Having annoying food issues.

[Beck S]

Hi all 🙂

This may be a stupid question/thing, but I'm having problems with my breakfast lately and I don't know what's causing it.

A fair few months ago, I went through different breakfasts to see what worked for me and came up with a couple of cereals, muesli and granola that worked well for me and didn't increase my BG levels. The last week or so though, my BG levels have been rising hugely after breakfast, even though nothing has changed in terms of what I'm eating. Whereas before, I was generally around 6-7.5 after eating (1 and 2 hours) rising from about 6, this morning for example, I was 6.2, rising to 9.1 about 1.5 hours after. Yesterday, with exactly the same food, I was 6.4 before, and 6.6 1.5 hours later. I am confused.

I hadn't been measuring breakfast a lot lately because I'd got it pretty much under control, but now after a random test last week, I don't know how long it's been going on. Is this just a thing that happens? Is it common for a food that has been fine for you for ages to just stop being fine? Help?

 

[Diabetes UK]

Hi Beck 🙂 The general guidance is to wait 2 hours after eating before testing. This is because your BG levels will be fluctuating after food and it will take a little time for them to plateau to get a steadier reading. It is possible that your reading of 9.1 after eating was a little too soon? Perhaps over the next few days you could try testing 2 hours after eating and see what sort of results you are getting?

Also, 9.1 isn't too far over the NICE target of 8.5mmol/l after eating. You would expect to see slightly higher results initially after food. Hope that helps!

 

[Beck S]

Hi Hannah.

Normally I would be two, but I've been on early lunches this week because my colleagues been off, so I've been wanting to get a test in before I eat again. I am planning on testing it again when I'm back on my usual schedule so I can look at the results properly, so maybe I'll just do it a few more days and get a better picture. I think it's just the fluctuation between one day and the next that's bothering me.

 

[Diabetes UK]

It is easy to worry about the changes from day-to-day, but our BG levels are fluctuating constantly, and it isn't just food that affects it. It can be altered by how active we are, if we are feeling well or if we are stressed to name a couple. If you tested and then tested straight away again, you would likely get some sort of variation. So changes from day to day will happen, which is why testing can be important. Also, with type 2, your pancreas is still producing insulin, so it may produce more one day than the next, or some may work better than a previous day. So it is hard (nearly impossible) to get exact and fully consistent results. It can be helpful to use testing as a general guide and look at general patterns rather than specific numbers.
Looking at your results though, seems like you are doing really well with reducing your levels so well done!

It is frustrating though if you are eating the same foods and trying to test to see how your body is reacting. Perhaps there are other members here who have had variations from the same foods when testing and when trying to understand best food options?

 

[Dave W]

I don't think you should get too hung up about what may well be a minor blip in your BG management. You really need to do a longer series of tests and see if the same pattern applies as there are many things other than food intake that influence BG levels. You might also like to consider testing before and after lunch and dinner to see if you are having the same sort of variation.
Your levels don't really look too worrying, but another thing you could try is going for a breakfast that doesn't involve any cereals, I know that any cereals I've tried have elevated my BG further than I'd wish, so I'm now on a "Full English" bacon and eggs no carb start to the day.

 

[Beck S]

Thank you @Hannah DUK - It does make me feel better to have someone just kind of explain it like that, though it does sometimes feel like like I'm not as in control as I'd like but I'm still getting the hang of it!

@Dave W I'm very partial to a full English But at the moment I'm on a tight food budget so I can't afford it as much as I'd like. It is good for my levels tho.