Is a latte too carby?

[NewdestinyX]

Is a latte too carby? I'm a once a day junkie for starbucks. I've switched to sugar free syrups which are 100% Splenda at Starbucks.. And I learned that the more fat in the milk the less carbs -- who knew.

But I've been having trouble getting my numbers under control after 2 months still in the 140-180 range all day and at FBG (about 140-150). And I'm just trying to think of that next thing to try to get the meds to work better.. I've tried dropping carbs to under 50 for a couple days in a row -- and not much effect. Beginning to wonder if my pancreas is broken and I'm really a 1.5 or 1.

Thanks for any advice on milk products.

[xMenace]

Describe a day's food intake.

Try a couple of weeks at 50g a day.

[sarahspins]

Coffee (or rather the caffeine in it) is known to raise BG for some people.

Do you know how many carbs are in the Latte? Most people are more insulin resistant in the morning than any other part of the day, so if your day starts out relatively carb-heavy compared to the rest of the day, that could be all the problem is.

[Josselyn]

Is a latte too carby? I'm a once a day junkie for starbucks. I've switched to sugar free syrups which are 100% Splenda at Starbucks.. And I learned that the more fat in the milk the less carbs -- who knew.

But I've been having trouble getting my numbers under control after 2 months still in the 140-180 range all day and at FBG (about 140-150). And I'm just trying to think of that next thing to try to get the meds to work better.. I've tried dropping carbs to under 50 for a couple days in a row -- and not much effect. Beginning to wonder if my pancreas is broken and I'm really a 1.5 or 1.

Thanks for any advice on milk products.

Yes, you're better off with cream in your latte...but confining it to once per day is still wise. Calories still count...and some of us are sensitive to caffeine. You'll have to test to see if caffeine raises your BG.

I'm no veteran, but you do seem to be running high through the day - and that's usually the time that we Type 2s seem to have the most control over our BG numbers. The higher number in the morning can be attributed to "Dawn Phenomenon."

It's quite possible that you are very sensitive to carbs, like many of us here, and that approaching 100 per day is simply too much for your situation. The improvement doesn't always show up immediately, since you weren't carb loading in the first place with the 100 or less per day.
Then there's the notion of portion control, even with the "permitted" foods (sigh) :o

Your pancreas might be less than strong, but I suspect if it were really "broken", your numbers would be much higher than they are.

Then there's the timing of when we take our meds...I've found my AM reading has improved with taking my Metformin shortly after eating supper, as opposed to before or along with.

[NewdestinyX]

Describe a day's food intake.

Try a couple of weeks at 50g a day.My first 2 weeks were like that. Couldn't live like that. Hungry all the time -- faint. Not enough energy to exercise vigorously. My doc said -- not the way to go for me. Also not recommended by ADA and other medical organizations for T2's. But thanks. I know a lot of your 'swear by it'. But doesn't work for all of us to bring down the sugar nor to feel our best.

[NewdestinyX]

Coffee (or rather the caffeine in it) is known to raise BG for some people.

Do you know how many carbs are in the Latte? Most people are more insulin resistant in the morning than any other part of the day, so if your day starts out relatively carb-heavy compared to the rest of the day, that could be all the problem is.I'm zero carbs for breakfast every day. Well except for my latte which is 11g's for a Tall (whole milk).

Thanks!

[NewdestinyX]

Yes, you're better off with cream in your latte...but confining it to once per day is still wise. Calories still count...and some of us are sensitive to caffeine. You'll have to test to see if caffeine raises your BG.I'm decaf -- sorry. Forgot to say that.

It's quite possible that you are very sensitive to carbs, like many of us here, and that approaching 100 per day is simply too much for your situation. The improvement doesn't always show up immediately, since you weren't carb loading in the first place with the 100 or less per day.
Then there's the notion of portion control, even with the "permitted" foods (sigh) :o Oh yes -- doing my best with that.. Sigh.. :)
Bfast - 2 egg omelet with cheddar shredded and one sausage patty lo fat. Crystal Light Lemonade and Tall Latte whole milk sugar free syrup.
Lunch -4-5 rolled up pieces of lunch ham, turkey,etc. and cheese with 13 cheese doodles (12g carb <1g sugar) Diet soda and my 3 of my sugar free cookies (11g carb)
Dinner -- meat, veggies and some carb - like red potatoes, or small portion of macaroni. Basically I don't sweat the lo carb thing at this meal but neither do I go crazy..
Walk or bike after dinner.. Late night snack of nuts and raisins or cheese..

