Constant high readings even with medication and modified food intake.

[Tezzamoo]

Hi guys.

New to diabetes UK. I've been diagnosed T2 for about 10 years now. Sadly I didn't take my condition seriously until this year when I changed GPs and overhauled my dietary habits. I am currently on Gliclazide, Metformin, Ramipril and Atorvastatin. Im also wearing a Libre sense 2 sensor, tracking my bloods constantly along with occasional finger prick tests to back up the libre sense readings.

I'm finding that 1st thing in the day my readings register around 10 - 13 in the mornings but as soon as I've had some breakfast, say 2 x sesame crackers or some bran flakes with skimmed milk or wholemeal toast with olive spread my bloods start to spike with readings in the late teens or even in the mid 20's !!.

I've brought this to the attention of my GP but they suggest that I carry on taking my meds and along with my adjusted food intake they should come down.... but sadly it's not happening.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated as this roller coaster ride with my health is beginning to get me down.

Tel.

 

[gail2]

do you keep a food diary with before leves and 2 hours after ones as well That might help you spot which foods trigger your high levels its worth a try
Wellcome to the forum please feel free to post as much or as little as you want, no question to small,large or to silly
gail

 

[Leadinglights]

When do you take your gliclazide, I believe it is recommended to take 30min before eating to give your pancreas a chance to start producing more insulin to cope with the carbs in your meal.
As suggested keeping a food diary with everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the carbs together with noting before eating and after 2 hours readings as that will help identify any problem foods and also provide evidence for your GP that the current meds regime is not working for you.
Maybe replace you high carb breakfast with something with more protein like eggs or Greek yoghurt and berries.

 

[victorhamesse]

Your high readings in the mornings are (IMO) the remains of the readings from last night. As has been said you need to keep a diary of what and how much you eat and when. Check these timings/quantities against your Libre readings and you will start to see a pattern of what causes the rises and by how much. I found that I'm better off (less spiking) by eating less at a time but more often.

Try a different cereal than Bran Flakes. Waitrose lists the Kellogg version at 65% carbs of which sugar is 14% - much too high in both. If you can, look for another cereal. Lizi's low sugar nuts & seeds granola cereal from Waitrose is 48.5% and 3.3%. I now eat the Paleo low sugar gluten free granola at 15.2% and 4.6%. Have a look around and read the ingredients list and see what works better for you. I found that wheat/oat based stuff sends my sugars bonkers so I have these nut/seed based cereals. (Used to love porridge - no longer)

Another thing is to remember that Gliclazide takes 2 hours to reach peak effectiveness - so delay any fruit intake until the late AM and eat small quantities at a time (e.g. quarter of an apple at once - 3 berries at a time). Then you can enjoy the taste several times a day !!

That's what works for me but for you it may well be different. Luckily you have a Libre so you can experiment easily.

Good luck and keep the forum informed please.

Regards.

 

[Leadinglights]

Your high readings in the mornings are (IMO) the remains of the readings from last night. As has been said you need to keep a diary of what and how much you eat and when. Check these timings/quantities against your Libre readings and you will start to see a pattern of what causes the rises and by how much. I found that I'm better off (less spiking) by eating less at a time but more often.

Try a different cereal than Bran Flakes. Waitrose lists the Kellogg version at 65% carbs of which sugar is 14% - much too high in both. If you can, look for another cereal. Lizi's low sugar nuts & seeds granola cereal from Waitrose is 48.5% and 3.3%. I now eat the Paleo low sugar gluten free granola at 15.2% and 4.6%. Have a look around and read the ingredients list and see what works better for you. I found that wheat/oat based stuff sends my sugars bonkers so I have these nut/seed based cereals. (Used to love porridge - no longer)

Another thing is to remember that Gliclazide takes 2 hours to reach peak effectiveness - so delay any fruit intake until the late AM and eat small quantities at a time (e.g. quarter of an apple at once - 3 berries at a time). Then you can enjoy the taste several times a day !!

That's what works for me but for you it may well be different. Luckily you have a Libre so you can experiment easily.

Good luck and keep the forum informed please.

Regards.

Having had the Lizi's low sugar granola for ages I discovered a new Lizi's high protein granola nuts and seeds which is 40.7g carbs per 100g but also M & S grain free nut and fruit granola at 9g carbs per 100g so a couple of other alternatives instead of Bran flakes and work well with Greek Yogurt and berries.

