Type 2 and struggling

[trisha53]

Hi, I was diagnosed in March 2016 with a HbA1c of 76 and put on 500 mg Metformin twice a day.
March 2017 HbA1C was 47 but since then has steadily crept up to 58. My Diabetic nurse wanted to increase my medication but has given me until August to try and get back on track. I cannot get my readings lower than 9.7 and they are sometimes as high as 13.2. The only time they have gone lower is when I don't eat. Please help as I feel I am getting nowhere.

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi Trisha, can you give us an example of wat you are eating?

 

[trisha53]

Breakfast scrambled egg on toast Bergun bread. Yoghurt for lunch and fish in butter sauce with mash and steamed veg for tea. Potatoes are my downfall. I usually have a few nuts as a snack and the very occasional small bar of chocolate. I'm still trying to get my head around what I can eat and what I can't.

 

[Martin Canty]

Ah, the potatoes..... Apparently new potatoes are better but then I pretty much cut them out of my diet except as the occasional treat. No experience of the Burgun bread.

 

[trisha53]

Ah, the potatoes..... Apparently new potatoes are better but then I pretty much cut them out of my diet except as the occasional treat. No experience of the Burgun bread.

Love potatoes and don't know if I can do without them. Finding it really hard at the moment as I have just retired and I'm now at home all day.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Have you tried new potatoes or chips instead of mash?

Are you saying, the biggest difference in BG, from before to after food, is 3.5? (from 9.6 to 13.2?) Could be a tad better. Not absolutely awful though.
Hmmm generally levels as opposed to peaks.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Maybe weight the pirates a few times. Have a little less. And up the veg. I believe the fish shouldn't affect BG levels that much. What is in the sauce?

 

[CathyB]

Hi Trisha, welcome 🙂 I never thought I would be able to cut out the carbs but now, 4 months in, I don’t miss them at all. I think part of the battle is getting your head in the right place, the line I take is that carbs = sugar and as a diabetic I can’t eat sugar so it’s not a choice, it will make me ill. What I have done is started to be creative in cooking, so using cauliflower mash, adding a bit of cream, some chives & seasoning, or mashed swede. Stir fry’s are a great alternative, add asparagus, courgettes, mushrooms. If you want to see your bg go down, cutting carbs is the best way to go 😉

 

[trisha53]

Hi Trisha, welcome 🙂 I never thought I would be able to cut out the carbs but now, 4 months in, I don’t miss them at all. I think part of the battle is getting your head in the right place, the line I take is that carbs = sugar and as a diabetic I can’t eat sugar so it’s not a choice, it will make me ill. What I have done is started to be creative in cooking, so using cauliflower mash, adding a bit of cream, some chives & seasoning, or mashed swede. Stir fry’s are a great alternative, add asparagus, courgettes, mushrooms. If you want to see your bg go down, cutting carbs is the best way to go 😉

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have a bit more understanding of what I should be eating and how to control my BG. I think that my BG does not really spike but stays on an average of 11. I just can't seem to get it much lower on a regular basis.

 

[Mark T]

Go for dark chocolate (75+) when you fancy a bar. Make that 90+ if you get tempted too often 😛

Have you ever tested last a night and then first thing the following morning? Sometimes I find I'm high in the morning because I was high the night before (which tends to be if I snacked in the evening). Remember some nuts are still quite carby. Almonds and Walnuts are OK for me. Even peanuts still spike me if I have too many - watch portion size.

Are you loosing weight as you stay high? Or suffering any other symptoms like drinking lots (of water or juice). If you can't get your levels down it might be a sign that you are not producing enough insulin (rather then lots of bad insulin).

 

[trisha53]

Go for dark chocolate (75+) when you fancy a bar. Make that 90+ if you get tempted too often 😛

Have you ever tested last a night and then first thing the following morning? Sometimes I find I'm high in the morning because I was high the night before (which tends to be if I snacked in the evening). Remember some nuts are still quite carby. Almonds and Walnuts are OK for me. Even peanuts still spike me if I have too many - watch portion size.

Are you loosing weight as you stay high? Or suffering any other symptoms like drinking lots (of water or juice). If you can't get your levels down it might be a sign that you are not producing enough insulin (rather then lots of bad insulin).

Usually about 11 last thing at night and about 10 first thing in the morning. I lost 2 stone when first diagnosed and have stayed within 3lb of this within the last 2 years. No other symptoms and at the moment I feel really well

 

[Haydnpat]

Love potatoes and don't know if I can do without them. Finding it really hard at the moment as I have just retired and I'm now at home all day.

Hi, try cauliflower mash instead, I really can't tell the difference. Good luck

 

[Drummer]

In retirement perhaps try a bit of grow your own - a single courgette plant in a tub can be very productive, maybe try a few herbs and spices in your cooking.