How do I lower my morning fasting glucose levels?

Posted by kateia @kateia, Aug 8, 2019

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 3 weeks ago and the doctor wanted me on bp meds and metformin right away. After a week of thinking about it I've chosen to change my eating habits, now counting carbs, and exercising more. I've lowered my morning fast blood tests by over 100 points from 258 to 145 just by changing my diet. What else can I do to keep the numbers going down? The dietician says it should be between 70 & 130. Trying not to eat after 7:30 pm. Any suggestions?

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@kateia . would you mind sharing your bedtime test? How are you doing throughout the day?

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katia, do you like to take walks?I How old are you? First of all congratulations of your good beginning! I did the counting of carbs and was very pleased with the good changes, including losing weight without much effort. I am sure your dietician mentioned balancing your meals with protein, veggies, and a little fruit. I try to only eat one or two slices of multigrain bread, the grittier, the better, or rye bread. I have a glass of milk at bedtime which makes me sleepy. I eat nuts when I want a snack. The only thing I miss is the ice cream but I want it to be homemade, so I don't do that very often. I get the shakes if my number goes much below 100 so I don't try to cut down to that point. I guess my body just doesn't like being "normal" or something. Everyone is different so we should be careful to work on goals that are right for each of us. You should be feeling great soon and that will inspire you to stay on course. I will suck on a spoonful of no sugar peanut butter if I am hungry at bedtime, as I learned that trick when I had low blood sugar. My son will not give up white potatoes so I am not going to plant any next year in my garden. They really can run the sugar count up. I don't miss them at all, however. Dorisena

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@trishanna

@kateia . would you mind sharing your bedtime test? How are you doing throughout the day?

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I only check my glucose 3x/day. Mornings -fasting then before and after either Dinner or Supper. The ones I've checked after supper are: 158, 152, 149, 155. Mornings range in the mid 140's.

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@dorisena

katia, do you like to take walks?I How old are you? First of all congratulations of your good beginning! I did the counting of carbs and was very pleased with the good changes, including losing weight without much effort. I am sure your dietician mentioned balancing your meals with protein, veggies, and a little fruit. I try to only eat one or two slices of multigrain bread, the grittier, the better, or rye bread. I have a glass of milk at bedtime which makes me sleepy. I eat nuts when I want a snack. The only thing I miss is the ice cream but I want it to be homemade, so I don't do that very often. I get the shakes if my number goes much below 100 so I don't try to cut down to that point. I guess my body just doesn't like being "normal" or something. Everyone is different so we should be careful to work on goals that are right for each of us. You should be feeling great soon and that will inspire you to stay on course. I will suck on a spoonful of no sugar peanut butter if I am hungry at bedtime, as I learned that trick when I had low blood sugar. My son will not give up white potatoes so I am not going to plant any next year in my garden. They really can run the sugar count up. I don't miss them at all, however. Dorisena

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dorisena, I've done many changes. I've got 60 more pounds to lose. I'm 63 years old. Changes I've made. NO TV until evening. I walk 1 1/4 miles every morning. Plus work in my garden. I'm trying to eat around 30-35 carbs/meal. Have incorporated 100% whole wheat bread or 5 min oatmeal for grains. 2-3 meals/week. Lots of fruit and veggies. I have mixed nuts,no peanuts for a snack or fruit with cheese. Popcorn (2 cups) in the evening. I've increased my protein so I'm not munching in between meals. Not counting calories.Have cut them in half easily anyway. Have lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. I've lost 20 pounds since January. I'm setting 10 pound goals. I'd like to get my fasting numbers around 110 and after meal numbers around 150. I feel I've done well for it being only 3 weeks.

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@kateia

dorisena, I've done many changes. I've got 60 more pounds to lose. I'm 63 years old. Changes I've made. NO TV until evening. I walk 1 1/4 miles every morning. Plus work in my garden. I'm trying to eat around 30-35 carbs/meal. Have incorporated 100% whole wheat bread or 5 min oatmeal for grains. 2-3 meals/week. Lots of fruit and veggies. I have mixed nuts,no peanuts for a snack or fruit with cheese. Popcorn (2 cups) in the evening. I've increased my protein so I'm not munching in between meals. Not counting calories.Have cut them in half easily anyway. Have lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. I've lost 20 pounds since January. I'm setting 10 pound goals. I'd like to get my fasting numbers around 110 and after meal numbers around 150. I feel I've done well for it being only 3 weeks.