 

[victorhamesse]

Having had the Lizi's low sugar granola for ages I discovered a new Lizi's high protein granola nuts and seeds which is 40.7g carbs per 100g but also M & S grain free nut and fruit granola at 9g carbs per 100g so a couple of other alternatives instead of Bran flakes and work well with Greek Yogurt and berries.

Yes, I saw that but the Lizi's has 10.3% sugar so I fear the effects are going to be the same - low other carbs but high sugar.

FYI I leave my greek yogurt and berries until 11am to let the Paleo effects diminish (Paleo eaten at 8am). I also sometimes have the Paleo with Alpro soya milk not cow's milk.

I'll look for the M&S one to try. Thanks.

 

[Leadinglights]

Yes, I saw that but the Lizi's has 10.3% sugar so I fear the effects are going to be the same - low other carbs but high sugar.

FYI I leave my greek yogurt and berries until 11am to let the Paleo effects diminish (Paleo eaten at 8am). I also sometimes have the Paleo with Alpro soya milk not cow's milk.

I'll look for the M&S one to try. Thanks.

You are right, I hadn't spotted that. I only have about a desert spoonful on the yoghurt.

 

[victorhamesse]

You are right, I hadn't spotted that. I only have about a desert spoonful on the yoghurt.

Probably just under your threshold for reacting ! I have two scoops of Paleo (not heaped - it sparks a reaction ! )

 

[harbottle]

Hi guys.

New to diabetes UK. I've been diagnosed T2 for about 10 years now. Sadly I didn't take my condition seriously until this year when I changed GPs and overhauled my dietary habits. I am currently on Gliclazide, Metformin, Ramipril and Atorvastatin. Im also wearing a Libre sense 2 sensor, tracking my bloods constantly along with occasional finger prick tests to back up the libre sense readings.

I'm finding that 1st thing in the day my readings register around 10 - 13 in the mornings but as soon as I've had some breakfast, say 2 x sesame crackers or some bran flakes with skimmed milk or wholemeal toast with olive spread my bloods start to spike with readings in the late teens or even in the mid 20's !!.

I've brought this to the attention of my GP but they suggest that I carry on taking my meds and along with my adjusted food intake they should come down.... but sadly it's not happening.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated as this roller coaster ride with my health is beginning to get me down.

Tel.

Sounds like Dawn Phenomenon kicking in.
And then fairly high carb breakfasts on top of that.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. Yes do change your breakfast food if you can as both the Bran Flakes and toast would cause me to spike. If you can, try no sugar-added muesli and eggs and bacon? If you are quite slim then it's possible you are late onset T1 so so ask for the tests if the high BS continues despite food changes.

 

[helli]

Hi @Tezzamoo and welcome to the forum.
Sorry to read you are finding it challenging to manage your diabetes.

A few things have been mentioned above but I think it is worthwhile taking a step back and explaining things like Dawn Phenomenon and why there are suggestions to change your breakfast.

Starting with Dawn Phenomenon. This is something that most people experience but, unless they have diabetes they do not notice. At the start of the day, our liver helpfully dumps glucose into our bodies to give us energy we need. This may happen in the early hours of the morning or when we first get up. In the latter case, it is often referred to as "Foot on the Floor". If we are unable to release enough insulin, this glucose dump causes a rise in BG. This is why the morning reading may be higher than others taken later in the day.

And the suggestions for your breakfast. You may have read that people with diabetes struggle with sugar. This is because our insulin (which converts sugar to energy) does not work properly. The other thing to consider is that all carbohydrates - pasta, rice, potatoes, cereal, bread, etc - are broken down into glucose (a type of sugar) by our bodies as we digest our food. So, even though they are not as sweet, bran flakes can have the same impact as a banana, for example.
This is why many of the people on this forum chose to eat a lower carb diet, avoiding these higher carb foods, especially at breakfast time when our bodies are also dealing with Dawn Phenomenon.

Some people will limit their crabs to 130g or less per day. Some people will limit their diet to foods that have less than 7% carbs. But you need to find what works for your lifestyle and your body.
As you have a Libre and finger prick meter, you can test your body and work out what works for you. The advice is to note your BG before you eat and 2 hours later. If the second reading is less than 2 higher than the first, your body can tolerate that food.

There are a bunch of other things that can affect our BG which is worthwhile being aware of. This includes things like stress, illness, how well you slept, how much exercise you have done in the last 48 hours and, for some, the weather.

