In the last article in this series on diabesity and metabolic syndrome, we discovered that the blood sugar targets established by the American Diabetes Association are far too high, and do not protect people from developing heart disease, diabetes or other complications. And we looked at what the scientific literature indicates are safer targets for fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c and either OGTT or post-meal blood sugar.
On the other hand, we also discussed the importance of context: why it’s important not to rely on a single blood sugar marker, and how healthy people can sometimes have blood sugar spikes above 140 mg/dL one hour after a meal. Please keep this in mind as you read through the rest of this article.
In this article I’m going to introduce a simple technique that, when used properly, is one of the most effective ways to maintain healthy blood sugar and prevent cardiovascular and metabolic disease – without unnecessary drugs.
I love this technique because it’s:
- Cheap. You can buy the equipment you need for $16 online.
- Convenient. You can perform the tests in the comfort of your home, in your car, or wherever else you might be.
- Personalized. Instead of following some formula for how much carbohydrate you can safely eat, this method will tell you exactly what your carbohydrate tolerance is, and which carbs are “safe” and “unsafe” for you.
- Safe. Unlike the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which can produce dangerous and horribly uncomfortable spikes in blood sugar, this strategy simply involves testing your blood sugar after your normal meals.
The strategy I’m referring to is using a glucometer to test your post-meal blood sugars. It’s simple, accessible and completely bypasses the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies by putting the power of knowledge in your hands.
It’s one of the most powerful diagnostic tools available, and I use it with nearly all of my patients. Here’s how to do it.
Step One: Buy a Glucometer and Test Strips
A glucometer is a device that measures blood sugar. You’ve probably seen them before—they’re commonly used by diabetics. You prick your finger with a sterilized lancet, and then you apply the drop of blood to a “test strip” that has been inserted into the glucometer, and it measures your blood sugar.
There are literally hundreds of glucometers out there, and their accuracy, quality and price varies considerably. The one I recommend to my patients is called the Relion Prime, which can be found at Walmart.com. (Note: as a rule I don’t like to support Walmart, but I haven’t been able to find this unit anywhere else at a similar price.) Even better, the test strips, which you’ll need on an ongoing basis to monitor your blood sugar, are relatively cheap for the Relion Prime. You can get 50 of them for $9.00 at Walmart.com ($0.18/strip).
If you’d like the option to sync your readings to an iPhone or iPod Touch, the Relion Prime syncs with the Glooko MeterSync Cable. The Glooko cable (with the free app on your iPhone/iPod Touch) allows you to sync all readings, as well as track factors that affect your glucose level, such as carbohydrate intake, activity level, and how you’re feeling. Though the cable costs $39.95 on Amazon, it’s a worthwhile investment if you plan on tracking your glucose levels over a long period of time.
I’m sure there are many other choices that work well, but this is the unit I have the most experience with, and in general it is very reliable. Another good choice is the TrueTrack meter drugstores sell under their own brand name (i.e. Walgreens, Sav-on, etc.). Other models to consider are the One Touch Ultra or one of the Accu-Chek meters. The problem with these, however, is that the test strips tend to be more expensive than the Relion Prime.
Step Two: Test Your Blood Sugar
- Test your blood sugar first thing in the morning after fasting for at least 12 hours. Drink a little bit of water just after rising, but don’t eat anything or exercise before the test. This is your fasting blood sugar level.
- Test your blood sugar again just before lunch.
- Eat your typical lunch. Do not eat anything for the next three hours.Test your blood sugar one hour after lunch.
- Test your blood sugar two hours after lunch.
- Test your blood sugar three hours after lunch.
Record the results, along with what you ate for lunch. Do this for two days. This will tell you how the foods you normally eat affect your blood sugar levels.
On the third day, you’re going to do it a little differently. On step 3, instead of eating your typical lunch, you’re going to eat 60 to 70 grams of fast acting carbohydrate. A large (8 oz) boiled potato or a cup of cooked white rice will do. For the purposes of this test only, avoid eating any fat with your rice or potato because it will slow down the absorption of glucose.
