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Blood sugar 101

8K views 33 replies 13 participants last post by  DebLynn 
#1 ·
Hi everyone. I would like to know if purchasing the blood sugar 101 book has more info than the website. I would like to try this diet for my diabetes. Atleast I'm going to try. I keep failing sticking to stricter eating.
Thank you
DebLynn
 
#2 ·
Hi everyone. I would like to know if purchasing the blood sugar 101 book has more info than the website. I would like to try this diet for my diabetes. Atleast I'm going to try. I keep failing sticking to stricter eating.
Thank you
DebLynn
Sorry about that last sentence. Also when I get done reading that book I was thinking of purchasing the companion book called diet 101. Then onto The Diabetes Miracle by Diane Kress. Please give opinions if I am heading in the right direction.
Thank you
DebLynn
 
#3 ·
DebLynn

:welcome: to the forum. Please go here and start a thread telling us a bit more about your diabetes and how you are currently coping with it.

In the meantime, I did buy the book version of Blood Sugar 101 . It does have a little more detail on some of the points raised on the site and is certainly a more convenient option for flipping back and forward (at least I think so). The downside - it doesn't get updated. It is a snapshot of the site as it was, say six months ago. Jenny Ruhl, the author can and does keep the site current with, for instance, updates on the latest drug therapy and side effects but once it's on paper - that's it:) You need to use both.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Fairly new here

I signed up a while back but never really got involved. I seen posts about diabetes 101 and read some of it. I was diagnosed in 2006 and never really talked about it much and was embarrassed and felt very flawed. I have a hard time with eating right and binge on goodies. I am on Invokana, glimperide, lantus solostar, and recently put on novolog. I came across this forum and started thinking maybe I can stop this progression and live long. So here I am ready to give this diet a try. I'm hoping I can have more willpower to succeed this time. Some where on the forum I asked if I should buy the book version of diabetes 101. Going to see if I read everything there then was going to read diet 101 so I could learn the diet. I also was thinking of buying a book called The Diabetes Miracle by Diane Kress. Has anyone read it and does it have the same principles as the diet 101? Sorry this is so long.
Thank you for listening
DebLynn
 
#5 ·
I bought the book and am glad I did. I prefer reading print rather than a monitor so I can read it anywhere, and can highlight various points. I have since loaned it out to a couple other diabetics who don't have a computer. It's a good resource to have on the bookshelf.
 
#6 ·
I think the BloodSugar101 and Diet101 books are a good investment. Not so sure about the 'Miracle' one, but I haven't read it. I'm just always leery when people start describing their offerings as miraculous and other such spectacular-sounding terms . . . we know the fix for diabetes is nothing more than down-to-earth nitty-gritty lifestyle changes along with the determination to stick to it forever. No miracle there.
 
#7 ·
Thank you for de-lurking, DebLynn! :welcome:

Are you referring to Blood Sugar 101? The book is excellent. Website is frequently updated; book has more detail in an easy-to-find format. They complement each other.

I don't know of any other site quite like it, though Dr. Richard K. Bernstein's site is also excellent.

For more detail on the low-carb, high-fat diet, I recommend a third site: Low-Carb, High-Fat (LCHF) for Beginners.

Please read a lot, ask lots of questions, and ... most of all ... please keep us posted!
 
#8 ·
Your cravings and bingeing a are NOT a moral failure, they are a result of your metabolic issues. When you limit the carbs in your diet, the cravings will (eventually) go AWAY and you will be able to control your blood sugar without a walking pharmacy ( you may still need meds, but less rather than more).

Start reading the websites first AND don't wait until you have the book in your hands to get started. Start with the very next bite/ sip that goes in your mouth. A month later you will wonder why you waited so long.

It's not easy, but what you're going through right now (and the disasterous consequences) are far worse. You CAN do this.
 
#9 ·
Welcome DebLynn!

I consider the BS101 book to be the foundation. The website has much more information. I go to it when I want links and in-depth discussion of specific subjects.

It has been several years since I read Diet 101...back when (I now realize) I was deep in insulin resistance but my BG was still normal. I remember it was strongly derived from BS101 and addressed diabetic weight loss.

I certainly feel the Diet101 is worth reading. The main takeaway I remember was, get your BG stable and managed at safe levels first.
 
