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Target range

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LeeLou

Member
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8
I am a type 2 diabetic, using 500mg of glucophage (metformin) in the evenings and I am following as far as possible a lowGI, low fat diet. I would like to know what the target range for my blood sugar levels should be.

I have read so much on the internet on this and I am clueless, as the ranges given seem to vary so much. Even saw one saying as long as it's below 10, it's fine. (This seem rather high to me, but I could be wrong.)
 
Hi LeeLou, i'm no expert but i'd say your fasting bg level should be in the 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L range, or possibly lower.
 
Hi Leelou and peecee,

For a type 2 the 2009 NICE guidelines are as follows:

Fasting (waking) ..........between 4 - 7 mmol/l
2 hrs after meals ..........no more than 8.5 mmol/l

If you can get the post meal number lower then so much the better - I try and keep mine around the high 5's or low 6's, occasionally I even managed to get a 4.8!

Leelou, you are not wrong about 10 being high - try testing yourself one hour after a meal to see what affect it has had on your bs - keep a food diary and anything that sends it too high should be avoided - then test after two hours and see what results you get. The highest I have ever had is 8.4 and that was after eating All-Bran for breakfast - so this is now off my food list. Testing yourself regularly is the key. Once you understand what you can and can't eat it gets easier and you may not have to test so regularly.

There is loads of info on here about testing and diet and its effect on bs. Some people low-carb, some people low GI or GL. it's what suits you best.

I personally cut out all starchy carbs - bread, potatoes, pasta but can still manage a small amount of rice occasionally. I have also lost just over 2 stones in three months and still have another couple to go - so it has worked for me.

Keep reading the threads on this forum and as I said in a previous post ask as many questions as you like.

Rita
 
Thanks. I've also realised that All Bran (Listed as Low GI :o ) raises my levels. I am basically going through a process of elimination to determine what to cut out totally. I usually test around 8 < 9 after a meal, but there has been the occasional 9, even 10!! (Potatoes are particularly bad for me)
 
Don't forget though, we all do need some carbs !

When I first started I was cutting all of them out as much as possible.

Eating only meats and salad and stuff. I was losing half a stone per WEEK !

People were getting worried, then I found out we need to have some carbs to keep us going. :wink:
 
Hi LeeLou
I believe in setting my own target and I worked out mine from what I'd expect to find in a non diabetic. I couldn't see any sense in anything else. Non-diabetics have Bg around 4.7 pretty much all the time. They don't move much from there. So I try to keep around 5 and not to go above 6. I do keep pretty much there. Last HbA1c was 5.4%. I'm trying to get it down to the ideal, which is probably about 4.6%, so I'm on my way. I reduce carbs and use up to 3 x 500mg Metformin per day . My doctor allows me to choose if I take one with a meal or not. Although I have made stupid mistakes with meals and ended up at over the 6, it remains my target and I haven't hit an 8 for many months, pobabaly a couple of years and 7s although not unknown are rare.
There is a theory that it's the spikes that do most damage, so even if the HbA1c and averages appear ok, you can still be at risk.
 
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