Do you have Diabetes? Come say Hello here!

[Malcolm]

Oh yes, if you are after variety ... have you really checked out the "recipie" section here? or the recipe section on any other Aussie low carb forum??

[steroidsro]

Hi My name is O and I have type 2 diabetes.

I don't see a doctor for this, because it's under control when I eat low carb.

[janal]

I'm eating low carb but don't feel as though I have the BS under control at all. Could I be eating to much? I'm still feeling quite hungry. For instance I can eat a large low carb meal, and 1/2 hour later feel like I could sit down and eat another whole meal.
I want to see my BS under 6 constantly but I'm still over 6 or am I being unrealistic? What should I be aiming for?

[janal]

Love the recipie section, but although I really want variety I feel the more I have the more I want. I was trying so hard to find a replacement for my iced coffee, I wasted money. Now I've worked out if I have coffee, splenda, good blob of cream, cold water and some ice to make it really cold I've found the best sub for my iced coffee.

[Sherrie]

Janal are you having full strength coffee as that can cause insulin spikes?

I am not a diabetic nor have I ever tested my blood sugar after meals so I am not speaking from my own personal experience but what are you eating during your meals that cause spikes? I think its a lot of trial and error in finding what foods or combination of foods work for you. Some people do not believe this is true but some people find they get spikes from too big a serve of protein, of course part of that could be the way you have your protein, as in, if it is lean you might find a spike more likely or you might find a serving of fibrous foods help offset any potential spike.

Personally from a hunger perspective, I get hungry from lean proteins and things like meat and salad or some egg dishes. I feel much more satisfied with meat and veg or quiche for example, I find dairy such as a small slice of cheesecake very satisfying also, despite the sweeteners where as others can be the opposite.

[Malcolm]

I'm eating low carb but don't feel as though I have the BS under control at all. Could I be eating to much? I'm still feeling quite hungry. For instance I can eat a large low carb meal, and 1/2 hour later feel like I could sit down and eat another whole meal.
I want to see my BS under 6 constantly but I'm still over 6 or am I being unrealistic? What should I be aiming for?

Janal, yes you certainly want your fasting level under 6, and you also want to make sure you are not going too high after meals (hunger is a indicator that you may be). You really need to work closely with your GP until you get this sorted. Have you had your meter calibrated yet? When are you getting another A1c done?

It would certainly pay you to start keeping records of what you are eating at each meal (including the carbs) and you pre and post meal readings. You probably won't need to do this forever, but until you know what level of carbs you can tolerate, and how particular foods affect you, then it would be time well spent.

[janal]

[QUOTE=Sherrie;146985]Janal are you having full strength coffee as that can cause insulin spikes?

Hi Sherrie & Malcolm, Yes I am having normal coffee (see my signature "that's me with my head in the sand not wanting to believe that normal coffee is going to upset the apple cart too much"
I'll go back to the decaf & see if that helps.
It was after a meal of meat & salad that I felt hungry - I'll watch for a pattern.

Yes Malcolm you're right, I do need to go back to keeping a diary. I gave up on it when I felt criticized for what I was eating (which was cream) I'll just have to be tougher and try to ignore the low carb disbelievers.
I have taken up watering down my cream so I don't use too much.
Also having trouble picking a time to test after meals because I keep grazing & it should be 2 hours after shouldn't it?

"Have you had your meter calibrated yet?" No not yet I'm very stressed at the moment and feeling very unmotivated to do anything other than what I have to do. I keep promising myself to go but then get distracted and put it off. I will get there eventually.

"When are you getting another A1c done?" Should be coming up soon maybe in the next couple of weeks.

Malcolm when you say "fasting level under 6" do you mean my morning test?

[Sherrie]

Janal no-one will criticise you for having cream here, feel free to start an online diary in our diary section, if you like!

[janal]

Hello O
Do you still test your BS regularly? I take it that you are not taking any medication.
There's hope for me yet.

Nice to meet you

[janal]

Janal no-one will criticise you for having cream here, feel free to start an online diary in our diary section, if you like!

Oh thanks Sherrie, I'll check it out .....Cheers

[Malcolm]

Yes Malcolm you're right, I do need to go back to keeping a diary. I gave up on it when I felt criticized for what I was eating (which was cream) I'll just have to be tougher and try to ignore the low carb disbelievers.
I have taken up watering down my cream so I don't use too much.
Also having trouble picking a time to test after meals because I keep grazing & it should be 2 hours after shouldn't it?

What is normally suggested is;

Upon waking (fasting)

1 hour after each meal

2 hours after each meal

At bedtime

Now that is 8 times a day I know, which is a lot (but it isn't forever, right?) - and again, just while you are getting a handle on all this, I think grazing all day is not such a great idea - it will just make it harder to see if any one thing is affecting you more than others.

The targets are;

Fasting Under 6*

One hour after meals Under 8

Two hours after meals Under 6.5

* Many people including Bernstein think this is too high (normal is about 4.5) - but if you can achieve those numbers you are really heading in the right direction. If you find you can't then you may need a higher dose of Metformin, but if I were you I'd do everything possible from a diet and exercise (remember that bit? ) POV anyway.

"Have you had your meter calibrated yet?" No not yet I'm very stressed at the moment and feeling very unmotivated to do anything other than what I have to do. I keep promising myself to go but then get distracted and put it off. I will get there eventually.

We all feel like that sometimes. My suggestion is to do one positive thing evry day - it can be anything - doesn't have to be a big deal. The longer you keep doing that, the better you will feel about yourself, and the easier those 'big things' will become. Oh and don't forget ... we know you can do this!!

"When are you getting another A1c done?" Should be coming up soon maybe in the next couple of weeks.

The sooner the better!

Malcolm when you say "fasting level under 6" do you mean my morning test?

Yes.

[janal]

Oh thanks so much Malcolm for the clear guidelines, you rock

Also can anyone tell me if Eno's has a sweetner in it? I had a stew type of meal last night which gave me a bad case of heartburn so I took some Eno's
My reading before dinner was 6 and at 10.45pm when I went to bed I was 9.7 so I'm not sure if it was the food or the Eno's that put me that high.

My doctor has not given me any further directions other than 1 metaformin a day, what do others do? If my surgar goes high should I increase my dose. I will be asking the doctor about this next time I see her but I'm just curious as to what others on medication do.
Cheers

[Sherrie]

Don't know which one you use (if there's more then one?) but this one contains saccharin which is an artificial sweetener: http://healthchemist-au.stores.yahoo...olempow10.html

[janal]

Hey Sherrie
Sorry had a look but can't see how to start a diary, can you point me in the right direction. .....Thanks

[janal]

Don't know which one you use (if there's more then one?) but this one contains saccharin which is an artificial sweetener: http://healthchemist-au.stores.yahoo...olempow10.html

Thanks Sherrie, Yes that's the one I used. Saccharin is an artificial sweetner isn't it? If it is than that shouldn't have hurt me, maybe it was the food. I'm gonna have to sack the chef