What post meal glucose levels are really acceptable to be safe for neuropathy?

[TMR254]

I was diagnosed with T2D a couple of years before the pandemic and took it seriously for a while, but then got fed up with the dietary restrictions, and began to forget about it and slowly slipped back to my old buttered toast, cereals, and chips with everything eating habits. After all, there were no symptoms, I felt fine. Maybe I was the exception to the rule!

Anyway, fast forward until a few months ago, and I started to feel slight numbness in my hands and feet, which is when the doctor told me it could be the start of diabetic neuropathy. Serves me right! So, I'm back on the wagon again, and keeping the glucose levels within the recommended limits. Depressing, to put it mildly!

Which is the lead up to my questions. According to the recommendations, someone with T2D should have a glucose level of under 180mg/dl(10mmol/L) 1-2 hours after eating. The problem is that if I have my preferred breakfast, protein bread etc., and my nightly TV watching snack of Greek yoghurt on nuts and half an apple, the 1 hour glucose level goes up to around 150(8.3) - no higher. If I don't eat these things, then the 1 hour level is closer to 130(7.2).

So my first question is: is anything under 180(10) OK, like 150(8.3), or should I try to keep the level as low as possible, to try and reverse the neuropathy?

Also, I note that a lot of things are apparently fine for people with T2D to eat in moderation, according to Dr. Google, like whole-meal rice, oats, etc. However, all these things put my post meal glucose levels to around 150. Should I keep away from them. What a depressing thought.

I'm 60 years old, I think age is also a factor. I'm taking Ebymect 5mg/1000mg pills, one in the morning, and one at night.

Regards and thanks in advance.

 

[Leadinglights]

I was diagnosed with T2D a couple of years before the pandemic and took it seriously for a while, but then got fed up with the dietary restrictions, and began to forget about it and slowly slipped back to my old buttered toast, cereals, and chips with everything eating habits. After all, there were no symptoms, I felt fine. Maybe I was the exception to the rule!

Anyway, fast forward until a few months ago, and I started to feel slight numbness in my hands and feet, which is when the doctor told me it could be the start of diabetic neuropathy. Serves me right! So, I'm back on the wagon again, and keeping the glucose levels within the recommended limits. Depressing, to put it mildly!

Which is the lead up to my questions. According to the recommendations, someone with T2D should have a glucose level of under 180mg/dl(10mmol/L) 1-2 hours after eating. The problem is that if I have my preferred breakfast, protein bread etc., and my nightly TV watching snack of Greek yoghurt on nuts and half an apple, the 1 hour glucose level goes up to around 150(8.3) - no higher. If I don't eat these things, then the 1 hour level is closer to 130(7.2).

So my first question is: is anything under 180(10) OK, like 150(8.3), or should I try to keep the level as low as possible, to try and reverse the neuropathy?

Also, I note that a lot of things are apparently fine for people with T2D to eat in moderation, according to Dr. Google, like whole-meal rice, oats, etc. However, all these things put my post meal glucose levels to around 150. Should I keep away from them. What a depressing thought.

I'm 60 years old, I think age is also a factor. I'm taking Ebymect 5mg/1000mg pills, one in the morning, and one at night.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum, sorry that your lapsed dietary approach has caught up with you and you are suffering symptoms so even more important to get back on track and find a dietary regime you can enjoy and which is sustainable. The criteria people look to for well managed condition if Type 2 are 4-7mmol/l before eating and fasting and no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours after eating so you 10 is rather high.
You may find this link will give give you some ideas for modifying your diet to bring your overall levels down. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[Maz2]

Welcome to the forum, sorry that your lapsed dietary approach has caught up with you and you are suffering symptoms so even more important to get back on track and find a dietary regime you can enjoy and which is sustainable. The criteria people look to for well managed condition if Type 2 are 4-7mmol/l before eating and fasting and no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours after eating so you 10 is rather high.
You may find this link will give give you some ideas for modifying your diet to bring your overall levels down. https://lowcarbfreshwell.

 

[Drummer]

Which is the lead up to my questions. According to the recommendations, someone with T2D should have a glucose level of under 180mg/dl(10mmol/L) 1-2 hours after eating. The problem is that if I have my preferred breakfast, protein bread etc., and my nightly TV watching snack of Greek yoghurt on nuts and half an apple, the 1 hour glucose level goes up to around 150(8.3) - no higher. If I don't eat these things, then the 1 hour level is closer to 130(7.2).

So my first question is: is anything under 180(10) OK, like 150(8.3), or should I try to keep the level as low as possible, to try and reverse the neuropathy?

Also, I note that a lot of things are apparently fine for people with T2D to eat in moderation, according to Dr. Google, like whole-meal rice, oats, etc. However, all these things put my post meal glucose levels to around 150. Should I keep away from them. What a depressing thought.

I'm 60 years old, I think age is also a factor. I'm taking Ebymect 5mg/1000mg pills, one in the morning, and one at night.

Regards and thanks in advance.

The Dapagliflozin in the Ebymect will be helping to get rid of glucose, it is lost in urine so you need to watch out for infections such as thrush.
'Apparently fine' is such a weasling description - it usually turns out to mean that 'some people can cope' rather than 'everyone can cope' and that of course leads to all sorts of problems.
I found that aiming for 8mmol/l at the 2 hour point was where I began to see changes - and sticking to the same meals my levels began to go even lower as -- I assume - my metabolism began to pick itself up.
I'd advise you be really cautious about those sweeping online generalisations on what diabetics should do or eat - type 2 seems to cover a wide range of conditions and people and we really do need to check for ourselves just what is the best option.
Some of the things we can supposedly eat in moderation I avoid completely rather than measure out the couple of teaspoons of it that I can cope with.
You might find that cucumber can replace apple - I eat cucumber with cheese, yoghurt is fine completely plain but once in a while I add frozen berries, but an established habit can be such a hard thing to break.
I did an experiment, eating only in a 2 hour time span each day, and although I know it was not beneficial I am having a lot of trouble returning to eating at 12 hourly intervals which was part of the regime which took my HbA1c down to the low 40s.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @TMR254

Sorry to hear you might be experiencing some changes in sensation in hands and feet.

There’s an overview of neuropathy here:

Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage)

What is diabetic neuropathy? Diabetic neuropathy is when diabetes causes damage to your nerves. It can affect different types of nerves in your body, including in your feet, organs and muscles. Nerves carry messages between the brain and every part of our bodies so that we can see, hear, feel...

www.diabetes.org.uk

The target range recommended in the UK is 4-7mmol/L before meals, and no higher than 8.5mmol/L by 2 hours after meals. Aiming to keep your glucose in these ranges as much as you can help reduce your risks of any nerve damage worsening.

The recommendations are about risk reduction. Unfortunately there are no guarantees as far as diabetes complications are concerned, but there is good evidence that aiming for more in-range, and gently fluctuating glucose levels can help reduce your risks.

 

[TMR254]

Thnx everyone for the helpful comments.