Advice for Type 2 who is losing it!

[Zillah]

It was suggested that I start a new thread as I am having trouble controlling my blood sugars (and I would be grateful for any advice)- I was diagnosed in Nov 2015 after getting knocked off my bike and having the random blood check in the ambulance (reading of 16 ) - I am in debt to the driver of the car as who knows how long I had had diabetes and how long I would have carried on not knowing. I diet controlled for two years bringing my HBa1c from 68 to 48 in six months- following six months was 49 then then 12 months later back up to 68! Now on Metformin twice a day along with Statins (grrr) - my blood sugars have been terrible since being on the Metformin- anything from 8.8- 16.3- can't get it lower, Jenny suggested that I post my daily activity etc and someone may pin point where I am going wrong, so.....

12/1 6.30 am - fasting blood 9.5- breakfast mackerel and one piece of whole meal toast
drive to work- 8.15am- blood 12.4

 

[Northerner]

Hi Zillah, welcome to the forum 🙂 Did you test before bed so you could see how your levels behaved overnight? I'd suggest starting a food diary, writing down the amount (in grams) of carbohydrate in everything you eat and drink each day. You can then use this to look for areas where you might be able to reduce or replace things. If you test before and after eating then it will give you an indication of what sorts of things you tolerate well and what might need to be avoided. Things can vary through the day as well, so you may be more insulin-resistant in the mornings and therefore any carbs you have might have a greater impact. Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S, which is an excellent guide to testing efficiently and getting the most useful information out of your meter 🙂 It might also be worth considering this a 'fresh start' and getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, a very positive and well-respected guide 🙂

The 3 mmol/l rise in your levels that you report is not an excessive rise, it's just that you are starting at an already quite high level. Are you testing as soon as you wake? Many people find that their levels start climbing quite rapidly as they get up and about, so a test done even 15 minutes after getting up may not be truly reflective of your levels through the night. It might be worth having a no-carb breakfast and seeing what happens. Exercise after a meal can also really help minimise a rise, so something to consider if it's a possibility 🙂

 

[Zillah]

So 10.30- had a cappuccino (no sugar) at 9.30- blood 10.4
Just going to have a handful of healthy nuts- admin job so sitting on my bum all day

 

[Zillah]

Hi Zillah, welcome to the forum 🙂 Did you test before bed so you could see how your levels behaved overnight? I'd suggest starting a food diary, writing down the amount (in grams) of carbohydrate in everything you eat and drink each day. You can then use this to look for areas where you might be able to reduce or replace things. If you test before and after eating then it will give you an indication of what sorts of things you tolerate well and what might need to be avoided. Things can vary through the day as well, so you may be more insulin-resistant in the mornings and therefore any carbs you have might have a greater impact. Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S, which is an excellent guide to testing efficiently and getting the most useful information out of your meter 🙂 It might also be worth considering this a 'fresh start' and getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, a very positive and well-respected guide 🙂

The 3 mmol/l rise in your levels that you report is not an excessive rise, it's just that you are starting at an already quite high level. Are you testing as soon as you wake? Many people find that their levels start climbing quite rapidly as they get up and about, so a test done even 15 minutes after getting up may not be truly reflective of your levels through the night. It might be worth having a no-carb breakfast and seeing what happens. Exercise after a meal can also really help minimise a rise, so something to consider if it's a possibility 🙂

Thanks for the reply- I do test straight away in the morning but I don't test at night so I will start tonight to do this, I'm trying really hard to up my exercise as I used to cycle to work every day and I realise that this had a great impact on my glucose levels. To be honest I'm just a tad fed up with the whole thing at the moment- I think I'm having the denial period I should have had 2 and a half years ago lol.

 

[Mark T]

Well, there is always the possibility that you are not

So 10.30- had a cappuccino (no sugar) at 9.30- blood 10.4
Just going to have a handful of healthy nuts- admin job so sitting on my bum all day

There are carb's in the milk in the cappuccino and those will make your BG rise.

Are you using screens most of the day? If you are don't forget that Health & Safety DSE advice say's you should take a short break every hour when using a display screen. That might be an opportunity to go walk around the office and have a stretch. It's only a small thing, but sometimes everything helps!

 

[Beck S]

I second keeping a food diary, it's been so valuable for me to keep track of what I can and can't eat. I do find times though where my BG is higher than I expect it to be and I have no idea why. It seems quite arbitrary sometimes. I hope you manage to get a hold on it.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome to the forum. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this battle, I was diagnosed in Jan 2017, accepted it and although put on medication bg started to slowly go down, until I went on holiday in July and let myself have some treats, then I completely lost it, almost ignored that I had diabetes and levels went up again. Decided over the new year that I have to work hard to get levels back down, so improving my diet and starting exercise, sorry no real advice just to say that you are not alone. Decided to reconnect with this forum as it was really helpful when I first joined and dropping off of here was one of my biggest mistakes.

