Question re: testing

[SleepyGirly]

Hi all..

So i've been monitoring my blood glucose for about 1.5 weeks now. I was told to test in the AM before meals (fasting) and 2 hours after dinner. My nurse said my fasting level should be between 65-99, and after dinner should be between 140-160.

Observing my numbers in a log book provided by the maker of my meter, i'm noticing a trend. I'm a little high over 99 when fasting in the mornings ranging from 100-115, and after dinner i'm ranging low between 89-127, with the highest being 179. I've also started testing before eating and i'm again falling between 76-100 (which I have no idea what I should be before eating between meals)

My question is.. with the 2 hours after dinner... should I test 2 hours after I start eating, or 2 hours after I finish eating.

I'm struggling with eating right.. i'm assuming this is normal, but I dont cook usually. I've stabilized for the traveling a bit, and i'm home for awhile, so i'm able to but also in the middle of packing for a move to my own place (living with roommates now) and well some stuff is already packed since i'm less than 6 weeks away now. I'm getting a little daily pocket calendar to track what I eat-a suggestion my moms diabetic friend made when she was first diagnoses to help me observe what I eat. I was given a number to a diabetic/nutrition educator by the doctor's nurse and i'm trying to schedule that, through a lot of phone tag.

On a lighter note... I bought a new car over the memorial day weekend, so things are looking up, just crazy weird at the moment.

I've also added my signature...

Sharon

[slwood321]

I think you're doing great. Your fasting numbers are okay. In a perfect world below 100 is best, but given that you just started monitoring, this is something you can work on.

Regarding the post meal number, when she said 140 what she meant is that you number shouldn't be higher than that. Anything below that is good.

The numbers you are averaging are real good. One of the main reasons for testing is to see how different foods affect you. As you read more on this forum, particularly on the type two thread, you will learn a lot of ways to manage your diet that will help you.

After you get settled in your new place and start cooking more I would start using calorieking.com to see what is in the foods you are eating. This will allow you to better control the carbs you are eating.

You obviously are going through a lot of changes right now. Just take it one day at a time. Good Luck.

[jenb]

My question is.. with the 2 hours after dinner... should I test 2 hours after I start eating, or 2 hours after I finish eating.

Hi Sharon - Welcome. It's 2 hours after your first bite of food.

Some food tips from my own experience: Minimize your intake of starchy carbs like rice, potatoes, bread, potato chips etc. and eat a great selection of greens, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, broccoli and other salad vegetables. Fruit can cause spikes in blood sugar, so concentrate on higher fiber varieties like berries, apples, oranges. Nuts are a good source of fiber, fat and protein. Eat a wide array of protein foods, and fats like avocado and olive oil. Try to avoid pre-packaged foods and frozen dinners and fast foods. Concentrate on fresh fruits, meats, vegetables, dairy (beware with dairy - lower fat versions have higher amounts of carbohydrate).

It's very helpful to try testing yourself before eating a food you love, say...apples. Eat a weighed portion of apple, then test your blood sugar at 1 hour after, then again at the second hour. This will tell you what that food does for you personally. You can then adjust the quantity or decide to eliminate that food.

It's a complicated topic, but soon you'll feel you have a graduate degree in nutrition!

Good luck. And enjoy your new car!

Jen

PS I agree with slwood - Calorie King is fantastic. They have a great website and downloadable software that is a must for meal planning!

[Ronin]

Hi Sharon!

Welcome to the weird world of Pre-Diabetes. As was noted by Slwood, your numbers are not terrible. The normative standard is based on studies done of very healthy young people who are quite active. These are ideal number targets and should be used in understanding how our modern life-style has an effect on our bodies.

The simple fact of modern American life is that we rarely walk and food is abundantly available. As you noted, frequent travel does a dirty on your life. I remember when I traveled for a living -- my weight went straight up to 235. Those nights of boredom, the long sits in waiting lounges (filled with various kiosks selling all kinds of high carb & fat foods) then hours in airplanes, meeting rooms (with all those pastries), and hotel rooms. Feeling exhausted all of the time didn't help motivate me to get out and walk or go to the hotel gym either. You already know the drill.

The primary thing for you to understand is that the nurse is there to help you make decisions, but you, and only you, are the person who decided what you do and what goes into your mouth. There is a corelation between what you do, what you eat and your BG levels. You need to find what works for you.

The Pre-D diagnosis is a warning with a promise that if you work on the life-style you can prevent/delay the onset of full-blown diabetes. You can do it! I know that because I'm doing it already as well as many others in the same situation.

[genie86333]

Hi, Sleepygirl.

Your pre-meal numbers are fine - below 100 is just where you want to be. Your post-meal numbers seem pretty good too - although if you continue to have the higher #s occasionally, you might want to eliminate/cut down the foods you have eaten during those particular meals.

It's generally accepted that "2 hours after a meal" means 2 hours after the first bite. The exception to this may be if you have a long, drawn-out meal.