meter readings

[lorkatz2004]

Hi

I just got my meter Friday and started testing with the strips. So far, the night time readings are 151 and 138.......is this normal or am I doing something wrong??

The doctor said I was pre-diabetic and it seems to me that for the last few days, my night time readings seem to be the highest.

I am trying to watch what I eat, but it is hard figuring out what you can have.

Thanks
Cathy

[morrisma]

Hi & welcome.

When you say night time are you referring to fasting numbers or before bed numbers?

You certainly aren't doing anything wrong by testing. Try not to stress too much while you are learning how to deal with the disease. You don't mention any meds so their effect is unknown.

What I'd suggest you do for a few days is to test upon rising and 2 hours after the first bite of each meal and at bedtime. Get back to us with those numbers. The 2 hour after a meal numbers will be very good indicators of how you are dealing with the food you eat.

Be patient, you've got a deal of living to do with this. It gets easier.
Mike

[art]

Cathy:
How soon after eating are those numbers?
As for WHAT you eat the secret is counting carbs.

Less is better. It's not so much what you eat as the total amount of carbs. I'm a type 2 and my Doc says 60 carbs per meal. I don't come close. I usually have no more than 40 at a meal.

The reading 2 hours after you eat will usually be higher than the reading in the morning before you eat.( the fasting humber).

Exercise is great. Even if it's just 30 or 40 minutes of walking each night.

The 138, 2 hours after eating wouldn't bother me but some would find it high.

You're just starting out. Don't stress. It takes time. Hopefully you'll stay in the "pre" period a long time.


Art

[lorkatz2004]

Hi

The night time numbers is after the 2 hour period that I first ate. Normally my meal is around 5, and I tested at 7PM both times.

Finding what you can eat is difficult!!

thanks so much for the help
Cathy

[princesslinda]

Hi Cathy: Welcome. Most of us find that eating lower carbs (esp. potatoes, rice, pasta and bread) keep our blood sugar more stable. If you test 2 hrs after your first bite, you'll see how different foods affect your blood sugars and be able to make smarter food choices. I eat lots of salads, green veggies, lean protein, nuts and cheese, some fruits and s/f jello and puddings.

Since you're pre-D, you have opportunity to make some good lifestyle changes with diet and exercise and can hopefully keep full-blown T2 diabetes at bay for many years.

[davef]

Cathy,

Welcome to the forums, it's a great place to learn.

I'm like Linda and would mostly avoid white rice, white bread, pasta and potatoes, I find the carbs in them send my blood sugars soaring.

It takes a little time to get a hang of things, but testing certainly helps a great deal as you learn whah foods work for you.

As the others have said, try not to stress too much, it does take a little time and you will find things much easier soon.

[xMenace]

Hi

Finding what you can eat is difficult!!



You can say that again! ;) Welcome to the forum.

Try eating food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Michael Pollan on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos (http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/videos.html?id=729498103)

[Ronin]

Hi Cathy!

Welcome to the club you never wanted to join.

As a fellow Pre-D you are now on the steep learning curve. What you have to learn is how your body reacts to the consumption of carbohydrates, what foods tend to drive your BG higher and which ones have the least effect. Also what effect exercise has on your levels over time.

I strongly suggest that you get on some kind of testing schedule, create a chart where you can post both your results and log data as to what you ate, when you ate it, what activities you have done, and any other information you feel is important. I use an Excel spreadsheet and make graphs from them (okay - I am a bit O/C when it comes to data of any kind.) The reason for all of this is to learn how your body deals with the foods you eat.

Keep in mind that these are just readings and it is your choice that will make the numbers higher or lower. For now though, just learn about how your body reacts. Over time you will know in advance what foods work for you and which ones work against you.

[morrisma]

Ok Cathy,

If I get this right the numbers you gave are 2 hours after dinner. The 138 is great. Under 140 is the goal. The 151 is a little high but not over the moon so I'd suggest counting the carbs at each meal and comparing the carbs eaten to the 2 hour numbers. Our collective experience says the fewer the carbs, the lower the 2 hour number.

You are well on your way. Keep us posted on your carb/2 hour meter readings.
Mike

[kstreeter513]

Make sure before you test that you wash your hands with SOAP and water. Any residual sugar on your hands can give you a false high reading. Sometimes even the natural oil on my hands can give me funky readings.

[lorkatz2004]

Thanks for all the suggestions......

The endo gave me a one touch mini meter......seems to work nice. Last night I went "off" the diet "slightly" and ate a piece of coconut cake..........well 2 hours later I get a reading close to 180. I have this huge sweet craving, it's horrible. After every meal I was used to eating some kind of goodie so its a huge diet change for me. I never drank anything all day either except a cup of coffe or two and that was it. Now I have to try to drink more, but I am trying.

My problem area seems to be when I eat something it goes high and stays that way for a while. I am going to try logging this data like someone said and see if I can find a pattern. Right now it seems the night time meal is a problem area for me.......

Thanks all........I will keep trying.
Cathy

[lorkatz2004]

Sorry, but I forgot to mention that the endo did aAC1 testing and it came out at 5.9.

I am "assuming" this is a good figure??

thanks for all the help and support.
Cathy

[princesslinda]

5.9 is equal to a 90 day average blood sugar of 133. Normal, non-diabetic A1C according to the lab I use is between 4-6.

You need to really be careful with your sweets, as you know these will cause you to go higher than you should...and continued high readings may bring about full-blown T2. If you crave the sweets, try a blood sugar friendly alternative that won't cause you to go that high.

My husband is not a diabetic, and even after a big high-carb meal WITH dessert, the highest i've ever seen him is around 140.

[fgummett]

Hi Cathy and Welcome to DF!
Yes... an A1c (http://www.ianblumer.com/definitions%20&%20test%20interpretation.htm#hemoglobin%20A1C%20(g lycosylated%20hemoglobin)) of 5.9% does seem to be a good figure. It gives an "average" blood sugar for about the last 90 days. However it may not give the whole picture and should be used along with your finger-sticks to build up a picture of your daily highs and lows. Some folks have a "reactive" type of D or pre-D where a high sugar causes a large release of insulin which drops your sugars below normal... this series of highs and lows can average out to a good looking A1c but is clearly not a healthy state to be in.

It is also normal to crave sweets things at this stage: even though your blood sugar may be high, that sugar is not getting into the cells properly to be used by your body, which is sending out signals to say it is hungry and needs a quick fix of sugar. It is this craving for food caused by poor sugar regulation that I believe is responsible for the weight gain so many of us have with type 2. You may find that protein, such as a handful of nuts will help you to combat the cravings for sweet things.