Frustrated and want to give up monitoring

[eliza0104]

I can't figure this monitoring BS thing out. My A1C was 6.4%, I'm guessing making me pre-D. My BS is so random, some meals just great and others iffy. My FBS tends to be around 95 consistently. Other than that, sometimes after meals I'm 163 at 1 hour and other times I'm 95 at one hour. I've even eaten the exact same meal that made me go to 163 and then next time I went to 115. I just can't find were I'm spiking at.

[Ronin]

Hi Eliza!

Yes, it can be frustrating. We've all had that experience of eating something, checking later and getting different results. The unfortunate reality is that our bodies are not precise machines that deliver the exact same results every time.

That doesn't mean that there is not a coorelation, only that there are multiple factors in play, some of which we have little to no awareness because they are internal.

My FBG's run in a range from the high 80's to the occasional over 100. My post breakfast levels run from the same as the FBG up to 20 ng/dL higher.

I've learned to look more at patterns than at specifics. When I get a lot of aerobic exercise (over an hour of intense bicycling) my FBG's tend to be lower than on days following a day without bicycling. I've also learned that portions have more of an effect than the specific foods eaten (i.e., a small portion will not drive up my BG when a large portion will).

Don't be too hard on yourself. There are two components to diabetes -- heredity and environment. We can't do anything about our genetics, but we can do something about or environment. Exercise, eating modification, proper rest, and other factors are proven to help lower overall BG levels. Testing is the only thing that gives us the information required to learn what works and doesn't work -- although even that is not an exact science.

[yannah]

the only comment I can make on this is i have seen people go form 10 to 5 in 3 months here. not me it took forever. I quit carbs and lost alot of wieght but BS sugar was all over the place first few weeks then all over the place but trending down. then less all over the place untill everything evened out and fell into place. it took my body a long time and alot of persistence.

[sumi]

Hi Eliza,
As George said, the inconsistency is terribly frustrating. Eventually, as he said, you have to let go of it and just look for general patterns. I understand that you are looking for spikes by testing at 1 hour, but I think you would be better off waiting for a 2 hour test. High bg levels are harmful only if they last for several hours. When newly diagnosed, many people (certainly me) find themselves jumping at shadows, and fearing terrible consequences of any 'bad' number. The generally accepted standard is to be below 140 at two hours- in my DE class they actually said 180! For me, personally I really only happy under 125. I would LOVE to have your fasting numbers! While of course looking for patterns and coming up with ideas for your own treatment should be encouraged - hopefully you will be able to share some tips- try to remember that our bodies are complicated, unique, and extremely difficult to make sense of at times. Remember, what you are doing so far has given you very good numbers, if you read the threads, I think you will see, that most people you love to have them!