I have a few questions and even though the web has great resources, I find that it's hard to get answers to specific questions. I would appreciate any input you can give.
I have always had good blood glucose readings. My morning fasting sugars used to be between 65 and 90 as taken at my doctors. About 6 years ago I started using HCTZ for blood pressure issues, since I couldn't find any other drug I could tolerate well, and the one I could needed the extra "kick" of the HCTZ to do the job. Coincidentally (or not so) my fasting readings have started to rise. I bought a monitor and started checking my numbers at home. The highest at the doctor was 117, but has ranged anywhere from 100 to 110 on average.
I have taken my readings at random times throughout the day without regard to meals and have always had readings anywhere from 85 to 120. Today I decided to chart them before and after my dinner. We had leftovers from Thanksgiving...you know, potatoes, yams, stuffing, oh, and turkey. Prior to eating my reading was 95. One hour after eating it was 155. 2 hours after it was 126. 3 hours after it was 101. Is this within acceptable limits, or should I be more proactive about this?
Also, I have read where people who are insulin resistant have had success with frequent meals of the right sort, however, I have often wondered how this makes sense since eating seems to raise sugars in general. What is it about more frequent eating that seems to help?
Also, have any here been on diuretics as I am and had blood sugar problems as a result?
Hi Brenden. I wouldn't worry too much about the readings you took after the meal. First off, meters are not that accurate and you don't know how close yours is to the actual value. The numbers seem ok for a very high carb meal. When you say you are checked at the docs office, is it with a meter or an actual blood draw? You can't necessarily trust the docs meter either as the industry standard is plus or minus 20%.
As for eating frequently, part of the eating is avoiding high carbs (so snack on nuts, meats, fat, veg, etc) and also this will stop the liver from dumping glucose in the absence of food in the long term. This is what happens to folks overnight as well and is called the dawn phenomenon.
The bp meds may or may not push glucose up, but it is just as important to have your bp under good control.
Yes, the readings they took at the doctors was an arm draw, not a finger stick. I am due to have another soon. I took my sugars this AM and it was 107 fasting. 1 hour after breakfast it was 126. Breakfast was one egg on a piece of wheat toast. I'll see what hour two is shortly. It seemed odd to me that my sugars went up after I started the HCTZ, as they were fine prior. Maybe I'll try my own glucose test sometime, maybe drink a coke with a tablespoon of sugar added and see what I get....
PS, I have read about the dawn phenomena you mentioned. What is it that seems to contribute to the liver doing this? Is it the diet you have during the day that encourages it to dump glucose?
The dawn phenomenon is part of the body's natural hormonal system. In preparation for your day, your body causes the liver to release glucose so that there will be energy available for when you get up. Some folks have this to a greater extent than others.