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#16 ·
What many of us have found is that after we've been on the LCHF plan for awhile, the cravings subside to the degree of being almost non-existent, but yes - if we add the old goodies back to our meals the cravings return with a vengeance.

Thing is, once we're free of the cravings, it's not so likely we'll go back. Finding this way to eat and be rid of the hunger, the high blood sugar, the gastric distress & all the other symptoms that come with eating carbs makes it pretty darn easy to stay the course!

Not saying you'll feel this way overnight, but maintaining some diligence for a few weeks/months will pay off in a big way.

Diabetes is for life at this point in time. Our best defense is control, so our best method has to be a lifelong lifestyle adjustment. Just because our numbers improve, doesn't mean we're home free, because the instant we relax control, the diabetes will come roaring back. But with LCHF, control is a lot easier than some other methods we've tried.

You CAN stop the progession and live a long complication-free life!
 
#17 ·
DebLynn, I think this is another place where you need to let you meter and your body teach you.

A normal sized serving of something carby is probably not in your healthy future. In fact and sadly, once your body has adjusted to LCHF if you experiment with too many carbs at one meal your body - which no longer produces many carb digesting enzymes - will probably reward you with an upset tummy and a sugar high/low feeling that greatly resembles the flu.

After months of adjusting to LCHF and managing my BG numbers carefully, I find I can occasionally and rarely and in small amounts, eat treats. As example, a few months ago on a visit to my out of state niece I found she had prepared a wild rice dish ("But it must be safe for you! It doesn't have any gluten!"). I took about a measured tablespoon - two very small nibbles - and it was delicious and I felt fine and my BG rose within normal parameters.

However, one danger is "Oh, I can eat a little more of that..." creeping gradually into danger territory. That treat was a few months ago...I have not had another 'treat' since then. Someday some special occasion will happen and I will have another taste of - so to speak - forbidden fruit. But, not yet.
 
#18 ·
DebLynn, I think this is another place where you need to let you meter and your body teach you.

A normal sized serving of something carby is probably not in your healthy future. In fact and sadly, once your body has adjusted to LCHF if you experiment with too many carbs at one meal your body - which no longer produces many carb digesting enzymes - will probably reward you with an upset tummy and a sugar high/low feeling that greatly resembles the flu.

After months of adjusting to LCHF and managing my BG numbers carefully, I find I can occasionally and rarely and in small amounts, eat treats. As example, a few months ago on a visit to my out of state niece I found she had prepared a wild rice dish ("But it must be safe for you! It doesn't have any gluten!"). I took about a measured tablespoon - two very small nibbles - and it was delicious and I felt fine and my BG rose within normal parameters.

However, one danger is "Oh, I can eat a little more of that..." creeping gradually into danger territory. That treat was a few months ago...I have not had another 'treat' since then. Someday some special occasion will happen and I will have another taste of - so to speak - forbidden fruit. But, not yet.
I wrote this book and then found this where you all had answered some of my questions. Going to put it here if I can figure out how lol.
Hi, not sure if I am doing this right. I have only done a couple posts on this forum. I need help bad. I cant seem to control myself and I know that sounds bad but I have to finally talk to people who know something and I chose here to do that. My A1C is 9.7 and I think I even hit 10. my blood sugars are anywhere from 200 and something to like 485. One diet says eat this and another says no you can't. I asked the doctor about the Atkins diet because it helped control my sugar. She says she doesn't like all the fat in that diet and mentioned all the cheeses. Plus she says I have a sensitivity to milk. I asked about vegan and she said that would be good for me. That leads me to my other problem of cravings which I admit I have some bad cravings. When I say I am going to do better junk is brought in the house and I end up eating it. I felt so hungry on the vegan. Please help me as I feel I am going to kill myself. I was wondering if your high fat is what keeps you full and not crave. I saw you guys had a link to a diet that I hope explains how to do it. I want to try it but not sure of the things my doctor said. I'm sorry this is so long. I feel bad putting my story out here and it being so long. I should also tell you that I am on Invokana and long and short insuling. I have never been trained on knowing how much of the short insulin to take. I just been winging it but sometimes I go to low with the same amount took before and think it has something to do with where I am giving it. I tried to look up online to see if there was any tables showing like if you eat this many carbs take between this amount of insulin. Also my doctor told me to take my insulin after meals but I feel by then the sugar is high and damage could be taking place. Ok I need to shut up now as I have written a book. Thank you for reading this and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
#21 ·
What I can tell you is this: I was very ill with diabetes, started eating low-carb (no rice, potatoes, sweets, root vegetables, grains, etc), then started adding more healthy fats, and my A1c went from 14.7 to 5.5 - that's what I know.

