[EllieK]

Originally Posted by BrianSCohen

Ellie,



From your carb counts you are doing great. Has it helped your blood sugar levels?

Brian,
Thanks for the reply
It helps to know what other people are doing and the numbers they get so I can gauge where I'm at. I wish all my carb restrictions helped the sugars more. The lowest I can get with diet is 6.5 A1c. (that's with 2 to 3 hours exercise a week) With 5 hours I got down to 6.0-6.2
Now I'm between 7 and 8 hours and I get my A1C next week.

However, my carb tolerance is going down, it takes less and less for me to spike. I can't even eat more than 1.5 c. of vegi's without going to 150 - forget beans, whole grain, fruit of any kind or any sauces I don't make myself.

I have upped my fats for the last two weeks and it has been helping me lose weight and I have less muscle cramps. (I also figured out I was under eating by about 400 / 500 calories.)

Have you found coconut butter yet? It is a great source of fat, and it's the good kind. It tastes great - I use a tablespoon for desert. It's also a great way to boost calories without the carb intake.

[BrianSCohen]

Ellie,

I really like coconut butter. It is hard to find and a bit expensive. Eating very low carb, you really need to love your fats. I make a shrimp scampi with butter, olive oil and garlic that to die for. You cramps are not a good sign, make sure you get good amounts of electrolytes. In hot weather, I have to be careful about potassium. I take magnesium supplements as well. Even if you wish to lose weight, don't reduce your calories too low or your body will rebel slowing your metabolism. As you mention fats are a great way to keep your calories up without affecting your blood sugar.

Have you thought about whether there are some other factors causing constant blood sugar elevation? Do you have an ongoing infection? How are your teeth, I had periodontal problems which had a dramatic effect on my blood sugar.

I can sympathize with your efforts to get below an HbA1c of 6%. My doctors are not really interested in more aggresive efforts.

[EllieK]

Originally Posted by BrianSCohen

Ellie,

I really like coconut butter. It is hard to find and a bit expensive. Eating very low carb, you really need to love your fats. I make a shrimp scampi with butter, olive oil and garlic that to die for. You cramps are not a good sign, make sure you get good amounts of electrolytes. In hot weather, I have to be careful about potassium. I take magnesium supplements as well. Even if you wish to lose weight, don't reduce your calories too low or your body will rebel slowing your metabolism. As you mention fats are a great way to keep your calories up without affecting your blood sugar.

Have you thought about whether there are some other factors causing constant blood sugar elevation? Do you have an ongoing infection? How are your teeth, I had periodontal problems which had a dramatic effect on my blood sugar.

I can sympathize with your efforts to get below an HbA1c of 6%. My doctors are not really interested in more aggresive efforts.

Shrimp scampi huh???? Care to share the recipe - could it be adapted to halibit or cod?

I do have to watch the elctrolytes, I tend toward low potassium anyway. Now the infection thing - my CRP was up a few months ago, I'm having it rechecked next week. If it's still up then I have to consider more extensive testing to find out why it's high. Teeth are good though, which I am very thankful for.

so many factors.....it's kinda like finding needles in haystacks isn't it? Thank you so much for your suggestions and support!!!

[mdlee337]

I'm currently on 1x500mg metformin per day. I was wondering whether everyone takes it in the morning or evening?

[BrianSCohen]

Originally Posted by EllieK

Shrimp scampi huh???? Care to share the recipe - could it be adapted to halibit or cod?

Ok, here is quick overview of my method.

Peel and devein one pound of fresh or frozen large shrimp.

Heat 1/4 c butter, 1/4 c olive oil in large saucepan

Add 6 cloves chopped garlic (less if you are garlic phobic)

Raise heat to just let garlic sizzle

Add shrimp, two tbs lemon juice, two tbs sherry

Cook shrimp at medium heat, turning halfway until just done. Don't overcook.

Add chopped fresh parsley and lemon zest and serve.


I can't recommend these techniques for fish, fish absorbs too much. Instead, I would recommend broiling with a butter/oliveoil coating.

Have fun.

[jerryn]

Originally Posted by jillybean

My highest reading every day are first thing in the morning. This is consistently higher than my readings 1 hour and 2 hours after meals. They're not scary high or even unhealthy high--for example, this morning was 130, but I'm sure I won't get that high the rest of the day. It's just annoying and frustrating.

I've started making sure I have a snack in the evening before I go to bed, and it seems my morning reading is better when I have carbs with that snack instead of just protein, which seems weird.

I take 1000mg Metformin (2-500mg pills) with dinner. My doc just recently increased my dinner Met to this level (was 500mg previously) to combat my morning highs.

Do you think splitting my dinner Met to 500mg with dinner and then 500mg later with my snack would work better? Janumet in the morning (500mg Met) is enough for me during the day.

