[Reba55]

Now I'm really confused. I thought testing two hours after eating the first bite is how you tell if what you are eating is good or bad for your BS. Frank, now you are saying essentially that testing after two hours, my BS is lower because it has had time for the insulin to kick in.
And yes, sometimes I do eat a 3 Musketeer candy bar in place of a meal. But I don't do that for every meal by any means.
Also, I was told that we need carbs for energy. When I cut out carbs, I get the shakes, especially if I am exercising after I eat. Have I been told everything wrong? A diabetes nurse educator is the one who told me to eat 15-45 carbs per meal.
Granted, I sometimes go over that. But to eat none? How do you guys do that without getting shaky????

[buttons]

welcome , I am new here also. I signed up because I have not been having the BS I know are best. So, about your chocolate.... a carb is a carb is a carb.... however some carbs carry higher glycemic loads and that is what I would be concerned about. If you are spiking with the chocolate, how about just a bite instead of the entire bar. That is what I do when I just cant take another minute ...

[squidsdc]

3 musketeers comes in that really small snack size...if you can't go cold turkey, I'd suggest using that as a small treat. But...it is true that if you even eat that small amount you'll probably crave more.

What are you eating when you say you get the shakes? How often are you eating? What's a sample day like? You said you're not eating carbs, so could it be that you need to eat more small meals throughout the day?

[CaptainMike]

Every single diabetes nurse educator I have ever met (all 2 of them), and all I have seen quoted on here with their ADA "exchange" diets and 45 gram, 30 gram, 45 gram meal plans would put me in the hospital with their diet advice. In other words, they are dead wrong in terms of treating the diabetes that I have and deal with every singe day.
They are about 20 years out of date.
Juts my $.02, YMMV

[buttons]

are you sure about the carbs..? there is a difference ya know .. between grams of carbs and exchanges of carbs... one exchange of carbs would be 15 grams of carborates... an example would be 1/2 cup green beans..= one exchange or 15 grams....

it sure can be confusing ... but worth the effort.... I have just had some new insite into the carbs... taught to count carb exchanges for my daily diet ... I have kept gaining weight.... NOW... AS of today , to be sure, I am returning to my own low carb dieting...

best luck... everone here is so nice and helpful

[BrianSCohen]

Originally Posted by Reba55

If I eat no carbs, I get the shakes. I was told that I was allowed 15-45 carbs per meal, and 15-30 for snack. Is that not true? And if what I am doing is so bad, then why is my
A1C test good?

Reba,

You are doing fine. If you are able to maintain your HbA1c in 6.2-6.5% range, you are doing better than many. I think the real suggestion is that you may find it helpful to find other snacks or meal replacements. You can still have your chocolate, but a high carb bar may cause your blood sugar to swing causing cravings. Over time, with low carb many people find that they do not feel low. For most type 2s a natural counterregulatory mechanism cuts in to keep us from really going to low.

[princesslinda]

Reba, perhaps the reason you feel "shaky" when you don't have carbs, is because your blood sugars are normalizing and your body isn't use to that. The first time my blood sugar hit 100, I felt the way I feel now when its in the 60's.

I understand your chocolate craving...however, you may need to change your thinking about it. I know 3 muskateers make the really small bite-sized pieces (not the mini-bars)...get a bag, put them in your freezer, then have 1-2 NO MORE than once a day....you'll have your chocolate, but your blood sugars won't be jumping around like they do after a big candy bar.

I keep Dove Dark in the freezer and have 2-3 a couple times a week when the chocolate craving hits. I know you say you don't like dark, so try the regular Dove...just minimize your portions. You'll be amazed at how satisfying only 1-2 pieces can be.

One good thing about going lower carb is that your sweet and carb cravings will significantly minimize...and your blood sugars will be even better.

Also, Breyer's has a good chocolate Carb Smart ice cream...and jello s/f chocolate pudding is also a good alternative.

Your life changed with your diagnosis of diabetes...no matter how much you wish you could eat the candy bars w/o problems, you won't be able to do that indefinitely. Find a smarter way to satisfy your cravings...if you can't give it up cold turkey, have them "X" times a week.