A couple of things

[Newtothis]

Hi guys,

Immediately before breakfast my level was 6 - I had a slice of bergen bread (no spread) with sliced tomotoes and a handful of cherries for breakfast. 1 hour later my level was 9.2? Is there a way I could lower this?

As porridge spikes my levels is there an alternative cereal that can help reduce cholesterol. My cholesterol level is currently 4.8 and need to try and lower it to 4.

Many thanks Amanda x🙂

 

[Andy HB]

Hi guys,

Immediately before breakfast my level was 6 - I had a slice of bergen bread (no spread) with sliced tomotoes and a handful of cherries for breakfast. 1 hour later my level was 9.2? Is there a way I could lower this?

As porridge spikes my levels is there an alternative cereal that can help reduce cholesterol. My cholesterol level is currently 4.8 and need to try and lower it to 4.

Many thanks Amanda x🙂

I think the difference between the before and after test is important. A rise of only 3 points is not too shabby. For a 1hr reading, 9.2 isn't bad either (I was told to aim for between 7 and 9mmol/L 2hrs post meals).

I think, if you exercise regularly and lose weight (I aimed for around 1lb/wk) you may find your pre-breakfast reading lowers (I tend to be in the 5's or 4's now). Then, your post breakfast reading will be correspondingly lower too.

I've always had a problem with cholesterol. Nothing I do can get it below 5 and believe me, I've tried. But according to what I've heard, making sure you eat oily fish (with omega 3), keep the saturated fat intake to a minimum and exercise regularly, that should help.

Andy 🙂

 

[Mark T]

Hi guys,

Immediately before breakfast my level was 6 - I had a slice of bergen bread (no spread) with sliced tomotoes and a handful of cherries for breakfast. 1 hour later my level was 9.2? Is there a way I could lower this?

As porridge spikes my levels is there an alternative cereal that can help reduce cholesterol. My cholesterol level is currently 4.8 and need to try and lower it to 4.

Many thanks Amanda x🙂

It would of been interesting to see what would of happened if you just had the plain burgen with spread rather then the tomatoes and cherries. Even a handful of cherries is worth 10g Carb. Although both tomatoes and cherries are low GI.

The normal way to reduce post meal spikes are to eat low GI carbs. The next technique is reduce the amount of carbs you eat (thus my yoghurt and nuts in the morning).

The other way to lower your post-meal spikes is to get put on a fast acting sulfonylurea (gliclazide I think) since this will cause your body to release insulin.

I don't know enough about cholesterol to comment on it - but for a non-diabetic that 4.8 would be considered fine!

 

[trophywench]

Amanda - you will most likely find as you cut down the carbs, and also lose any excess weight - if you have any! - your chol readings will come down anyway but in any case it's how the Total Chol number is made up between HDL, LDL and Triglycerides that is part of the key. Frankly I wouldn't worry about your reading at the moment anyway, and especially not since hopefully what you are doing will reduce em anyway. Concentrate on the BG bit at the moment!

You might be one of those people who are a lot more insulin resistant in a morning than you are the rest of the day, some people can't eat carbs first thing in a morning at all, and it's entirely possible to avoid them altogether by having a protein breakfast. Bacon and eggs is only one example! Or virtually any sort of an omelette - one lady I know used to have a strawberry omelette several times a week !

 

[Newtothis]

Amanda - you will most likely find as you cut down the carbs, and also lose any excess weight - if you have any! - your chol readings will come down anyway but in any case it's how the Total Chol number is made up between HDL, LDL and Triglycerides that is part of the key. Frankly I wouldn't worry about your reading at the moment anyway, and especially not since hopefully what you are doing will reduce em anyway. Concentrate on the BG bit at the moment!

You might be one of those people who are a lot more insulin resistant in a morning than you are the rest of the day, some people can't eat carbs first thing in a morning at all, and it's entirely possible to avoid them altogether by having a protein breakfast. Bacon and eggs is only one example! Or virtually any sort of an omelette - one lady I know used to have a strawberry omelette several times a week !

I'm going to try Allbran tomorrow so will see what my readings are. I am losing the weight; I've gone from 13stone to 11.5 since 1st July; losing average of 1 - 2lbs per week. Aiming to get to 10.5 by Christmas (and I am very determined to do it). I walk 10,000 steps a day and am learning to swim in 2 weeks time 😱 I just get worried everytime I test and it goes above 8.5. I'm constantly told to have starchy carb at each meal and if I don't I get told that I'm starving myself... I eat a LOT of salad; fish and do like chicken, learn pork and turkey. I don't eat any saturated fats at all; potatoes possibly twice per week; my sugar intake is normally through fruit although I'm only eating plums; cherries; strawberries. Milk is only in tea and possibly 3 cups a day.