 

[Zillah]

Well, there is always the possibility that you are not

There are carb's in the milk in the cappuccino and those will make your BG rise.

Are you using screens most of the day? If you are don't forget that Health & Safety DSE advice say's you should take a short break every hour when using a display screen. That might be an opportunity to go walk around the office and have a stretch. It's only a small thing, but sometimes everything helps!

I try to go for a walk at lunchtime- only half an hour but to be honest its the only chance I get- all of my work is computer based - walking to the printer and back is about all I can manage before the manager starts hyperventilating 🙂 Noted about the Cappuccino as well thank you- *sigh* as another treat is snatched away lol

 

[Zillah]

Welcome to the forum. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this battle, I was diagnosed in Jan 2017, accepted it and although put on medication bg started to slowly go down, until I went on holiday in July and let myself have some treats, then I completely lost it, almost ignored that I had diabetes and levels went up again. Decided over the new year that I have to work hard to get levels back down, so improving my diet and starting exercise, sorry no real advice just to say that you are not alone. Decided to reconnect with this forum as it was really helpful when I first joined and dropping off of here was one of my biggest mistakes.

Thank you - any message is gratefully received- I wish I had been active on this forum two years ago but decided that it was 'nothing' I couldn't handle my self- stupid idea- but we all live and learn. I'm glad you are getting a handle back on it too, this Xmas did it for me

 

[Zillah]

I second keeping a food diary, it's been so valuable for me to keep track of what I can and can't eat. I do find times though where my BG is higher than I expect it to be and I have no idea why. It seems quite arbitrary sometimes. I hope you manage to get a hold on it.

Thank you- I am trying to keep a food diary but how do you work out the carb content of everything you eat and drink?

 

[Stitch147]

I try to go for a walk at lunchtime- only half an hour but to be honest its the only chance I get- all of my work is computer based - walking to the printer and back is about all I can manage before the manager starts hyperventilating 🙂 Noted about the Cappuccino as well thank you- *sigh* as another treat is snatched away lol

You can still have the Cappuccino (I still have my latte), best tip is to have full fat milk as there is less sugar/carbs in it and I find it has less of an impact on my sugars.

 

[Stitch147]

Thank you- I am trying to keep a food diary but how do you work out the carb content of everything you eat and drink?

Invest in a book called Carbs and Cals.

 

[Mark T]

I try to go for a walk at lunchtime- only half an hour but to be honest its the only chance I get- all of my work is computer based - walking to the printer and back is about all I can manage before the manager starts hyperventilating 🙂 Noted about the Cappuccino as well thank you- *sigh* as another treat is snatched away lol

Yeah, I've had to go from Latte to White Americano to try get my levels better. I probably ought to go black or drop the coffee completely, but I can't start in the morning without a coffee.

 

[Robin]

Thank you- I am trying to keep a food diary but how do you work out the carb content of everything you eat and drink?

Have you tried an app? I use myfitnesspal on my iPad,( I don't have a smart phone) it has a data bank of loads of food, both generic and branded, and works out the carb for you when you plug in the weight or portion size of what you're eating.

Edit. Posted at the same time as Stitch. Yes, a lot of people use carbs and Cals and find it really useful.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Yeah, I've had to go from Latte to White Americano to try get my levels better. I probably ought to go black or drop the coffee completely, but I can't start in the morning without a coffee.

I was told by my liver consultant to drink two cups of black coffee a day, but no more than 2 cups, but I can't drop my first cappuccino of the day, second drink is black coffee, then onto water.

 

[grovesy]

I noticed by changing from Cappuccino to American white I lost a little weight.

 

[Zillah]

You can still have the Cappuccino (I still have my latte), best tip is to have full fat milk as there is less sugar/carbs in it and I find it has less of an impact on my sugars.

See this is what boggles my mind- I'm fairly aware of general foods and their components- but how can full fat milk be better for a diabetic than skimmed (which I have used for about 35 years) - I think this is where I am going wrong- I need to reeducate myself.

 

[Zillah]

I noticed by changing from Cappuccino to American white I lost a little weight.

Yes I think Cappuccino is going to have to become an occasional treat

 

[Zillah]

Have you tried an app? I use myfitnesspal on my iPad,( I don't have a smart phone) it has a data bank of loads of food, both generic and branded, and works out the carb for you when you plug in the weight or portion size of what you're eating.

Edit. Posted at the same time as Stitch. Yes, a lot of people use carbs and Cals and find it really useful.

Thanks for the suggestion-I'll have a look this evening- and on Amazon for the book 🙂

 

[Zillah]

Yeah, I've had to go from Latte to White Americano to try get my levels better. I probably ought to go black or drop the coffee completely, but I can't start in the morning without a coffee.

Luckily I'm usually a tea drinker but I take instant Cappuccinos to work to save on the milk dilemma (trying to hide it from the milk thieves) - anyway I should drink more water ugh