What I don't know, is how to help you find the inspiration to do the same thing. In my case, I decided I never wanted to be that sick again. I also was motivated by not wanting my diabetes to progress, not wanting to have undue complications, and wanting to go off medication. I didn't view non-vegetables carbs as 'goodies' but as rat poison that would make me sick. That helped.

The carbs I eat come from a large variety of vegetables and nuts, so I have a healthy diet.

It's difficult to understand doctors who think it's healthier for their diabetic patients to be on lots of medication so they can eat more carbs vs eating few carbs to curtail or (if we're lucky) eliminate meds. The reward when we eat LCHF is far better diabetes management and reduced complications.
 
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#23 ·
What I can tell you is this: I was very ill with diabetes, started eating low-carb (no rice, potatoes, sweets, root vegetables, grains, etc), then started adding more healthy fats, and my A1c went from 14.7 to 5.5 - that's what I know.

What I don't know, is how to help you find the inspiration to do the same thing. In my case, I decided I never wanted to be that sick again. I also was motivated by not wanting my diabetes to progress, not wanting to have undue complications, and wanting to go off medication. I didn't view non-vegetables carbs as 'goodies' but as rat poison that would make me sick. That helped.

The carbs I eat come from a large variety of vegetables and nuts, so I have a healthy diet.

It's difficult to understand doctors who think it's healthier for their diabetic patients to be on lots of medication so they can eat more carbs vs eating few carbs to curtail or (if we're lucky) eliminate meds. The reward when we eat LCHF is far better diabetes management and reduced complications.
Wow you dropped your AC by alot. That's a nice inspiration right there. Do you still have to take diabetic meds?
 
#24 ·
#28 ·
Yes, DebLynn. The dietdoctor LCHF diet is very good for people with diabetes.
This is another really great site especially for someone using insulin:
Read Online - Diabetes Solution - Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. A Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars. Official Web Site especially The Law of Small Numbers.
Unfortunately the section on using insulin doesn't appear to be available online, but is in the print book, also an excellent resource.
I think I might have one of his books, probably an older one. Instead of pieces scattered throughout books, I prefer more of a list of things in their diets and what not to have. Thank you for this site, I'm going to read it also.
 
#25 ·
I recently began insulin 2-3 days/week because of a high dose steroid I must take 1x/week indefinitely for something else. It makes my blood sugar soar within hours, and insulin is the only way to moderate it.

The steroid stimulates the liver to release glucose as well as inhibits glucose transport into muscle cells. The result is brutal. Thinking I might be able to help keep my insulin dose as low as possible, I also began taking metformin again - a small 500 mg dose, which I'm considering raising to 1000 mg.

Trial and error.

But - if not for the steroid, I would be on no meds for my diabetes, all due to LCHF eating. I shudder to think the shape I'd be in had I entered into the steroid-effect world without controlled diabetes! My doc said one of her diabetic patients was hospitalized due to high glucose when he took the same steroidid dose - so we definitely didn't start at the same place! And when I had emergency surgery, I can't imagine what (non) healing would have been like had my diabetes not been controlled, or how they even would have been able to perform the surgery effectively.

Yes, the link you have gives a rough outline of foods which are compatible with a LCHF diet - and which aren't. Our recipe section is loaded with some of our low-carb favorites.

There are so many important reasons to get the upper hand on our diabetes. Here's hoping you'll feel some wind at your back to do that with yours.
 
#29 ·
I recently began insulin 2-3 days/week because of a high dose steroid I must take 1x/week indefinitely for something else. It makes my blood sugar soar within hours, and insulin is the only way to moderate it.

