Advice please on high readings on libre (non diabetic) at the minute but my Hba1c is nearly at pre diabetes

[EJK]

Hello, I’ve just joined and I’m am looking for some advice or someone with a similar experience. Back in 2016 I had gestational diabetes so I have to have a yearly Hba1c blood test and they have always been in the 30s ranging from 32 to 39 but I have recently just had my blood test and it was 41. So any higher and I will be pre diabetic. I was so confused when I got the results as I have been quite good the past year I do fasting, eat well and I exercise more a less every morning and I walk between 10-20 thousand steps a day and I’m slim so I was expecting this blood test to be a lot lower and it was quite a bit higher than the year before which was 32.
I decided to buy a libre 2 to see if I could see what could be going on with foods etc to try and get some answers and to see if I can adjust anything now before going into the pre diabetic stage, anyway I am so confused but it all. It says a normal fasting for a non diabetic should be under 6mmol and after eating no higher 7.8mmol. So on my first morning I got up and I did a workout and I fasted until lunch and my readings went up when not eating and when exercising. Also I’ve had several readings going above 7.8mmol when having lunch and tea. I did a roast dinner and it went over 9 and then today I had soup and made some cottage cheese bread which has rolled oats in but it includes seeds etc but that went high too. I feel like when I exercise it goes up and also if I go for a walk after eating it brings it down but then it can go up again once I’ve stopped like a second surge. I have really bad anxiety and I don’t know wether it’s a good or bad thing to be wearing it and I was hoping it would make me feel better but im worried my readings are too high. I just want to know if these highs could just be normal or if I should be concerned. Could anybody advise or has anybody experienced anything similar? I will attach some of my graphs from starting . Many thanks in advance

 

[Lucyr]

These all look normal to me, non diabetics spike after meals it’s just that their blood sugar comes down again which is what yours does. The diabetes specialist nurse on a course I’m on said all the staff wear the technology like libre once to see what it’s like and she’d spiked up to 11 but came straight back down as she’s not diabetic.

 

[Lucyr]

It says a normal fasting for a non diabetic should be under 6mmol and after eating no higher 7.8mmol

Could I ask where did you get this from too? The 7.8 after meals is likely 2hours after starting to eat, not “maximum blood sugar peak”

 

[Drummer]

As an experiment I just tried fasting and low calorie, expecting my numbers to go down into the 30s, but they didn't, I am up to 48 now.
I avoid high carb foods to keep my blood glucose in the normal range, so no grain, no high carb veges or fruits, and back to eating at around 12 hourly intervals..

 

[EJK]

These all look normal to me, non diabetics spike after meals it’s just that their blood sugar comes down again which is what yours does. The diabetes specialist nurse on a course I’m on said all the staff wear the technology like libre once to see what it’s like and she’d spiked up to 11 but came straight

These all look normal to me, non diabetics spike after meals it’s just that their blood sugar comes down again which is what yours does. The diabetes specialist nurse on a course I’m on said all the staff wear the technology like libre once to see what it’s like and she’d spiked up to 11 but came straight back down as she’s not diabetic.

Thanks for replying ☺️. So what is the best time to look for a more accurate reading after eating? To see whether it is high or not? What are your thoughts on it rising when fasting or exercising?

 

[EJK]

Could I ask where did you get this from too? The 7.8 after meals is likely 2hours after starting to eat, not “maximum blood sugar peak”

So the maximum blood sugar peak shouldn't matter even if quite high before 2 hours after eating?It’s best to check after 2 hours? I will attach what I found online

 

[EJK]

As an experiment I just tried fasting and low calorie, expecting my numbers to go down into the 30s, but they didn't, I am up to 48 now.
I avoid high carb foods to keep my blood glucose in the normal range, so no grain, no high carb veges or fruits, and back to eating at around 12 hourly intervals..

Do you think fasting made it worse? I always thought fasting was good for blood sugar levels and exercising but my levels seem to increase when I do both. Thanks for replying

 

[Leadinglights]

Do you think fasting made it worse? I always thought fasting was good for blood sugar levels and exercising but my levels seem to increase when I do both. Thanks for replying

For some people it might work but for others the absence of food either periods of fasting or just the normal overnight period when people don't eat the liver releases glucose to give people the energy for organs to function and give them energy for doing tasks or exercising.
Gentle exercise can reduce blood glucose but more intensive exercise can make it increase.

 

[EJK]

For some people it might work but for others the absence of food either periods of fasting or just the normal overnight period when people don't eat the liver releases glucose to give people the energy for organs to function and give them energy for doing tasks or exercising.
Gentle exercise can reduce blood glucose but more intensive exercise can make it increase.

Ah ok, thanks. It’s not a one fits all ‍♀️ I thought I was doing the right thing by exercising first thing and fasting but maybe I need to re think how I do things.

 

[Lucyr]

So the maximum blood sugar peak shouldn't matter even if quite high before 2 hours after eating?It’s best to check after 2 hours? I will attach what I found online

This picture you’ve shown says you shouldn’t be checking post meal until at least 90 minutes after eating. So don’t worry if you go over 7.8 before 90 minutes after eating

 

[Inka]

Hi @EJK The Libre can be quite inaccurate, and even if your readings were accurate, people without diabetes can go up into the 10s. I can understand why your recent HbA1C worried you, but I would just wait for a repeat test not use a Libre. If you have weight to lose, then that might help, as can eating healthily and exercising. Those things should improve your insulin sensitivity.

As you have anxiety, I’d ditch the Libre and focus on living well and having your regular HbA1C tests.

