Hi I'm many. Did finger prick and it read 10.3. Before food when I woke this morning. Had trouble getting any blood. Been diabetic for a few years and I have to be honest. I just don't understand it. The nurse has explained many times put my brain just won't hold the information. I'm at the stage were I don't see the point in testing as I Just don't understand what I'm doing and what it all means. How can I get myself to understand what I have to learn. Please don't shout at me as that will just make me come off the site. It's there a way that can be Better explained. Please any help will be greatfully received. Thanku in advance. X
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Help needed as I'm struggling. x
- Thread starter Mandy50
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Docb
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Hi @Mandy50 and welcome to the forum. Don't worry, nobody is going to shout at you on here, it is not that type of forum.
One way of getting to understand diabetes is for you to ask questions and we will try to answer them. Ask whatever you like, nothing is considered silly on here. So, what is the first thing you want to know?
One way of getting to understand diabetes is for you to ask questions and we will try to answer them. Ask whatever you like, nothing is considered silly on here. So, what is the first thing you want to know?
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adrian1der
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As a diabetic your body struggles to control the glucose level in your blood stream. The basic problem is carbohydrates - sugary things and starchy things like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, bananas, grapes etc. Carbohydrates are rapidly broken down by your body into glucose. So, reducing your intake of carbohydrates will generally reduce your blood sugar. Exercise is also great - even a gentle stroll or some housework will help. Of course, combine the two and you will see the third thing you may need to achieve happen - weight loss. The combination of all three will help you enormously with your blood glucose levels. What medication are you on?
Leadinglights
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Thanku both for replying. Much appreciated.
I'm on a lot of meds as I have a auto immune disease and I have psoriatic arthritis. It keeps giving me illness after illness. One of them was the diabetes. I'm on sutarko 2 morning 2 bedtime. Methotrexate and folic acid. Benapali injection once a week. I will attach prescription is easier. I'm a fussy eater. Only like apples. Like some veg but don't want to eat then every meal. Not keen on cereal or porridge. Hate water. So I get spring water and add juice to it reduced or no added sugar. What do people eat. No potatoes rice or pasta. Lol. The last year I have become bored of food. I'm currently eating noodles. I walk my dogs. I have decorated the flat through my shielding and I have just starting giving my garden a makeover. Due to health I take rest days through the week. I'm currently having flare ups of my little toe being in agonising pain where I want to chop it off. Sorry for the long post. That's just some of what I'm going through. But as I said I don't understand what I can eat and not. When to eat more or less. Blood sugars were 10.3 I just tested again and they are 14. Very confused. Xx
I'm on a lot of meds as I have a auto immune disease and I have psoriatic arthritis. It keeps giving me illness after illness. One of them was the diabetes. I'm on sutarko 2 morning 2 bedtime. Methotrexate and folic acid. Benapali injection once a week. I will attach prescription is easier. I'm a fussy eater. Only like apples. Like some veg but don't want to eat then every meal. Not keen on cereal or porridge. Hate water. So I get spring water and add juice to it reduced or no added sugar. What do people eat. No potatoes rice or pasta. Lol. The last year I have become bored of food. I'm currently eating noodles. I walk my dogs. I have decorated the flat through my shielding and I have just starting giving my garden a makeover. Due to health I take rest days through the week. I'm currently having flare ups of my little toe being in agonising pain where I want to chop it off. Sorry for the long post. That's just some of what I'm going through. But as I said I don't understand what I can eat and not. When to eat more or less. Blood sugars were 10.3 I just tested again and they are 14. Very confused. Xx
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Kaylz
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- Type 1
@Mandy50 what did you have to eat between the 10.3 reading and the 14?
There is no right or wrong answer in what you can eat, we are all individual and tolerate different things, different amounts of carbs etc
The way to see what works for YOU as the individual you are is to test before eating and then again 2 hours later looking for no more than a 2-3 mmol rise
If you see a result you don't like you don't have to instantly cut it out of your diet, try reducing the portion size of it first, add more fat and protein to it etc
Lower carb foods - meat, fish, cheese, eggs, cold meats, above ground veggies, nuts, seeds, and lots more if that's the route you want to follow xx
There is no right or wrong answer in what you can eat, we are all individual and tolerate different things, different amounts of carbs etc
The way to see what works for YOU as the individual you are is to test before eating and then again 2 hours later looking for no more than a 2-3 mmol rise
If you see a result you don't like you don't have to instantly cut it out of your diet, try reducing the portion size of it first, add more fat and protein to it etc
Lower carb foods - meat, fish, cheese, eggs, cold meats, above ground veggies, nuts, seeds, and lots more if that's the route you want to follow xx
Hi thanku for replying. I had a cheese and tomatoes sandwich. Early lunch because I was taking the fur kids for a walk. Bit when I tested it was higher so not gone out yet. X
Kaylz
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Right so the culprit is more than likely to be the bread, what bread are you using? The walk may do you good and bring your levels down, in fact many find that exercise not long after eating can stop their levels spiking xx
Hi huni. I use cheap white bread. That's why I eat then walk normally. So it may help with weight. But I have a reactive dog which can not be street walked. So I drive to the moors. But with it being so high I didn't want to chance driving. X
Kaylz
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Ah white is worse than wholemeal, there are lower carb breads available too, I'm not too sure if there's any rules regarding driving with higher BG as I don't drive so it's not something I have to consider, what kind of dog is it you have? xx
I have a GSD and my reactivate is a saluki who was beaten and starved etc. He hates everyone and everything. X I hate brown bread. But will look for low carb. X
Cherrelle DUK
Much missed Online Community Coordinator
Hi Mandy, welcome to the forum.