I don't know whether if I should continue with the 1hr post-meal test and just test immediately before and 2hrs later? I have bought a few books re food but I'm really really confused and worried about being obsessive. Its normally all or nothing with me. Cutting out the bad foods haven't been a problem but its difficult to trying to put a meal together....

 

[Newtothis]

It would of been interesting to see what would of happened if you just had the plain burgen with spread rather then the tomatoes and cherries. Even a handful of cherries is worth 10g Carb. Although both tomatoes and cherries are low GI.

The normal way to reduce post meal spikes are to eat low GI carbs. The next technique is reduce the amount of carbs you eat (thus my yoghurt and nuts in the morning).

The other way to lower your post-meal spikes is to get put on a fast acting sulfonylurea (gliclazide I think) since this will cause your body to release insulin.

I don't know enough about cholesterol to comment on it - but for a non-diabetic that 4.8 would be considered fine!

The DN did tell me if I was diabetic 4.8 wouldn't be a problem but I would like to reduce it, if I can. I am going to try and alternative breakfast tomorrow; and if that doesn't work will try yoghurts; nuts; scrambled egg etc... Did it take you a long time to sort out what foods agreed with you? Amanda 🙂

 

[Newtothis]

I think the difference between the before and after test is important. A rise of only 3 points is not too shabby. For a 1hr reading, 9.2 isn't bad either (I was told to aim for between 7 and 9mmol/L 2hrs post meals).

I think, if you exercise regularly and lose weight (I aimed for around 1lb/wk) you may find your pre-breakfast reading lowers (I tend to be in the 5's or 4's now). Then, your post breakfast reading will be correspondingly lower too.

I've always had a problem with cholesterol. Nothing I do can get it below 5 and believe me, I've tried. But according to what I've heard, making sure you eat oily fish (with omega 3), keep the saturated fat intake to a minimum and exercise regularly, that should help.

Andy 🙂

Hi Andy, I am losing around 1-2lb per week and have dropped from 13stone to 11.5 since July. I also eat a lot of fish. Can I ask, when I wake up in the morning and test my level is normally around 5-5.4/7. After a shower and getting ready for work when I test immediately before breakfast it rising to 6. Is there a reason for this? I know its a very small rise but is this because I'm moving around..(sorry to sound stupid); also how long should the meal plan/testing take and did you have a lot of high figures when first testing. Going above 9 and I've had a couple of 10's worries me although I have brought them down with long walks etc... Thanks for your advice Amanda x 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The only things I would add to what's been said (apart from well done on your weight loss and dietary changes so far!) is this:

If your post-meal tests currently show that your 2 hour is less than your 1 hour you have a choice as to whether to stick to 1 hour to always get the (most disheartening) highest reading or whether to stick to 2 hour tests and try to keep within your target at that point.

The guidelines suggest below 8.5 at 2 hours, and this would indicate that you'd be higher than 8.5 at 1hr but that you wouldn;t test then so as not to worry yourself. There's complex Type2 stuff going on with phase 1 and phase 2 insulin release that I don;t understand from experience, but gather that by 2hrs you should be coming down.

The other thing I'd suggest is that you think about your targets. You are at a very early stage in your D journey. You are already losing weight brilliantly (which will help BGs) and just about finding your feet.

I asked my consultant how many times a day I should allow myself to go over 11 (when I was being cautioned for running BGs perhaps a little too tight, and she said that an hour or two here or there in double figures was not going to do me any harm.

I have, in recent years, tried to 'buffer' my target range with a bit of slack to preserve my sanity. So a little below and a little above 'ideal' I now count as 'not bad' and have shifted my 'oops' setting a little higher up. If you stay below 10 most days at this point I'd count that as a win. If you can begin to shave off a few decimals as the weeks/months progress all well and good, but try not to beat yourself up over an occasional 8 or 9. (easier said than done I know!)

You are doing really well. Keep at it!

 

[Newtothis]

The only things I would add to what's been said (apart from well done on your weight loss and dietary changes so far!) is this:

If your post-meal tests currently show that your 2 hour is less than your 1 hour you have a choice as to whether to stick to 1 hour to always get the (most disheartening) highest reading or whether to stick to 2 hour tests and try to keep within your target at that point.

The guidelines suggest below 8.5 at 2 hours, and this would indicate that you'd be higher than 8.5 at 1hr but that you wouldn;t test then so as not to worry yourself. There's complex Type2 stuff going on with phase 1 and phase 2 insulin release that I don;t understand from experience, but gather that by 2hrs you should be coming down.

The other thing I'd suggest is that you think about your targets. You are at a very early stage in your D journey. You are already losing weight brilliantly (which will help BGs) and just about finding your feet.