Then follow steps 4 through 6 as described above, and record your results.
Step Three: Interpret Your Results
If you recall from the last article, healthy targets for blood sugar according to the scientific literature are as follows:
| Marker | Ideal* |
| Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL) | <86 |
| OGGT / post-meal (mg/dL after 1 hour) | <140 |
| OGGT / post-meal (mg/dL after 2 hours) | <120 |
| OGGT / post-meal (mg/dL after 3 hours) | Back to baseline |
| Hemoglobin A1c (%) | <5.3 |
*To convert these numbers to mmol/L, use this online calculator.
Hemoglobin A1c doesn’t apply here because you can’t test it using a glucometer. We’re concerned with the fasting blood sugar reading, and more importantly, the one- and two-hour post-meal readings.
The goal is to make sure your blood sugar doesn’t consistently rise higher than 140 mg/dL an hour after a meal, but does consistently drop below 120 mg/dL two hours after a meal, and returns to baseline (i.e. what it was before you ate) by three hours after a meal.
There are a few caveats to this kind of testing. First, even reliable glucometers have about a 10 percent margin of error. You need to take that into account when you interpret your results. A reading of 100 mg/dL could be anything between 90 mg/dL and 110 mg/dL if you had it tested in a lab. This is okay, because what we’re doing here is trying to identify patterns—not nit-pick over specific readings.
Second, if you normally eat low-carb (less than 75g/d), your post-meal readings on the third day following the simple carbohydrate (rice or potato) challenge will be abnormally high. I explained why this occurs in the last article, but in short when you are adapted to burning fat your tolerance for carbohydrates declines. That’s why your doctor would tell you to eat at least 150g/d of carbs for three days before an OGTT if you were having that test done in a lab.
If you’ve been eating low-carb for at least a couple of months before doing the carbohydrate challenge on day three of the test, you can subtract 10 mg/dL from your one- and two-hour readings. This will give you a rough estimate of what your results would be like had you eaten more carbohydrates in the days and weeks leading up to the test.
It’s not precise, but it is probably accurate enough for this kind of testing.
Third, as I said above, an occasional spike above these targets in the context of other normal blood sugar markers is usually no cause for concern.
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Step Four: Take Action (If Necessary)
So what if your numbers are higher than the guidelines above? Well, that means you have impaired glucose tolerance. The higher your numbers are, the further along you are on that spectrum. If you are going above 180 mg/dL after one hour, I’d recommend getting some help—especially if you’re already on a carb-restricted diet. It’s possible to bring numbers that high down with dietary changes alone, but other possible causes of such high blood sugar (beta cell destruction, autoimmunity, etc.) should be ruled out.
If your numbers are only moderately elevated, it’s time to make some dietary changes. In particular, eating fewer carbs and more fat. Most people get enough protein and don’t need to adjust that.
And the beauty of the glucometer testing is that you don’t need to rely on someone else’s idea of how much (or what type of) carbohydrate you can eat. The glucometer will tell you. If you eat a bowl of strawberries and it spikes your blood sugar to 160 mg/dL an hour later, sorry to say, no strawberries for you. (Though you should try eating them with full-fat cream before you give up!) Likewise, if you’ve been told you can’t eat sweet potatoes because they have too much carbohydrate, but you eat one with butter and your blood sugar stays below 140 mg/dL after an hour, they’re probably safe for you. Of course, if you’re trying to lose weight, you may need to avoid them anyways.
You can continue to periodically test your blood sugar this way to see how you’re progressing. You’ll probably notice that many other factors—like stress, lack of sleep and certain medications—affect your blood sugar. In any case, the glucometer is one of your most powerful tools for preventing degenerative disease and promoting optimal function.
