Aa
Time to change meds?
I was diagnosed type 2 at 34. I was gestational with both my pregnancies too. I was never able to diet control. At the time I was diagnosed I was working out an hour a day, was very active working on the farm and was eating a fairly good diet. In response to my diagnosis, I lost 20 lbs and cut out fruit juice and some of the grains in my diet. This worked for all these years.
I developed some health problem over the last couple of years and noticed my FBS went from being about 110 to being more like 125.My 2 hour PP readings were still under 165 until the last 6 months or so. After working with various drs. we figured out that my exhaustion was coming from anemia, my thyroid is doing something abnormal but they aren't sure what. I have been on synthroid since I was 12 and am currently not on any because my levels seem to have stabilized somewhat. My anemia stemmed from female issues which resulted in a hysterectomy a couple months ago.
So now that I'm feeling somewhat better I wanted to tackle the elevated BS problem. I was hoping that they hysterectomy would take care of it (when you feel awful your BS tends to be high). No such luck. If anything, my BS is higher than before surgery (I still have ovaries but there seems to have been a reduction in estrogen, not that it's gone but I think I had too much before).
So today, I decided that I would not eat carbs except for what was in meat and veggies. I haven't even had any fruit although I did have a 1/4 cup of 1% milk in my morning coffee. My readings today are not so hot.
FSB 129. 2 hr pp 152. 3 hr pp 110. Pre lunch 111. About 1.25 hr after lunch 157.
My breakfast contained 4 carbs. My lunch contained 11. It seems my after meal jump shouldn't be happening. I know to many, 11 is a lot of carbs but all I ate was some lean ham stir fried with about 2 cups of assorted non starchy veggies.
I currently take 500 mg Metformin after breakfast, after lunch, and before bed. My FSB has been high but a couple days ago I read something on another board that said try adding a higher fat snack like cheese or peanut butter shortly before bedtime to prevent your liver from dumping glucose in the early morning. Since high FSB has always been a problem I thought I would try it. It seems to be helping, just not enough.
Do I just need to persist on this really low carb diet to try to flush out extra carbs or is it just time for an increase in my Met? I don't know that I can learn to eat like this. I have watched my carbs for years but always have included things like a slice of whole wheat bread, noodles, potatoes and a little rice. And yeah, that periodic cookie or piece of candy.
I developed some health problem over the last couple of years and noticed my FBS went from being about 110 to being more like 125.My 2 hour PP readings were still under 165 until the last 6 months or so. After working with various drs. we figured out that my exhaustion was coming from anemia, my thyroid is doing something abnormal but they aren't sure what. I have been on synthroid since I was 12 and am currently not on any because my levels seem to have stabilized somewhat. My anemia stemmed from female issues which resulted in a hysterectomy a couple months ago.
So now that I'm feeling somewhat better I wanted to tackle the elevated BS problem. I was hoping that they hysterectomy would take care of it (when you feel awful your BS tends to be high). No such luck. If anything, my BS is higher than before surgery (I still have ovaries but there seems to have been a reduction in estrogen, not that it's gone but I think I had too much before).
So today, I decided that I would not eat carbs except for what was in meat and veggies. I haven't even had any fruit although I did have a 1/4 cup of 1% milk in my morning coffee. My readings today are not so hot.
FSB 129. 2 hr pp 152. 3 hr pp 110. Pre lunch 111. About 1.25 hr after lunch 157.
My breakfast contained 4 carbs. My lunch contained 11. It seems my after meal jump shouldn't be happening. I know to many, 11 is a lot of carbs but all I ate was some lean ham stir fried with about 2 cups of assorted non starchy veggies.
I currently take 500 mg Metformin after breakfast, after lunch, and before bed. My FSB has been high but a couple days ago I read something on another board that said try adding a higher fat snack like cheese or peanut butter shortly before bedtime to prevent your liver from dumping glucose in the early morning. Since high FSB has always been a problem I thought I would try it. It seems to be helping, just not enough.
