I posted this thread which got very heated and is now closed.
http://www.diabetesforum.com/diabet...-dropping-5-within-hour-help-appreciated.html
I was basically told not to post back until I did know what worked for me. While some people here were downright passive aggressive, others were genuinely trying to help. I think I have part of the answer for me.
What I have resolved
I've worked out what to eat to keep my numbers in the "good" range, though it runs counter to a lot of the advice I've received, and I do not know it's effect long term.
I have found that if I severely limit but not eliminate carbs, I feel awful all day every day and feel like I need a nap around 2pm. By the end of the day I'm so exhausted I'm practically a zombie. I can only guess this is something akin to perpetual "Atkins Flu". I'm talking beyond the joke unliveable. Not working for me at all.
This last week I have been sleep deprived (early shift, worked part of the weekend with early start then too) and I have a cold. Despite this my readings - every single one - even the one time I had a slice of mud cake - have all been below 6.0 which is my target. Previously I was struggling to stay under 7.0. I have just cut over to different box of test strips, and the readings have stayed under 6, so I don't think it's bad strips (though I have yet to confirm with a second meter)
What I have changed is that I'm eating white rice (indian and thai microwave meals) in the morning. It started with what some might call a binge (I hate that term) or others might call eating off plan. Basically being up at 5am with no other prospect of food pushed me to use what I had even though I thought it was bad. I don't quite understand how this works for me. It seems to work best with rice, but I'm yet to experiment with other carbs. I know that breakfast cereals push me way up. It also seems to help if I eat something with a little bit of carb just before bed. I know about the dawn effect and Somogyi phenomenon. I doubt any of the doctors I see are enlightened enough to test me with a continuous monitor but I'll bring it up at my next visit. As I have a cold I'm putting that and my first HbA1c until I'm over it. I had a chest infection when first diagnosed with diabetes and I'd like a baseline while I"m well.
Things that don't seem to spike me at all - a couple of slices of the lowest carb Burgen bread, and rice. Things that do - white bread, other seed breads. Pizza takes me just above 7 two hours after but quickly falls back.
As I said right now I don't understand what's going on, I just know it keeps my numbers low. I hope this continues after the cold subsides. A week is long enough to see a trend but not long enough to declare I have a permanent solution. I also don't know what my current eating will do in terms of other blood test results (protein etc).
What I have not resolved
Still no idea what to do about the inaccuracy of the meters. I do not think this should be ignored, nor do I think the meters should never be used. I'm still testing at least twice daily. But I think the way most people use them by doctors (only use rough trend) and how I've been told to use them here (blood sugar 101) is neither very scientific and could lead to false conclusions.
I also have no idea what to do about the horrible bloating and gas. I had IBS (medical speak for can't find what's wrong with your gut!) long before being diagnosed with diabetes and I don't know how much of the extreme discomfort is that, how much is my huge intake of salad, and how much is the metaformin. It's very unpleasant to say the least.
I'm walking for excercise but still not doing any significant cardio...still have to work my way around long work hours, bad ankle, ear infections if I go to the pool.
Still I think I've made progress.
http://www.diabetesforum.com/diabet...-dropping-5-within-hour-help-appreciated.html
I was basically told not to post back until I did know what worked for me. While some people here were downright passive aggressive, others were genuinely trying to help. I think I have part of the answer for me.
What I have resolved
I've worked out what to eat to keep my numbers in the "good" range, though it runs counter to a lot of the advice I've received, and I do not know it's effect long term.
I have found that if I severely limit but not eliminate carbs, I feel awful all day every day and feel like I need a nap around 2pm. By the end of the day I'm so exhausted I'm practically a zombie. I can only guess this is something akin to perpetual "Atkins Flu". I'm talking beyond the joke unliveable. Not working for me at all.
This last week I have been sleep deprived (early shift, worked part of the weekend with early start then too) and I have a cold. Despite this my readings - every single one - even the one time I had a slice of mud cake - have all been below 6.0 which is my target. Previously I was struggling to stay under 7.0. I have just cut over to different box of test strips, and the readings have stayed under 6, so I don't think it's bad strips (though I have yet to confirm with a second meter)
What I have changed is that I'm eating white rice (indian and thai microwave meals) in the morning. It started with what some might call a binge (I hate that term) or others might call eating off plan. Basically being up at 5am with no other prospect of food pushed me to use what I had even though I thought it was bad. I don't quite understand how this works for me. It seems to work best with rice, but I'm yet to experiment with other carbs. I know that breakfast cereals push me way up. It also seems to help if I eat something with a little bit of carb just before bed. I know about the dawn effect and Somogyi phenomenon. I doubt any of the doctors I see are enlightened enough to test me with a continuous monitor but I'll bring it up at my next visit. As I have a cold I'm putting that and my first HbA1c until I'm over it. I had a chest infection when first diagnosed with diabetes and I'd like a baseline while I"m well.
Things that don't seem to spike me at all - a couple of slices of the lowest carb Burgen bread, and rice. Things that do - white bread, other seed breads. Pizza takes me just above 7 two hours after but quickly falls back.
As I said right now I don't understand what's going on, I just know it keeps my numbers low. I hope this continues after the cold subsides. A week is long enough to see a trend but not long enough to declare I have a permanent solution. I also don't know what my current eating will do in terms of other blood test results (protein etc).
What I have not resolved
Still no idea what to do about the inaccuracy of the meters. I do not think this should be ignored, nor do I think the meters should never be used. I'm still testing at least twice daily. But I think the way most people use them by doctors (only use rough trend) and how I've been told to use them here (blood sugar 101) is neither very scientific and could lead to false conclusions.
I also have no idea what to do about the horrible bloating and gas. I had IBS (medical speak for can't find what's wrong with your gut!) long before being diagnosed with diabetes and I don't know how much of the extreme discomfort is that, how much is my huge intake of salad, and how much is the metaformin. It's very unpleasant to say the least.
I'm walking for excercise but still not doing any significant cardio...still have to work my way around long work hours, bad ankle, ear infections if I go to the pool.
Still I think I've made progress.