Just an opinion

[Doddy]

I am yet to see the DSN, so i don't really know what is going to happen, but I am just wanting an opinion.

Tested earlier before i had lunch and I was at 10.3. Had 2 cheese and cucumber rolls for my lunch and a cup of tea...and now it's at 17.9.
Is this amount of jump expected with just 2 small rolls. They were white rolls, so I know that wasn't the best option, but they were made for me!

Like I say, this is all new to me, I haven't been told to change diet or do anything yet...still have 2 wks before I see anyone!

I guess I just need to know if this the sort of jump to be expected.

 

[veganlass]

Yep bread has that affect in me. Lot of folks on here eat Burgen Bread which is a slow release bread. White bread is a no no.

Sure folks on here will guide you.

 

[novorapidboi26]

It can be expected for most but remember your pre meal reading was 10.3, so its not as bad as you think...........🙂

 

[Doddy]

It can be expected for most but remember your pre meal reading was 10.3, so its not as bad as you think...........🙂

When you say my pre meal reading was 10.3....does that mean it's bad???

 

[AlisonM]

White bread is one of the worst things for me, even worse than spuds which are pretty bad so I tend to stay off the tatties and stick to wholegrain seedy breads, I keep meaning to try the Burgen bread but haven't got round to it yet. I've found I can cope with small amounts of rice and pasta, but there again I try to stick to brown varieties most or the time.

 

[novorapidboi26]

When you say my pre meal reading was 10.3....does that mean it's bad???

Well its higher than you would like yeah, but its early day though........😉

 

[Northerner]

White bread is, unfortunately, worse than table sugar for spiking your levels. This is because it needs one less chemical stage to go through before converting to glucose, so as it digests it puts your levels up immediately. Maybe someone on insulin could time their dose to match its peak, but it's highly unlikely, and as aT2 you don't stand much chance at all, I'm afraid The saving grace is possibly that the fat in the cheese will have slowed the rise a little.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Take heart though - at least you've been able to see what happens and can decide what to do with that information.

AlanS (Aussie blogger and occasional member here) has some useful hints and tips on his website from his own experience:
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/d-day.html

 

[Andy HB]

I'd say it is early days for you and things will take a little while to settle down. So the numbers will be higher than you want right now. I was given the guidelines of (and sorry to those who have seen this before! ;o) ):-

1) Before breakfast/lunch/tea --> 4-7mmol/L
2) 2hrs after breakfast/lunch/tea --> 7-9mmol/L
3) Avoid <4mmol/L --> Hypo
4) Avoid >10mmol/L --> Hyper

But I emphasise that you are just starting out and these numbers might not be achievable immediately. Just try and make progress towards them (or whatever your DSN suggests!).

Andy 🙂

 

[DeusXM]

Andy, I'd politely suggest your BG recommendations are incorrect.

Pre-eating readings (essentially, fasting readings) should really be in the 4-6 range. The 2 hour PPs are more open to debate - in T1s, because most bolus insulins work for 3 hours, there might be a need to keep things slightly higher at the 2 hour mark but ideally it never exceed 7. As for T2s, they should aim to have their 2 hour PPs back right at the original fasting level. 2 hour PPs in the 7-9 range is simply too high - it'll ruin your A1c and it also usually indicates you were much higher at the 1 hour mark.

However, I wouldn't recommend a newly dxed person try to hit these straight away - most of us who've had this for years can still struggle!

 

[Robster65]

I would have thought if you have your 2 hour BG back at fastign levels, you're eating very high GI food that spikes quickly and flushes through.

Most foods will peak at the 1 to 2 hour mark (or later), so you'd need to either match it perfectly with your insulin peak or, for a T2, have very low resistance and perfectly matched meds.

If ever I'm back in the 4s after that time scale, I eat something before I crash. 😱

Rob

 

[Andy HB]

Andy, I'd politely suggest your BG recommendations are incorrect.

Pre-eating readings (essentially, fasting readings) should really be in the 4-6 range. The 2 hour PPs are more open to debate - in T1s, because most bolus insulins work for 3 hours, there might be a need to keep things slightly higher at the 2 hour mark but ideally it never exceed 7. As for T2s, they should aim to have their 2 hour PPs back right at the original fasting level. 2 hour PPs in the 7-9 range is simply too high - it'll ruin your A1c and it also usually indicates you were much higher at the 1 hour mark.

However, I wouldn't recommend a newly dxed person try to hit these straight away - most of us who've had this for years can still struggle!

They're the guidelines I was given at diagnosis and they worked fine for me! 🙂

Granted, since then I prefer to be in the 4-7 range 2hrs after a meal, but I'm just one of the 'lucky' ones.

Anyway, I think I made your last point at least twice in my post.

Andy 🙂

p.s. I was largely hitting those guideline numbers regularly within 2 months of diagnosis. Due partially to the meds, improved diet and my immediate take up of regular exercise in the form of walks. Of course, I still had the odd blip when eating completely the wrong thing! 😉

 

[Doddy]

Thankyou all for your replies 🙂 Since I have been testing, I have only hit 9 once, and that's when I didn't eat till about 3pm, and was feeling awful!

Am I silly to have the attitude of "im not going to change anything till Im told"? I think a part of me still doesn't accept I do have Diabetes, and it's just a high level.

