Happy, Confused, Just wondering...

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Happy, Confused, Just wondering...
1
Fri, 11-30-2007 - 8:14am

Yes, I have a mix of emotions. I need to get my A1C done next week and then see the doctor and I'll ask her the questions too, but I was just wondering about something. I was diagnosed in April, for those who remember me, and was overweight. I lost 55 pounds and am steady now at 150. I haven't been eating the best, but I stay around the carb limit (30 breatkfast, 45 lunch and dinner and snacks 15-18, but usually go to 20). The doctor took me off one pill of Metformin a few months back when I got too low and she told me to eat more like 60 carbs at major meals. And I do, but I still get a bit low and then I snack. I exercise, but not everyday as I should. But when I do, my blood sugar does go lower (like 85) and I snack. I am not losing any more weight and I want to lose another 20 pounds. I really don't want to eat more or I won't lose the weight. I took myself off the other Metformin pill because I was going low. I guess this is good and as the disease progresses, will my blood sugar go higher? Right now while it is lower, my snacks haven't been real wholesome as I delve into my favorite, chocolate. I know that isn't good. If I need to snack, it probably should be fruit. Any advice? I hope my meter is working properly. If I do overeat, my numbers do go up to about 145, but that rarely happens. I am glad to be off the meds, but I do want to lose more weight. I can feel when my blood sugar goes down. I can't think straight and I feel shaky a bit, but then I go for the cakes or chocolate. I am sure that will catch up to me.

Thanks.

Debbie

Debbie, Mom to my "only" Stephanie
Debbie, Mom to my "only" Stephanie
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Fri, 11-30-2007 - 12:58pm

For the low times, you'd be better off having a quick sweet - like a small glass of juice - followed by a complex carb plus protein snack. An easy one is to grab a 6 oz yogurt smoothie - we keep some in our fridge almost all the time. It's got about 20 grams of carb PLUS a little bit of okay fat and some protein and it's fast and easy to manage. Having just a big hunk of sugar (like cake which is sugar plus flour, both of which are carbs) is more likely to start a bouncy cycle - rapid glucose spike followed by another drop once that wears off. That kind of thing is what will wear down your insulin producing cells more quickly.

For weight loss, look at the content of what you're eating as well as the carbs - are you having 30 grams of carbs with 300 calories or 30 grams of carbs with 100 calories? For instance, my current favorite greek yogurt, plain, has a regular variety which has about 20-30 grams of carb and 300 calories per cup and it has a non fat variety with about 20-30 grams of carb and 100 calories per cup. Both will keep me within the carb limits but the calorie difference is crucial if I'm going to lose weight.

--Deb