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Stuggling to control

shirl76

Newbie
Messages
2
I was diagnosed T2 about 5/6 years ago and have always struggled to maintain good BG levels. I know the next time i go for my annual the GP is probably going to put me on insulin, which I really don't want to do. Am currently taking 2000mg metformin a day as well as repaglinide (was on Januvia but didn't seem to have an effect so stopped, which the GP said I could do). Can't say im always the best at remembering to take my meds daily (the lunch time ones are the worst) but am at the moment really trying and also trying to make changes in order to bring my levels down

So for the last 4weeks I have taken to getting up extra early to do a 2 mile run before work(4-5 days), in addition I try and do an hours dance class such as Zumba or I will do extra long run on a saturday (did 4miles today)or a Dance workout DVD ( maybe do that twice in a week if i can fit in). So my activity levels have really increased particularly since say easter I was doing zilch in the way of fitness.

Other changes i have tried to make is to watch what i eat and reduce my carb intake. I was previously a carb queen, and I guess the bulk of my evening meal would be rice or pasta. I now have swithched to brown rice and pasta, will try to limit the bread i eat, will try to eat only rye, ryvita or wholewheat where i do include bread in my diet - or none aat all. i also try to weigh my pasta/rice and limit it to 50/60gms (previously i might have had 3/4 times that particularly with rice. My breakfast will typically be oat so simple original porridge in order to keep me full and my snack at work might be a handful of baby tomatoes with a mini cheese portion such as babybel and a piece of fruit.

What im finding at the moment is that my fasting BG levels first thing in the morning are still sky high, can range from a high 9 to about 14/15, and ive tested before breakfast (after a run say) and after breakfast, where my levels generally remain the same.
however a few times when ive remembered to test before tea time, my levels have come right down to about 5 or 6's which for me is a good reading, interestingly even when i have forgotten to take repaglinide at lunch.

So my problem is my overnight levels, im not really sure how to bring them down short of totally excluding carbs which im really not sure i can do :-(. Despite the changes im making, which for me i feel are massive, i dont feel like its making barely any difference to Bg levels or for my weight for that matter( am overweight - about 11st which has pretty much remained the same, maybe lost 2ibs) Im feeling dejected and a bit down. Any help and advise would be really appreciated.

I should add that im just in the process of getting more test strips so will be able to monitor bS levels a bit more regularly for a while so i can get more of an idea how different foods effect my levels, I will also try the breads that have been recommended on here and I also use myfitnesspal to diary the food i eat and the exercise i do - helps to see how much carbs im eating on a day too.
 
Hi. I have a feeling your overall carb intake may still be too high. Using the meter 2 hours after a main meal is the best thing to do. Don't worry about morning fasting tests as they can be confused by overnight liver dumps. Make sure you know the carb content of any food e.g. read the packet or tin labels. I assume you are an insulin resistant T2 due to being overweight. Metformin is the right starter drug. Can't comment on the repaglinide. Yes, unless you can get your weight back down through carb reduction I can see that insulin might be round the corner but do stick to taking the meds and using the meter.
 
shirl
I have almost excluded carbs. It wasn't easy, but I am feeling no ill effects. My monitoring is to check Blood sugar daily. If it's outside my target range, I try do better next day.
I don't eat bread and most days no potatoes, rice, pasta, cereals etc. I may have a baby new potato on Sundays with my lunch. I don't eat sweets or cakes etc. I'm sparing with fruit.
I did have an apple off my own tree today with my evening meal of Greek Salad. To me it's all worth it. My weight is slowly creeping down and I'm well with Hba1c in the 5s. currently upper 5s, but I'm working on getting it down.
So far I haven't felt the need to give up my strip of dark chocolae each evening!
I eat a maximum of twice a day. this is for the weight thing I'm VERY weight-loss resistant. Half a slice of breadwould bounce my weight up by at last 1KG in a day. [I tried it once ]
Hana
 
Hi Shirl,

Well done with all of the changes you have made its really inspiring.

I had a look at the numbers for Oats so simple and it is massively carby, I'm afraid, even the plain one is 60% carbs. I think its to do with the way they prepare it to make it quick cook. Maybe you could try something different for brekkie? Bacon and eggs, or omelette or yoghurt and berries, or my new fave, sugar free jelly with double cream.

Like Hanadr, I have given up most carbs, and after a bit of pain have got quite used to it - I replace rice/pasta with broccolli or cauliflower - then feel very virtuous as I am actually likely to eat my 5 a day which was very rare before my change of diet.

I know its not easy but it might be worth it if you can stay off insulin ...
 
Thanks for all your advise guys, I will keep at it. Guess I'm gonna have to go in harder with the low carb thing, so difficult when I'm not a massive lover of veg particularly the low carb ones. Love my food too, oh well, onwards and upwards eh! Will see my GP soon and let you know what he says
 
Hi again, I never used to like cauli, or broccolli, but I've kind of rewired my brain that I am doing this all for my long term health, I don't want to go blind, have feet amputated or have kidney failure, and when you think of it in those terms, it feels worth it.

At first I tried cooking broccolli with a stock cube in the water to give it a better flavour, cauliflower served with bags of cheese, which is so indulgent! Now I am getting used to these veggies and enjoying them for what they are. Often I smother them in sauce like bolognese.

There are so many amazing low carb recipes on this forum, and then yesterday someone posted this link which has some nice ideas too [mod edit: link removed]

Just remember you are not alone, we are all on the same journey, we all have good and bad days, but we are all in it together!

Good luck!
 
Hi Shirl,

I have a similar issue with my waking levels - they're usually between 7-10 mmol/L and my consultant wants them at 5mmol/L. He has suggested (as I'm not a low carber, I'm low GI) that I have the bulk of the carbs I do eat during the day and after lunch (I'm experimenting with times at the moment to see when my cut-off point is) cut my intake to 20g of carbs.
This should hopefully start reducing my morning readings.

Please don't stress out too much though - you've done fantastically so far!
 
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