The dr said she would start me on Metformin when i have my appointment...does this immediately start to bring down the levels? If the meds brings the level down, do i still need to watch what I eat?

i know these are questions I should be asking my DN when I see her, and I will do, but I am limbo right now, and not sure if I should be using my results to start cutting out foods straight away.

Also...I am grossly overweight. I know I will be told to exercise. this is fine with me, but I have a bad knee that becomes extremely painful when I do even the shortest of walks. I haven't seen the dr about this because he/she will jst put it down to being overweight, which I agree, it probably is. But it makes exercising nigh on impossible...any thoughts?

 

[AlisonM]

Can you swim Doddy, or maybe find a water aerobics class near you? You'd be supported in the water and should be able to more than you'd think without straining anythng. Always supposing you have a pool nearby you can get to that is. It's never too early to make changes in your diet and lifestyle and it's surprising how quickly you start to feel the benefit. As for the Metformin, you should start to see some improvement within days but, it's my understanding that the pills on their own are unlikely to be enough. The clinic should be able to advise you on how to go about things.

 

[Mark T]

Am I silly to have the attitude of "im not going to change anything till Im told"? I think a part of me still doesn't accept I do have Diabetes, and it's just a high level.

Want someone to be blunt? Yes, I think you are being silly.

Some DSN's and GP's are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard so it's in your hands. They might not tell you what to do - or they might give you bad advice (because they don't know better).

A non diabetic would be mostly in the 3's and 4's (I've never measured my wife past 4.5) and anything over 10 is definitely not healthy in the long term.

 

[Katieb]

Hi Doddy. Of course you are not being silly. When you have no idea what changes to make, it's really difficult to second guess what you should do. But you are avoiding the inevitable in as much as you will have to start to make changes and even small ones now will help you to feel much better and have an impact on your levels. You obviously have a meter so can test, so my advice would be, as others have already said, start reading up on them from the recommended reading material already given and begin to make small adjustments. Your DN will be impressed that you have taken action already and in my opinion, the people on this forum know far more than even some GPs etc about how to get your BG under control! In the meantime, avoid anything white - flour, rice, bread, pasta, sweet or high carbs such as large portions of potatoes. Switch to wholemeal and cut your portion sizes. You'll soon see a difference! Good luck and keep us posted. Katie🙂

 

[Doddy]

LOL..Thanks Mark T...I am always up for someone being blunt with me!

From reading posts on here, it does seem that you experienced people with D do seem to know more than the GP's!

I also have Epilepsy, and I know how long it took me to get used to that diagnosis, this will be even harder as it means such a huge change to my lifestyle. I know I need the change, and I cannot keep going as i am, but it doesn't make it any easier!

I do have a swimming pool nearby...so I could go there 🙂 I had never thought of swimming, basically because everytime I go, I am with the children, so I don't actually get to swim...too busy supervising them! But, I will make the effort to go whilst they are at school.

I really do value all your comments...and the kicks up the backside too!

 

[DeusXM]

I would have thought if you have your 2 hour BG back at fastign levels, you're eating very high GI food that spikes quickly and flushes through.

Most foods will peak at the 1 to 2 hour mark (or later), so you'd need to either match it perfectly with your insulin peak or, for a T2, have very low resistance and perfectly matched meds.

If ever I'm back in the 4s after that time scale, I eat something before I crash. 😱

Rob

Well yeah, that's the point. If you don't eat according to what your treatment regime can handle, you won't control your diabetes. Given that Novorapid sorta peaks in the 45-1hr30 range, it covers most things - actually, I usually need to take my Novorapid about 15 mins before eating, otherwise it just ends up playing 'catch-up' and losing. And I guess if you're a T2 with high resistance, the obvious route is to base your diet on things that won't make you reliant on the quality of your insulin response.

You really don't want your food peaking later than than 2 hour mark, otherwise you need an entirely different insulin.

 

[Robster65]

Well yeah, that's the point. If you don't eat according to what your treatment regime can handle, you won't control your diabetes. Given that Novorapid sorta peaks in the 45-1hr30 range, it covers most things - actually, I usually need to take my Novorapid about 15 mins before eating, otherwise it just ends up playing 'catch-up' and losing. And I guess if you're a T2 with high resistance, the obvious route is to base your diet on things that won't make you reliant on the quality of your insulin response.

You really don't want your food peaking later than than 2 hour mark, otherwise you need an entirely different insulin.

I've found that the different makeups of meals can vary the peak from 1 to 4 or 5 hours if there's a lot of fat or protein. If I have eggs on toast at 5.30pm, I can be climbing at 11pm. Horrific. Ideally need to split humalog for quite a few meals but rarely do. Just avoid difficult meals. Which is a rubbish way to have to live really. But it is how it is.

Rob

 

[heasandford]

Yep bread has that affect in me. Lot of folks on here eat Burgen Bread which is a slow release bread. White bread is a no no.

Sure folks on here will guide you.

Can I also just point out that Burgen Soya and Linseed bread has actually about a third less carbs than normal bread as the soya replaces some of the flour, and soya is largely protein. I don't think it is slow release, unlike granary
and seeded breads, there isn't a very high percentage of linseeds, but the effect may be the same overall