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BG Levels

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Miss_Doodle

Miss_Doodle

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi

Probably another silly question 🙄

But.... what is considered 'good' levels for our BG to level at?

I assume it's an individual thing, but my DN didn't say (it wasn't a great appointment!) But mine seem to be jumping all over the place. I realise this could be because I am newly diagnosed and things are settling down, but i was wondering if there is a level I should be aiming at.

I guess I know that 9.8 was a bit high (after dinner the other night) but is 4.8 before lunch (today) considered low?

Sorry if it's a silly one.
 
Advice from my DSN was to try and stay between 5.0 and 9.0. I've struggled to reach that level and, even with the correct medication now, it's not always possible. On the whole though, I'm managing it and it's a reasonable target to aim for.
 
When I was diagnosed it was because of a 9.8 early in the morning. I had another fasting test which was 8.5 and I also had a high HBA 1c.

Ten months on I have a lot of morning 4s and try to keep it below 7.0 in the evenings. A reading of 9.8 would worry me but it depends how long after you have eaten that you get that reading and for how long have you been trying to control your levels?

I suspect that if you are gettings 4s mid to late morning, you can get lower than 9.8 in the evening.

When I was about 3 months into getting things under control, I still got rogue high readings and if I got say an 8.0 two hours after a meal, I'd be reaching for a teaspoon of cider vinegar.
 
Hi

Thanks, the worst I've had in the morning was an 8.5 (since I've been testing), the 9.8 was about 1 1/2 hours after eating.

I think my HBA1C average was about 7.6 which isn't so bad i guess.

Why a teaspoon of cider vinegar? :confused:
 
Miss_Doodle said:
Why a teaspoon of cider vinegar? :confused:
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It drops the BG level. I used to do it sometimes before bed when I first set out trying to control it. Now I do it through exercise during the day

8.5 in a morning is high. I know the NHS like to say that 8.5 is the upper limit for type 2 diabetics but it is too high. Aim for normal range, below 6 in the morning and below 7.8 2 hours after a meal. Aim to be normal. Don't aim to be a type 2 diabetic. If you are in the mid 4s mid morning, I don't see this as unachieveable in fact, you're half way there.
 
Miss_Doodle said:
Hi

Thanks, the worst I've had in the morning was an 8.5 (since I've been testing), the 9.8 was about 1 1/2 hours after eating.

I think my HBA1C average was about 7.6 which isn't so bad i guess..
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It is still very early days for you, so don't be put off if your levels occasionally appear higher than ideal. As you build up knowledge and experience of how things affect you, and at different times of day, you will gradually be able to discover patterns and areas for improvement. It sounds to me as though you have made an excellent start in your first two weeks. The 4.8 befre lunch is excellent, and the 9.8 1.5 hours after eating would suggest that either your levels were a little on the high side before eating, or your meal raised your levels fairly quickly - it's important to know what your pre-meal level is if you intend to test after eating, otherwise you won't know how much the meal raised you by. 🙂

As is often quoted, it is more of a marathon than a sprint and there will always be unusual, hard to explain blips along the way. From what I have seen of your determination to learn and get to grips with things, I think you will be fine, so keep up the good work! 🙂
 
I think I've hit a marathon hurdle!!

I just want to EAT! tested my bg and it was at 9.5 (probably the bit of children in need cake I had) but I randomly feel hungry, like eat a whole box of chocolates hungry! Surely this isn't normal.

unfortunately I'm at work and don't have anything to snack on (stupid I know) I changed lunch from salad to soup so I wonder if that has something to do with it as well.

The problem is I can be really hard on myself so now feel stupid for eating cake when I know I shouldn't. I know you think it sounds like I'm having an excellent start but right now I'm having a wobble (to be expected I guess) and don't really know what to do to bring the levels down and not want to eat my way through the rest of the cake!!!

(fortunately the cake is downstairs in our call centre and i can't really be bothered to walk down there)

😱
 
Miss_Doodle said:
I think I've hit a marathon hurdle!!

I just want to EAT! tested my bg and it was at 9.5 (probably the bit of children in need cake I had) but I randomly feel hungry, like eat a whole box of chocolates hungry! Surely this isn't normal.

unfortunately I'm at work and don't have anything to snack on (stupid I know) I changed lunch from salad to soup so I wonder if that has something to do with it as well.

The problem is I can be really hard on myself so now feel stupid for eating cake when I know I shouldn't. I know you think it sounds like I'm having an excellent start but right now I'm having a wobble (to be expected I guess) and don't really know what to do to bring the levels down and not want to eat my way through the rest of the cake!!!

(fortunately the cake is downstairs in our call centre and i can't really be bothered to walk down there)

😱
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear this :( Unfotunately, the evil Diabetes Fairy thinks it's fun to make us crave sweet things. This has mostly gone for me now, although I do occasionally get the urge! With me it's often actually due to boredom rather than hunger. One lesson I learned early on (and I'm sorry to say you are having to learn now :() is to be prepared - have something available at all times that you can safely snack on without having a big impact on your levels. Nuts are especially good, although high in calories, so if you are watching your weight then you do have to be careful. I'd get some Babybel cheeses if you like cheese - they are nicely packed in individual portions and will sate your hunger far better than any cake would.

Please don't feel stupid for indulging in the occasional 'sin', you need to just live an ordinary life sometimes for your sanity, it's just a case of making sure it's a treat and not a habit! 🙂
 
thanks,

I'm having a drink in the hope that maybe I'm just thirsty.

Will create a plan of attack with a friend of mine tonight and come more prepared next week!! She promised to follow any 'special diet' I may have to do, so hopefully she'll keep me on the straight and narrow.

I love cheese, so that sounds like a good snack!
 
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