[ontheway]

I hope someone can help me with this!
This morning my fasting blood sugar was 147, a bit high I know.
For breakfast I had oatmeal made with milk. I've been eating this for about 2 weeks to help my cholesterol, thinking I'm doing something healthy.
This morning I took a reading 2 hours after eating and by BS was at 243!!!!!!!!!
Now I'm scared to eat anything! I feel a fullness in the head, like high blood pressure, or coming down with the flu or something...YUCKY. Almost like a headache coming on.
I take 1000mg. Glucophage XR twice a day, and Glucotrol XL at bedtime.
Do you think it would help to take an extra Glucoltrol XL (since I took it more than 12 hrs. ago) to get the reading down faster??
Or do I just need to work through this today and stay away from carbs for the rest of the day?
HELP???? This is kind of scary.
Marye

[Penny]

Hi Mary. I can eat oatmeal without milk and just a little sweetener if I am low to start with..... and I take insulin. When I am real high, I try to drink extra water and wait it out. Usually I will start going down by 3 hours after a meal. I don't think you should take extra medication without asking your doctor. Counting carbs helps, but sometimes, no matter what I do I will be high. You just have to keep testing, see what works for you, as it seems it is different for all of us.

[ontheway]

Thank you Penny, for answering so quickly. I just took my blood sugar again..3 hrs. after the oatmeal, and it is on its way down, thank goodness!!!!!! It's now 182.
I'm going to have to start testing more frequently again. I've kind of fallen of the wagon with it, and that's not a good thing!
I'm feeling a lot better now too, physically AND emotionally.

Marye

[caswellhb]

Carb counting and testing is vital. Do you count your carbs?
There are many people on here that can help you with that if you would like some help. We all want to see everyone suceed here.

Heather.

[xMenace]

It's time to visit your doctor. It sounds like things are progressing.

[princesslinda]

Was this the first reading you've taken after eating the oatmeal? Or do you generally do okay with it and this is just a "random" high reading? Personally, I don't tolerate oatmeal very well blood-sugar-wise, so I generally avoid it. I have higher than normal blood sugars in the mornings, so i've found a low-carb/high-protein b/fast keeps them from going too high.

[MJB]

I found out early that oatmeal and I don't get along.

Toast and eggs for me.

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by ontheway

... do I just need to work through this today and stay away from carbs for the rest of the day?
....

The best time to stay away from carbs is in the morning. This when we are the most insulin resistant. Carbs don't spike blood sugar levels as badly better later in the day. I only eat eggs, cheese and mushrooms for breakfast.

[sparrow1]

Was the oatmeal instant or quick cooking? I can't tolerate those, but large flake or steel cut oatmeal is OK - much lower GI.

[Montana1]

Just like Sparrow, I've noticed that steel cut oats (the ones you have to cook on the stove for a long time) don't have as much inpact on my BS. The instant or quick oats I have to stay away from.
Montana

[kwiltsnthings]

Just wanted to tell you that I have had some bad experiences in the last month with Glucatrol XL. My blood sugar went into the 300+ range when the Dr. upped my dosage from 1 pill to 3 a day. Started coming down when she took me off of it.
Still don't know exactly what happened but it was scarey.

Hope your BG reading is improving.

Judy

[ontheway]

Thank you guys SOOO much for all your replies!
It's been awhile since I participated in these forums, and I can see that it is high time I started back.
My blood sugar reading this morning was 127. So, much better.
I have a tendency to run higher in the mornings (dawn phenomenon I guess), which is why the dr. put me on the Glucotrol XL before bedtime. Not sure if it helps at all, but I DO know that it causes leg cramps like crazy!!
I was eating the 1-minute Quick oats (not instant), thinking I was doing something for my health...NOT! I have since chucked it in the trash.
I will be keeping a closer eye in the near future as to how foods are affecting me....have been slacking a bit in that dept. lately.
Thanks again for all your help. It's nice to be able to turn to those who understand it best.
I'll be posting much more often from now on. It DOES keep me in line!
Marye

[ontheway]

And thanks for the information about the Glucotrol XL, Judy. I will sure be watching that one!!
I hate the cramps and the weight gain that occurred when I started it too!!
Marye

[Alice]

If you really love oatmeal...then make sure also that you are doing a "true measure"...I have to remember to actually measure out a small serving...not the big servings that restaurants like to serve...that can easily double your carb estimate. Same with the milk.