 

[snowball12]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I get dawn phenomenon!!! I have to eat porridge mid morning or I will starve. Also I take glicazide ( have to eat some carbs with this drug ) I have been 15 years type 2 and have tried everything but sugar is erratic. I am now going on insulin, just waiting for appt from hospital as I am exhausted trying to find foods I can eat and can't remember my sugar being less than 8. I'm not saying that you should. Go back to GP or Diabetic nurse and tell them what is going on. Good luck

 

[Tezzamoo]

Thank you guys for replying to my post. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in my struggles to get a handle on this condition so thank you one and all

Thank you for all the advice regarding my spikes in my BG regarding breakfast. There is so much confusing advice out there with what you can and cannot eat.

I've seen and heard that you can eat a banana, bananas are good for diabetics BUT then I've also seen and heard that bananas should best be avoided. This doesn't help when trying to keep BG down.

I work in the transport industry and do shifts so regular meal times go straight out of the window. That in itself doesn't help and my bloods are up and down constantly, even with the medication. Maybe I'm wrong in thinking this but just maybe insulin would help to bring my BG down to a more comfortable level.

I wished I knew the answer but I'm at a loss and the only people, who know the answer seem reluctant to help for some odd reason.

It's really frustrating !

 

[victorhamesse]

I suggest you avoid bananas. They have about 12% to 18% sugar with a total carb value of 22% or so! Fruit that does have a good reputation on these forums are mostly berries. e.g. raspberries have 4.5% sugar (so a quarter of bananas) and strawberries (6% so a third). What works for me are 3x raspberries and a quarter of an apple. It also points out that unfortunately diabetes does require some attention to the size of the portion. I have a damaged pancreas that only produces half the normal insulin, so big portions are too much for my pancreas and I get sugar spikes. (Happens with carbs as well as fruit.)

Appreciate that your job in the transport industry may make some of this difficult for you.

 

[helli]

There is so much confusing advice out there with what you can and cannot eat.

I think this is because we are all different.
There is no one diet for all people with diabetes regardless what people try to suggest.
The great members of this forum share what works for them which is a good starting point but they may need a more limiting or less limiting diet to you.

I've seen and heard that you can eat a banana, bananas are good for diabetics BUT then I've also seen and heard that bananas should best be avoided. This doesn't help when trying to keep BG down.

Why don't you try one? One is unlikely to hurt in the long run and then you can find out if it is something you should eat more or less of.
Make a not of your BG. Eat a banana. Check your BG after 2 hours to see if it has risen more than 2mmol/l.
If it has, you could eat half a banana and see what happens or you may decide not to bother.

Unfortunately, having diabetes does not preclude us from experiencing other health issues. Some people may need to eat something higher in carbs (and sugar) for other reasons. I consider it important to look after all of your body and mind, not just the diabetic part. And decide what suits your lifestyle and body.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you guys for replying to my post. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in my struggles to get a handle on this condition so thank you one and all

Thank you for all the advice regarding my spikes in my BG regarding breakfast. There is so much confusing advice out there with what you can and cannot eat.

I've seen and heard that you can eat a banana, bananas are good for diabetics BUT then I've also seen and heard that bananas should best be avoided. This doesn't help when trying to keep BG down.

I work in the transport industry and do shifts so regular meal times go straight out of the window. That in itself doesn't help and my bloods are up and down constantly, even with the medication. Maybe I'm wrong in thinking this but just maybe insulin would help to bring my BG down to a more comfortable level.

I wished I knew the answer but I'm at a loss and the only people, who know the answer seem reluctant to help for some odd reason.

It's really frustrating !

It is frustrating but you have to remember everybody is an individual and no one size fits all so people need to find a personalised regime which suits them and why it is very hard to give a specific menu which would suit everybody. This is why people take control of their condition and with some trial and error will hopefully find an enjoyable sustainable way of eating. One approach to that is testing before you eat and after 2 hours aiming at no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase, in that way they can find a selection of safe meals and know what foods they can have to hand which are quick to prepare when time pressure and work make it more challenging. Portion size is important as is making good food choices .
This link is a good guide as to what foods may be suitable for you to try as it is an approach which many have found successful and have based their way of eating on. You will see there are plenty of foods you can eat. The Do's and Don'ts are a good start.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com

 

[snowball12]

I totally get your frustration. If you like veg and salad you should be ok eventually