I know I should ask my doctor...just didn't know if anyone here had done anything similar

I've got the same problem. I'm highest when I wake up. It's the liver dumping glucose in the bloodstream at wakeup. I'm on Metformin for that too. Problem is if I excercise at night after supper, the early morning glucose reading are higher.

[jdftwrth98]

Wow, seems like I found the right forum...

I am a t2 diagnosed in 1997 and have been having a difficult time trying to get control of my morning high's...

This past april I was taking 4mg glymperide in the morning and 4mg of glymperide at night and 30mg Actos. My a1c's had been comming back below 6.5 for the past few years.

I developed swelling in my lower right calf and ankle and my Dr thought that it was caused by the actos, so he changed my meds to 4mg glymperide in morning, 500mg glumetza, 100mg of januvia and 4mg glymperide at night with 500mg glumetza.

this resulted in an average bgl of 180 at rising, going up to near 270 by 9 am.

So then he had me double up on the glumetza in june, no effect.

Two weeks ago, he decided that I should take Lantus at night along with every thing else.

It was at this point I suggested that he go sit on his syringe. I told him that I was reverting to the meds I was on in April and would chart all results along with modifying my diet.

On my new plan, my bgl prior to supper is between 90 and 110, 2 - 3 hours after supper the are at 140 - 150 at midnight my bgl's are in the 110 - 120 range, but at 5am they are up to 150 - 170, i am not a big breakfast person and normally don't eat until 9 - 10am and my bgl readings can to up to 200+
before I eat anything.

Yesterday, i ate breakfast at 9am and at 10am my bgl was 260 and at 12noon was up to 280, my wife insisted that I eat lunch at 1pm (soup and some fruit) I checked my bgl at 3pm and it was down to 130.

I am missing something here, the rise in bgl that occurs sometime after 2am and continues rising till mid morning (without any food since prior day at 6pm) is making me nuts any one have a suggestion? I have toyed with the idea of eating something at 1am and seeing if that has any effect, but I am trying to loose weight.

My diet is primarily protein and veggies with very, very limited starch (rice, potato or bread) for lunch and supper for breakfast its couple of slices of multi-grain bread and some protein.

I will be interested in any comments you folks might have.

[jillybean]

I understand you are trying to lose weight, but studies show that those who eat breakfast are better at losing and maintaining weight loss. You should have something as soon as you get up--it doesn't have to be a huge, heay breakfast, maybe just a piece of cheese or something.

[cyberus]

Originally Posted by EllieK

Shrimp scampi huh???? Care to share the recipe - could it be adapted to halibit or cod?

I do have to watch the elctrolytes, I tend toward low potassium anyway. Now the infection thing - my CRP was up a few months ago, I'm having it rechecked next week. If it's still up then I have to consider more extensive testing to find out why it's high. Teeth are good though, which I am very thankful for.

so many factors.....it's kinda like finding needles in haystacks isn't it? Thank you so much for your suggestions and support!!!

For fish you should broil or fry the fish in one pan, make the sauce in another, when the fish is near done turn the heat down and add the sauce for the last minute.
For a easy potassium boost buy a shaker of salt substitute, potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride .. use a little in place of salt (don't use a LOT IMHO it can give a funny taste in quantity) when cooking and you can up your potassium intake quite easily.

[jillrapp]

Until going on NHP (2x's per day, 10U at 12noon and 15U at 10-11pm) my fasting bs's were never under 170 and my after breakfast numbers were generally 170-190, and this was with little or no carbs. After 2 weeks with this insulin course, my fasting numbers are now < 135 and after breakfast < 130. This is a HUGE jump for me. Otherwise I take 1,000mg's 2x's a day of Metformin. I've tried Glipizide, Januvia, changing my metformin doses and times that I've taken Met, I've tried snacking better before bed, a snack at 2am, wine, proteins, carbs, but nothing worked until NHP 2x's per day. I take it twice because after trying it only at bedtime, I found that it spiked while I was sleeping and brought me even higher. Taking a mid day dose helps level me out. I can't wait to see what my next HbA1c reads in September.

[jerryn]

Hey Jill,
I am thie highest in the morning too. Plus Metformin messes you up when your on Metformin, even if your skip a nigh and have a drink. I don't drink as well. I was never a heavy drinker, maybe a beer or two with friends but hecl

Getting the numbers down that low in the morning is hard for me. I'm 180 when I wake up. During the day I eventually drop to 109. My A1c is now 6.8 even with the early morning highs. It's just one of the causes of the disease, you must have it too. The protien snacks at nigh don't help. I expecrimented drinking a small glass of red wine before bed, that seemed to get it low but again I'm kind of chicken when it comes to Metformin + alchohol. Metformin really beats up even a healthy liver. Good Luck, I'm sure your numbers will come down. It takes time. Be sure to go for long walks, hikes, swim.. it all helps!