The steroid stimulates the liver to release glucose as well as inhibits glucose transport into muscle cells. The result is brutal. Thinking I might be able to help keep my insulin dose as low as possible, I also began taking metformin again - a small 500 mg dose, which I'm considering raising to 1000 mg.

Trial and error.

But - if not for the steroid, I would be on no meds for my diabetes, all due to LCHF eating. I shudder to think the shape I'd be in had I entered into the steroid-effect world without controlled diabetes! My doc said one of her diabetic patients was hospitalized due to high glucose when he took the same steroidid dose - so we definitely didn't start at the same place! And when I had emergency surgery, I can't imagine what (non) healing would have been like had my diabetes not been controlled, or how they even would have been able to perform the surgery effectively.

Yes, the link you have gives a rough outline of foods which are compatible with a LCHF diet - and which aren't. Our recipe section is loaded with some of our low-carb favorites.

There are so many important reasons to get the upper hand on our diabetes. Here's hoping you'll feel some wind at your back to do that with yours.
That's how I got on fast acting insulin is because I took some steroids and then when off the steroids, doctor left me on the shots
 
#26 ·
DebLynn

Welcome back to the forum. I sounds like you have become more motivated to make some changes to get back on track with managing your diabetes. I hope you visit here often. I know, for me, this is the place where I recharge my motivation.

A couple tips for you.

Finding threads and posts you've made:
If you want to find any thread you've started, or any thread you've posted in, there is a quick way to do this. When you log on to the forum, you'll see Welcome DebLynn in the upper right-hand area, between the two black bars at the top of each page. If you click on your member name, it will bring you to your profile page. When it is fully loaded (a few seconds) you'll see a row of tabs - click on Statistics which will give you two links to help you find threads you've either started yourself (like this one), or any threads where you've posted a reply.

Find all posts by DebLynn
Find all threads started by DebLynn

Reading here for motivation:
Reading other members' introduction threads can be very helpful in keeping motivated. This is where you follow their journey from poor blood sugar control to gaining good control with lower BG levels. These threads are full of helpful suggestions and links toward that end. Some issues you won't have, but we all relate to most of them.

I hope you become a regular here. Please feel free to join in the conversation in other threads.
 
#27 ·
DebLynn

Welcome back to the forum. I sounds like you have become more motivated to make some changes to get back on track with managing your diabetes. I hope you visit here often. I know, for me, this is the place where I recharge my motivation.

A couple tips for you.

Finding threads and posts you've made:
If you want to find any thread you've started, or any thread you've posted in, there is a quick way to do this. When you log on to the forum, you'll see Welcome DebLynn in the upper right-hand area, between the two black bars at the top of each page. If you click on your member name, it will bring you to your profile page. When it is fully loaded (a few seconds) you'll see a row of tabs - click on Statistics which will give you two links to help you find threads you've either started yourself (like this one), or any threads where you've posted a reply.

Find all posts by DebLynn
Find all threads started by DebLynn

Reading here for motivation:
Reading other members' introduction threads can be very helpful in keeping motivated. This is where you follow their journey from poor blood sugar control to gaining good control with lower BG levels. These threads are full of helpful suggestions and links toward that end. Some issues you won't have, but we all relate to most of them.

I hope you become a regular here. Please feel free to join in the conversation in other threads.
Thank you so much. I think I have the posting down now also
 
#33 ·
When I first went low-carb for diabetes, I printed out the food lists from the Atkins site for the Induction/Phase I diet which is a 30g/day plan. I found it easy to use at first because I didn't have to look anything up. I still generally follow the 30g/day, but rely more on looking up foods and counting carbs - and have added much more fats now that I understand how important they are.

Another place here on the forum for getting an idea of what LCHF meals look like is the sticky threads in the Diabetes Diet and Nutrition - The Diabetes Forum Support Community For Diabetics Online where you'll find several meal threads "What's for... breakfast... lunch... dinner" and a snack thread.

But the key to any eating plan is testing. You have to know what your meals and foods you choose actually do to your BG level. Through testing you can tailor your plan to yourself and your body's abilities to metabolize carbs.
 
#34 ·
I just found this post I had done. It's good to know that the Cravings will go away. It's kind of hard because of others the house. So there are cupcakes, cakes, cookies xcetera. Today I just haven't ate yet. But eventually I'm going to have to eat
 
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