Understanding code free readings

[Lairyfairy]

Hi guys, have been away from the forum for quite a while but am back again trying to go back to basics. My control has been pretty good since being diagnosed 7 years ago but I had an increased HbA1c this time (has been 50-55 but was 62 this time) and have had to increase my metformin by 1 tablet. I need to lose weight so am doing Slimming World and to help me regulate what I eat I have got an SD Code free device as I was told from the beginning that I should not test myself ... I am T2. My question is about readings ... what is a good reading? I tested before food and 2 hrs after each meal yesterday and a breakfast reading today:
1st Morning reading: 8.9 ... porridge/apple/milk/chia seeds, tea ... 2hr Reading 9.5
Before lunch: 6.3 ... 1 ryvita & Cottage cheese, salad/egg/tinned tuna/homemade dressing ... 2hr Reading 8.4
Before dinner: 7.6 ... Slimming World chicken tikka masala with orzo pasta ... 2hr Reading 9.6
This morning 1st reading 9.4 ... egg/bacon/mushrooms/baked beans/tomatoes ... 2hr Reading 8.6
Sorry for long post and thanks for reading.

 

[Northerner]

Hi @Lairyfairy, good to hear from you again 🙂 Those readings all look good, ideally you would want to be around 8.5 as a maximum after eating, but that very much depends on what your level was before eating, and there can be a little variation in meter readings anyway, so I wouldn't worry about the odd 0.5-1 mmol/l above or below. A rise of 2-3 mmol/l two hours after eating is very good and shows that you are tolerating your food choices well 🙂

Your morning readings are a bit on the high side - are you testing as soon as you wake or after you have been up and about for a while? If not, the higher levels could be due to Dawn Phenomenon. How do they compare with your readings before bed?

 

[bamba]

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing#glucose

 

[Lairyfairy]

Ah Northerner, my friend ... I have missed your words of wisdom and great advice. Still, back here again now and happy to be back amongst friends.

I tested after washing and dressing but before eating or drinking anything and I didn’t test before bed. Tonight and tomorrow morning when I wake up I will do another test and let you know the result.

I was wondering about the “normal” range for people without diabetes being less than 7 versus a person with diabetes starting at above 7 and just wanted to know whether it is unrealistic to strive to be within those “normal” parameters?

Another thing is that I was told to take my 4 metformin as 2 with breakfast and 2 with my evening meal. I’m a bit concerned that I don’t take anything at lunchtime so I have been doing 1+1+2. Should I take the advice I was given or am I right to take something at each meal? I’m concerned that any sugars will run unchecked at lunchtime if I take nothing.

Thanks

 

[Lairyfairy]

Bamba ... many thanks for the link. It has a lot of info in it.

 

[Northerner]

Ah Northerner, my friend ... I have missed your words of wisdom and great advice. Still, back here again now and happy to be back amongst friends.

I tested after washing and dressing but before eating or drinking anything and I didn’t test before bed. Tonight and tomorrow morning when I wake up I will do another test and let you know the result.

I was wondering about the “normal” range for people without diabetes being less than 7 versus a person with diabetes starting at above 7 and just wanted to know whether it is unrealistic to strive to be within those “normal” parameters?

Another thing is that I was told to take my 4 metformin as 2 with breakfast and 2 with my evening meal. I’m a bit concerned that I don’t take anything at lunchtime so I have been doing 1+1+2. Should I take the advice I was given or am I right to take something at each meal? I’m concerned that any sugars will run unchecked at lunchtime if I take nothing.

Thanks

There's certainly nothing wrong with trying to get pre-meal levels below 7.0, and it is achievable although for some people it can take time. The key thing is really to try and keep things in a steady range as this is thought to be less stressful on your system, such as the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and kidneys. For example, regular readings in the 7-9 range may actually be better than levels that often go from 5-12 🙂

As for metformin, I don't think it makes a lot of difference when you take your dose as it is a type of medication that 'establishes' itself in your system rather than having a more immediate effect on your latest meal, so I think whatever you find most comfortable should be fine - but I may be contradicted by others who take it, of course 🙂

 

[bamba]

If the metformin is the slow/extended release type - then you might find it easier to remember to take them in the morning - all at once.

If not - and it is the standard version, its effects (and side effects) are more immediate, and it is better to take as directed with a meal.

As with anything regarding medication - check with a GP / Pharmacist before changing regime.

 

[Ralph-YK]

As far as I know, the difference in your levels before and after eating are reasonable. Personally, I'd take 8.9 to 9.5 as something not to take much notice of. All readings under 10 which is good. I would want to get the morning reading down a bit myself, if I knew how.

