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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
All new to me
- Thread starter Ire
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Deleted member 27171
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Hello welcome to the forum @Ire. I’m sure you’ll get lots of advice about how you can lower your levels, though it would be helpful if you could share a little more information, such as how you are treating your diabetes? And how long ago were you diagnosed?
You might also find the Learning Zone at the top of the page helpful for getting an idea of things. There is lots to learn though so ask all the questions you need!
You might also find the Learning Zone at the top of the page helpful for getting an idea of things. There is lots to learn though so ask all the questions you need!
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @Ire
Great that you have joined us and I am sure that there will be plenty of advice available from other T2s in how you can start to bring your levels back under control.
Since it is any carbohydrates that you eat that are all turned into glucose, just finding out how much carbohydrates you eat at each meal is a good starting point. If you are experiencing high glucose levels your body is not able to produce enough or use the insulin that you have effectively. If you can reduce your carbs to the amount of insulin you are using you can reduce your levels. Knowing how many carbs you are eating enables you to make swaps in your diet or reduce the portion size.
Keep in touch and do ask any questions that you have.
Great that you have joined us and I am sure that there will be plenty of advice available from other T2s in how you can start to bring your levels back under control.
Since it is any carbohydrates that you eat that are all turned into glucose, just finding out how much carbohydrates you eat at each meal is a good starting point. If you are experiencing high glucose levels your body is not able to produce enough or use the insulin that you have effectively. If you can reduce your carbs to the amount of insulin you are using you can reduce your levels. Knowing how many carbs you are eating enables you to make swaps in your diet or reduce the portion size.
Keep in touch and do ask any questions that you have.
HenryBennett
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
You’re in the best place here. Very, very supportive and lots of great advice.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Ire
Sorry to hear that your BG levels are running higher than you would like.
The food group that has the biggest impact on your BG levels is carbohydrates, so that’s the one you should be focussing on if you want to balance your BGs a little more. While there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will be wanting to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to different foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself.
Many members here find using a BG meter to be the ideal tool to work lut how different foods affect them. Taking a reading before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them). Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing amounts of carbs and trying different types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference). Gradually tweaking and tailoring your menu to find one that suits your tastebuds, your waistline and your BG levels 🙂
Many GP surgeries are reluctant to prescribe BG meters unless you are on particular types of medication. And if you need to self fund your BG meter the cost of the strips can mount up. The most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 which both have test strips at around £8 for 50
For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes
Members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points.
Good luck, and keep asking questions!
Sorry to hear that your BG levels are running higher than you would like.
The food group that has the biggest impact on your BG levels is carbohydrates, so that’s the one you should be focussing on if you want to balance your BGs a little more. While there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will be wanting to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to different foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself.
Many members here find using a BG meter to be the ideal tool to work lut how different foods affect them. Taking a reading before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them). Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing amounts of carbs and trying different types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference). Gradually tweaking and tailoring your menu to find one that suits your tastebuds, your waistline and your BG levels 🙂
Many GP surgeries are reluctant to prescribe BG meters unless you are on particular types of medication. And if you need to self fund your BG meter the cost of the strips can mount up. The most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 which both have test strips at around £8 for 50
For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes
Members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points.
Good luck, and keep asking questions!
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