Re: For the First time I had 388, What to do about it?

[Guest guest]

Well, tell us a little more about yourself, ...what kind of pill

are you taking? How long since your diabetes was diagnosed? How often

are you testing? What books have you read or what kind of diabetic

training have you received?

I'm going to paste on my standard newby letter and I think that may

answer at least some of your questions but I hope you'll answer the ones

I ask above.

First of all, let me rfer you to two of the best books about diabetes.

Read 'em and you'll learn a lot:

The first one is called

" The First Year, Type Two Diabetes, An Essential Guide for the Newly

Diagnosed " by Gretchen Becker. Gretchen is a type 2 diabetic and and

her book is an excellent guide. It's in paperback and available online

from Amazon

if your local bookstore doesn't have it.

The second book is called

" Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solutions " by K. Bernstein, M.D. You

can get it from the library but it's such a good reference that you

really should have it in your home library. A new edition came out just

this month. Dr. Bernstein is a longtime type 1 who controls his

diabetes using a lowcarb diet. Many of us - both type 1 and 2 -- on

this list have found great success using a modified version of his plan.

..

And here's the URL to Dr. Bernstein's website, where there's lots of

good stuff:

http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/index.shtml

These two books will give you good basic information on the ins and outs

of diabetes management.

Cutting carbs is an excellent way to control your BGs and the more you

cut, the better. Most of us find that the " whites " -- breads, cereals

and pastas, in fact anything made with grain - will raise our BGs.

Also, rice and potatoes will do the same. And of course, cakes and

cookies and sweets of all kinds, including fruits and fruit juices.

Watch out for " low calorie " foods; often they're higher in carbs. Learn

to read food labels.

Dr. Bernstein recommends about 40 carbs a day total. This is really only

for the dedictated low carber and IMHO hard to maintain over the long

run. However, I've read that the average American eats about 300 carbs a

day, so the truth is somewhere in between. The best thing you can do

for yourself (if you haven't already) is buy a meter and use it

FREQUENTLY. At the beginning you want to learn how different foods

affect your BG and to do this you need to eat one food at a time,

testing first...then test one and two hours afterwards. Weigh out the

amounts and keep good notes. You'll use up a lot of strips in the

beginning but the rewards are definitely worth the expense and bother

because in the end, you'll know what foods to avoid and which are okay.

Diabetes is a very individual disease and we often say " YMMV " - what

works for one may not work for another.

You want to aim for postprandial (two hours after meal) BG of 140.

Keeping your BGs between 70 and 140 are your goals. If you can do this

longterm, you can probably avoid the dreaded consequences of longterm

poor BG control...and I'm sure I don't have to list those for you. (I

will if you want, though).

Here's my own list of pretty lowcarb veggies:

Spinach

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Summer squash (zucchini, crookneck)

Spaghetti squash

Mushrooms

Asparagus

Greenbeans

Cabbage

Sauerkraut

And of course lettuce and avocados which aren't a veggie but a

fruit .but they're definitely lowcarb. I have a large mixed lettuce

salad with

avocado every night with dinner.

You can eat a reasonable portion (4-6 ounces) of meat, chicken, fish

without problem; it's all protein, no carbs.

Berries are the lowest carb fruit but even so, you should eat them very

sparingly. Here's the website of the USDA, which you'll find very

helpful. It has carbs, calories, protein, etc.

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl

It's helpful to have a food scale.

The A1C is a test that measures your average BG for a three-month period

with slightly more weight given to the latest month. All diabetics

should have this test every three months. And you should ask for, and

keep, copies of all your lab reports.

Good luck. And keep those questions coming. There's a really steep

learning curve at the beginning of your diabetes education but hang in

there -- it will all make sense eventually. And remember -- the only

stupid question is the one you didn't ask.

Vicki, diabetic for 5+ years, last A1C 5.3 (nondiabetic level anything

under 6) and no complications, planning on forever no complications,

smile.

For the First time I had 388, What to do about

it?

> I am 54 and for the first time I had 388 Sugar Level, (Before taking

> my pill and after eating a sandwich), What sould I do?

>

[Guest guest]

Cohen wrote:

>I am 54 and for the first time I had 388 Sugar Level, (Before taking

>my pill and after eating a sandwich), What sould I do?

>

Well, it's not the end of the world. You'll come back down.

Meanwhile, it would be helpful if you told us a little more about your

particular circumstances, so we can give you tips for the future. How

long have you been diabetic, Type 1 or 2, what medicines/doses are you

taking, what kind of diet are you following. etc etc etc, there never

too much information. Clue us in.

Edd

[Guest guest]

HI SAMUEL

dont panic its not the end of the world we all have been there some of us many

times.Firstly how long since you were diagnosed,secondly what medication do you

take (if any).How often do you test your bg, this needs to be done before every

meal and always 2 hours after that meal.It is also useful to keep a diary of

what you eat so you can see what foods raise your bg most and foods that dont

have much affect.Build up a table of results from your testing and armed with

those results visit your doctor and present him/her with the facts.Oh i nearly

forgot what was your last a1c result.

regards w fenton

Cohen wrote:

I am 54 and for the first time I had 388 Sugar Level, (Before taking

my pill and after eating a sandwich), What sould I do?

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Thanks to your Prompt Answers, As to your Queries.

I was diagnosed with Old age DM in 1995.

Gradually I have to have more pills.

I am not fat or overweight.

But my lifestyle is i-regular and it makes it difficult

to Control My Diet.

I take Glibenclamide 5mg and Metformin (After main meal).

Also a couple of Months ago I had a bad pain, that comes

back sometimes in my Abdomen. All the tests have

not finally diagnosed it. Maybe Divertucalosis?

Thanks Sam