GDers - Should numbers swing this much?!

JennlovesAustin · August 2009

Ok, so my typical numbers in the morning SUCK.

Fasting - 90-100

Breakfast - 130-160 after 1 hour

I have been eating EXTREMELY low carb. This morning I had a carb free protein shake and a 16 g. hashbrown patty and I was at 154. Then 1.5 hours later, I am feeling like crap so I tested and I am down to 84.

Should I be swinging 70 points in 1.5 hours?!

NOTE: I am already on glyrubride - 5 mg in the morning and at night.

fraggs24 · August 2009

try eating a different kind of carb. I know that I can eat a giant bowl of pasta and get a 95 two hours later, but if i ate any potato even with a giant steak, my number would be high. Also, are you supposed to test after 1 hour, or after 2. My doctor doesn't want me testing 1 hour after, they are more concerned with how my body breaks down food over two hours... I think the drop in numbers after another 1.5 hours is when you body's insulin is kicking in.

JennlovesAustin · August 2009

I have tried every single carb possible... breads (both whole grain and just plain white), english muffins, potatos, oatmeals, breakfast cereal. They all do the same damn thing.

Maine333 · August 2009

My go to carb seems to be brown rice followed by sweet potato. I always seem to have good readings with those. Bread and english muffins, I get mixed results, ww pasta is usually bad. I haven't tried oatmeal. Fruit seems to go ok but I stick generally to low or mid-glycemic with berries being the mainstay and apples being the highest.

I agree that the change in numbers is the insulin kicking in and perhaps the meds taking effect.

You must be so frustrated. I hate the unpredictability of the numbers and live in fear of the day that my go to foods cause high numbers and then I have no method of control!

I also find that my numbers seem to steadily climb or swing more dramatically if I ignore exercise for a couple of days.

JennlovesAustin · August 2009

Maine333:

My go to carb seems to be brown rice followed by sweet potato. I always seem to have good readings with those. Bread and english muffins, I get mixed results, ww pasta is usually bad. I haven't tried oatmeal. Fruit seems to go ok but I stick generally to low or mid-glycemic with berries being the mainstay and apples being the highest.

I agree that the change in numbers is the insulin kicking in and perhaps the meds taking effect.

You must be so frustrated. I hate the unpredictability of the numbers and live in fear of the day that my go to foods cause high numbers and then I have no method of control!

I also find that my numbers seem to steadily climb or swing more dramatically if I ignore exercise for a couple of days.

So you eat rice and a potato for every meal? I am not sure if I could stomach that. I switched to the shake because I am so nauseous in the mornings that I can't stand to eat an egg or cheese, etc. My numbers seem to get worse and worse as the days go by. I have no clue how I am going to make it many more weeks without more medical interventions which I hate because I already feel so over medicated. I can't exercise because I also have PIH and tachycardia. I think I am on a slow boat to insulin dependance. DAMN.

Maine333 · August 2009

I tend to eat brown rice or a 1/2 of a large sweet potato each meal- although I toy with other carbs with little to varying success. Bread was ok at first but seems to be yielding high numbers now. Mind you, I have only been doing this for a couple of weeks. I will probably despise those foods any day now.

I have heard from some that numbers will get worse as time goes on and that there is little that can be done for some. If medical intervention is what has to happen, try not to beat yourself up over it. It sounds like you are trying everything you can! I know that is easier said than done- I feel personnaly responsible for every high number and for gd itself- I am just trying to ignore those feelings!

I am really sorry you can't exercise- that makes it doubly hard.

Hang in there- soon you are going to have a beautiful baby and no more gd!

ilenegrace · August 2009

My breakfast numbers are really screwy and I can't really tolerate any carbs or dairy in the morning I have switched to eating something higher in protein for breakfast and then having my carbs or yogart for my morning snack 2 hr later. Also I noticed that my glyb I take in the am doesn't really kick-in in time to help me with my breakfast #'s so maybe thats why it was so much lower 1.5 hrs later maybe then your glyb was actually affecting you.

JennlovesAustin · August 2009

ilenegrace:
My breakfast numbers are really screwy and I can't really tolerate any carbs or dairy in the morning I have switched to eating something higher in protein for breakfast and then having my carbs or yogart for my morning snack 2 hr later. Also I noticed that my glyb I take in the am doesn't really kick-in in time to help me with my breakfast #'s so maybe thats why it was so much lower 1.5 hrs later maybe then your glyb was actually affecting you.