 

[Drummer]

Lucky type twos like me can achieve normal results without medication, but for me that does mean not eating as many carbs as you are doing at the moment - porridge apple and milk fist thing would have my BG elevated and I don't touch anything with grain so no crackers, pasta nor baked beans either - all the usual suspects - but I don't hanker after such things and sometimes it gets to 2pm and I remember I have not yet eaten, as low carb reduces appetite. I boiled a couple of eggs hours ago now, so will go and make the humongous salad I had planned. As is usual for me my BG level has risen to over 8mmol/l due to not eating first thing - I am one of those who cannot fast, so I eat twice a day about twelve hours apart to try to keep my levels steady.
Metformin doesn't do anything to reduce BG levels from food, it just inhibits your liver from releasing glucose into the bloodstream, and it is long lasting, so taking the tablets with a meal will not help keep BG down - it is intended to reduce the rather violent reaction which some people have.

 

[Lairyfairy]

Thanks guys. Drummer ... congrats on your fantastic weight loss. I am trying hard to lose some but it has never been easy for me. Carbs have always been a problem for me and I don’t eat any other kind of cereal than oats (which is a lesser evil)and little or no bread. My bloods after the cooked breakfast this morning (which included some beans)has given me a good result I think, as it was down on my pre food reading after 2hrs. What sort of thing do you eat for breakfast? It would be nice to have a change of scenery once in a while

Thinking of my raised HbA1c this time, and being honest about what I was eating, I had some French stick pretty well each day ... I was in Spain for 3months, and that was really the only difference to normal as I don’t do alcohol or fizzy drinks other than carbonated water. So I reckon that was the culprit. I can’t think of anything else ... and I did 10k+ steps almost every day ... but not power walking hahahaha. . I won’t be eating French stick like that again. Knowledge is power, as they say.

 

[Drummer]

I have two meals a day about 11 or 12 hours apart, except for days when I forget to eat - low carb can do that. I boiled some eggs ages ago and never made the salad.
Today my first meal was to have been a couple of eggs, some cheese (OK lots of cheese) lots of salad, half a bag of sweet and crunchy prepared salad, plus clelery radishes tomato beetroot - anything I find in the fridge - oh I think there's some sweet peppers in there somewhere too. And coleslaw - but I do not eat cereal - that is any sort of grain, as it puts my BG level up and keeps it there. I don't eat bread pasta potato or starchy veges, no high sugar fruits.
I have been known to eat chops for breakfast - that was a normal breakfast before breakfast cereals were devised, I also have kippers with cauliflower now that the Lidl rolls are no more, or sausages, eggs of all kinds, mushroom omelette is good, as is scrambled eggs with cheese and a sliced tomato.
Although considered a high carb diet, my triglycerides dropped from 2 to 1.5 on tho non fasting tests I had at 3 and 6 months, but it is a year since I had any tests done by the clinic - that is what happens when you are too clever, it seems. I do have a meter and test from time to time, just to check.

 

[Lairyfairy]

Thanks Drummer. I find that if I eat carbs, in particular bread and biscuits, I don’t feel full and crave more. I really have to leave them alone.

 

[trophywench]

Well - have you ever tested your blood as soon as you wake, before you get out of bed, which will be a true fastig test - then grabbing just a bit of protein - bit of cheese or a slice of cooked meat out of the fridge - nothing huge or that requires any effort. Then get washed and dressed and prepare brekky and when that's ready to eat - test again.

Most people's BG increases as soon as they rise but eating something - anything! 'breaks the fast' and can be enough to stop the BG increasing any more than it did while they walk to the fridge.

 

[Lairyfairy]

Thanks Jenny. I will try it tomorrow. It seems weird that Bgs should go up overnight when there is nothing being eaten to push them up, but they are a law unto themselves. . Probably trying to stop me ‘starving’.

 

[trophywench]

No not to stop you starving at all - because everyone's BG drops to its lowest every day at approx. 2.30am, the brain thinks you need some input of glucose in order to fuel all your cells, to arise when you wake again and go forth to do whatever you need to do - from way back when you needed to go and hunt for food or now to stagger to the bathroom get ready for work and then work. So it sends a message to your liver to release some glucose, which it stores, into your bloodstream to facilitate this.

The only thing to stop it is eat something - anything virtually - small and quick as soon as poss after waking to 'break your fast' and fool the brain into stopping dumping the extra! Don't wait until you're washed and dressed, and brushed your teeth - do it now.