midnight walking anyone?

[karenartiste]

I am new to this forum and fairly new to the world of diabetes. I've been on a roller coaster since July, and wish to slow it down a little, at least to even out the peaks and valleys a bit.

My biggest problem right off, and thing that is getting very old very fast, is the discovery of a high reading such as a 208 or a 237 at times when it isn't so convenient to go work out. But being on metformin, I don't know what I can do except to go work out if I've already taken my daily dosages (2x 500mg). Fortunately my system is very responsive to the exercise, for example, last week I had the 237 at 9pm, hurried to the Y, did bike, rowing, stairmaster then quick weight work, and back home at 10:15 had a 75.

If it's a bit later, I have to hit the streets. Sometimes I just don't want to know what the glucose reading will be, because I know I will have to do something about it. And winter is coming... ughhghg.

Am I on a typical learning curve here? do I need to eat much less? I do have an appointment in early December with a nutritionist, but in the run up to that, would love to know if others suffer similar jags and what they have done.

I wonder about things like bread. I've started to make a stone ground WW and whole spelt flour bread because I can't find any market bread that is 100% stone ground whole grain.
Do I need to eat protein with every meal/snack? I do eat meat.

Anyway, I'm glad I've finally found a forum. I don't know too many people with either type of diabetes.

Karen

[Granny Shanny]

Welcome aboard, Karen. Sorry about the roller coaster - it seems most of us get to take that ride some time in our diabetes journey.

Bread is my nemesis. I love it. I've baked my own for many years - whole wheat, rye, sourdough, you name it. Now it spikes me to the moon. Many of us find that grains of all kinds do that - some are just worse than others - and wheat is often a major offender.

Metformin DOES help smooth out the extremes, but it works in a different way . . . it takes some time to build optimum blood levels, and then just maintains as you continue taking it regularly. Especially if you're taking the extended release version, it's unlikely that each individual dose is affecting each BG reading directly.

Increasing your protein intake & reducing some of the carbs may help you avoid the high readings you're getting. If you employ your meter to test individual foods, you can determine what you can tolerate - at least in small portions - as well as the things that send you into orbit. So test your glucose before eating and then test one hour after your first bite, which can help determine the height of the spike. Testing yet again two hours after that first bite, will tell you if you're (hopefully) on your way back down.

[xMenace]

Welcome Karen

What we need to eat or should eat is the big question in the world today. On one hand you have the health commuity telling us fat is bad, other groups are saying meat is bad, others still others (diabetics are prominent) are saying carbs are bad.

Many here cut out carbs nearly altogether. Controlling input is logically a good way to control sugars. You'll also have to come to terms with other impacts. Many don't believe that weight loss, improved lipids and heart health, lower BP, reduced complications, and increased vitality are good for you, even on a high fat diet. Watch my videos and follow the threads.

Others concentrate on cutting out refined carbs like flour and sugar. IMO this is a must! Even though your dietitian will say that whole grain breads and pasta are good for you, I truly believe they are not. Same with fruits, to a degree. I eat a fruit a day but no grains or sugars.

There's also the question of meds. You've been diabetic for awhile, and it progresses. A med review with your doctor may be in order.

[Bountyman]

"You've been diabetic for awhile, and it progresses."

I'm curious. Your history says you've been diabetic since 1975. What kind of progression have you had in the last 34 years? I guess what I'm trying to find out here is are we all more or less headed for the edge of the cliff eventually, 'cause I'd like to figure out where I'm at in the line.

[karenartiste]

This being my first foray onto the site, I don't want to go too crazy, but a couple more questions arise, and thanks for informative answers!

Do most folks include their current meds and numbers, and is this useful in some way?

has anyone heard that taking the protein part of a meal first is good for optimal absorption of glucose?

I don't believe the metfomin I take is long acting, so was chopping the pills in half for a while to stretch out their effectiveness. does this make sense for me to do?

thanks again for any suggestions!
Karen

[kgm0612]

From one Karen to another........WELCOME!

My advice.........test as often as you can and cut back on your carbohydrate intake. No need to cut your Metformin in half. Take one pill with breakfast and the other with dinner. If you have a Stop & Shop close by, pick up a loaf of their brand "light wheat bread". I have very good luck with readings after eating it.

Karen

[genie86333]

From one Karen to another........WELCOME!

My advice.........test as often as you can and cut back on your carbohydrate intake. No need to cut your Metformin in half. Take one pill with breakfast and the other with dinner. If you have a Stop & Shop close by, pick up a loaf of their brand "light wheat bread". I have very good luck with readings after eating it.

Karen

Hi, Karen! Welcome.

I'd agree with Karen, if you're already taking 500's twice daily, there's no need to cut them in half (for 4 dosages instead of 2)

As for taking the nighttime walks...well...invest in some good winter boots or a treadmill/stationary bike. (Or even better, check out your local freecycle to see if someone has one!) I used to do a lot of nighttime walking, but then I moved & I'm just not as comfortable here even though I'm still in a small town, so now I have a stationary bike & it's nice to be able to watch TV or read while exercising without even leaving the house.

[karenartiste]

thanks folks, I have a feeling I need to eat less carbs, even though the carbs I am getting are high quality. Many of the vegetables I love are medium starch too. bite the bullet, and stop complaining I will tell myself. One thing I forgot to mention is that I am still losing weight. I didn't need to lose any in the first place, but have been steadily. (that was the red flag that got me diagnosed in July). Just this weekend, I dropped below my high school weight!