Testing getting me down

peter.s said:

Hi
Since being diagnosed type 2 I've been testing 3 times a day first thing 2 hours after lunch and 2 hours after dinner but my bgs all over the place when diagnosed my hba1c was 80 and bgs where in high 20s they have been coming down but not very quickly I'm on 80mg of gliclazide in morning and 80mg before dinner
I'm doing everything they have told me no sugar cut down on carbs
5/1/17-9.3 9.7 14.8
6/1/17 8.3 11.1 10.3
7/1/17 10.8 12.2 9.9
8/1/17 9.1 16.3 7.6
Any suggestions would be really helpful
Thanks in advance

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Hi @peter.s
Have you pinpointed which foods are causing the 10+ spikes? Potato, bread or rice? Crackers or too many nuts?
I know ideally they like us below 7.8mmol/l but aim for below 10 for now as walking pleasurably or swimming without stress can assist too.
What is your typical 3 meals?

Ickihun, when you say "they like us below 7.8mmol/l", who are "they" ? Is this an NHS/NICE standpoint ?

my HBAC1 at diagnosis - 102 - youch (as at 31.8.16) and a BS level at the time of 29. My last HBAC at the beginning of December - 50. So much improved but a ways to go yet.

The best thing I can say, exercise - like pretty all the members of the forum here. It will help with your mood, BS levels and fitness. I get out for at least half an hours walk a day - the point is that it has to be a brisk walk i.e. you should be slightly out of puff when you are walking. Even if you can't manage the half hour - just do 10 minutes at a time and build up. I know its harder work in the winter months, but this has made a huge difference to both my BS levels and my fitness and weight. I've shifted 2½ stone since the end of August. I know diagnosis is a rude shock (it certainly was to me!), but don't beat yourself up. One day at a time and if your levels are up higher than you would like, put them to good use - do 10 minutes exercise - that's what I do on the days that for some bizarre reason they are up (and you do get days like that where they go up for no reason at all).

And by the way, your levels don't look that bad to me. Would the other forum members agree? I would say look at what you are eating - my worst spikes tend to come with bread and potatoes. I limit myself to no more than 2 wholemeal buns a day (and keep them for the time when I will be utilising the carbs i.e. lunch. I tend to have a higher protein and fat dinner to counteract any carbs earlier in the day. I'm still on the journey myself and have things to learn.

Hi @peter.s

I know it's annoying testing lots, but it would be worth you testing before all of your emails as well as 2 hours after so you can see the difference depending on what sort of food you're eating.

Hi Peter, your after meal numbers are similar to mine pretty much, with the exception of the 16's. I do get the 14 after Sunday lunch but this is one weekly meal where I'm not going to let diabetes rule my life. I was higher but have cut out or reduced the carbs a lot but it does take time I think. Somebody here gave me some advice a couple of days ago after I've been getting high fasting numbers on a morning and getting a bit stressed over them, they just said stop worrying about the number they sort out eventually if you keeps doing what you are doing.

Juicetin said:

Ickihun, when you say "they like us below 7.8mmol/l", who are "they" ? Is this an NHS/NICE standpoint ?

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Good question. I'm allowed a margin over 10+ with my diabetes care due to other medical conditions but daisy1 info on here and low carb programme followers have mentioned the 7.8mmol/l or below to avoid diabetic complications! You?

peter.s said:

Hi ickihun
Breakfast is 2 slice 50/50toast and either bacon or eggs
Lunch toast and ham and cheese or eggs
Dinner varies
At moment I'm about 100 to 120 grams of carbs a day
I know bgs are coming down but can't get back to work as I'm a pcv driver and bgs still to high

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How long have you been eating 100-120gms per day?
Is that not one piece of toast per day?

OK,
So firstly here is a link to the official NHS guidelines (as reproduced on the DCUK website)
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

And secondly, why are you testing 3 times a day after meals?
In my experience you would get a MUCH better idea of how your current diet is affecting you if you test before eating and then again 2 hours after. This will allow you to see how much of a blood glucose rise you get from particular foods and particular portion sizes. So you will be able to tailor your diet to your body, reducing the carbs further if you see that specific meals are causing the rises.

Hi @peter.s and welcome to the forum. I'm afraid it does take time to get your blood sugar levels down, it's not going to happen in a few weeks, but they should come down over time.

Personally I would cut out bread completely and just eat the rest eggs and bacon, meats, fish, green veg and salad.
Maybe even try cutting out breakfast altogether. I found my bloods came down pretty fast doing that and then stabilised at more acceptable levels. I am a big advocate of cutting out all carbs of you can then maybe re-introduce a few if you really must. But bread is one thing I will never eat again.

I'd be getting numbers like that if I ate bread, potatoes or rice, or more than a small amount of low sugar fruit.
By eating salad and low starch veges I can stay below 8 most of the time.

I'd say ditch the bread, even if its only until you get your levels stabilised. (I only have 6 wholemeal rolls in a week and never more than 2 at a time). And check the amount of carbs per slice if you do indulge in bread - its surprising how much it can vary between each brand.