Another Newbie

[Broadsword]

Hi all, Broadsword here.
I've been type 2 for a number of years now but haven't been in control of my diabetes, it has been in control of me. Around 2 months ago I changed my diet to a low carb diet and it really is working. I've dropped over 9kgs in weight and my BG readings are within the desired range pretty much all of the time now. Only when I make an error in my diet can there be a slight spike in the reading.
One question I would like to ask is 'When are the best times to take my BG readings'? At present I am taking readings twice daily. Once, first thing in the morning when I get up and then in the evening within two hours of having my evening meal. Is this OK or would it be better done at other times, say before lunch and before supper?

 

[Inka]

Hi @Broadsword 🙂

I’m Type 1 so my testing regime is rather different. However, what you could do is do, say, lunch one day, then breakfast the next (testing before you eat and then again 2 hrs after). I’d also test if I had an ‘unusual’ meal just to see how your blood sugar reacts.

Well done on getting such great results 😎

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Broadsword and welcome to our forum.

Really good to hear of your success with following a low carb diet.
I followed a similar path, of not really sorting out a solution for a while,, and then getting good results when I moved to low carb, and I've been able to sustain it over a long time, which is another important factor.
There are many solutions to living with Diabetes, and low-carb isn't for everyone but it certainly works for me, and I hope is continues for you as well.

Regarding BG readings, as @Anitram says your current regime is fine, but if you want to know a little more about testing plans, then this link may be useful test-review-adjust

Best wishes and I hope you will keep posting and let us know it all goes for you.

 

[Drummer]

I hardly ever test now, but I found that the two tests I did most frequently were before and after my evening meal, and then, once I was below 8 afterwards, I just did the after, to check that it was still the same, and then only tested to see if I really did want a dessert, and then almost stopped as I was totally confident of my diet.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Broadsword

Glad to hear you feel you are managing your diabetes more effectively, now that you have changed your dietary approach.

Look forward to hearing more of your story over the coming weeks and months.

First thing in the morning is often thought to show arough representation of your average BG (providing you do not struggle too much with Dawn Phenomenon!)

Then many forum members find it helpful to use pairs of BG checks, before and 2hrs after starting eating, to see what different meals are doing to BG levels. This is particularly handy during the infromation gathering phase - when working out what amounts and types of carbs suit you.

After that a more occasional ‘maintenance‘ phase becomes common - unless checking some unusual or new foods 🙂

 

[Broadsword]

Thanks for your replies. Perhaps I'll stick to what I'm doing just at the moment and just tweek things a little later on. I still have a way to go with my weight loss plan, so I'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.