Do I just need to persist on this really low carb diet to try to flush out extra carbs or is it just time for an increase in my Met? I don't know that I can learn to eat like this. I have watched my carbs for years but always have included things like a slice of whole wheat bread, noodles, potatoes and a little rice. And yeah, that periodic cookie or piece of candy.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Normal A1C should be < 5.0. So low 6s are not really fine though the medical professions thinks they are.
Agree that you need to eat more than 20 g of carbs a day and need appropriate medication to allow this.
Let us know how your referral and appointment goes.
Agree that you need to eat more than 20 g of carbs a day and need appropriate medication to allow this.
Let us know how your referral and appointment goes.
Forgot about A1Cs. For the most part they have remained under 6 for years, in the early years they were even under 5. It seems the last few have been in the low 6s which they still consider fine.
In January: TSH 1.13, FT4 .89, T3 101
October: TSA .611, FT4 .89, T3 88
July: TSA .31, FT4 .7 T3 116, T4 7.07, Immunoglobulin Serum 95, Peroxidase 2.4.
Endo said it is odd that my numbers fluctuate so much. I was diagnosed at 12. During that time I have had my synthroid doses changed, mostly lowered, about every 10 years. He said that isn't normal because usually once the proper dose is found it never changes. BTW, I did not have Hashimotos. No one knows why my thyroid doesn't function correctly.
Since my numbers are odd but not out of the range of normal he is leaving it alone for now. He did have a CT scan of my goiter. It is there but there is nothing to indicate there is cancer (I also had an ultrasound done too) it is just enlarged.
He thinks it is possible I have Graves and technically am hyper and that is why I have the fluctuations in my numbers.
I have added back some carbs to my diet. I'm a full time student and my brain was not functioning to do my homework. I also noticed that the longer I was that low carb the less fluctuation I was having in my BS. Not in a good way either, they were no longer dropping down to 110 between meals but staying steadier, between 135 and 160 with no drops down to 110.
Before I tried to drop my carbs I was eating about 150 so now I'm shooting for about 60 to 80. Despite what many people seem to think, I don't think it is normal to eat 20 carbs a day. I'll call my GP this week and see about an appt. He has to refer me to my endo since endo referral was for thyroid.
October: TSA .611, FT4 .89, T3 88
July: TSA .31, FT4 .7 T3 116, T4 7.07, Immunoglobulin Serum 95, Peroxidase 2.4.
Endo said it is odd that my numbers fluctuate so much. I was diagnosed at 12. During that time I have had my synthroid doses changed, mostly lowered, about every 10 years. He said that isn't normal because usually once the proper dose is found it never changes. BTW, I did not have Hashimotos. No one knows why my thyroid doesn't function correctly.
Since my numbers are odd but not out of the range of normal he is leaving it alone for now. He did have a CT scan of my goiter. It is there but there is nothing to indicate there is cancer (I also had an ultrasound done too) it is just enlarged.
He thinks it is possible I have Graves and technically am hyper and that is why I have the fluctuations in my numbers.
I have added back some carbs to my diet. I'm a full time student and my brain was not functioning to do my homework. I also noticed that the longer I was that low carb the less fluctuation I was having in my BS. Not in a good way either, they were no longer dropping down to 110 between meals but staying steadier, between 135 and 160 with no drops down to 110.
Before I tried to drop my carbs I was eating about 150 so now I'm shooting for about 60 to 80. Despite what many people seem to think, I don't think it is normal to eat 20 carbs a day. I'll call my GP this week and see about an appt. He has to refer me to my endo since endo referral was for thyroid.
COMMUNITY LEADER
What were your thyroid numbers (and the reference range)? I am also hypo and quite experienced in this area?
I really think you need to add insulin to your regime. It is not reasonable to only eat 20g of carbs a day... even Bernstein recommends not less than 35 a day.... if you are having the bs numbers you are having with next to no carbs, then you definitely need insulin. 137 fbs is not good and is uncontrolled diabetic level. 151 2 pp is also way to high.
