New diet is NOT WORKING!!

[sowski143]

Ugh, so I might be being impatient, but I started a diet on Monday so that I can control my carb intake (finally!) and it isn't working!!! Someone please tell me what I am doing wrong!!

Monday food intake:

Breakfast - half grapefruit

Lunch - turkey/wheat crackers lunchable
1 apple with crunchy peanut butter

Snack - SF Jello

Dinner - One chicken breast
Brocolli/Cauliflower salad (sunflower seeds, raisins, mayo, red onion)

Snack before bed - sesame nut mix

My blood sugar was 243 this morning!!!

Tuesday (today):

Breakfast - one egg, one sausage link, half grapefruit

Snack - Pop tarts (2)

Lunch - Homemade salad with chicken pieces and ranch dressing
1 apple and crunchy peanut butter

Blood sugar was 163!!!

Dinner - One bratwurst with 2 tbsp of ketchup
Same Brocolli/Cauliflower salad
Sesame nut mix

Please tell me I don't have to give up the apples and peanut butter?!?!?!:confused: I don't understand what is going on. I'm hoping that because I just started, my blood sugar needs time to settle down, but I'm getting nervous that I may have to starve myself! :eating:

[shutterbug]

I guess dieting works differently for each individual. Is this the first time you are trying to control your BS level thru. dieting?

My BS level took a month to reach normal ranges after I started Metformin, dieting and exercise. From what you are saying, you started dieting yesterday and expecting results today? :T :T :T

Give your body some time.. Also, have you been checking your BS level often after each item that you eat to see which ones your body can handle well?

If you just started dieting (that's what it seems like from your posting), give yourself some time. See a nutriotionist if you can. Carb counting is key to keep your BS levels under control. I learned it very recently and I know it works wonderfully!!

And.................. GOOD LUCK :D

[sowski143]

Well, I did diet when I was just finding about the diabetes and lost a ton...but I wasn't looking at my BS levels because I was considered "pre diabetes"

I don't check my bs a lot because I'm at work and don't have any time to stop to check my levels; or any place to do it!!

I need to be more patient, I know...at least it went down to 163 before dinner today!

[xMenace]

My money's on you not making enough insulin to control your sugars no matter what you eat. I suspect you need to add some short term insulin.

See your endo.

[fgummett]

Yup... I'd give it some time. Remember that your liver also puts out sugar... it may even be that by starving yourself you are encouraging your liver to put out extra... hence your high FBG.

Are you testing after meals or only on waking?

From everything I have read, eating too little will do you no favours... your body goes into "famine" mode, using food very efficiently and storing any excess as fat.

Moderation in everything... including moderation itself :)

[sowski143]

Well then what do I eat when I'm starving in between meals?!! Yesterday I had a SF jello cup and my level was 204 3 hours later....it doesn't make any sense!! I need something I can eat a lot of so I'm not so hungry all the time and won't spike my BS levels.

FYI, this disease is so unpredictable!

[fgummett]

Try some protein: nuts, cheese... something to satisfy the hunger but low in carbs while high in fats and protein to keep you feeling full longer

[owlyn]

As usual, I agree with XMenace. I think you don't have enough insulin, and/or your body isn't using what's there, or your med dose needs to be adjusted. That is a pretty low carb diet you have there. Your fasting BGs should be lower.

[Jan B]

Pop tarts are VERY high in carbs. Yummy, but evil!

[notme]

Don't give up your apples, but try slicing them thinner and only eating a half with a smaller amount of peanut butter. Pop tarts have 65-70 carbs ..... I would can that all together.

Your bratworst is not effecting you blood sugar much, but it may be keeping the blood sugar up there from the carbs you do consume hours later.

Bottom line is you probably haven't given it enough time. You also need to cut portions.

sigh.......

[Scrabblechick]

Yeah, I saw Pop Tarts and said "HUH?" Michelle, you might as well eat sugar straight out of the bowl if you're gonna eat Pop Tarts. As Jan said: yummy, but evil. However, much of your menu looked pretty good.

Check that sesame nut mix for the carb count, too. You might be surprised.

Here's my menu for today, just as comparison. Now, I've been on Met since Feb. 7 and doing lower carb since the first week in January. But this is a pretty typical day for me.

FBG: 99.

B'fast: Kashi TLC bar (I am not a big breakfast eater)

Lunch: Taco salad. Ate the stuffing, not the shell. PP: 119.

Snack when I got home: some beef jerky; handful of dry roasted peanuts.

Supper: 5 oz. steak, salad, 3/4 cup mashed potatoes (a rare treat. I was in the high 80s when I got home). 119 PP.

Bedtime snack: 2 PB on cheese snack crackers, 1 square of 60 percent dark chocolate.

My favorite snacks are the aforementioned PB on cheese crackers, good Swiss cheese, beef jerky, the aforementioned chocolate, s/f Jell-O. Eat a piece of cheese and then the Jell-O. You'll feel full longer. Now that I'm accustomed to eating less, that amount pretty well satisfies me.

