Hi!

How do you decide what time is two hours after a meal? If you start to eat dinner at 6 pm, do you time "two hours" from then (when digestion actually starts) or from when you stop eating (probably 6:30)? Or are these glucose meter checks such a rough estimate that it is not significant? I know when you have a glucose drink at the lab they do not let you sip it leisurely.

Thanks,
CHris S.

Assuming you eat at a regular pace, it is usually 2 hours after you finish a meal. At least that is what my doctor tells me.

Check with the doctor in charge of your diabetes for the answer.

What I have given you is for a Type 2 diabetic.

Ken


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I too am new to this glucose testing. I bought a monitor about a month ago and have been testing at various times during the day to see what is going on.
I find that after eating the evening meal, everything stays within normal range UNLESS I eat bread or rice or pizza. At least, so far, that has made my blood sugars rise above 170. The next morning they are down to 116-120 again. Can't figure this out.
Also, I use the sugar-free fat-free yogurt which is just one carb. At long as I stay within the 3 carbs per meal plan, I stay stable. But just an extra slice of bread or roll or a too large amount of potato will raise the number if I test 2 hrs. after eating.
I find that this has left me with very little to really eat except veggies and meat and just a small little bit of fruits.
Would taking a med help that or would I still be on such a severe diet?
Any info about all of this would be appreciated.
I have so far not been diagnosed a diabetic as my 3 mo. test is high normal. But I think that day is soon to come here.
Thanks

The things to remember in controlling diabetes do vary from person to person, but in general terms you should remember this:

1. Liquids containing refined sugar will raise your blood sugar level the fastest.

2. Liquids containing natural sugars such as orange juice, apple juice and milk can be consumed, but the amount of each at one time
and/or with a meal will also raise blood sugar but not as fast.

3. The closer you can eat foods and beverages nearest to nature, rather than refined, the better off you will be. If you are eating white bread try changing to a whole wheat or oat bran bread. Instead of white rice change to brown and/or wild rice. The pizza is out. It high in refined starches, plus it contains cheese and other additions that are high in saturated fat. A vegetable topping pizza would probably be the best if you had no other choices, but it is the dough that is the main concern.

Medication might help, but even with a low dosage, it might result in low blood sugar levels from time to time. The 3 month test you refer to, I assume, is the Hemoglobin A1C test. You might do well do adopt a regular exercise program, aerobic type, but since I know nothing about you, I would clear this first with your doctor. It is amazing what a regular exercise program can do to keep your blood sugar levels under control.

Information provided by The American Diabetes Assn. located at http://www.diabetes.org might be of help to you. I assume if you are diagnosed as being diabetic it will be Type 2 diabetes (insulin resistant) rather than Type 1 (insulin dependent). Keep this in mind when getting information on Diabetes. The procedures in keeping Type 2 under control can be a little different than for Type 1's.

Ken

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Thanks, Ken, for the information.

JB, I have found the same thing. Two hours after eating a hard boiled egg my blood sugar was 84. Two hours after eating a meal that included rice and a fruit (as well as chicken and other veggies) it was 123. 2 hours after eating a meal that included 1 slice of bread, regular yogurt and raisins and it was 197.

Here's a question for someone: When you do finger sticks do you need to keep in mind that plasma glucose levels are about 12% higher? My reading of 123 by finger stick (whole blood) would actually be about 138 if it were plasma.

Chris S.

Here is a link that discusses timing of blood glucose checks and the effect it has on the results.
http://www.mercola.com/2001/jan/7/blood_glucose.htm

Alan S.

JB: the question you have about eating pizza and rice is answered with your body thinking that pizza and rice, as well as other carbohydrates, is treated like sugar. A diabetic has problems converting carbohydrates, the body treats them as though it was sugar. You need to restrict, not eliminate, carbohydrates. The "exchange" program teaches you how to exchange food groups.. For instance, if you want potatoes for dinner, you don't eat rice or bread for lunch. This programs seems to have fallen by the wayside, but I still find it most helpful. Try the ADA site on your search engine, they will help!! Good luck. Kay

You are much better off NOT eating the potatoes, rice, bread, pizza, etc. Many call these starchy foods "complex" carbs, but this is playing fast and loose with the definition of complex. Most starches are only one chemical bond away from being sugar. And many of these starchy foods (puffed rice comes to mind) will convert to bloodsugar (glucose) faster than if you ate pure table sugar (sucrose).

If you want to keep your bloodsugar tightly controlled and minimize the amount of insulin circulating in your bloodstream (all good things health wise), then your diet should consist of adequate protein and fat and limited carbohydrates, primarily those from low starch above ground vegetables, nuts, and lower sugar fruits.

The book "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution" is a good source of information on this topic.

Alan

Alan, I agree. I am reading Dr Bernstein's book now. It makes sense that keeping a tight control on blood sugar will delay or eliminate complications. I find the ADA diet lacking in this concept. The low carb diet is working for me. Also I frequently I go back to the mendosa.com web site and review the information on the glycemic index. In this area of his site he states that pizza raises blood sugar rapidly and keeps it elevated longer than some would think it should.
I am finding for myself that trying to eliminate high GI index foods entirely, and limiting more complex carbs, ie whole grains,etc, is keeping my blood sugars under better control. I never eat a carb without consuming protein or fat.

I am type 1 and my sister is gestational for all of her 5 pregnancies, and she is a "pro" about all of this. She says it is 2 hours from the time you start eating. Take my word she is awesome. Her most recent HbA1c was 4.8!!! I am very proud of her. Good luck and good health.

Hi Gumbi:

There seems to be mixed opinions on when to test. The Joslin Diabetes Website says you start timing from the end of the meal. However, a pregnant woman who posted to the forum said her doctor told her to time from the *beginning* of the meal. He wants her to keep her level at 120 or lower. I think obstetricians are much more conservative with glucose levels.

You are right, that is one awesome Hemoglobin A1C level. Which is exactly why I was concerned. Mine, at 6.3, does not seem so good for a "nondiabetic". I have read that most nondiabetics test at 5, which would be an average blood sugar of about 85-90. I wondered how this is possible but now that I have increased my activity level, my 2 hour readings are often in the 90's, so now I can see how a low Hgh A1C can be possible.

Chris S.