new to it all

[Martin Canty]

Don't be sorry for the questions, the members of this forum are here to help, support & encourage..... Personally I learn a lot from what people ask....

My strategy would be to test a lot in the early days, once you find what you can tolerate then you can cut back testing for that meal..... I don't know what your BG was before lunch but 5.9 is great & would make a lot of members jealous!!! The food diary will certainly let you analyze what you are consuming & tie it to the results you are getting.

 

[Andy HB]

If test strips ever become a problem for you, there is the approach where you test just once at different times of day, each day. If you're within particular ranges then you're ok.

When I was diagnosed, this approach was suggested to me and it worked well. But it only works well if you remain within the ranges more often than not!

1) Fasting and before meals --> 4-7mmol/L
2) 2hrs after meals --> 7-9mmol/L
3) Avoid >10mmol/L (hyper)
4) Avoid <4mmol/L (hypo)

Over the years, I modified those ranges (e.g. 2hrs after was more like 5-7mmol/L for me, but at the moment I am back to the 7-9mmol/L because of my recent slackness!)

But, as others have said the before and after readings are really good if you're after specific information about particular foods.

Andy 🙂

 

[Ralph-YK]

Ahhhh I see so do my bloods right before lunch then an hour - 2 after?

I've seen 2 hours a lot. First time round maybe try 1 and half hour & 1 hour as well to see what is going on.

can I ask I now fruit is good for you but also know it contains good sugars so as a diabetic is it ok to keep eating fruit?

There is no such thing as good sugar. It does not exist. the only thing out there is Sugar.
As for fruit. I've got no idea.

 

[Ralph-YK]

If test strips ever become a problem for you, there is the approach where you test just once at different times of day, each day. If you're within particular ranges then you're ok.

I'm sorry Andy, I can not see how this could be of any help whatsoever.
If I test 2 hours after breakfast and get 8.6, how do I know that I've gone up by 2.4, or 3.5, or 1.6, or 0.4 or.... I have no idea what the breakfast has done.
If I test once before lunch, getting 5.1, I've no idea that breakfast took me to 11.7, nor that lunch will take me to 9.

 

[Andy HB]

I'm sorry Andy, I can not see how this could be of any help whatsoever.
If I test 2 hours after breakfast and get 8.6, how do I know that I've gone up by 2.4, or 3.5, or 1.6, or 0.4 or.... I have no idea what the breakfast has done.
If I test once before lunch, getting 5.1, I've no idea that breakfast took me to 11.7, nor that lunch will take me to 9.

I can only point to my results!

Yes, the approach I detailed says nothing about how different foods affected me. You are correct. However, it isn't the point of that method. Basically, if I was in the specified ranges then my control was generally ok. My HbA1c then confirmed how well I was doing. Given that until recently my HbA1c was always in the 5% region, the approach worked for me.

But, I did say that it doesn't work if the levels are all to whack! Then, the before and after method is the one to choose.

Andy 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Ahhhh I see so do my bloods right before lunch then an hour - 2 after? I'll get use to it I'm sure can I ask I now fruit is good for you but also know it contains good sugars so as a diabetic is it ok to keep eating fruit?

Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S - it explains how and when to test efficiently and effectively 🙂

As for fruit sugar - sugar is sugar is sugar, there is no 'good' sugar that is somehow less of a problem when you have diabetes. However, fruit does contain many other things that are good in a balanced diet. Berries tend to be the lowest carb content, and a piece of fruit eaten as part of a main meal will have less impact on levels than when eaten separately, as the other food will slow its digestion 🙂

 

[PinkGrapefruit]

Welcome.

Sounds like you have a monitor - which is great. You can use this to see what foods you can tolerate and which ones spike you. I'm 2 months since diagnosis and lost a fair chuck of weight through low carbs and careful/considered eating. Rice, pasta, potatoes, wheat. I've cut them all out. Some people call it a paleo diet.