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Why do we test 2 hours after meals ?

M

MadMat

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Just wondering why we test 2 hours after eating - did a set of tests today that have somewhat shocked me!

I have been allowing myself an occasional small bag of maltesers as a treat - after all the first couple of times I tested after eating them the 2 hour test looked fine - well under 7 both times

Decided to do a more detailed test tonight, as I was slightly disbelieving that I could get away with this and was right to disbelieve!

before eating 5.9 - one hour after 10.7 - two hours after 6.7

if I hadn't done the 1hr test I could have carried on blissfully unaware that I was spiking myself!!

Mat
 
Hi Mat, Maltesers are probably one of the worst sweets you could have chosen seeing as one of their main ingredients is glucose syrup theres a clue in the name of that ingredient as to why you spiked so high :wink: , still its good to know that you are getting back towards base level at the 2 hour mark, I would avoid Maltesers and be pleased about your 2 hour reading :thumbup:
 
I know they are probably not the best thing to test, I was kind of seeing how far I could push things and get away with it :)

Just a little concerned now that some of the other stuff that's slightly dodgy that I've tested and seemed OK at two hours might be spiking me earlier that I've not noticed.

Mat
 
The 2 hour bit is a bit confusing. It's a measure taken at a stage when we SHOULD be back down to reasonable levels, we will have peaked some time earlier with most foods we eat. Most foods seem to reach a peak with me at about the 1 hour stage. According to the food, I can be up to 40% higher at the 1 hour stage than the 2. We test at 2 NOT to find the peak, but to see if we are back down, and we always do it at the same time for consistency of comparisons. SOME food allegedly can give a peak AFTER the 2 hours for some people, but I've not found one yet.
 
Grazer said:
The 2 hour bit is a bit confusing. It's a measure taken at a stage when we SHOULD be back down to reasonable levels, we will have peaked some time earlier with most foods we eat. Most foods seem to reach a peak with me at about the 1 hour stage. According to the food, I can be up to 40% higher at the 1 hour stage than the 2. We test at 2 NOT to find the peak, but to see if we are back down, and we always do it at the same time for consistency of comparisons. SOME food allegedly can give a peak AFTER the 2 hours for some people, but I've not found one yet.
Click to expand...

Grazer,
I peak at 3 hours with protein foods.
If I have stuff like steak, eggs, or fish and have very few carbs with them I get great 2 hour numbers but the 3 hour one is often quite a bit higher!!
Angie
 
angieG said:
Grazer said:
The 2 hour bit is a bit confusing. It's a measure taken at a stage when we SHOULD be back down to reasonable levels, we will have peaked some time earlier with most foods we eat. Most foods seem to reach a peak with me at about the 1 hour stage. According to the food, I can be up to 40% higher at the 1 hour stage than the 2. We test at 2 NOT to find the peak, but to see if we are back down, and we always do it at the same time for consistency of comparisons. SOME food allegedly can give a peak AFTER the 2 hours for some people, but I've not found one yet.
Click to expand...

Grazer,
I peak at 3 hours with protein foods.
If I have stuff like steak, eggs, or fish and have very few carbs with them I get great 2 hour numbers but the 3 hour one is often quite a bit higher!!
Angie
Click to expand...


Hi Angie,

You might like to read this article.

"Meals heavy in protein may, under some conditions, produce a rise in blood sugars at the next meal because dietary protein can be converted into blood glucose over a period of 6 hours."
http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.co.uk/

I think the difference between some of our results when we test is because of the carb content or lack of it at meal times and the delay in some foods peaking.
 
When I first got my monitor, I tested at all sorts of times. The highest reading I have got so far was one hour after eating, and that was in the 8s. Since I have been low carbing, I suppose ultra as I am eating around 20gs of carbs a day, often less, I found all my reading stay very much the same all day. The highest time being first thing (I will get that down!) Yesterday I had a rise, but I had a slice of Burgen bread for the first time in a couple of weeks.

I have no idea what my point is here. I am rambling :crazy:
 
Hi Angie,

You might like to read this article.

"Meals heavy in protein may, under some conditions, produce a rise in blood sugars at the next meal because dietary protein can be converted into blood glucose over a period of 6 hours."
http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.co.uk/

I think the difference between some of our results when we test is because of the carb content or lack of it at meal times and the delay in some foods peaking.[/quote]


Thanks catherinecherub,

That is an interesting article and it is reassuring to know that I am not alone!!

I have been trying to cut down quite a bit lately as I had a bad neck so my levels seemed to raise a bit due to that and I was working on getting them back to normal. After a year of morning levels in the 5's I have been getting 6 and 7's.
So I cut out a lot of the carbs and went higher protein and fat (skinny so don't worry about weight) but this caused my peaks to occur at 3 or more hours. Even got to a 10 the other night before bed 5 hours after my evening meal.....bit worrying...but thank you as you have now solved that mystery!!

I guess it's time to quit the big steaks etc!! :lol:

Just when you think you are getting to understand it all something crops up and surprises you!

Just goes to show after nearly 18 months keeping levels good after getting down from initial diagnosis level of 25 it is easy to get a set back!! :thumbdown:

Regards
Angie
 
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