Strange spike in father's bloodsugar

[TheHouseCook]

My father isn't on any medication or insulin for his type 2, it's all controlled with diet. Now normally his numbers stay pretty good (just around between 100 and 120 in the mornings, fasting). Well the last couple of days or so, he's been getting weird spiked between 130 and 140, that quickly drop up back under 120 a hour or two after he's been up. He's bloodsugar's averaging under 120- and many times under 100- when he goes to bed and appears to be spiking through the night without him eating anything to cause the spike.

His doc said it might be the fact he ate a lot of carbs the last couple of days (cornbeard, about 2 1/2 loafs of bread, cheese within a 2 days period). And since he oftens times was eating up close to bedtime (hour or two before), that his BS# wasn't showing the effect of all those carbs kicking in till he went to bed. The doc also said being overly stressed when one goes to sleep can have a effect on the numbers too.

Any suggestions as to what it might be and/or how to control it?

[duck]

That IS a lot of bread, your doc is probably right. The easiest way to tell is to skip eating that much bread and seeing how he fairs the next day.

Other things that can cause whacky blood sugar readings is getting ill and getting over being ill, stress, a change in activity level. Some people suffer from what is called "dawn phenomenon" where early in the AM the liver releases a lot of glucose as part of the wake-up cycle (In my experience, DP is experienced by "morning people"), but it does not sound like your father is having that happen since this is a new development.

Keep an eye on it, try to remove the latest change(s) to his diet and see what happens.

[Cinnabon]

Well the last couple of days or so, he's been getting weird spiked between 130 and 140, that quickly drop up back under 120 a hour or two after he's been up. When he goes to bed and appears to be spiking through the night without him eating anything to cause the spike.
His doc said it might be the fact he ate a lot of carbs the last couple of days (cornbeard, about 2 1/2 loafs of bread, cheese within a 2 days period). And since he oftens times was eating up close to bedtime (hour or two before), that his BS# wasn't showing the effect of all those carbs kicking in till he went to bed. The doc also said being overly stressed when one goes to sleep can have a effect on the numbers too.

It does seem he is overdoing it w/ the carbs. CAn you try to help him eat a bit less even not eat that late. There might be other causes causing this morning spike, but I would suggest trying to make him eat less carbs and the timing of his last meal.

[TheHouseCook]

We've been fighting the bread fight for a while with him now. The doc doesn't want him eating premade "store" bread, but homemade or whole loaf wheat-- if at all. The only victory we've gotten is the fact he'll eat wheat. Other than that, he's been pretty accepting of some of the switch he's had to make-- caffine is a big one we're still fighting, but thankfully there's half-caf coffee on the market.

He drives long haul trucking, so I understand the need for quick grab on the run meals, but we're trying to get him to understand that he have quick and healthy meals not just grab the bread and slap on the cheese.

[Peter Lee]

We've been fighting the bread fight for a while with him now. The doc doesn't want him eating premade "store" bread, but homemade or whole loaf wheat-- if at all. The only victory we've gotten is the fact he'll eat wheat. Other than that, he's been pretty accepting of some of the switch he's had to make-- caffine is a big one we're still fighting, but thankfully there's half-caf coffee on the market.

He drives long haul trucking, so I understand the need for quick grab on the run meals, but we're trying to get him to understand that he have quick and healthy meals not just grab the bread and slap on the cheese.
You and your doctor seem to have a good grip on what the problem is - including the stress on going to sleep.

You're just left with convincing your father that he has to ease back on the bread and do some healthy eating - 5 small meals is better than three larger ones.

[TheHouseCook]

He can eat a couple of sandwiches, check his BS# in a cople hours, he'll been normal. What 3 or 4, especially if he's just been sitting and not doing any physical activity, and that'll be a small spike (usually in the 120s, low 130s). And the only thing the doc says is that carbs- especially in bread- take longer to affect your glood sugar. Which is something that still puzzles me, I freely admit.

Annoyingly, that makes keeping him on a, more or less, even keel some days harder than others. Trying to arrange menus where he doesn't get deep drops or high spikes is difficult when you find out he's had a sandwich or two on the side while supper is cooking :lol:

[jenet]

Some people suffer from what is called "dawn phenomenon" where early in the AM the liver releases a lot of glucose as part of the wake-up cycle (In my experience, DP is experienced by "morning people")
OHHH, that makes sense. Somehow I never made the connection. I am an early morning person, and do struggle with DP. Thanks for the additional insight!

cheers,
j

[Peter Lee]

He can eat a couple of sandwiches, check his BS# in a cople hours, he'll been normal. What 3 or 4, especially if he's just been sitting and not doing any physical activity, and that'll be a small spike (usually in the 120s, low 130s). And the only thing the doc says is that carbs- especially in bread- take longer to affect your glood sugar. Which is something that still puzzles me, I freely admit.

Annoyingly, that makes keeping him on a, more or less, even keel some days harder than others. Trying to arrange menus where he doesn't get deep drops or high spikes is difficult when you find out he's had a sandwich or two on the side while supper is cooking :lol:
If you have a look at books on the glycemic index, then you should get some insight into this puzzle.

For example: the processed white bread that your doctor advised against gives spikes (it has a high glycemic index) whereas the whole bread that you make releases glucose slower (it has a lower index). Its the complexity of the carbohydrate that counts. The presence of fat lowers the index even more so that a cheese sandwich has a slower effect than bread and spread alone.

[TheHouseCook]

If you have a look at books on the glycemic index, then you should get some insight into this puzzle.

For example: the processed white bread that your doctor advised against gives spikes (it has a high glycemic index) whereas the whole bread that you make releases glucose slower (it has a lower index). Its the complexity of the carbohydrate that counts. The presence of fat lowers the index even more so that a cheese sandwich has a slower effect than bread and spread alone.


Ahh, I think I get it. So he eats three or four sandwiches, we check his BS and it'll "look" fine for the moment, but it's a time release thing, that gradually raises his BS#. Got it.

Now if I can just put a bear trap on the breadbox and keep him out of it.

[Peter Lee]

Ahh, I think I get it. So he eats three or four sandwiches, we check his BS and it'll "look" fine for the moment, but it's a time release thing, that gradually raises his BS#. Got it.

Now if I can just put a bear trap on the breadbox and keep him out of it.
Try a bear instead - it might be more effective.
:burnout: