How long does low carb take...?

[Katieb]

Hi all. Sorry to sound stupid here, but I am trying very hard to lower my weight and BG at the same time, so have switched to a low carb diet. After 2 weeks I am still seeing fasting BG in the high 6s/low 7s and this evening after chicken, salad and 2 new potatoes (first potato for a few days) a rise from 6.1 to 8.1 after an hour. Does this seem right? How long will it take for the low carb diet to bring my BG down? Surely if I’m eating low carbs my BG shouldn’t rise that much? Grateful for advice and others’ experience here. Katie

 

[Radders]

Hi all. Sorry to sound stupid here, but I am trying very hard to lower my weight and BG at the same time, so have switched to a low carb diet. After 2 weeks I am still seeing fasting BG in the high 6s/low 7s and this evening after chicken, salad and 2 new potatoes (first potato for a few days) a rise from 6.1 to 8.1 after an hour. Does this seem right? How long will it take for the low carb diet to bring my BG down? Surely if I’m eating low carbs my BG shouldn’t rise that much? Grateful for advice and others’ experience here. Katie

I don’t think a rise of 2 is bad at all!

 

[Martin Canty]

Give it time..... Perhaps if you chart your FBG it will show a downward trend but these things can take some time. Revisit it in a few months.....

 

[Dave W]

A rise of 2mmol/mol is fine and your pre and post meal levels are well within NICE guidelines @Katieb . You can normally expect BG to rise after eating. Those two potatoes are quite high in carbs, so you did pretty well. As @Martin Canty suggests charting your BG is useful as it will give a good idea as to the trend, but don't focus too much on the short-term results, look at it in the longer view. Getting a grip on diabetes isn't a quick sprint, it's a marathon but not too difficult to complete given determination.
Short-term BG test results can be useful in giving an indication about how specific foods impacted on your BG and maybe provide a suggestion of what to avoid. I'm recovering from bruises from kicking myself for eating a lemon slice before dinner this evening as it sent my BG up far too high!!!

 

[Beck S]

The numbers you're quoting actually seem pretty good! For type 2s, I believe the figures asked for for BG levels are 4-7 before a meal, and up to 8.5 two hours afterwards. A rise of 2mmol after food is alright.

But it can take time - as we all can tolerate carbs differently, it's difficult to say how long it would take for you, just that you should keep going and it should hopefully start to come down soon. You're doing well though.

 

[SadhbhFiadh]

Hi, I eat between 80-90g carbs a day. My FBG are usually in the 7's, though I'm really delighted when it dips below 7. I figured, but really don't know, that it's because while I've lost about 8kg, I have have another 30kg to lose. My HbA1c however, has been under 40 for over 6 months, so I think it's balanced well enough to suit me.
S.

 

[Katieb]

Thank you everyone. Today my fasting BG was 6.4 - the lowest for a while. My pre dinner BG was below 5! Not seen that for ages either! So a month in I am beginning to see the results. I had a Weetabix for breakfast and went to 8.9 though so think I’ll give them a miss!! It’s just one day though...! 🙂

 

[happydog]

Katieb you are doing brilliantly. Be proud of your achievement!..We are all different so what affects one person may be ok with another. Unfortunately I have found out that this is not a sprint it is a marathon and there are no days off (although you will get to a point where you can have a treat). Loosing weight fast often means that it goes back on the same way, fast. Slow and steady wins the race. I have fretted over numbers a lot but have now accepted that there will be good and bad days, sometimes without epanation. Given up on fasting levels first thing because they are usually in the low 7s but go down later in the day. If I go below 5 I don't feel good so I just try each day and work out the average at the end of the day. I found keeping a diary of what I ate and how it affected me was good. I learnt things like no oats for me as I spike. You have done very well and good luck with your endeavours, you will get there. 🙂

 

[Katieb]

Katieb you are doing brilliantly. Be proud of your achievement!..We are all different so what affects one person may be ok with another. Unfortunately I have found out that this is not a sprint it is a marathon and there are no days off (although you will get to a point where you can have a treat). Loosing weight fast often means that it goes back on the same way, fast. Slow and steady wins the race. I have fretted over numbers a lot but have now accepted that there will be good and bad days, sometimes without epanation. Given up on fasting levels first thing because they are usually in the low 7s but go down later in the day. If I go below 5 I don't feel good so I just try each day and work out the average at the end of the day. I found keeping a diary of what I ate and how it affected me was good. I learnt things like no oats for me as I spike. You have done very well and good luck with your endeavours, you will get there. 🙂

Thanks so much for your kind words. It really helps to have some support and I will take your advice on board. Katie

 

[Drummer]

I would caution that two weeks on a low carb diet and then eating potatoes and weetabix to see if it has worked yet - is a bit optimistic.
I plan to wait maybe five years or so. Four more to go.

 

[Katieb]

I would caution that two weeks on a low carb diet and then eating potatoes and weetabix to see if it has worked yet - is a bit optimistic.
I plan to wait maybe five years or so. Four more to go.

Ha ha no that wasn’t the reason I ate them drummer! 🙂 Ijust wanted to see how they affected my BG. A few years back I lost a lot of weight and got my numbers down by following a reduced carb diet. I ate a Weetabix at breakfast with no ill effects and the odd portion of one or 2 new potatoes with skins on again with no major increases. I wanted to see if the same applied, that’s all. I know different foods affect different people. This time I have reduced my carbs more dramatically as my numbers have been higher. I’m not sure I can get away with them now! Katie