Nutrient deficiency is another critical factor to consider if you’re struggling with high blood sugar. Studies have shown that inadequate intake of vitamin D, magnesium, biotin, chromium, thiamine, choline, vitamin C, and EPA/DHA may contribute to both diabetes and obesity and that correcting these deficiencies helps to maintain normal blood sugar.A nutrient-dense, whole-foods diet should always be the foundation of how we consume nutrients. Sadly, due to declining soil quality, a growing toxic burden, and other factors in the modern world, we can no longer rely on food alone to meet all of our nutrient needs. This is where smart supplementation can play a role. I formulated Adapt Naturals to add back in what the modern world has squeezed out and provide you with all of the nutrients you need to feel and perform you best.
Better supplementation. Fewer supplements.
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A daily stack of supplements designed to meet your most critical needs.
I’ve tried several of the best selling meters and I highly recommend the CVS Advanced Glucose Meter. It’s affordable and seems to be accurate. Results are repeatable (same value when I test again using a different finger) and map up with lab test values.
The meter you recommended, added to a $40 cable, becomes expensive. The Bayer Countour Next USB is small, very accurate and can be had for $25 at Amazon. Strips are $11 for 50. Rechargeable, charge lasts for months.
I normally take a morning reading, and one before and after meals.
There is a home A1c test, called A1cNOW+, which can also be purchased at Amazon (2 or 10 tests/pack) and has shown to be very close to lab results.
Hi Chris,
I actually developed an online weekly log for my diabetes (prediabetes/type 2 primarily) clients to enter in their 4 to 5 blood sugar readings daily, all the food they eat and drinks, exercise and any stress management activities they undertake like yoga/meditation.
I say the same thing; it is a great tool to educate them about what increases or decreases their blood sugar levels. It also makes it easier for me to detect patterns and make recommendations on what foods to eliminate from their diet.
Seeing all this in writing on a weekly basis is very reinforcing!
I just bought a glucometer and did my first test. I don’t knowingly have any diseases, but I’ve had unbelievably strong sugar cravings ever since I quit drinking alcohol (I am a recovering alcoholic, one year sober). I thought these cravings would subside, but after 12 months they still haven’t. I also feel really bad energy crashes most afternoons when eating my normal American diet.
Before lunch (skipped breakfast): 81 mg/dL
1 hr after lunch: 70 mg/dL
2 hr after lunch: 85 mg/dL
3 hr after lunch: 81 mg/dL
For lunch I had a ham and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, and a big bowl of homemade apple sauce.
I was surprised to see my levels didn’t spike up, and in fact went down in that first hour. This meal didn’t result in the after-meal crash I often feel, so I will compare this to other meals in the future. But what can I make of these results? Why would I not spike up, and why would I go down in that first hour?
Thanks in advance for any help, and thanks so much for this article!
Hey TJ,
Wow – congrats on those fantastic BG readings!!! The 70 reading 1 hour after meal could have been a fluke, but staying within the 80-range is something to feel thankful for. The ham (protein) and cheese (fat) no doubt helped to maintain an even BG level. I am not diabetic, and do not want to be.
I love Chris Kresser’s wisdom and value his opinions. Please note, with this recommendation, I have no financial interest. A couple of years ago I stumbled onto Steve Cooksey’s website, http://www.diabetes-warrior.net. I just want to connect you to a man with a great story, who turned around his life and blood glucose levels, through a low carb high fat diet. He also has quite a following on FB.
I have tried this, but I didn’t find it very helpful. (Aside from the problem with the margin of error from glucose meters,)
What I discovered is that my blood glucose either goes UP a little or stays the same when I DON’T EAT. (Eating before I go to bed does NOT stop the dawn syndrome.)
My postprandials are pretty close to normal within the margin of error, unless I drink milk or happen to eat a lot of another high carbohydrate food.
My fasting glucose is pretty much the same or a little higher than my postprandials every day unless I eat a very high amount of carbohydrate. So in the day, I’m normal, and in the night/early morning I’m borderline diabetic–because the goal posts change.
Then, if I take my fasting glucose, eat a piece of cheese, and take my glucose level again in half an hour, it GOES DOWN.