Your pancreas might be less than strong, but I suspect if it were really "broken", your numbers would be much higher than they are.That's what I was thinking too.

Then there's the timing of when we take our meds...I've found my AM reading has improved with taking my Metformin shortly after eating supper, as opposed to before or along with.YES!! You're reminding me of a 132 reading 1 hour after dinner recently (real low for me) where I took the Metformin AFTER the meal because I'd forgotten.. I'll try that some more.. THANKS!!! I've been a BEFORE meal or during up to this point. That was also the one morning where the gas problems returned.. So I guess I have better control or gas with the Metformin.. YUCK! Though I'm almost totally gas free now. Nothing like the first 4 weeks.

Thanks!

[fgummett]

I'm zero carbs for breakfast every day. Well except for my latte which is 11g's for a Tall (whole milk).A reminder that it is not just the number of carbohydrates but their quality as well... how refined/concentrated are they? More specifically to answer your OP, what does your BG meter tell you about this drink... have you tested around it yet?

[kmac]

Everyone has to answer that question for themselves. For me--I wouldn't have it and would probably decrease my carbs in your situation and test to see what happened. If you feel that you do not want to decrease your carbs for whatever reason (everyone has to decide this for themselves because there is sure lots of conflicting advice out there) then you must explore other options because it seems that some kind of change is required. The options I can think of are:

1. Change the timing of your carbs. Have carby type treats like your coffee drink in the afternoon or early evening when many of us can tolerate carbs better and cut right down on carbs in the morning.

2. Increase your excercise to decrease Insulin Resistance.

3. Talk to your doctor about increasing and or changing your meds to acheive better numbers.

4. As others said change the type of carbs you are eating. Carbs from verries etc are easier to tolerate for me and I feel they are more "worthwhile" for me because they come packed with nutrition. Carefully test each food as is often mentioned here so that you know which foods you tolerate best and in particular what that coffee drink is doing to you.

5. Something else that I cannot think of but I'm sure someone else will.

6. Combo of some or all of the above.

Congratulations on the improvements you have made in your numbers. You are so close now that I am sure you can do it when you figure out the key. I hope that you can keep enjoying your coffee treat in the mornings as you wish, but sometimes life is like that. Maybe you can learn to make your own concoction that you would like just as well but might not spike your numbers. These are all the suggestions I can think of and I hope you find something helpful here. D can be a big puzzle a lot of the time and the frustrating thing is what works for me may well not work for you.

[ShottleBop]

That 11 grams of carbs in the whole milk is 11 grams of sugar (lactose). That's a lot of sugar in the morning, for many folks. You might try regular coffee with cream or half and half, or switch to a low-carb milk, like Hood's, or fake milk (soy or almond)

[NewdestinyX]

That 11 grams of carbs in the whole milk is 11 grams of sugar (lactose). That's a lot of sugar in the morning, for many folks. You might try regular coffee with cream or half and half, or switch to a low-carb milk, like Hood's, or fake milk (soy or almond)COOL!. Other milks! I tried Soy in the past.. UGGH.. Hated that. Will try almond or the Hood's low carb milk.

I actually don't spike after breakfast at all. I'm not sure where everybody got that impression..

Exactly how DO I test one food's reaction. Eat it in isolation after fasting? Meter before -- and then how long after test again?

How do you test 'given foods'?

[Granny Shanny]

Just test right before you eat the food, and then test 1 hour after.

Have you tested 1 hour after breakfast, including the latte, so you're sure you don't spike at all?

[NewdestinyX]

Just test right before you eat the food, and then test 1 hour after.

Have you tested 1 hour after breakfast, including the latte, so you're sure you don't spike at all?
What is defined as a Spike? Remember my numbers never get outside if 140-170 these days at 1 or 2 hours post meal. But Granny, come to think of it I haven't ever tested 1 hour post breakfast + latte. Only ever tested 1 hr post lunch or dinner.

I'll try!