I asked my consultant how many times a day I should allow myself to go over 11 (when I was being cautioned for running BGs perhaps a little too tight, and she said that an hour or two here or there in double figures was not going to do me any harm.

I have, in recent years, tried to 'buffer' my target range with a bit of slack to preserve my sanity. So a little below and a little above 'ideal' I now count as 'not bad' and have shifted my 'oops' setting a little higher up. If you stay below 10 most days at this point I'd count that as a win. If you can begin to shave off a few decimals as the weeks/months progress all well and good, but try not to beat yourself up over an occasional 8 or 9. (easier said than done I know!)

You are doing really well. Keep at it!

Hi there, thanks for above; I'm just worried about becoming obsessed. Its bizarre because 2 meals I've had upped to 10.2 1hr afterwards. Is it possible to eat and have sugars below 8.5 1hr after whilst including starchy carbs. I am thinking about cutting carbs out but would that have a detrimental affect on my health? I am just panicking aren't I...🙄

 

[PattiEvans]

Hi there, thanks for above; I'm just worried about becoming obsessed. Its bizarre because 2 meals I've had upped to 10.2 1hr afterwards. Is it possible to eat and have sugars below 8.5 1hr after whilst including starchy carbs. I am thinking about cutting carbs out but would that have a detrimental affect on my health? I am just panicking aren't I...🙄

The HCPs are really stuck on this carb advice, whereas carbs are the very things that raise BGs. Mad? Of course. Modern thinking is now coming round to the idea that carbs are not actually necessary, fat is not evil and eating a much lower carb diet is healthier for all the population not just diabetics, but changing established thinking is a very slow process. I suggest you "eat to your meter" in other words if your meter shows you at levels of 9 and above it probably wasn't a good idea to eat whatever.

As far as why you rise in the mornings this is due to dawn phenomenon where your liver is releasing glucose to give you energy for the day - poor Mr liver doesn't realise this is unwelcome if you are diabetic. More on dawn phenomenon here Having said that, the difference between 5.4 and 6 is very small and could be down to meter tolerance.

 

[Mark T]

The DN did tell me if I was diabetic 4.8 wouldn't be a problem but I would like to reduce it, if I can. I am going to try and alternative breakfast tomorrow; and if that doesn't work will try yoghurts; nuts; scrambled egg etc... Did it take you a long time to sort out what foods agreed with you? Amanda 🙂

Well I was diagnosed back in January and I'm still tinkering a little occasionally with my food 😉

The last major bit of playing around was when I hit my target weight (BMI 23), I needed to add some calories and carb's back into my diet in order to maintain weight.

The net result of that is that rarely go under 6.0 (whereas when I was dieting I was often in the range 5.5 - 6.0 per meal, occasionally into the 4's) but my weight is stable.

 

[Newtothis]

Well I was diagnosed back in January and I'm still tinkering a little occasionally with my food 😉

The last major bit of playing around was when I hit my target weight (BMI 23), I needed to add some calories and carb's back into my diet in order to maintain weight.

The net result of that is that rarely go under 6.0 (whereas when I was dieting I was often in the range 5.5 - 6.0 per meal, occasionally into the 4's) but my weight is stable.

Hi Mark,
I'm losing weight and hope to hit my target weight soon; have gone from 13stone to 11.5 since July and want to be 10.5 by Christmas. Do you eat carbs on a regular basis? Did you also test 1hr & 2hrs after or just 2hrs after. Many thanks Amanda x 🙂

 

[Mark T]

Hi Mark,
I'm losing weight and hope to hit my target weight soon; have gone from 13stone to 11.5 since July and want to be 10.5 by Christmas. Do you eat carbs on a regular basis? Did you also test 1hr & 2hrs after or just 2hrs after. Many thanks Amanda x 🙂

Well I started at 12 st 12 lb (apparently, I'm a metric person really) and ended up at 10 st 5 lb or thereabouts. Yes, I eat carbs with each meal 🙂 I'm consuming roughly 130g Carb per day, mostly with lunch and dinner. Whilst I was loosing weight I kept to Low GI carbs.

When I was regularly testing I was doing at 1hr after meal only. The only exception to that was Pasta since the spike can be 2, 3, 4 hours after the meal.

 

[Newtothis]

Well I started at 12 st 12 lb (apparently, I'm a metric person really) and ended up at 10 st 5 lb or thereabouts. Yes, I eat carbs with each meal 🙂 I'm consuming roughly 130g Carb per day, mostly with lunch and dinner. Whilst I was loosing weight I kept to Low GI carbs.

When I was regularly testing I was doing at 1hr after meal only. The only exception to that was Pasta since the spike can be 2, 3, 4 hours after the meal.

