Dyscalculia and BGM numbers

[Quill]

So I’m fairly bright when it comes to most things but was (very lucky and) diagnosed with Dyscalculia at a young age (late 80’s) and as a result, basically anything with numbers, maths etc goes RIGHT over my head for the most part and terrifies me for the rest which is the worrying thing for me with testing now.

I don’t *fully* get it all and I want to so I can do this properly and get healthy again.

Testing on waking: 7.1
Testing 2hrs after eating (blueberries/cheese) has just popped up at 7.8

Is that a big rise in terms of BG or nothing to worry about and to add to list of ok foods?
When do I worry?

Honestly as embarrassing as this is, I know a lot of you understand it all so if someone could explain it to me like I’m 5 and watching Sesame Street, that would genuinely be great!

Q xo

 

[mashedupmatt]

Don't feel embarrassed to ask questions here - no matter how trivial they seem, you will not be judged - those numbers are perfectly fine - ideally you would like to be 4-7mmol/L before eating and around 8.5mmol/L 2hrs after so they are very good - If you are spiking to 12+ after eating that wouldn't be such a good food choice, but I would say what you had is a perfectly good food choice - plenty of protein in the cheese and some carbs in the berries to give you some energy without spiking your blood sugar too much - well done (and don't be afraid to ask more questions!! 🙂)

 

[Quill]

Don't feel embarrassed to ask questions here - no matter how trivial they seem, you will not be judged - those numbers are perfectly fine - ideally you would like to be 4-7mmol/L before eating and around 8.5mmol/L 2hrs after so they are very good - I would say that is a perfectly good food choice - plenty of protein in the cheese and some carbs in the berries to give you some energy without spiking your blood sugar too much - well done (and don't be afraid to ask more questions!! 🙂)

Yay!
Thanks @mashedupmatt 🙂
Noted. Definitely feeling better after that!

 

[Lucyr]

Is that a big rise in terms of BG or nothing to worry about and to add to list of ok foods?
When do I worry?

An increase of more than 3 is a sign that a meal isn’t too good for you and you might want to change portion, timing or exercise.

To simplify things you can just look at the number before the decimal place, ignoring the number afterwards. You could even write yourself a list - eg if 7.x before then you want to be 10.x or less afterwards.

 

[Quill]

An increase of more than 3 is a sign that a meal isn’t too good for you and you might want to change portion, timing or exercise.

To simplify things you can just look at the number before the decimal place, ignoring the number afterwards. You could even write yourself a list - eg if 7.x before then you want to be 10.x or less afterwards.

Brilliant! Cheers Lucy

Q xo

 

[gail2]

Just to ehco other posts thats a very good rise. Dont be worried about numbers going above your head due to Dyscalculia just ask away no question to silly or to small
im dyslexic and my spelling is very bad they are very forgiving of that so your Dyscalculia will be no issue
gail

 

[Quill]

Just to ehco other posts thats a very good rise. Dont be worried about numbers going above your head due to Dyscalculia just ask away no question to silly or to small
im dyslexic and my spelling is very bad they are very forgiving of that so your Dyscalculia will be no issue
gail

Thanks Gail
Didn’t really think about it until my brain nearly leaked out of my ears figuring things out!!

 

[PerSpinasAdAstra]

Strictly speaking a perfectly healthy fasting level, when you haven't eaten for at least 8 hours, is 5.5 mmol/L or lower. There are problems with testing first thing in the morning though. Many people experience what's called Dawn Phenomenon. From very early in the morning until they eat breakfast their blood glucose levels will rise slowly, probably due to hormones. Waiting a long time after waking before testing might show a higher result than your 'true' fasting level due to this effect. Another problem is Foot to Floor phenomenon. Right after you wake up and get out of bed your blood glucose levels might rise sharply for a short time, again probably due to some hormone, perhaps a little burst of adrenaline to get you going in the morning. I like to test around 15 to 30 minutes after getting out of bed as for me at least it seems to be a good moment to get a reading close to my true fasting level, which I generally only see if I test in bed while I'm still half asleep.

