Comuppance

[Ronin]

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. I've been able to, on occasion, indulge in a sweet desert. Today I had some chocolate cake. Normally, my BG will go up into the 130's and then settle down after doing this. Well, today I got my comuppance -- about ah hour after lunch I got a headache and checked my BG levels -- 177! YIKES! It's never, I mean never, benn this high. Looks like my low yield pancreas is sending me a message -- no more playing with the edges and time to tighten up on the diet yet again.

I have to admit that I toyed with the idea of visitng a neighbor who is a diabetic and asking her for one-unit of insulin to see if it would bring down the BG faster than a workout. I rejected that idea and did the workout and brought the BG levels down to 106.

The saga continues and the restrictions get tighter.

[castinneford]

I got that same kick in the head a couple of weeks ago when my hour after dinner (with ice cream for dessert) number was 170 so I know how you feel. :) When I look back on it, it could have been worse; the numbers came down quickly and now I've learned a valuable lesson.

Kitty.

[Larry H.]

Know where your coming from.. I have had worse numbers approaching 200 a few times this winter. And yet I can get a very reasonable number after eating a seemingly similar meal at times. It is rather confusing because it doesn't seem to be an exact situation, but varies for who knows what combination of things. Sounds confusing doesn't it..

For my self I have rediscovered that if I incorporate a high fiber item into the meals it appears to keep the number much better. I have had readings in the low 120's after meals that might have caused a 180 or better a few months ago. It started with eating a high fiber muffin with breakfast and usually with the evening meal.. I know on face value adding a muffin that uses raisin bran among other things seems a contradiction, but some how it works.. I remembered the articles that said by adding a fourth of a meal in high fiber helped keep numbers down..

I had returned to the Slacia Oblonga also for a time and it does seem to help in my case. But the suppliers of it are becoming less reliable and I was concerned about the quality of the product being shipped from India where it is a major diabetes reduction product. When I mentioned it again to a near by health food store owner he suggested that several of his customers had had good results taking a product called Alpha-Fibe FBC by Bio-form. He claimed up to a 25% reduction in numbers after meals. It is actually a weight loss product, which can't be all bad for many of us. It works in a similar way to the Salcia in that it binds the fats and somehow keeps the sugars from entering the blood stream rather passing it though the digestive track.. So it gives the same sort of gassy effect that some medications do and the salacia does.

But the results so far have been interesting. I have had among the lowest readings after meals in a long time since I started taking one with breakfast and usually at supper time. It could be worth a try, I would be interested to see if any one else finds the same results?

[pegasus]

I cringe at the idea that a high BG is a "comeuppance." I've been fighting for 40 years the idea that when I eat something I "shouldn't" that I've been "bad" and that I'm "cheating." It's just so harsh and punitive, all of these descriptions. The truth is, I believe--and I'm trying to learn well enough that I actually feel this way--is that I don't deserve a punishment (comeuppance) for trying something out, for taking a bite of something I'm tempted by, for not being "perfect"--in short, for basically being human. If I taste something sweet, or high in carbs, and I find I didn't compensate well, ok, I didn't compensate well--and as castinneford says, I've learned a valuable lesson.

Ronin, you don't deserve discomfort or pain--or your high BG. It just happens because your body was in that place at that time, and it gave you a warning. I hope you can be a little easier on yourself next time. Odds are there will be one, and the self-punishment can double back on itself, and you don't deserve it.

[Ronin]

Pegasus, et al.,

Thanks for the kind words but the reality is that I do, on occasion, play at the edges of my dietary plans and this time I got burned.

The reality I brought home is that the goal-posts move. I have been seeing my FBG's start to creep upwards and my "piece of cake" was a step over the boundaries. I shared my experience partly as a form of letting my fellow Pre-D's know that we are all human, and partly as a form of "confession."

[fgummett]

Remember that there are other factors here: diabetes is chronic and progressive which means that it does tend to get worse over time. Sure be aware for what you are eating but use it as a tool to monitor your progress and not as "sackcloth and ashes" to feel bad about yourself. There are days when you will do everything "right" and still have high blood sugars :o

[jakesfnm]

Just wondering about how many carbs you are comfortable with per day. I've been concerned my carb count is too low - unhealthy. I eat probably between 50 (usual) and 75 of very healthy carbs a day. Occasionally below 50, almost never above 75. Get a bit tired during the day (but not when I leave each night for my 2 plus miles hike after dinner!) And one other comment - I've got diabetes on both sides of my family. Everyone got it later in life. My grandmother always ate pretty healthy from what I remember - she lived with Type 2 diabetes until 90 - and that was back in the 70s. My dad doesn't eat healthy, takes medications, is 85 but the disease has taken a real tough toll on him. I think many of the forum members are on the right track and can, at least, be hopeful. I am. (And Ronin - I just ordered the BioSAFE a1c test kit - Thanks)

[Ronin]

Hi Jakesfnm!

How many carbs per day? That depends on the day. On days when I tandem/single bicycle I'm usually in the 100 gram range. On days when I know I will not be getting this level of activity I try to keep it below 50 (not always successful). My key effort is to space the carbs out over the day and not (as I did when I ate the piece of cake) take on a large dose unless it is followed immediately by a lot of exercise.

[Tropo]

IMO you're making far too much about a piece of cake. If you don't test your reaction to a decent carb load from time to time you'll never know where you are.

You also know that a moderately high BG after one meal is not going to hurt you. It was surprising to hear that you considered going over to your neighbor to get a shot of insulin - considering you're always the one on here imploring others not to panic.

I would suggest giving that cake another try soon to check if it was a one off bad reading or a trend.

[BlueSky]

... about ah hour after lunch I got a headache and checked my BG levels -- 177! YIKES! It's never, I mean never, benn this high. Looks like my low yield pancreas is sending me a message -- ...
If you would like to be able to tolerate a glucose load like that, there is a way. Some basal insulin would probably sharpen up your phase one insulin response enough to stop those big post-prandial spikes.