Aarugh!

Ronin · #1 (**permalink**) 06-12-2007, 01:30 PM

Hello Fellow Pre-D's!

For starters, and those who don't know me already, I'm diagnosed as a Pre-D, and am not on any medication. I exercise almost daily and pretty hard. High paced tandem or single bicycle riding is my form of exercise 90+ min/day. I'm 60 this year and have been living with the Pre-D diagnosis for about two years.

I guess I'm going through one of those phases. For some months my FBG has been in the One-Teens (110-120) almost every morning and during the day it rarely drops below 120. I have to say that I have not been really strict about my eating and over-indulged in carbs. However, my BG has never gone over 180 even after a high carb meal/snack. It always comes down within about two hours after eating but never below 120.

A few days ago, I decided to "get serious" and shifted to a low carb eating plan. The FBG numbers have dropped into the 90's. However the daytime measures are still in the 120 range.

I just got back the latest HbA1c results -- 5.2%

and that is consistent with all my previous A1c test results.

Here are the questions:

1. Am I being too hard on myself? Can I take a moderate road and indulge in the occasional sweet treat?

2. Or, am I on the right track and have to realize that the low carb diet will take some time to fully kick in and I can expect numbers in the 70's if I stick to it?

3. Finally, is age a factor to be considered?

Your collective wisdom is, as always, welcome and appreciated.

princesslinda · #2 (**permalink**) 06-12-2007, 01:46 PM

As someone who zoomed past the pre-D right into T2, I don't think you're being too hard on yourself. As long as you can stave off full-blown diabetes, do WHATEVER it takes! That's a great A1C, you should be proud.

I do think you should allow yourself the occasional "treat." From personal experience, constant denial leads to more problems...as no one can deny themselves forever.

As for low carb, if I eat low carb enough, I do get #'s that stay in the 70's and 80's (except for the *$#& morning reading...I can never get it under 90 and it's usually in the low 100's (i'm on metformin).

Sounds like you have a great resolve, and are doing all the right things. To me, you've found what works, why change it....but, keep in mind, this is my opinion from the inside looking out. I sure didn't live like I could get diabetes, I let myself get overweight and didn't exercise, even with a strong family history of T2....I often think of what I would do differently, given the chance. Hindsight is truly 20-20.

Who? · #3 (**permalink**) 06-12-2007, 01:49 PM

What Linda said.

rzrbks · #4 (**permalink**) 06-12-2007, 01:51 PM

Them is really good #s.

If you're doing such a good job controlling it-----why mess with what works?

or to put it in a more intellectually precise manner:

Why fix what ain't broke?

Ronin · #5 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 04:01 AM

Everyone:

Let me sum up what has been said so far:

1. I need to maintain control and a low-carb eating plan is the best way to accomplish that. Also, it may take some time to get the full benefits of the low-carb eating plan.

2. My numbers are basically okay despite the fact that the most current HbA1c does not reflect the lowered carb eating plan.

3. That I can, on special occasions, have small portions of high carb foods (i.e., Our anniversary which is tomorrow).

4. Nobody, so far, has commented on the age question.

My frustration is abating but remains. I cannot square my test results with the A1c results. My guess is that my BG drops at times when I'm not testing (like when I'm asleep). The only measurable change is that the DP seems to have gone away because my FBG is now consistently below my pre-bed BG level (which was not the case before I started the low-carb plan)

I'd still like more feedback as I appreciate collective wisdom.

sweetcheeks · #6 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 04:48 AM

Well im in full blown diabetes type 2. As well as Linda. I never had the chance to fight it off for a period of time. Not sure I would have took it seriously even I had the chance.

But I think its great if you can. High 5 on that.

However as Linda as said. Denial of the sweet treats only leads to constant cravings that will lead you to over treat yourself and end up feeling guilty, it almost feels to me like I cheated on my spouse! lol

I have since becoming diagnosed treated myself on the occasion. Lately its more of a habit and I no longer feel guilty. But I still check my numbers when I've been bad and my numbers are still of Non diabetic ranges. If I go really really high (never over 160 even high carb), I drop really really quickly also.