 

[EJK]

This picture you’ve shown says you shouldn’t be checking post meal until at least 90 minutes after eating. So don’t worry if you go over 7.8 before 90 minutes after eating

Ah ok thanks ☺️. Any ideas on exercise or fasting causing my levels to go up a bit over the norm? Also after some meals my level goes up and then comes down and then has a second surge. Any ideas why that could be? Many thanks

 

[Inka]

Also I’ve had several readings going above 7.8mmol when having lunch and tea. I did a roast dinner and it went over 9 and then today I had soup and made some cottage cheese bread which has rolled oats in but it includes seeds etc but that went high too. I feel like when I exercise it goes up and also if I go for a walk after eating it brings it down but then it can go up again once I’ve stopped like a second surge.

I’ve often tested my non-diabetic friends’ blood sugar after meals. They commonly go up into the 8s and 9s, particularly after larger or very carby meals. The important thing is that their blood sugar comes back down.

You mention your blood sugar going up and down through the day - that’s normal. Lots of things affect it, eg hormones, stress, food, exercise, illness, etc etc.

 

[EJK]

Hi @EJK The Libre can be quite inaccurate, and even if your readings were accurate, people without diabetes can go up into the 10s. I can understand why your recent HbA1C worried you, but I would just wait for a repeat test not use a Libre. If you have weight to lose, then that might help, as can eating healthily and exercising. Those things should improve your insulin sensitivity.

As you have anxiety, I’d ditch the Libre and focus on living well and having your regular HbA1C tests.

Hi, thanks very much for your reply.
I think I was more confused and upset with my result as I don’t have any weight to lose I’m slim and I eat well the majority of the time and exercise so I was surprised it was the highest it’s been. But I think the libre has made me more confused with the readings when I fast and exercise as I thought those things would help ‍♀️. Thanks for the info and advice much appreciated

 

[EJK]

Also I’ve had several readings going above 7.8mmol when having lunch and tea. I did a roast dinner and it went over 9 and then today I had soup and made some cottage cheese bread which has rolled oats in but it includes seeds etc but that went high too. I feel like when I exercise it goes up and also if I go for a walk after eating it brings it down but then it can go up again once I’ve stopped like a second surge.

I’ve often tested my non-diabetic friends’ blood sugar after meals. They commonly go up into the 8s and 9s, particularly after larger or very carby meals. The important thing is that their blood sugar comes back down.

You mention your blood sugar going up and down through the day - that’s normal. Lots of things affect it, eg hormones, stress, food, exercise, illness, etc etc.

Thank you this makes me feel much better ☺️

 

[Drummer]

Do you think fasting made it worse? I always thought fasting was good for blood sugar levels and exercising but my levels seem to increase when I do both. Thanks for replying

I suspect it did - I found I was hungry when having a shake early in the day - I suspect I should then have tried having real food earlier in the day, but I have no in date strips, so I could not really check up on what was happening until the blood test.
I think it is associated with why I could not lose weight on the normal diets in previous decades, and why I need to stay so low carb if I am to keep in normal numbers.
Your own numbers are so close to normal it would be easy to just let things ride, but I suspect that you might find you feel a lot better day to day just keeping an eye on the high carb foods and not overdoing them. I actually feel better this week than when on the diet , plus I have more energy. I have actually been jumping up and doing spontaneous housework!!

 

[EJK]

I suspect it did - I found I was hungry when having a shake early in the day - I suspect I should then have tried having real food earlier in the day, but I have no in date strips, so I could not really check up on what was happening until the blood test.
I think it is associated with why I could not lose weight on the normal diets in previous decades, and why I need to stay so low carb if I am to keep in normal numbers.
Your own numbers are so close to normal it would be easy to just let things ride, but I suspect that you might find you feel a lot better day to day just keeping an eye on the high carb foods and not overdoing them. I actually feel better this week than when on the diet , plus I have more energy. I have actually been jumping up and doing spontaneous housework!!

Thank you ☺️

 

[Lucyr]

Any ideas on exercise or fasting causing my levels to go up a bit over the norm? Also after some meals my level goes up and then comes down and then has a second surge. Any ideas why that could be? Many thanks

It’s normal for blood sugars to go up and down all the time, you’re reading too much into it all

 

[Inka]

Hi, thanks very much for your reply.
I think I was more confused and upset with my result as I don’t have any weight to lose I’m slim and I eat well the majority of the time and exercise so I was surprised it was the highest it’s been. But I think the libre has made me more confused with the readings when I fast and exercise as I thought those things would help ‍♀️. Thanks for the info and advice much appreciated

Sometimes our bodies will pump out extra glucose to start the day, and if we don’t eat. That might help explain some of your results. Also, some people find certain types of exercise raise their blood sugar rather than lower it. Again, I hope that reassures you a little. In addition, some drugs can raise blood sugar, as can illnesses like Covid or even just a cold. A bad night’s sleep can affect things too.

You know you had Gestational Diabetes and that that puts you at higher risk of Type 2, but that doesn’t mean you’re destined to get it. You’re doing absolutely the right thing - keeping an eye on it by having your HbA1Cs 🙂

 

[EJK]

Sometimes our bodies will pump out extra glucose to start the day, and if we don’t eat. That might help explain some of your results. Also, some people find certain types of exercise raise their blood sugar rather than lower it. Again, I hope that reassures you a little. In addition, some drugs can raise blood sugar, as can illnesses like Covid or even just a cold. A bad night’s sleep can affect things too.

You know you had Gestational Diabetes and that that puts you at higher risk of Type 2, but that doesn’t mean you’re destined to get it. You’re doing absolutely the right thing - keeping an eye on it by having your HbA1Cs 🙂

Thanks very much you’ve been really helpful and put my mind at rest ☺️