I'm sorry to hear about the health challenges that you're experiencing. We've got some really good info on our main site which include how to test and why, feel free to take a look https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing.
In terms of what to eat, you're looking for things that don't cause your blood sugar levels to rise too much. Typically the things that cause your levels to rise a lot are carbs foods such as bread / pasta and sugars which includes fruits. This doesn't mean you can't have them at all though some people chose to go with a low carb diet, foods high in fiber and eliminate the foods that they know will cause their blood sugar levels to rise.
This is why you test yourself so you can see the impact that your meals are having on your blood sugar levels so you can plan accordingly to stay in a healthy range.
Here's some info on what to eat and example meal plans: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/i-have-type-2-diabetes
It also explains things in a bit more detail but if there are any questions, do let us know.
I'm sorry to hear about the health challenges that you're experiencing. We've got some really good info on our main site which include how to test and why, feel free to take a look https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing.
In terms of what to eat, you're looking for things that don't cause your blood sugar levels to rise too much. Typically the things that cause your levels to rise a lot are carbs foods such as bread / pasta and sugars which includes fruits. This doesn't mean you can't have them at all though some people chose to go with a low carb diet, foods high in fiber and eliminate the foods that they know will cause their blood sugar levels to rise.
This is why you test yourself so you can see the impact that your meals are having on your blood sugar levels so you can plan accordingly to stay in a healthy range.
Here's some info on what to eat and example meal plans: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/i-have-type-2-diabetes
It also explains things in a bit more detail but if there are any questions, do let us know.
adrian1der
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Noodles are pretty high in carbs. Try the thread what did you eat yesterday for idea.
I had Roast Lamb, Kale, Leeks and Celeriac mash yesterday and am cooking a crustless Quiche Lorraine tonight. Note the crustless bit as the pastry is high in carbs while the eggs, bacon and cheese are low. I eat pretty much what I did before diagnosis but just with smaller portions of the boring, dull carby bits. So extra curry instead of rice, pork scratchings instead of crisps etc
Robin
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Just a note of caution on the low-carb route. You only mention Sukkarto in your post, but your prescription has Dapagliflozin and Gliclazide on it, so if you are taking these as well, a very low carb diet may make your Blood Glucose levels fall too far. I think a modest reduction, a bit at a time, will be safer.
D
Deleted member 25429
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No rules on higher bg for driving except you should only drive if you feel completely in control. I walk our dogs straight after breakfast and lunch to help control my sugar levels (I’m type 1) it means I use the carbs that I’ve put in more efficiently.
D
Deleted member 25429
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Thank god your dog found someone that’s now going to love him x
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Welcome to the forum @Mandy50
Sorry to hear what a tough time you are having. It must be very discouraging taking the BG readings and not really knowing what they mean, or what to do with them
It must also be difficult to know how to make your meals as BG friendly as they can be, when you have multiple health conditions and not that many things that you like to eat.
Here are the basics
Carbohydrates (and sugars) in your food will raise your blood glucose the most. So that‘s sweet and sugary things, but also bread, potatoes, pasta, noodles, cereals, baked goods, fruit etc. It’s not that you need to avoid these things entirely, but you need to balance them with your meds, and with the way your body reacts to them. This balance is slightly different for everyone.
Exercise will help to bring your BGs down. So that’s great that you have your dogs to get you out and about every day.
You can use your BG meter checking immedaiately before eating, and again 2hours later. Initially the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them. Aim for meals to make your BG rise by less than 2-3mmol/L at the 2hr mark.
Your sandwich was a slightly bigger rise... so maybe try a different bread with fewer carbs per slice, or have an ‘open sandwich’ with more filling and only one slice of bread.
Work through the things you usually like to eat, and check before-after gradually tweaking your menu to aim for that rise of less than 2-3.
Try to find things that you like that don’t raise your BG to bulk meals up. Lots of people find leafy veg and cauliflower very handy for this (though that may not appeal initially!)
And remember - it’s your diabetes... no one else’s. The right way to manage it for you will be something you can work out as you go along.
Just keep going... and keep asking questions here.
Sorry to hear what a tough time you are having. It must be very discouraging taking the BG readings and not really knowing what they mean, or what to do with them
It must also be difficult to know how to make your meals as BG friendly as they can be, when you have multiple health conditions and not that many things that you like to eat.
Here are the basics
Carbohydrates (and sugars) in your food will raise your blood glucose the most. So that‘s sweet and sugary things, but also bread, potatoes, pasta, noodles, cereals, baked goods, fruit etc. It’s not that you need to avoid these things entirely, but you need to balance them with your meds, and with the way your body reacts to them. This balance is slightly different for everyone.
Exercise will help to bring your BGs down. So that’s great that you have your dogs to get you out and about every day.
You can use your BG meter checking immedaiately before eating, and again 2hours later. Initially the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them. Aim for meals to make your BG rise by less than 2-3mmol/L at the 2hr mark.
Your sandwich was a slightly bigger rise... so maybe try a different bread with fewer carbs per slice, or have an ‘open sandwich’ with more filling and only one slice of bread.
Work through the things you usually like to eat, and check before-after gradually tweaking your menu to aim for that rise of less than 2-3.
Try to find things that you like that don’t raise your BG to bulk meals up. Lots of people find leafy veg and cauliflower very handy for this (though that may not appeal initially!)
And remember - it’s your diabetes... no one else’s. The right way to manage it for you will be something you can work out as you go along.
Just keep going... and keep asking questions here.
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