So what are you eating for breakfast? I know I can't do a lot of carbs so I have crossed off most breakfast foods and cut back to just a protein shake. Please please please don't say eggs or I might throw up!! haha..

dennice79 · August 2009

In my opinion there is nothing complex about your shake (your body does not have much to break down) and then you have carbs. Perhaps a pb&j on low carb bread would help, or some nuts and cheese with your shake. It is more about the combination of food and what you give your body to break down. The more complex the better your numbers- the more processed the worse the numbers usually are also.

JennlovesAustin · August 2009

dennice79:
In my opinion there is nothing complex about your shake (your body does not have much to break down) and then you have carbs. Perhaps a pb&j on low carb bread would help, or some nuts and cheese with your shake. It is more about the combination of food and what you give your body to break down. The more complex the better your numbers- the more processed the worse the numbers usually are also.

I thought the 23 grams of protein would help - no?! PB on low carb bread is awful for me and I have also tried a whole grain waffle, a low carb english muffin, etc. I NEVER eat carbs alone - those things are always combined with two servings of protein (either eggs or sausage or cheese) but nothing had worked so I switched to the shake as a last resort.

5dogs · August 2009

I'd try adding two tablespoons of peanut butter and maybe a few slices of banana to your shake next time if you can blend it.

What time are you taking your meds at night & what time are you "crashing" in the morning? Is there any way you can bump back when you take your meds to try and even things out?

JennlovesAustin · August 2009

5dogs:

I'd try adding two tablespoons of peanut butter and maybe a few slices of banana to your shake next time if you can blend it.

What time are you taking your meds at night & what time are you "crashing" in the morning? Is there any way you can bump back when you take your meds to try and even things out?

Ok, maybe I am dense today, but if my sugar was 154 after breakfast and it's already high, then isn't a banana and peanut butter going to shoot it through the roof?!

I take my meds at 9 pm and then again at 7 am. Doc said take them at bed and waking. I will ask, but at this point, I have failed some fasting and every breakfast number for about two weeks so I am guessing I will be moved to insulin.

5dogs · August 2009

JennlovesAustin:
Ok, maybe I am dense today, but if my sugar was 154 after breakfast and it's already high, then isn't a banana and peanut butter going to shoot it through the roof?!

Drop the hashbrown - it has no nutritional value. I used to drink protein shakes 2x a day and they by themselves are an OK meal replacement but certainly not the best. If you add in a fiber source and additional protein it usually makes a huge difference in how your body digests it so you may not see as large of a crash... but that may also be playing into when you take your medication.

dennice79 · August 2009

5dogs:

JennlovesAustin:
Ok, maybe I am dense today, but if my sugar was 154 after breakfast and it's already high, then isn't a banana and peanut butter going to shoot it through the roof?!

Drop the hashbrown - it has no nutritional value. I used to drink protein shakes 2x a day and they by themselves are an OK meal replacement but certainly not the best. If you add in a fiber source and additional protein it usually makes a huge difference in how your body digests it so you may not see as large of a crash... but that may also be playing into when you take your medication.

I agree if you can make your shake 15g then drink it wait an hour and then have breakfast, take your glyburide about the same time so it will be working when you go to eat breakfast. But also make sure you have fiber and protein as your main items. If you can't do that make more of your shake, metamucil makes a fiber you can put in your food. Give more of a wait time between medication and eating.

jen5-03 · August 2009

I'm guessing the point of the banana was to keep your numbers from going so low later. Not sure if it'd work though.

And 84 isn't really "low", it's a pretty normal good number though I guess dropping that fast would easily make you feel sick.

I'd try adding fiber to the shake (benefiber) it might make it slower to digest.

White potatoes are really hard for a lot of diabetics because they turn to sugar quickly, so those hashbrowns probably aren't a good choice. You need complex carbs that break down more slowly.

You said you tried oatmeal, but was it instant or old-fashioned? Instant has been processed so much it's barely even oatmeal anymore, plus it has added sugars. Maybe try old-fashioned oats, or some sort of whole-grain blend.

I know you've tried dairy too, but I still think that greek yogurt is worth a try. It has 10g protein in a half cup with 4.5g carbs. Add some sweetner, a dash of vanilla and almonds/nuts to it.

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