I took the first reading before having anything - not even a glass of water. Should I have taken all my other medications, which include Fybogel and Benecol (both GP prescribed) and had a cup of tea first, or should the pre-breakfast reading be a fasting reading? I normally have my breakfast about 30 minutes after my medications and cuppa number 1. Today I had it straight after, as I was dashing off to the vet with Pussifer Kattus and her ear mites!A 2-hour reading of 10.3 after a pre-meal reading of 9.8 is pretty good, as the ideal is not to go more than 2 or 3 whole numbers. The first reading was rather high, so this is what needs to come down a bit. However, that was an excellent breakfast, and you're gaining more info as you go along.
Well done on getting the hang of the meter too!![]()
Thanks. I think my 1st reading was both as soon as I got up and before eating - 2 in 1 so to speak as I was in a rush. Puss' ears are much better - she had one more treatment and I take her back in another month. Since posting I've done my before and after lunch. Before 9.2, home made chicken and veggie soup, 2 hours after 7.1. So I guess this soup passes the test. I try not to eat or drink at all after 6pm, due to my hiatus hernia. Otherwise I get reflux in bed. By the way, we're the same age!!The first (fasting) test in the morning should be as soon as you get up - I know some people here test as soon as they wake up, before getting out of bed, although I've not done that. It's normally the last one to come down as there is a thing called the 'dawn phenomenon' where the liver dumps extra glucose into the blood. It's difficult to fix but you could, eg., avoid carby snacks before bed, but it's another of those pesky try it and see things.
The test before breakfast (and other meals) should be done immediately before eating, then again 2 hours after as you've been doing. I don't think the medications make any difference, but maybe someone else will have more info.
PS I hope Puss gets treatment for the ear mites ok(I have always been owned by cats!)![]()
Glad to hear the feline ears are better - life with pets can be stressful, can't it?!Thanks. I think my 1st reading was both as soon as I got up and before eating - 2 in 1 so to speak as I was in a rush. Puss' ears are much better - she had one more treatment and I take her back in another month. Since posting I've done my before and after lunch. Before 9.2, home made chicken and veggie soup, 2 hours after 7.1. So I guess this soup passes the test. I try not to eat or drink at all after 6pm, due to my hiatus hernia. Otherwise I get reflux in bed. By the way, we're the same age!!
Told not to have ANY fruit with main meals, only as a snack and never more than one type at a time. Conflicting info re cereals: Don't have at all due to high carbs, only have with nuts and seeds, or have with boiled eggs (?!?!). I can't eat most bread - I'm gluten intolerant - but WW or Warburtons medium slice from small loaf seems to be OK. I'll try LivLife and see how the monitoring (and Diverticular Disease side effects) goes. I don't put potato or starchy veggies in my soups, but use beans (butter, cannellini, haricot, borlotti) instead for their protein. I only have low fat or fat free dairy (high cholesterol) and have stopped yogurt, cheese, quark completely. I think it will be a case of trial and error, and slowly trying different foods at first. That's how I advise people learning to live with Diverticular Disease.If you really need bread - I have bread with kippers because they are too strong a taste without it, but I love kippers, try a Livlife loaf - I get mine from Waitrose. Ordinary bread is just too high carb for me and for many type twos.
Watch how much fruit you add to your porridge, as that is a high carb meal, and chose low carb veges for your soup as a few starchy ones can soon push up the carb count. You might like my take on cauliflower cheese, which seems to be a popular one, it is simply putting almost cooked cauliflower into a warm dish, cover with cream cheese and then grated cheese - I like Red Leicester, but others add paprika after the cream cheese, and then a strong blue cheese, but that would have my taste buds in a panic.
I'm 69! I couldn't get on with Burgen, but Nimble was OK - it's much the same as WW. I tried Genius for a time, but it tended to disintegrate, so I decided to go without instead! Puss is a rescue and has taken about a year to settle with me, but we've got there.Glad to hear the feline ears are better - life with pets can be stressful, can't it?!
Like Drummer I get Livlife from Waitrose, although it took me a while to get used to it as it has a slightly odd texture. I also have Burgen or Hovis Nimble to ring the changes. It sounds to me like you're getting a handle on all this, and with a positive attitude you'll be fine.
As to being the same agemy current profile pic was taken some...ahem!...years ago, at one of the medieval banquets put on by the society I'm in. Happy days!
It seems strange about the fruit - you were advised to eat it when it will have most impact on BG levels - very odd. The Livlife is only 4 gm per slice which is why it is a good choice for diabetes. Beans can have quite an impact on BG levels, if you want protein then chicken or some other meat might be a better option.Told not to have ANY fruit with main meals, only as a snack and never more than one type at a time. Conflicting info re cereals: Don't have at all due to high carbs, only have with nuts and seeds, or have with boiled eggs (?!?!). I can't eat most bread - I'm gluten intolerant - but WW or Warburtons medium slice from small loaf seems to be OK. I'll try LivLife and see how the monitoring (and Diverticular Disease side effects) goes. I don't put potato or starchy veggies in my soups, but use beans (butter, cannellini, haricot, borlotti) instead for their protein. I only have low fat or fat free dairy (high cholesterol) and have stopped yogurt, cheese, quark completely. I think it will be a case of trial and error, and slowly trying different foods at first. That's how I advise people learning to live with Diverticular Disease.
Well I've now completed a day's monitoring. Don't know if it's good or bad.I'm 69 until next February - although I only admit to 29I liked being 29 so thought I'd stay there!
Interesting about Puss, after one of ours died we fostered Mandy from the RSPCA, then took her on permanently when no one wanted her. That was in 2010 when she was about 6 months old. She's our only cat now, our old girl Molly left us at nearly 20 yrs old in May 2018. I still mourn all my lost moggies![]()