Another problem is the meter - they're not particularly accurate, and some meters read a little higher or lower than others on average. You might need to test for several days at a good moment to get an idea of what your fasting level might be. Don't stress about it though - stress and worry trigger hormones that raise your blood glucose levels too. Whatever the result it's not the end of the world.

Best of luck!

 

[Quill]

Strictly speaking a perfectly healthy fasting level, when you haven't eaten for at least 8 hours, is 5.5 mmol/L or lower. There are problems with testing first thing in the morning though. Many people experience what's called Dawn Phenomenon. From very early in the morning until they eat breakfast their blood glucose levels will rise slowly, probably due to hormones. Waiting a long time after waking before testing might show a higher result than your 'true' fasting level due to this effect. Another problem is Foot to Floor phenomenon. Right after you wake up and get out of bed your blood glucose levels might rise sharply for a short time, again probably due to some hormone, perhaps a little burst of adrenaline to get you going in the morning. I like to test around 15 to 30 minutes after getting out of bed as for me at least it seems to be a good moment to get a reading close to my true fasting level, which I generally only see if I test in bed while I'm still half asleep.

Another problem is the meter - they're not particularly accurate, and some meters read a little higher or lower than others on average. You might need to test for several days at a good moment to get an idea of what your fasting level might be. Don't stress about it though - stress and worry trigger hormones that raise your blood glucose levels too. Whatever the result it's not the end of the world.

Best of luck!

Thank you 🙂

Q xo

 

[CliffH]

So I’m fairly bright when it comes to most things but was (very lucky and) diagnosed with Dyscalculia at a young age (late 80’s) and as a result, basically anything with numbers, maths etc goes RIGHT over my head for the most part and terrifies me for the rest which is the worrying thing for me with testing now.

I don’t *fully* get it all and I want to so I can do this properly and get healthy again.

Testing on waking: 7.1
Testing 2hrs after eating (blueberries/cheese) has just popped up at 7.8

Is that a big rise in terms of BG or nothing to worry about and to add to list of ok foods?
When do I worry?

Honestly as embarrassing as this is, I know a lot of you understand it all so if someone could explain it to me like I’m 5 and watching Sesame Street, that would genuinely be great!

Q xo

Dyscalculia's nothing to be ashamed of - and I admire your bravery in 'owning' it. Lots of us on here struggle with all kinds of 'conditions' - and hopefully our experiences of society's attitude to diabetes mean that we're less likely to be judgmental of other people's conditions / states of being.

 

[Quill]

Dyscalculia's nothing to be ashamed of - and I admire your bravery in 'owning' it. Lots of us on here struggle with all kinds of 'conditions' - and hopefully our experiences of society's attitude to diabetes mean that we're less likely to be judgmental of other people's conditions / states of being.

Aw thank you Cliff 🙂

 

[CliffH]

Aw thank you Cliff 🙂

I used out carry out dyslexia assessments and I was always pleased when people got an answer to why they'd been struggling at school or college.

 

[trophywench]

We have a granddaughter who was both dyslexic and dyspraxic when little, now adult with 2 children and 2 dogs, the youngest of which we swear is dyspraxic himself because he is able to hear and obey instructions but will try and walk through the legs of anyone sitting on a chair, sofa etc - told our great granddaughter when he stands on your foot he weighs more than she does too!
(and she apologises as soon as she realises what she accidentally did)

 

[gail2]

I used out carry out dyslexia assessments and I was always pleased when people got an answer to why they'd been struggling at school or college.

i have dyslexia and hen i was dx iy all of a sudden made sense

 

[Quill]

We have a granddaughter who was both dyslexic and dyspraxic when little, now adult with 2 children and 2 dogs, the youngest of which we swear is dyspraxic himself because he is able to hear and obey instructions but will try and walk through the legs of anyone sitting on a chair, sofa etc - told our great granddaughter when he stands on your foot he weighs more than she does too!
(and she apologises as soon as she realises what she accidentally did)

Ahhhh my Daughter (20) is Dyspraxic, she was diagnosed around 7yrs old.