Should have expected it

[Maz2]

Diagnosed pre-diabetic last year, sent on a prevention course. Thanks to the course, the advice and help on here and my own efforts I managed to get back to normal results.

went out last night for a Christmas meal. I am still self checking from time to time as I don't want them to go back up or at least I want to try to do my best to keep them from going up. Checked before I went out and was at 5.4. When I came back it was 8.8, to much of a jump. I had though eaten white bread (twit), potatoes and had a dessert and custard so should have expected it. My husband said the bloods of all our friends had probably gone up too after a 3 course meal including a dessert but they aren't checking.

Back to 5.7 this morning on getting up. Just shows how important checking is. It would not do to do that every day of the week.

 

[Drummer]

Looking back on the meal - if you had not had the potatoes and the bread, just the dessert - would you have enjoyed the occasion any the less?

Your level was not that bad, really - but if you'd been able to keep your post meal level down a little lower - would it have been that much of an effort?

 

[Maz2]

Looking back on the meal - if you had not had the potatoes and the bread, just the dessert - would you have enjoyed the occasion any the less?

Your level was not that bad, really - but if you'd been able to keep your post meal level down a little lower - would it have been that much of an effort?

Hi Drummer - the answer to your question is no. The most important thing about the meal was the get together with friends. I have not had white bread for years and do not really care for it so don't know why I bothered eating it. I can live without potatoes too if I have to. I don't always have dessert either but thought I would treat myself this time. The previous two weekends I had not had one even though everyone else did. A lot of restaurants these days offer mini desserts and coffee and, the last time I did that, the sugars hardly moved. As this was a Festive menu and pre-booked they don't offer it but I suppose I could have asked for it. Anyway, seems to have settled now.

I used to have sandwiches every lunchtime and potatoes every tea time but stopped that and do not really miss it. A friend of mine said she is not going to restrict herself and she will eat what she wants and does not care (non diabetic). She seems to think your life is a misery if you don't eat anything and everything but I have actually enjoyed my food more since I have been looking at carb content.

 

[Martin Canty]

I have actually enjoyed my food more since I have been looking at carb content.

Me too, my meals are somewhat more varied & I us inventive ways to replace the carbs with veggies (used to eat a lot of rice & pasta)

 

[Lisa66]

Hi, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I agree with your husband. Non diabetics blood sugars will go up post meal too. I discussed this with DSN recently about acceptable rises post meal, admittedly I'm type 1, but he said he sometimes tested his sugar levels after a meal (he's not diabetic) and depending on what he'd eaten they had gone up to 9 or 10 on occasion, but importantly had come back to normal in a reasonable time...as yours did. Don't be too hard on yourself.

An 8 after a 3 course meal...with dessert seems pretty good to me and you had a good evening and most importantly enjoyed yourself. You sound like you are doing really well.🙂

 

[Maz2]

Yep - me too Martin as I thought it was healthy as it was "no fat" (ha, ha)!!. I love all the recipes on here now and from my diabetes book and non diabetes books. I am a great lover of cooking anyway and, being retired, in fairness, I have more time than a lot of others juggling work and family.

 

[Beck S]

Although it's high, it's not hugely high, 8.5 is the top of the acceptable range after food I believe. And in all fairness, you're not making a habit of it I guess.

 

[Mark Parrott]

After what you ate, I would be quite happy with that result.

 

[Maz2]

N

Although it's high, it's not hugely high, 8.5 is the top of the acceptable range after food I believe. And in all fairness, you're not making a habit of it I guess.

No, Beck S, I won't be making a habit of it. I know if I go back to eating the way I used to it will probably go up again so I am going to treat myself from time and time but still be careful. I am also trying to gain some weight. Have managed to put some on but still underweight and Prevention Co-ordinator mentioned it when I saw them for the last time. I am testing now though so that if I eat something new I can see what it is doing and whether it is something I should be having regularly,

 

[Maz2]

After what you ate, I would be quite happy with that result.

