Newbie with another..."is it normal.."?

[dankap]

is it normal to have a pre dinner reading of 117 (7pm), a post dinner reading (2 hours after) of 148 (9pm) and then a first thing in the morning reading of 153 (7am)?

shouldnt the early morning reading be lower?

Im type 2 Dx 3 weeks ago...

im on Januvia 2 times a day and amaryl 1 x a day in the AM. Would it do anything if i switched my Amaryl to the evening to have more of an effect n the morning reading....

[princesslinda]

Dan, when I was diagnosed, I was told to aim for 140 or less for the 2 hr after meal reading (2hrs after first bite of food, not 2 hrs after finishing the meal) and 110 or less fasting. My fasting is always a little higher than my goal.

Your morning reading is higher than it should be, but you've not been on your meds very long, and it sometimes takes awhile to see optimal results.

I wouldn't advise your switching your timing of your meds that much without checking with your doctor first.

You're still learning all about diabetes, what to eat, when to test, and still very new to meds. Give yourself a little time to adjust. If you still see fasting numbers that high in another month or so, it may be that you'll need some medication adjustment in the evenings.

[fgummett]

Fasting reading may be related to Dawn Phenomenon... basically the liver stores and releases sugar independently of what you eat... it tends to dump some sugar out in the small wee hours of the morning just before we wake... frustrating ain't it! but you can learn to work around it. Counter intuitively some people find having a snack at bedtime helps with DP... the body is less hungry so the Liver puts out less sugar.

[xMenace]

Dan,

Some stuff to research:

Getting Down to Basals :: Diabetes Self-Management (http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/articles/Insulin/Getting_Down_to_Basals)

dawn phenomenon - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=dawn+phenomenon&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SUNA)

Symogi effect - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=Symogi++effect&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SUNA)

Basically we have two sources of blood sugar: food and liver releases (basal). It's not the food ;)

[dankap]

Thanks everyone..i really need some formal education here...I just found out that my insurance plan (united Healthcare PPO) doesnt cover Diabetes Education. any suggestions? im in San Diego.

[fgummett]

I would ask your insurance again directly... it seems to me that the better educated you are, the healthier you will be and the less it will cost them.

There are good resources on the interweb, including:
David Mendosa... (http://www.mendosa.com/)
Dr Ian Blumer... (http://www.ianblumer.com/)

[patricia52]

Some places offer free classes. I know I am attending one now. The class meets monthly and covers a different topic each month. The classes are taught by different health professional for example nutrionist, dentist, optomerist, nurse practicioner, and pharmacist. Since the classes move more slowly, everyone absorbs more. We will even be visiting the grocery store. Our next class will be on monitoring your D. Maybe someone offers something like that where you live. Check with your doctor he should know if something like that is available.

[MarcS]

I started out very much in the same boat. My doctor told me to increase my dosage in the evening. I was actually up to 75 units of Novalin N (time released), and 36 of R (regular insulin). At the same time I started exercising more, and now have had to lower the dosage practically in half, because my a.m. readings were extremely low (65-90). Its still a game of adjusting each week. Also it depends what you are eating, and if you snack at night (hopefully not, but if so something like an apple).

[Evermont]

Thanks everyone..i really need some formal education here...I just found out that my insurance plan (united Healthcare PPO) doesnt cover Diabetes Education. any suggestions? im in San Diego.

http://www.limeylemon.com/images/XWelcometoDF.gif

It aint formal - but DF sure is educational! I've learned most of what I know here, and if I learned it elsewhere, I brought it here to share. Welcome Dan.

[davef]

Hi dankap,

I would recommend Gretchen Becker's "The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes".

In relation to your numbers, as Linda has said you are just starting out, give yourself a little time to adjust. Perhaps watching the number of carbs you are eating would help.

[Janlaton]

One quick question, how late are you eating your evening meal and is it a heavy meal? :o

My doctor suggests not eating after 7 pm unless it is a very lite meal. This is hard to do since I do not get home from work until them. I find if I do something such as salad a small 2 oz meat and a hot vegetable one carb serving I do well the next am. Less than 120. If I do a large meal it will be in the 130s.

Janlaton
40 years type 2:T

[Scrabblechick]

I'm a night owl so I stay up late. I'll often eat a bit of beef jerky and a piece of cheese or two cheese crackers with peanut butter. I just get TOO hungry if I eat at 7 p.m. and don't hit the sack until 1 a.m.

I do find my morning numbers are better if I give my liver some protein to deal with before bedtime. :)