I can’t cut my carbs down to ketosis levels because I get low blood sugar symptoms, especially panic attacks. (Adrenal problems.) I can’t eat fruit because I have fructose malabsorption, and I also have probably a mild case of histamine intolerance–allergies, mild asthma & atopic dermatitis. So, combining all three leaves little food left. 🙂 I mostly try to concentrate on avoiding fructose, because the gas & diarrhea are the most distressing symptoms & the blood sugar issues.
I don’t want to become paranoid about food, and I have to eat something besides maybe cucumbers, lettuce, and very fresh fish–oh wait, what about mercury?!. lol My blood sugar doesn’t follow the rules, so there really doesn’t seem to be much else I can do?
Why is there a need to do this for three days? For my pregnancy glucose test at home, could I just do 2 days (first day of normal low-carb breakfast) and the second day with white rice for breakfast to compare?
http://modernlifesurvivalist.com
Hi Chris, it’s taken me ages to find out what you have put together especially about post-prandial testing. I would love it if you had time to sift through the many valuable comments and give us a digest (there are just so many to read). Initially I did a whole series of readings and found I peaked on average around 75 mins at a significantly higher level than at 60mins. ( I am usually back at baseline in a little over two hours.) thanks Jem
Thank you Chris.
I love your proactive solution to preventing diabetes.
Most doctors will tell you you don’t need a meter because you’re not diabetic.. You kind of have to be assertive and tell them you want a prescription for the meter, that’s if you don’t want to pay out of pocket for it.
I cut out all sugar and carbs, exercise and test regularly. Now my prediabetic results are no more. Have to say the device is cheep but the strips are expensive and a wake up call if you test prediabetic.
It does get expensive buying strips when testing every day not to mention the pain of the pricker.
At the end of the day if you can turn your life and Heath around with a simple solution to prevent becoming a diabetic, it’s great.
A few months of change can = a lifetime of positive results.
Thanks Chris
I am 59 years white women. My number for the past 6 months are going all over the place. Durning the day they are anywhere from 96 to 130 after eating. When I get up in the morning it is anywhere from 176-200, why? I tried lowering the carbs to see if this works. I am on Metformin 2500 mg a day. I walk over 5000 steps aday. Job not stressful. Any other help or to why the morning numbers are high?
My Numbers are always high in the morning too- something called Dawn Phenomenon. Meant to keep blood sugars steady during the night.
Do you eat Breakfast after you test your fasting numbers. It says test before lunch but do you eat after the initial test?
Thank You
I was wondering the same thing…if we can/should eat after our initial FBG.
Hello,
If the value of blood sugar is 156 mg/dL one hour after lunch, but after two hours is lowered to 100 mg/dL. What should I do?
Have you made a list of what you eat before testing? You may have impaired glucose tolerance, but as long as it’s under 200 after you eat, you’re probably okay. Mine has hit as high as 172 after a large carb meal, but it, too, drops back to 100 or less after two hours. We’re not getting any younger, so we have to be nice to our pancreas.
I wonder if something like the new glucose monitor by Dexcom would work, it automatically monitors througho the day at 5 min intervals and sends data to your iPhone
What does it mean when your numbers stay around 70-80 all day long even after eating? Breakfast with 44 carbs boosted me up to 77 one hour later. I got above 100 once during the day, I was 125 one hour after a 52 carb lunch, then felt extremely bloated later. I feel weak and hungry and tired most of the time, feeling like I need to eat but can’t because my stomach is full.
It sounds like you are crashing to me. Carbs only last 45 minutes to 1 hour as fuel. Eating fat with your carbs will slow down the release of glucose and you should no longer have the crash.
For a light and effective boost, try 1-3 TBSP of regular peanut butter with real whipped cream. Does wonders and may actually help delay a precipitous rise in BG.
Blood sugars below 70 start to get into the HYPOglycemic range. Are you worried about your blood sugar being too low or too high?