You do very well though Mark yourself. I told the prevention co-ordinator about it when I saw him for the last time and he had never heard of anyone who had become diabetic and reduced their hba1c the way you have. I did not mention your name but just said it was someone on the Forum. I suppose I was a bit shocked to see it as most of what I eat does not really do much damage as, now I have found out what suits me, I tend to stick to it. Will have to check over Christmas and see what various foods do.

 

[Maz2]

Hi, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I agree with your husband. Non diabetics blood sugars will go up post meal too. I discussed this with DSN recently about acceptable rises post meal, admittedly I'm type 1, but he said he sometimes tested his sugar levels after a meal (he's not diabetic) and depending on what he'd eaten they had gone up to 9 or 10 on occasion, but importantly had come back to normal in a reasonable time...as yours did. Don't be too hard on yourself.

An 8 after a 3 course meal...with dessert seems pretty good to me and you had a good evening and most importantly enjoyed yourself. You sound like you are doing really well.🙂

Thanks Lisa. I have worked really hard and want to prevent them going back up if I can. I was so lucky that it was caught at the pre-diabetic stage so I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. I have friends who were diabetic by the time they found out and had terrible shocks as they had no idea. I also have another two friends now and a former work colleague who have gone pre-diabetic; it does seem to be happening a lot.

 

[Amigo]

I’m finding the distinction between diabetic and pre-diabetic quite blurred to be honest. I had one reading over 48 and was diagnosed as diabetic by my GP. Since then I’ve been firmly in the pre-diabetic and non-diabetic range at subsequent Hba1c tests. I’m aware that I’m only ever 3 months away from a diabetic number so I think anyone showing insulin resistance should simply consider themselves at risk and adjust accordingly.

However, I do have a bit of a blow out at times but it’s by choice and is within manageable limits. That’s the difference to me. Now I make choices rather than running amok with the carbs without a thought for consequences.

Your levels were fine after a meal like that Maz so don’t beat yourself up.

 

[Maz2]

Thanks Amigo. My GP actually told me that, a few years ago, they did not diagnose pre-diabetes and, if you were under the diabetic levels, you were told you were fine but now they are using pre-diabetes too to try to prevent diabetes, although it does not always work.

I think sometimes the levels on hba1c can depend on one or two foods. I found when I was in the prevention programme and they were taking regular hba1cs the first one had dropped quite a lot, the next one went up a little, the next one up again and the final one had gone down.

I was eating mixed grills once a week and quite a lot on holiday as I thought bacon and sausage would be better than carbs. I tested myself one weekend and found a jump from 5.9 to 12.4. Admittedly, I went down with a virus the next day so that could have explained some of it but still one heck of a jump. I stopped eating bacon and sausage as I am not that worried about eating it and the next hba1c was a bit lower, hence why I think sometimes it is just a certain food that makes a difference. It just goes to show how different we all are as I don't think anyone else on here is affected by bacon or sausage.

 

[Vince_UK]

Diagnosed pre-diabetic last year, sent on a prevention course. Thanks to the course, the advice and help on here and my own efforts I managed to get back to normal results.

went out last night for a Christmas meal. I am still self checking from time to time as I don't want them to go back up or at least I want to try to do my best to keep them from going up. Checked before I went out and was at 5.4. When I came back it was 8.8, to much of a jump. I had though eaten white bread (twit), potatoes and had a dessert and custard so should have expected it. My husband said the bloods of all our friends had probably gone up too after a 3 course meal including a dessert but they aren't checking.

Back to 5.7 this morning on getting up. Just shows how important checking is. It would not do to do that every day of the week.

Considering all Maz, I don't think that is a bad result at all ad i think with a ceiling of 8.5 2 hours post meal, 8.8 is acceptable actually. I would be happyish with that.
I believe @Mark Parrott once advised me that meters can have a 10% tolerance band. Allowing for that it could have still been below the 8.5. As others have also said. many non-diabteics levels would also have risen considerably. I seriously wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Drummer]

Personally the bread and potatoes would not have attracted me as I don't think of them as a treat - and although I might have considered a dessert I often find them disappointing, and far too sweet to be enjoyable.
Perhaps you should get yourself trained up by going out more frequently and see just how strong your willpower can become, or just what options are best for you.