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Why Bother to Meter Blood Sugar Levels

Priam

Priam

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have noticed that some people have posted that if they eat a particular type of food their blood sugar level spikes. But does this really matter? Does it affect how they feel or is it just a case of recording a number. Both my doctor and my diabetes nurse say a meter is unnecessary.
When I was diagnosed at the beginning of the year with an Hba1c of 65 I just did something about it; and by committing to a low carb diet and intensive exercise it was reduced to 46 withing five months.
Initially I was weighing my food to ensure I kept to low carbs but I'm no longer so strict, although I do try and be sensible with my diet.
I'm convinced that diabetes is linked to weight; and having reduced my weight by two stone, as long as it stays around this figure I'm happy, and believe my next test in a few weeks time will prove this.
 
By testing and acting on the information gained by doing so I have reduced my HbA1c to 39 and my bg levels to normal.

While I had undiagnosed diabetes and it was uncontrolled my blood sugars where completely unknown and in that time I have developed retinopathy, kidney damage and neuropathy in my feet and hands.

So testing is not about just recording numbers it is about gaining control of a situation you were lucky in that the measures you took helped but you really without testing could not know if what you were doing and what foods you were eating was helping or exacerbating the situation.

I will continue to test as tight control of BG levels is the only way I can hope to elevate or eradicate the complications developed while my blood sugars were not under control.

Ignorance is not bliss.and diabetes is nothing to be complacent about.

Regards John
 
You might want to consider that not all type 2 diabetics are overweight. Quite a few are and always have been quite thin and even athletic. It may be true that your diabetes is linked to weight, I do not know. What I do know is that more and more research is proving that insulin resistance, often for decades before diagnosis, is a major factor in gaining weight in the first place. Not everyone chooses to go ultra low carb and many use eat to your meter to discover where their body is happy. We are all different. Personally I do not want to spend three months doing something only to find out it is not working for me, so I test. To each their own, I am glad your way is working for you.
 
Priam said:
I have noticed that some people have posted that if they eat a particular type of food their blood sugar level spikes. But does this really matter? Does it affect how they feel or is it just a case of recording a number. Both my doctor and my diabetes nurse say a meter is unnecessary.
When I was diagnosed at the beginning of the year with an Hba1c of 65 I just did something about it; and by committing to a low carb diet and intensive exercise it was reduced to 46 withing five months.
Initially I was weighing my food to ensure I kept to low carbs but I'm no longer so strict, although I do try and be sensible with my diet.
I'm convinced that diabetes is linked to weight; and having reduced my weight by two stone, as long as it stays around this figure I'm happy, and believe my next test in a few weeks time will prove this.
Click to expand...

Bear in mind that most of the advice given to newly diagnosed type 2's is to eat a "healthy" diet, such as brown bread, pasta and rice. There is often no mention of lower carbing, but instead an emphasis on low GI foods. An HbA1c every 6 months is a poor monitor for those who, in good faith, are eating stuff that is probably raising their levels. Without self testing, how can we know which foods affect us badly? Continued spikes in glucose levels are harmful and should be avoided whenever possible.
Lastly, regarding weight..there are plenty of people who are not obese that are diagnosed with diabetes, also those who have medical conditions that have caused it. Even more reason for self monitoring in these cases.
 
The HbA1c is a sort of average. It does not show the highs, and it is the highs that cause the damage. Highs are not negated by subsequent lows. The glucose does not fall off the haemoglobin, it stays bonded no matter how many good levels there are in between. So a good or reasonable average does not necessarily mean there will be no damage done. It is thought that there should be minimal variance in the levels to have the best chance of avoiding complications. Testing frequently will show you this variance much better than any HbA1c will. It gives you chance to work out what causes this variance and do something about it.
 
It is so that you can keep track of your blood sugar levels, and take the necessary actions when needed.
 
My diabetes nurse said that diabetes is a progressive disease and I would end up on insulin.. so did I believe her? No way.
I started testing everything I ate and went ultra low carb from day one. I now know what I can eat and what I should avoid and do so. I happen to have lost nearly 6 stone and stopped my sleep apnoea too. I am a firm advocate of testing and equate it to driving a car with my eyes open rather than closed.
 
Type 2 diabetes is just not with people that are over weight. My aunt is type 2 and she only weighs 7st 1lb
 
Priam, this type of post is excellent as it stokes debate, personally I learn from the questions and answers. I think with our condition it is prudent to err on the side of caution as the gaps for HbA1c testing are usually 3 or 6 months. Some of the contributions I have seen have shown astonishing progress within 3 to 6 months, often halving or better their HbA1c, so it stands to reason that in the same period negative results could be also be as dramatic. H'mm I also get what I think is your sentiment about kind of just getting on with life. I now just incorporate testing in a similar manner to brushing teeth twice a day.

I must admit I hate that count down period when I have performed the finger prick in case it is a bad reading. My initial approach was over training, still eating significant carbs, burning muscle and constant testing circa 5 times a day a poor way to get an A1c of 41. Reduced now to morning and occasionally circa 17:00. Testing taught me that I can eat 40 g of porridge / coconut water with stacks of berries raise my mmol by 1, whereas a pasty adds 2.5. On balance I would recommend testing, to know what works, so that spikes can be avoided / minimised. My meter shows averages of about 4.9, but my A1c of 42 indicates that I must be spiking, which has meant I have reduced my carbs adjusted my workout and eating times, intrigued to see my next A1c at Christmas.
 
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