Hi Mark,
We're your 1hr tests until 8.5 or above and lower than 8.5 2hrs later? Amanda x 🙂

 

[Mark T]

Hi Mark,
We're your 1hr tests until 8.5 or above and lower than 8.5 2hrs later? Amanda x 🙂

I rarely tested at 2 hours. I was test strip limited to about 2 per day. But when I did, yes. I've got test from April where I went from 5.6 -> 9.3 @ 1hr and 7.2 @ 2hrs.

In the few cases where I have monitored it, my 2 hour reading is below my 1 hour. The exceptions to this is Lasagne (yum!) where my peak reading is at 4 hours and one case where I had a large steak and the 2 hour was higher (my 1 hour reading was 4.9 ).

 

[Newtothis]

I rarely tested at 2 hours. I was test strip limited to about 2 per day. But when I did, yes. I've got test from April where I went from 5.6 -> 9.3 @ 1hr and 7.2 @ 2hrs.

In the few cases where I have monitored it, my 2 hour reading is below my 1 hour. The exceptions to this is Lasagne (yum!) where my peak reading is at 4 hours and one case where I had a large steak and the 2 hour was higher (my 1 hour reading was 4.9 ).

Sorry to badger you Mark, but can I just check. You only check 1 hr after a meal? If this is above 8.5 can I assume your modified the next meal to under 8.5. My numbers are always higher 1 hr later and much lower 2hrs later. I'm just trying to get my head around testing foods. Thanks for you're help. Amanda.

P.S. Do you eat a lot of starchy carbs.

 

[trophywench]

Whatever you do don't cut out all the carbs at once Amanda!

That makes you feel bleurgghh. Think of it as the same as weaning yourself off a harmful substance and wean yourself off more slowly. Gradually cut down, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.

Eat more protein, eat more veg, If you are a meat, spuds and veg person, have more veg! It's quite filling, which comes as quite a surprise to a lot of people. And you 'last' longer on protein than you do on carbs. Carbs hit you like an express train and are gone (sort of) whereas protein because it takes longer to digest, keeps you feeling full for a lot longer. And the plus is, carbs raise your BG at the same speed in comparison to the protein which will only produce an increase in BG if your body can't get enough glucose from something easier/quicker. And any increase (if you aren't eating enough carbs to entirely keep your body happy) directly from the protein is only half the magnitude of the same weight of carbs. Your body can actually also garner glucose from fat, but there IF it gives up glucose it's only 10% of carbs.

Not that I suggest you start a diet based on fat but one heck of the NHS seems to have entirely forgotten that the body is a lot cleverer than just making glucose out of carbs, or the very basic science (Biology O Level course, 1961 to 1966 LOL) that all carbs raise your BG and provide little - if anything - else!

 

[Robster65]

I would view slightly differently (I would though 🙄) that, providing you don't exceed the calorie intake you actually NEED, and you exercise regularly, preferably sometime before or not long after your meals, if you eat low GI carbs (the dark arts of GI 😱) your body SHOULD burn the carbs off, as well as the fat, while utilising the protein however it sees fit, without having a surplus to convert to fat.

Most people can't do this every day but might manage an average over several days so you don't gain weight and the fat around your organs comes and goes a bit but doesn't build up to bad levels.

From reading the DUK advice, you should eat starchy carbs to slow down the absorption of the higher GI carbs, while adding in a little bit of fat to slow it all down further. Too much fat and you may do more harm than good I would have thought.

I have found that exercise is the biggest missing ingredient and my ratios have already started to alter now the summer days are gone. But if you can find the magic calorie intake that keeps you at a healthy weight (or slowly drops you to it), then you should be able to eat some carbs that don't spike you too much without causing damage.

ALl this from a Type 1 who can inject insulin to cover it. 😱

Rob

 

[Andy HB]

Soups are supposed to be good too. They can fill you up for longer as well. My current favourite is home made smokey bacon and red lentil soup. 🙂

 

[Mark T]

Sorry to badger you Mark, but can I just check. You only check 1 hr after a meal? If this is above 8.5 can I assume your modified the next meal to under 8.5. My numbers are always higher 1 hr later and much lower 2hrs later. I'm just trying to get my head around testing foods. Thanks for you're help. Amanda.

P.S. Do you eat a lot of starchy carbs.

Yep, if I got a higher then 8.5 I would modify the meal a little bit. So I would maybe remove some potato, drop some fruit or similar. The one thing that has to be considered was that in the early days I would be 7+ pre meal - so not much headroom. Now that my pre-meals are lower I've added back in some of the things I removed (and tested to make sure it was OK).

My lunch regularly has two slices of burgen and small packet (usually 10-12g carb) of non-wheat/non-potato crisps - so yes starchy carbs there. My evening meal usually has a few small new potatoes (probably around 20-30g carb) - so some starchy carbs there too.