What is your latest A1C?
I really think you need to add insulin to your regime. It is not reasonable to only eat 20g of carbs a day... even Bernstein recommends not less than 35 a day.... if you are having the bs numbers you are having with next to no carbs, then you definitely need insulin. 137 fbs is not good and is uncontrolled diabetic level. 151 2 pp is also way to high.
What is your latest A1C?
Thank you both for your answers.
For years I've been eating about 75-100 carbs per day. A couple week ago I knocked it down to 60-80 per day. Now I'm shooting for 20 since obviously 60 doesn't cut it.
I think in a lot of ways a life with no fruit, no bread, no potatoes, no rice, no pasta is not worth living. It's not even that I eat a lot of it, just to know that if I eat one piece of bread I'll elevate my bs too high. That even by not eating any starches my bs is so high that I am still going to have problems.
My endocrinologist has done the ft3 and 4, tsh and a few other tests. I was diagnosed hypo at 12. About a year ago I ran out of pills and prescription but had no money to go see a dr. for a couple of months. When I went in, the gp said my thyroid was normal and kept me off my meds. I was retested a few months later because I still wasn't feeling good and then I was sent to the endo. He is very confused by my numbers and is actually wondering if my gland is over then under producing, kind of stuttering. He is considering killing the gland and just putting me on synthroid. At of January, my numbers were strange but within normal although I have had a goiter that grew after I was taken off the meds.
My BS was a little better this morning, 137 FSB and 151 2 hr pp. Breakfast was an egg, veggies, and cheese. I realize I need to take off the last 20 lbs that have been hanging around. With my health issues I gained back 5 lbs of the 20 I lost 12 years ago plus the remaining 15, some of which went away for a couple years. I'm wondering how I'll lose weight with the low carb though. My usually calories are 1200 and I've already used a whole bunch of those in breakfast (375).
I figure I'll give the super low carb diet a chance. I'm also wondering if some of the problem isn't strain on my body from having surgery. I'm still pretty light duty, too much walking hurts.
For years I've been eating about 75-100 carbs per day. A couple week ago I knocked it down to 60-80 per day. Now I'm shooting for 20 since obviously 60 doesn't cut it.
I think in a lot of ways a life with no fruit, no bread, no potatoes, no rice, no pasta is not worth living. It's not even that I eat a lot of it, just to know that if I eat one piece of bread I'll elevate my bs too high. That even by not eating any starches my bs is so high that I am still going to have problems.
My endocrinologist has done the ft3 and 4, tsh and a few other tests. I was diagnosed hypo at 12. About a year ago I ran out of pills and prescription but had no money to go see a dr. for a couple of months. When I went in, the gp said my thyroid was normal and kept me off my meds. I was retested a few months later because I still wasn't feeling good and then I was sent to the endo. He is very confused by my numbers and is actually wondering if my gland is over then under producing, kind of stuttering. He is considering killing the gland and just putting me on synthroid. At of January, my numbers were strange but within normal although I have had a goiter that grew after I was taken off the meds.
My BS was a little better this morning, 137 FSB and 151 2 hr pp. Breakfast was an egg, veggies, and cheese. I realize I need to take off the last 20 lbs that have been hanging around. With my health issues I gained back 5 lbs of the 20 I lost 12 years ago plus the remaining 15, some of which went away for a couple years. I'm wondering how I'll lose weight with the low carb though. My usually calories are 1200 and I've already used a whole bunch of those in breakfast (375).
I figure I'll give the super low carb diet a chance. I'm also wondering if some of the problem isn't strain on my body from having surgery. I'm still pretty light duty, too much walking hurts.
COMMUNITY LEADER
With levels that you are describing on a very low carb diet you may need to be further evalated for change in meds / insulin. I imagien if you ate typical or even just higher carbs your bs would have been well above 200 for each meal.
