications are you taking?
 
No nothing is really new no injuries, stress or meds. Currently diet controlled so no meds.
 
First question is, how much protein are you eating? If you're not eating carbs, the glucose must come from somewhere else.
 
Yeah diet is mainly based around meat fish and veg and fats like cheese. Looking at around 131g of protein per day, usually les than 50g of carbs
 
Farmer234 said:
Fat is usually a little to high as well would this impact heavily?
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Fat won't impact. As far as blood glucose is concerned you can eat as much as you like. Excess protein over and above what your body needs possibly will impact. Of course, a lot of fats are also protein, such as eggs, oily fish, cheese.

Have you any weight to lose?

When do you test?
 
Am loosing body fat currently sat at around 16%, weight is pretty stable now, have been building muscle at the gym.
 
@Farmer234 perhaps it is the protein. It would be really helpful knowing what foods and amounts you're having for each meal. The time interval between each meal. If and when you're snacking. What the time interval is between dinner and breakfast. Also if you're testing pre-meal/snack and 2-hours post meal/snack.

When you mention cheese. What types of cheese? What amounts? How often per day?

How much in the way of grains, starchy root vegetables, legumes, fruit and vegetables [oops, meant berries not vegetables] are you eating each day?
 
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Adding a pre-meal test would give you valuable information as to how each meal is affecting your glucose levels.
 
Have you had the tests to rule out Type 1? Sounds like it's time to see your doctor if you're no longer able to control your BG with diet.
 
Although 50 gm of carbs is considered the highest level of low carb diet, some people need to go lower - I am wondering just how many carbs you are actually eating - are you checking the amount or estimating?
 
Usually kippers, eggs or herring for breakfast (150g), 4 egg cheese and ham omelette for lunch and some sort ot meat or fish and veg combo for dinner usually 2 chicken breasts or around 300g of fish with 3 different types of veg usually broccoli, peas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes or mushrooms. If I snack which is pretty rare I'll have nuts. Pretty boring I know but it doesn't really change.
 
You may want to ask for a fasting c-peptide test to see how much insulin you are producing. If your insulin production is very low you will not be able to control sugars with diet alone. If your doctor won't order this then you can have it done privately.
 
i think it might be time to go bk to the docs and get some more tests done or start medication Thanks for the advice.
 
Boring is okay, particularly when you're just starting low carb. Broccoli, peas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes all spiked my glucose levels when I started on the low carb diet.

Mushrooms weren't a problem.

By the way, before I crossed over to type 2 diabetes, the endocrinologist thought I may have type 1.5 diabetes. I suppose it's still a possibility.

What I'd suggest trying for a few days is reducing your protein intake a bit, sticking with the low carb, non-starchy vegetables for a few days, and testing pre-meal and 2-hour post meal.

I had a heck of a time getting my glucose levels down when I first started. What is the time interval between dinner and breakfast? Also what kind and how much cheese are you eating?
 
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When you say exercise, can you tell us more about that too? What type, how long, how many days a week?

I'm also curious as to how long you've been eating low carb?
 
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Farmer234 said:
i think it might be time to go bk to the docs and get some more tests done or start medication Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

Perhaps.

But there's still a lot you can try. Just testing pre-meal and 2 hours post meal alone could make a huge difference in understanding better what's happening.

One thing I found is that the more I engaged in physical exercise, the more I was able to start knocking those glucose levels down.

I am severely insulin resistant, and can hit 180 mg/dl (10 mmol/l) if I eat too much or the wrong foods for my body. You're not alone. There's lots of "hacks" you can add to your daily regimen.
 
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