No. I just get hungry, every now and then. When I do, the PB and whipped cream works for me. My BG is actually in the 80-90 range, rarely goes below 80, and rarely goes above 90. You may respond differently. I believe in empirical data. Test, and re-test, till you find what works and what doesn’t. “Listen” to your body. Experience beats theory every time.
That sounds perfectly normal. What is your reason to test? Why would you believe I have a problem with “empirical data”?
Hi,
Here’s a little background, I’ve had PCOS since 2003. I’ve been on and off fertility meds since 2007. I do have insulin resistance. My glucose results have never been over 120.
8/26/11 Results
OGTT fasting was 80
OGTT 1 hour was 98
OGTT 2 hour was 107
Doctor didn’t seemed worried. Fast forward to March 2014, diagnosed with candida (yeast overgrowth in digestive tract). Low carb, high protein & veggie diet, lost 50 lbs. Started clomid (fertility) and provera (synthetic progesterone) in October, Nov & Dec (no luck with pregnancy).
Had my A1c tested on January 10 2015 as well as a full PCOS panel done…
A1c is a whopping 11.8%!!!! I don’t know why, but I have a very strong feeling that this number is most definitely wrong!
After looking at all my random and fasting glucose levels from 2006 until now, they range between 88-112. Now let me explain a little about my food schedule, my husband works swing shift 5pm-530am, bedtime is 7am-2 pm, I am also in that schedule as I am a stay at home wife.
Breakfast/wake up readings
Prior-87
Breakfast- 3pm 1/2 steak sandwich, 2 egg rolls, 2 oz pepsi, 6 oz milkshake
1 hour after-120
2 hours after- 110
3 hours after- 89
Lunch- 7pm- 87
730 pm I ate Tri-tip, mashed potatoes, salad, and drank 8 oz pepsi…
830 pm- 109
930pm -100
1030pm- 88
Snack- 3am caramel popcorn, fiber one bar, tea
Prior-86
1 hour- 93
3 hour- 90
So those are just yesterdays readings and the actual full day of testing, I will continue to test. But can someone please help me understand why they are low or “normal” but my a1c is outrageously high?
Also the doctor put me on metformin 500mg in 2012 to help insulin resistance and I had to quit taking it because it would make me severely shaky, nauseous, sweaty, feel like I was going to pass out and weak. Could it be from it lowering my blood sugar to low? I did always take it with food, and within an hour or 2 I would start to feel the above symptoms. I have a call in to the doctor, waiting for call back… I appreciate any advice as to what I can do until we figure out what is truly wrong.. Thank you
How did your doctor determine you were insulin resistant? I have PCOS as well. My numbers are usually 75-85 throughout the day. I ate 60g worth of carbs of bananas and could only get my BS up to 120, and returned to normal about an hour later. So it’s seemingly normal numbers. Your initial numbers seem pretty normal as well, so how did insulin resistance get diagnosed?
Honestly I have no idea… I just know that in 2006 is when they told me I was insulin resistant. Possible blood test, yet I can’t find what test they used. I’ve been looking at all my results and nothing is popping up… My numbers are still normal, but a1c is high. My doctor called today and he wants to do another 2 hour glucose test, I also have an endocrinologist appointment the same day I see my ob/gyn. So until February 19th I will continue to test my blood sugars so the endocrinologist has something to look at… I’m just confused as to why the a1c is so outrageously high. If I can find the test the use to test for insulin resistance I will let you know…
iirc anemia can make A1c read falsely high. Pardon me for asking, but do you have very heavy menstrual periods, and when the doctor checked your A1c did they also do a CBC (complete blood count)?
They based ‘insulin resistant’ of ac1. But with your numbers that doesn’t make sense.
Ac1 is the amount of sugar on blood – assuming your blood lives 90 days. But blood actually ranges from 87 to 140 days. Less if you are a diabetic, and longer if you are lower on the blood sugar end. Which you are.
Request a fructosamine test instead.
