how much should you avoid food's high in carb's??

[johnnylol]

i been trying to avoid food high in carb's last few day's..i have noticed my bs been lower and lower each time from the previous day i tested...just before dinner it was 83..2 hour's later it was 93...seem's kinda low for me..just wondering what you all think....

[KLD]

To me it looks almost perfect, Johnny, but I follow a very low carb eating plan along with a few other members of this forum. I keep my bs levels between 74 (4.1 in Canada) before meals and 99 (5.5) two hours after meals all the time. The majority of members eat considerably more carbs than we do, and that decision is up to you. If you're interested in knowing more about my plan, feel free to e-mail me (by going to my profile page) and I'll tell you more about it.

Karen

[johnnylol]

since i am a new diabetic..i just was concerned i never had a hypoglycemic experience before thought number was getting dangerously low..but since your's has been lower and your still alive lol..make's me relieved.. yeah will email you got to know what your been eating..cause i haven't been myself...

[Belinda]

Each person experiences Hypos at different numbers. It depends on what your BG has been running. If it has been really high then 94 could be a number where you start feeling a low. Once you establish a normal number like Karen then your body is use to it and a low would be in the 60's more than likely. But remember EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT. At around 70 I know I need to eat something or I will be in trouble. I don't always catch my bg when it is at that number but feel the effects of a low and check and it is already in the 40 or 50 range.

When you feel a hypo there are different symptoms. You may experience one or many of them. Glucose tablets are a quick easy fix and so is Orange Juice. You will feel not at 100 % when you have one and eventually you will know what to expect and how you will feel and know how to avoid many from the way you feel and constantly monitoring your levels.


Oh BTW I usually eat 30 to 45 grams of carbs per meal. Sometimes less and if I go out to eat I have more.

[johnnylol]

just was concerned it could happen when i'm asleep:confused:

[Harold]

Johnny you only have to worry about going hypo if you are taking insulin or some of the oral meds. A type 2 not on any of the above could go several days and not go hypo. I have and I take Avandia.

[johnnylol]

i know i'm probally sounding like a hypo no pun intended chondiac...i alway's worry about my health that i am....

[soremom]

Johnny, to answer your one questions, yes you can go low at night, you may or may not feel it. Since I am T1, I don't know alot about T2 and going low. I just wanted to answer your question so you have an answer.

I was able to tell when I went low at night, I would wake up. Now I am having problems telling, my body doesn't seem to respond to the lows at night any more. But luckily haven't had one during the night since April.

Keep asking the questions, it is the best way to learn.

Kim

[HeatherP]

I'm T1, so like Kim, my experiences are a little different. I assume that you haven't met yet w/ a CDE. I think T2's are "assigned" a number of carbs to eat per day and possibly per meal. Your CDE is the best person to answer these questions.

Officially, b/s is low if it's 70 or lower and should be treated. I find that some of the low-carbers here operate well in the 80's, but at that level I have no physical strength and I shake like a leaf. It sounds like you're well on your way to taking good care of yourself, so high-five!:D

By the way, don't feel embarrased about asking questions: you are being confronted with all kinds of concerns and new ways of thinking. It can be very overwhelming at first - we've all been there.

HeatherP

[johnnylol]

actually when it was 83 before dinner i didn't notice anything wrong at all....guess my body still is producing enough insulin..

[johnnylol]

the more i think about diabete's.. the more depressing i get...i think this board while informative...can also be to much....got to have a diversion from thinking about my illness....

[KLD]

Try not to feel depressed about it, Johnny. It seems overwhelming to you now because you have so much to learn and you're having to make so many changes to your life all at the same time. But you'll be surprised at how quickly everything falls into place and before you know it, looking after your diabetes becomes second nature.

You're more fortunate than many of us, because your diabetes seems to have been caught early before it's done much damage to your body, and your attitude is great in that you want to learn everything you can about it. So many of us were in denial for the first few years, and sustained a lot of damage before we smartened up. So you've got a lot going for you. Try to look at it that way if you can. Of course you'll have the odd down day, but understand that that's normal and don't let it interfere with looking after yourself.

Karen

[Shalyndria]

This is probably a question best presented to a Registered Dietician. People of this discipline will work with you to teach you how to eat a healthy, balanced diet, and educate you on how certain foods will affect your blood sugar levels. If you haven't met with a dietician yet, I'd suggest you ask your PCP for a referral :) A CDE, as Heather has suggested, is also a great member of your personal health team and will work in conjunction with the dietician to make your life as smooth and easy as possible.

Good luck and do keep us posted :)

Shy

[mg_2204]

... I've actually had a few hypos last Dec and Jan and I'm not taking insulin nor meds. I shouldn't say hypos, I should say lows. I had lost a lot of weight and have experienced low numbers. Under 5 and I'm starting to shake.

I did experience in the past real hypos while I was briefly on meds (Diamicron is known to have that side effect) and I assure you Johnny, you know straight away something is wrong.

Like Belinda said, people experience hypos at different numbers.

If you've been recently diagnosed and take good care of yourself now, you're bound to get lower BG and of course you'll feel differently than usual. At the beginning, going from 12 (220) to 7 (130) felt like a hypo to me you know!

Continue to monitor yourself closely.

And yes, it can feel like a full time job you've taken on. But look at it differently Johnny : You're supposed to eat healthy, exercice, take good care of yourself. Isn't it what everyone should be doing to live long healthy productive life anyway? :) :) :)

Hang in there!

Marie
:)

[Lorna]

I do sometimes have overnight hypos and it is worth noting that they are more likely if you have been exercising during the day. I do usually wake up, but it tends to be till I am a lot lower. As for the low carb thing, it really depends on what works for you, but remember if you are cutting carbs try not to replace them with FATS! Good Luck Lorna

[KLD]

I have to disagree with you there, Lorna. I avoid trans-fats, of course, but I don't limit any other fats on my low carb diet. Fats become your main source of energy when you limit carbs, and I eat a lot of them. My cholesterol tests have been excellent ever since I've been eating this way (over two years now). Dr. Bernstein, whose book Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution I follow, believes that it is carbs, not fats, that raise our cholesterol and blood pressure and cause obesity, and my experience certainly supports that. I lost so much weight on his way of eating that I had to add an extra meal to my day to stop the weight loss.

Karen

[johnnylol]

to marie..it's true we all should take care of our health..never thought it would happen so soon though...:rolleyes: when i was in my 20's..i never thought i had to worry about diabetes till at least my 40's..

[Lorna]

Hi Karen- remind me are you type 1 or type 2? Low carb might work for you, but for me it is fats that cause weight gain- Although I am prepared to accept that this is different fordifferent people. Having said this, I have managed to loose a stone in the last month by reducing fats and proteins- still got a long way to go though!

[KLD]

I'm type 2, Lorna and just use diet to control my diabetes. I know there's a theory by a Dr. Mercola that people fall into different metabolic categories and that, depending on which type you are, you have to eat differently to stay healthy. For some reason, I've thought his theories were a little strange, although I shouldn't make that judgment as I don't really know anything about him. Maybe he's right and that explains the difference between us.

Karen