'normal' foods, not normal results

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2003
'normal' foods, not normal results
16
Thu, 04-22-2004 - 9:53pm
So much for wondering why my blood sugar "doesn't go up". Today was a somewhat high carb day....

a Light 'n Fit yogurt shake on the way to work (sweetened with splenda and a small amount of fruit juice, 1gm sugar more than plain yogurt),

a whole grain bagel and some nuts for breakfast upon arriving at work,

a handful of wheat thins with two string cheese and some more nuts at lunch,

a bowl of all-bran with dried cranberries and walnuts for snack,

a pbj (both no sugar added) on whole wheat with a glass of milk after work, around 7.

Glucose reading at 9:30 tonight--160! I am soooooo tired right now, and I have a headache too. I wish I hadn't stopped checking throughout the day--can't blame this one on gourmet soap....

I don't know what to do about my diet. If I eat low carb everything levels out, but the nutritionist had a fit last time I saw her (I was on Atkins, 60-70% of cals from fat, albeit primarily healthy ones). If I eat the 'right' way--lots of whole grains, somewhat limited fat, I feel lousy and things start going out of whack.

Now what.....? I rarely eat as many carbs as I did today, so I don't even know if an A1c would show elevated bg levels, and I REALLY don't want the GTT.

Do I just eat my way (high fat and protein, moderate saturated fat, low carb) despite what 'experts' say? Does anyone know of a wheat connection? I seem to feel worse when I eat bread and crackers (always whole grain) regularly....especially commerical products, as opposed to fresh at the bakery....can wheat itself cause instability? Additives?

Edited to add: Just took a 10:02 reading....111......I am going to be sooooo 'hungover' tomorrow.... :o(


Edited 4/22/2004 10:03 pm ET ET by lily_rose_fae

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Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 11:27pm

It is 75 mgm of glucose in non pregnant people and 100 mgm of glucose in pregnant women. I think the test is cruel and unusual punishment also. Even though I am diabetic, it makes me sick to my stomach also and I have to have a bed or a recliner handy because my blood sugar gets so high I go to sleep.


Have a Happy Earth Day Celebration!

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 9:42am
I slept too. They found me a stretcher in some room. I fell asleep at the one hour mark. When they woke me to take blood at the two hr mark my head hurt so bad I thought I would cry. After that, I couldn't lie down. Everytime I tried my headache got worse. I tried sleeping sitting up with my head against the wall, but that didn't work to well. It was awful.

I am very aware that my dr does not know what he's doing. He's admitted he does not know what he is doing. That's why the specialist. Unfortunately, the wait is 3 months and in the meantime..I'm sick. I'm going to explain things to him again and maybe at my May 7th app I can convince him to take some responsability. I DO NOT want the GTT again. But there has to be other tests he can run. Also, I remember reading somewhere that not only does BG need to be measured but insulin as well. How else can you know how much insulin your making to get the BG down. The GTT that I had only measure BG, not insulin. So if I am insulin resistant..then that means I'm making way more insulin then normal to get my BG down. This is also a pre diabetic condition. They can now treat pre diabtic conditions to prevent diabetes from developing. This is what I would like to sign up for. I'm afraid to wait. The dr said that he gives me a month and I'll be full blown diabetic. Why are we waiting?
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2003
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 11:20am
Here's the diagnostic criteria listed by Joslin: http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/education/library/diagnose.shtml

Here's info on pre-diabetes: http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/education/library/borderline_diabetes.shtml

It sounds like you are in the second category. For pre-diabetes, the primary course of treatment is lifestyle changes: more exercise, losing weight, and eating a better diet.

Do you keep a food/exercise/bg/symptom journal? (Don't fee like a dunce if you don't, I haven't kept one in months, but am starting it back up today!) If you do have one, would you be comfortable sharing a few days of it with us? Maybe some people here can suggest changes you could make until you get to see the endocrinologist.

This link: http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/news/prevent_type2.shtml is to a report on a relatively large study that showed the impact diet and exercise can have in reducing the onset of diabetes in adults with impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes). You're not diabetic yet, you CAN take control of this!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 5:25pm
Thank you for the links. I have actually been to that site before. It has loads of great information.

I was hoping my dr would have prescribed metformin. I'm doing the whole diet and exercise thing and not seeing much inprovement in my numbers. I did keep a log for two weeks when I first started home monitoring. I showed that to my dr and he really couldn't find anything wrong with what I was eating. What I mean by that was no cookies or cakes...only whole wheat pitas...fruit..but it seemed as though that went in spurts..some days lots of strawberries..some days no fruit at all. I have learned a lot using a log. I cannot eat crackers..my BG stays high forever. Fruit causes a quick increase...but a low number 2 hrs later. Most cereal is o.k.. White rolls are out so is white pasta..but whole wheat pasta is o.k as long as I don't pig out. Pizza no. You get the idea.

I am not at high risk for diabetes. I do have it in my family..on my dads side..my grandmother..one uncle and 2 aunts are type 2. On my moms side..two cousins type 1..diagnosed under the age of 10.

My BMI is 25 and that's only recently. 6 months ago it would have been much less. I have low blood pressure..although never a problem. I do exercise and have a physically demanding job. I am up and down ladders all day...I don't even sit to eat when I'm at work. I really should be voted least likely to develop diabetes. I do believe if I lose weight..not only will I feel better..but my numbers will get better also. I have been trying for so long to get this weight off. It won't come off. I have always been the type of person who if I need to drop 5 lbs to fit into a skirt by saturday...no problem..the weight is off. Now...forget it. Atkins..Dr Phil...prescription diet meds...NOTHING. It's totally ridiculas! Maybe I will try South Beach next...
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2003
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 6:22pm
Geez...you sound like me. I go on vacation and eat everything I shouldn't, and I'm fine. I come home and go back on my diet (not the strict one, the expanded one), and a month later I get sick off of a pbj sandwich. My grandmother was diabetic, though not diagnosed till her mid-60s. My mother is high-risk (very overweight, sugar-addicted), but so far all tests have been normal for everything. I've never had a weight problem, and blood pressure and lipids have always been low-normal...but if my recent numbers are any indication, the results of a full-blown GTT would likely be troublesome.

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble losing weight. Erratic blood sugar makes coming up with an effective weight loss plan that much more difficult--not only does it need to help you lose wieght, but you have to be careful not to send your sugar swinging all over the place!

Maybe the endocrinologist will give you a prescription. He can almost certainly give you better advice and a better understanding of your progrnosis. Sorry I don't have anything else to offer by way of info or suggestions....my resources are tapped!

Please be sure to let us know what he says....!

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 04-26-2004 - 7:30pm

What you really need is a dietitian who specializes in diabetes look at your meal plan. They can tweet what you are eating and when and help you determine a meal plan that is statisfying for you and yet keep your blood sugar under control and allow you to lose weight. I hope there is such a person near you and that you can ask for a referral.


Because I have been having such a hard time adjusting to the insulin and eating I wanted a referral to a dietitian when I saw my phsyician and I even found out that my insurance would pay because it has been so many years sonce I saw one, but I forgot to ask the doctor! DUH! Oh well, if I see him in the office next week when I am in the clinic I will ask.

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


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