Give it at least a couple of weeks and see what happens. Watch out for those sneaky carbs like Pop Tarts and cereal. Check out the carb count on those lunchables, too. Those crackers can add up in a hurry. You've just gotta be a compulsive label reader. Keep at it-- your hard work will pay off!

[fgummett]

I must admit I completely missed the Pop-tarts when I read through the original post.. must be a mental block thing ;)

Makes me also wonder about the Peanut-Butter... we are talking just crushed plain peanuts and no added sugar right? :)

[BrianSCohen]

Wow Michelle! Take a deep breath.

Everything is going to be ok. It takes a while to figure things out.

Two days is to quick to figure anything out. You can do this, just go easy on yourself.

Everything you eat will likely have some effect on your blood sugar. Things that you do and the state of youy body and mind effect your blood sugar as well. If I am stressed, my blood sugar rises markedly.

There are people here with extensive experience that can help you figure out the right dosing levels for your insulin and then how to adjust your diet and dosing levels to manage your blood sugar. Given the comments above, you probably will need to increase your current dosing levels.

Your doctor may be able to help you make some initial changes in your doing, however in the long run, you will need to steer the car. I found it very helpful to attend diabetes education classes. There is a local diabetes center with wonderful CDEs (certified diabetes educators) that teach you how to count carbs and do things like adjust your insulin to cover carbs.

As for your diet, it at first glance seems to be a calorie restricted diet. This may very well be why you are so hungry. You might consider a carb restricted diet, something like atkins. This will offer you many more options to still feel like you are full and satisfied, while addressing your need to keep your carbs at a measured level.

Best of luck.

[MarcS]

I think the Pop tarts are the first thing that jumps out at me, also aren't raisins not good? Also double check your medicine labels, but I know I take something that forbids me from eating grapefruit (which I hate any way).

Also are you exercising? This is what made the difference for me. I have now lost almost 10 lbs, recently purchased a bicycle and am going to be cycling to work (also saves gas!).

I stock my fridge (at home and at work) with the low carb yogurts, Ralph's has a store brand that is 4 carbs (with 1 being fiber, so net 3 carbs and only 70 or 80 calores). I work literally a stones throw from the beach so after lunch I take a 45 minute walk on the pier, or the beach itself. I also keep low carb snacks around as well.

Unfortunately results do take some time, and some effort. I am resolved to lose another 40lbs, and eventually get off my meds (and lower my A1C).

Best of luck to you, and give it some time, if you are committed the results will come.

[Alice]

Raisins are a great source of iron...also great little bundles of natural sugar...so remember to cut back on your normal amount.

In the beginning you will be finding out how many carbs stay under the radar and not raise (or spike) your glucose...above and beyond that will be excess.

For right now, things like raisins may be measured by counting out a few...not a total serving.

You may need to add different meds (Byetta?) and/or insulin. Sounds like about 30% of Type 2's are taking insulin for more flexible eating and better numbers...not a bad thing...just a new shift in treatment methods. It makes sense to me.

But first, try to see if you can tolerate small amounts of carbs...about 30 per meal. Then, adjust up or down...and meds.

[jerryn]

POP Tarts = Evil Carbs! Don't eat that!!!!!

If you want something quick buy some Kaschi blueberry waffles.
Low carb, high fiber.

POP tarts... You can not eat that. Stay away from anything with enriched flour man.. including brad made with enriched flour.

Your glucose is high in the morning because your liver is secreting glucose into your blood at wakeup. I've got that problem but I'm not at 243 at wake up. An old remedy used to be a shot of brandy before bed. But you need to let your Dr. know about the early morning highs. I take 3 500mg tablets of metformin. So far my mornings have been around 143, but I can be at 165 sometimes at wakeup. While on metformin you really can't drink so I haven't tried the old brandy shot yet. Metformin really beats on your liver.

If you really want to try low carb you should look at bread as if you have a wheat allergy. No White bread, no pop tarts that's for sure. No breakfast pastry at all. Breakfast = 2 hard boiled eggs, maybe 1/2 a grapefruit. No bread.

Don't give up yet!

[sowski143]

Yeah, I know the pop tarts were bad...it was a weak moment on my part, I was starving!!!!

I have to fax my doctor my readings at the end of the week, and I'm so mad that he is going to have to increase my dosage....I really don't want to take more insulin, but I will do what I have to do to beat this!

Metformin made me feel like ****!!! I tried it, and was pretty much out of commission for 2 weeks....That's why I'm on Amaryl. I was on Avandaryl, but because I take insulin, my doc said to switch due to some studies done recently about Avandaryl and insulin not working well together.

I think I am going to stick to the very low carb diet and forget about calories (for right now). This starving idea is not working very well...haha Thanks for all your help guys!