[NewdestinyX]

Then there's the timing of when we take our meds...I've found my AM reading has improved with taking my Metformin shortly after eating supper, as opposed to before or along with.Josselyn, I took my meds about 20 minutes after an outdoor barbecue kind of meal yesterday where I actually cheated pretty badly and had a slice of watermelon (highest fructose count of any fruit) and a slice of 'iced chocolate cake' --very small.. And some crackers with dip before my hamburger (no bun) and salad.. This was my day

FBG 149
2 hours post bfast 162 (egg,cheese,sausage sandwich-ate only half of the croissant, some 50% less sugar orange juice, my latte)
2hrs post lunch 172 (chicken caesar wrap/diet soda/10-12 Sun chips)
2 hrs post my carby dinner = 139!!!!!! (after taking Metformin 30 minutes after meal) {could this be the 'silver bullet' for me taking my meds a while AFTER the meal???}

So though there could me any number of things that could have made for that number -- I also had a glass of Red Zinfandel (should be FULL of sugar) -- but something worked last night.. I almost never see numbers that low.. FBG this morning 152.

It's always seemed to me that you'd want a med to be holding back your liver's release of glucose just when it's about to release it -- 'after' the sugar's entering the blood stream..

I've been thinking the same thing about my exercise regimen.. If our blood sugars crest at 1-2 hours after a meal it would seem that i should plan my anaerobic exercise at 'that time' or a little before the crest.. so the muscles cells can appropriate the insulin and receive the glucose they need. Right?

Grant

[NewdestinyX]

Well another day of strange eating due to the holidays. Went to a jazz festival at a local winery and enjoyed wine/cheese and salami type meats.. Thought I would for SURE send myself into spikes with 'fruity wine' -- what could be more 'carby'? But alas one hour after various portions of cheese and meat and some apple slices -- even some 'white' French bread... and of course 'way more wine' than I usually drink... my sugar at 1 hour after that midday meal - was 139! and 2 hours was 142.

So it seems my numbers are shifting - either just because of heading into week 8 on the Met/week 4 on Actos or this new taking of Met 30 minutes after breakfast and 30 minutes after dinner. So in terms of timing with the wine and cheese party -- I had actually taken MET at 10am (:30 after bfast) and then ate this meal at 2PM or so. At 3PM (no add'l meds) 139 and at 4PM 142.

And I haven't seen a 170-180 in 4 days or so now.. And haven't seen any 181+ in 2 weeks now.

So my new 'range' is 137-162 in the last 4 days and 2 of the 4 days I had no time for my exercise regimen. So that's a 10-12 point 'range drop' of recent. I guess that's great. None of it seems particularly triggered by any one food - if anything I've ADDED fruit sugars these last few days.. Maybe they're a GOOD carb for my body. Is 100-140 around the corner???? Let's hope so. Does anybody have any thoughts about these fruit sugars - or is it more likely my body's getting less insulin resistant as a result of the meds starting to kick in more?

I will say -- though that taking the MET 30 minutes later -- though maybe more effective on controlling the sugar has introduced 'nausea' into the equation being less associated with eating times. It's a mild and bearable nausea.. but I will grow weary of this quickly. So I HOPE these newer numbers are just more about the meds finally kicking in. I've struck this delicate balance of the Benefiber increase and taking Met 'before' I eat that has kept 'any stomach/gas' issues at bay for 3 weeks now. I'm finally stable.. This moving Met after -- likely will not work for me.

[barbarac]

Coffee (or rather the caffeine in it) is known to raise BG for some people.

Do you know how many carbs are in the Latte? Most people are more insulin resistant in the morning than any other part of the day, so if your day starts out relatively carb-heavy compared to the rest of the day, that could be all the problem is.

Explain please. I get my latte with skim, you all are saying to use whole milk?? Does skim have more carbs than whole?

[Moonglo]

Explain please. I get my latte with skim, you all are saying to use whole milk?? Does skim have more carbs than whole?

I'm not a milk person, but generally speaking, low fat means higher carb. Also, I remember that when I was a kid my parents were on this diet called Somersizing or something to that effect where you could eat what you wanted as long as carbs and protein were not eaten together. Susanne Somers, the creator, said in her book that she would rather drink whole milk than skim because skim was too carby. So I guess skim does have more carbs.

[Granny Shanny]

Calorie King sez whole milk, 2% and 1% all have 12g of carb per 8 oz. glass.
CK sez skim milk has 13g of carb per 8 oz. glass.

[fgummett]

Milk contains a sugar... lactose. When you remove the fat from the milk you do not take away any of the lactose so -- for example -- a 1/2 cup of skimmed milk contains more lactose that 1/2 cup of full fat milk. You have effectively created a refined/concentrated carbohydrate... the kind I believe we need to avoid.