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Congratulations, @kateia, you have made some very wise changes to your lifestyle. Are you feeling better now?

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@kateia

dorisena, I've done many changes. I've got 60 more pounds to lose. I'm 63 years old. Changes I've made. NO TV until evening. I walk 1 1/4 miles every morning. Plus work in my garden. I'm trying to eat around 30-35 carbs/meal. Have incorporated 100% whole wheat bread or 5 min oatmeal for grains. 2-3 meals/week. Lots of fruit and veggies. I have mixed nuts,no peanuts for a snack or fruit with cheese. Popcorn (2 cups) in the evening. I've increased my protein so I'm not munching in between meals. Not counting calories.Have cut them in half easily anyway. Have lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. I've lost 20 pounds since January. I'm setting 10 pound goals. I'd like to get my fasting numbers around 110 and after meal numbers around 150. I feel I've done well for it being only 3 weeks.

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@kateia Just an FYI for those watching carbs. Not all oatmeals are the same! I have no idea why. I eat either Silver Palate or Quaker steel cut and there are more carbs in the steel cut!
JK

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Terrific! I am so happy to have a buddy to share notes with. It isn't so easy 13 years later, but then I am 13 years older as well and have been slowed down by back surgery. I quit losing weight after a while but managed to lose some this past spring when I fractured my shoulder. I couldn't cook much so I ate less and slept off the pain pills. It has taken me some time to learn which foods will spike the blood sugar and which ones I can get by with by eating only once.
My son's doctor has him eating two bananas a day and taking the Metformin at different times. My Endocrinologist can't see me anymore because I am below 7.0 on the AiC test and my thyroid medicine is stable, so I am on my own, because my family doctor says nothing to me. I have struggled this summer but having others who understand helps so much so I am no so isolated. I changed churches and that solved a social eating problem. Diabetes is a big job but I am happy that my eye test showed no damage from diabetes from the camera photo the doctor took. No glaucoma, no macular degeneration, and my mammogram was normal. My blood pressure is down but there is more work there to do. I worked a Sudoku puzzle with no cheating to look up the answers.
Life is good on the farm. Dorisena

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Do you mean the morning numbers are 40's or do you mean 140"s? Dorisena

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@kateia

I only check my glucose 3x/day. Mornings -fasting then before and after either Dinner or Supper. The ones I've checked after supper are: 158, 152, 149, 155. Mornings range in the mid 140's.

Jump to this post

@kateia You have done quite well, I think. I am newly diagnosed with Type 2, so I'm learning, too. My question for the Dr next week is about my bedtime glucose number versus my morning fasting number - don't understand how those numbers relate, but based on what I've read, it's an important question. Will post whatever I find out!

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@dorisena

Terrific! I am so happy to have a buddy to share notes with. It isn't so easy 13 years later, but then I am 13 years older as well and have been slowed down by back surgery. I quit losing weight after a while but managed to lose some this past spring when I fractured my shoulder. I couldn't cook much so I ate less and slept off the pain pills. It has taken me some time to learn which foods will spike the blood sugar and which ones I can get by with by eating only once.
My son's doctor has him eating two bananas a day and taking the Metformin at different times. My Endocrinologist can't see me anymore because I am below 7.0 on the AiC test and my thyroid medicine is stable, so I am on my own, because my family doctor says nothing to me. I have struggled this summer but having others who understand helps so much so I am no so isolated. I changed churches and that solved a social eating problem. Diabetes is a big job but I am happy that my eye test showed no damage from diabetes from the camera photo the doctor took. No glaucoma, no macular degeneration, and my mammogram was normal. My blood pressure is down but there is more work there to do. I worked a Sudoku puzzle with no cheating to look up the answers.
Life is good on the farm. Dorisena

Jump to this post

@dorisena Is not seeing your endo because your A1c is below 7 an insurance restriction or a restriction that the doctor has made? Mine has never been as high as 7, but I see an endocrinologist, a really great one.
JK

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