Your body may be different and may not handle things as well as mine. If your not counting calories for weight loss, and you can handle the extra calories one day, I dont see what it hurts. But Test Test Test when your bad, so you know just how much you can indulge the next time.

xMenace · #7 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 05:53 AM

Treats are absolutely permissible. We don't live in prison (well maybe Paris gets treats) and the occaisional spike won't hurt much, if at all. Treats every day are not treats, they are bad habits.

Harold · #8 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 11:29 AM

Age is a factor and your not OLD enough.

Over 70 has been quoted to me for a higher level of normal. That was before CGMS.

princesslinda · #9 (**permalink**) 06-13-2007, 11:49 AM

Ronin, take your meter with you to your next doctor's appt, and check it against their meter to see if there is a difference. At diagnosis, I was given a Freestyle monitor. When I had my A1Cs, I was surprised that it was lower than that of my monitor average (and I had tested a lot). I later got a One-Touch Ultra-2 monitor and noticed that my levels show lower on it as opposed to the Freestyle...and they were more in line with my next A1C results. I know there's an acceptable variant in the monitors, but I notice a BIG difference between my Freestyle and One-Touch monitors.

As for your age question, I don't know your age, but I do know that in our office, our patient's who exercise regularly and stay fit have better results post surgically and overall than do the younger, but not so fit patients. You're probably physiolocially much younger than you are chronologically because of your lifestyle.

Ronin · #10 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 02:16 PM

Hi Everyone!

Linda and I had our 32nd Anniversary lunch with an old friend (who happens to be a Type-2 on the latest medication and getting worried about the recently reported dangers). The front half of the meal was all low carb (Victoria cut with a salad and steamed broccoli), but since it is our anniversary (and Linda is not at all diabetic) we decided to share a "Thunder from Down Under" dessert at Outback. It's a Brownie, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce -- no idea of the total grams of carbs. The big surprise is that 90 minutes after eating it my meter only reads 125!

That gives me a Hmmmm moment. I've lived my life as a sugar freak (my mother was a professional baker) and when I went on a low-fat diet years ago, due to elevated cholesterol, I found that sweet stuff was great. The Hmmmm, relates to the potential that my personal "problem" is probably a lifetime of "Beta Cell Overload." My pancreas isn't dead, or dying for that matter, but over-stressed. It can respond to the occasional (and I do understand occasional as once a quarter year) load of carbs and bring it down. The downside is that there is sufficient damage to the point where, without medication, it is unlikely that I will be able to maintain numbers below 100 simply by diet and exercise. Although I don't ever go much beyond 140 anytime and now that I'm working the low-carb routine can probably maintain spikes to around 120.

I'm still working out the energy levels associated with our daily tandem bicycle ride, but that is a whole different thread that belongs on the "Exercise" forum.

Comments, suggestions, observations,....?

princesslinda · #11 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 02:30 PM

Happy Anniversary! 32 years is quite an accomplishment, certainly worthy of a grand dessert.

I'm not surprised by your post-meal #'s....you're pre-D...things still work pretty much the way they should for you as long as you don't over-do...and the occ. dessert (emphasis on "occasional') is not suddenly going to thrust you into T2 "diabeticdom."

Even as a full-blown T2, hubby and I shared a flourless chocolate cake at PF Chang's after a nice meal of Mongolian beef and brown rice and a spring roll and my 2 hr was under 140...I was amazed, especially as, I can have a burger on a regular bun and hit 160 easily at my 2 hr...so breads affect me more than the occ. dessert.

Glad you saw you can have a good time and a celebratory treat without problems. Did you notice that your fasting was a little higher this morning? I always can tell if i've had a "treat" as my a.m. #'s are then 5-7 points higher...this may just be a T2 thing but i'm curious.

FYI: Outback Chocolate Thunder
1220 calories
78 gms fat
130 carbs
*info from calorie king

Ronin · #12 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 04:49 AM

Hi Linda!

Yes, the FBG this morning was back up to 115. I'm more than a bit surprised to learn that the dessert packs a whopping 130 grams of carboydrates. I'm glad we shared one rather than one-each (we've been sharing both main courses and desserts for a long time).

It would seem that although my body "managed" the initial carb load right after eating, my liver discharged some of it back into my system this morning with the DP that happens every morning.

I'll have to check out Calorie King -- sounds like a useful resource.