Your fast should be ideally < 95 and 2 hour after eating ideally < 120.
It is very important to control blood sugars. You are taking 1500 mg of metformin which is already quite high. I think max is onluy abotu 2000 mg. Next step is probably insulin. Do not be scared of insulin, itis a wonderful tool.
Please look for the book "Diabetes Solutions" by Dr. Richard Bernstein, which is an excellent resource for diabetes management. I could not recommend any reference more highly.
On the thyroid, did they just test TSH? or did they also test FT3 and FT4? If they didn't they should and both should be at least middle of the reference range.
Your fast should be ideally < 95 and 2 hour after eating ideally < 120.
It is very important to control blood sugars. You are taking 1500 mg of metformin which is already quite high. I think max is onluy abotu 2000 mg. Next step is probably insulin. Do not be scared of insulin, itis a wonderful tool.
Please look for the book "Diabetes Solutions" by Dr. Richard Bernstein, which is an excellent resource for diabetes management. I could not recommend any reference more highly.
On the thyroid, did they just test TSH? or did they also test FT3 and FT4? If they didn't they should and both should be at least middle of the reference range.
A low carb diet is great for weight reduction and lowering glucose levels. But do not restrict too much from your diet as you need carbs for energy. Too low also instigates kidney issues. Google search "Glycemic Index" to see the table of fast and slow digesting carbs. Slow is good, fast is bad.
Read food labels carefully for hidden sugars. Sugars under carbohydrate are listed as grams. Every 7 grams equals one HEAPING tablespoon of refined sugar. Milk contains up to 12 grams of sugar per 8oz glass. You do the math. Eat fruits in small portions and with other foods to slow the digestion and absorption of fructose, fruit sugar. Berries and melons are slowly digested. Tropical fruits like pineapple and mangoes are digested faster. Again, slow is good, fast is bad. Keep in mind not all diabetics can tolerate any type of fruit. For me, a small thumb nail size strawberry jacks up my glucose level. Fruits are not part of my diet. :(
"I read something on another board that said try adding a higher fat snack like cheese or peanut butter shortly before bedtime to prevent your liver from dumping glucose in the early morning."
Remove the word "prevent". It helps slow the release of glucogen. The liver dumps glucogen in the morning in anticipation of energy needed upon awakening. Throughout the day your liver is dumping glucogen for energy. Eat smaller meals throughout the day to lessen the dump amounts.
Lifestyle changes are required to control and manage your diabetes; proper diabetic nutrition, maintaining normal body weight [BMI], good lipid panel levels, keep stress levels low, get good amounts of sleep, and daily 30-60 minutes exercise. Good luck
Read food labels carefully for hidden sugars. Sugars under carbohydrate are listed as grams. Every 7 grams equals one HEAPING tablespoon of refined sugar. Milk contains up to 12 grams of sugar per 8oz glass. You do the math. Eat fruits in small portions and with other foods to slow the digestion and absorption of fructose, fruit sugar. Berries and melons are slowly digested. Tropical fruits like pineapple and mangoes are digested faster. Again, slow is good, fast is bad. Keep in mind not all diabetics can tolerate any type of fruit. For me, a small thumb nail size strawberry jacks up my glucose level. Fruits are not part of my diet. :(
"I read something on another board that said try adding a higher fat snack like cheese or peanut butter shortly before bedtime to prevent your liver from dumping glucose in the early morning."
Remove the word "prevent". It helps slow the release of glucogen. The liver dumps glucogen in the morning in anticipation of energy needed upon awakening. Throughout the day your liver is dumping glucogen for energy. Eat smaller meals throughout the day to lessen the dump amounts.
Lifestyle changes are required to control and manage your diabetes; proper diabetic nutrition, maintaining normal body weight [BMI], good lipid panel levels, keep stress levels low, get good amounts of sleep, and daily 30-60 minutes exercise. Good luck
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