Been having dry mouth, thirsty and constantly urinating for the last month and a half, so checked my bg yesterday at drug store. First reading 547, second reading 529. Pharmacist very nervous and constantly asked me to go to my doctor. No insurance. I did a fast for 10 hours and took an a1c test at the same pharmacy the next day, 12.9%. Had salad for lunch waited 1hr did a accu check bg test, 278. All this in 36 hours. Background, in the last 5 month’s had a baby boy, got married and business partner embezzled money from me and now I’m on vacation in Michigan, currently around 4°, super stressed about money. My readings seem to be all over the board. Could the stress be affecting my readings that much? Or stress and diet together? My diet has been worst cause my wife is mid west so more meat and potatoes and I’m Asian, more used to little protein and lots of veggies. Any and all input would great, Thx
U need to take immediate action, to prevent irreversible damage to ur body. U need a doctor to give prescription, for immediate effect. Long term, think diet of ur ancestors and exercise, to prevent further damage to body. I spent ton of time reading net, and it helped immensely. Knowledge is power.
Jenga, those are the numbers of a Type 1 Autoimmune Diabetic. Diet alone will not help because if that is what you are your Beta (insulin producing cells) and dying. You cannot produce the insulin you need. If Type 1 you will need exogenous insulin. Please see an Endocrinologist ASAP.
Don’t be scared Jenga, just go to the doctor
I have enjoyed reading the articles that Chris publishes; and so, i wanted to give back to this community. I have not read the comments in this blog, so this maybe repeat information. FDA requires only 95% of the results to be within 20% of the real blood glucose level. This explains why my ReliOn meter would give 125 and 145 for blood drawn from the same spot, within 20 seconds of each other, following all the guidelines that ReliOn publishes. 20 point (or even 40 point) difference in readings (from the same site, within seconds of each other) is still considered acceptable by FDA standards (assuming that 100 is the actual blood glucose level).
So, the take-away is that, we don’t have to bother about reads too much, unless the reading is much different from what you expect (from your experience), at that given moment. Also note that BG level varies from finger to finger, moment to moment. ReliOn Confirm is acceptable to me, because i am not diabetic, and i accept the wide difference in readings at times. I will use few strips, if i wanted an average.
What bothers me more are the studies that indicate that “test strips on the market” do not follow the FDA standards. Once a glucometer is accepted by FDA, there is no oversight on the quality of test strips. So, we have test strips in the market, that vary by more than 20% from the actual BG level. There is no telling how bad they are, until you start seeing unexpected results, consistently, and they are all wrong.
Dear Sam,
Thank you for your last post!!!! Though not diabetic, I do have hypothyroidism so am closely monitoring my sugar levels. I wondered why my readings were all over the place. Thank you for your explanation.
Until the FDA adopts stricter standards, the 20% variation must be accounted for. Here’s more detail on just how inaccurate some meters are; at the same time, notice the rate at which some meters are accurate within 5% variation.
http://www.diabeteseducator.org/export/sites/aade/_resources/pdf/research/Practice_Advisory_BGM_FINAL.pdf
Here’s my experience to confirm the issue. I have used multiple Nova Max Plus meters because they also measure ketones (I wanted a dual meter). I have found the variation with all brand new units with new non-expired genuine strips stored properly to be much wider than the Precision Xtra that I now use (it also measures ketones.) The Nova Max Plus is often 20+ mg/dL higher than what is determined to be the probable lab result (my best estimate based on my understanding of my glucose control and reference with some lab draws.) Not only is the Precision Xtra more accurate for me, the variation range is much narrower; I’ve done several side-by-side triple-strip tests with each.
Before I realized this, it made the difference in fasting glucose being well over 100 mg/dL in some cases. Now I’ve adjusted how I use the data returned by a blood glucose meter. Combining it with the occasional lab, I can get what I want from the meter even knowing that it is always going to be inaccurate to some degree.
I suspect a few things:
1. Different meters may be more accurate for different people. You may have to try several and correlate with lab results if you want best accuracy for you.
2. It may be best to use those with higher blood sample requirements. It’s trading inconvenience for accuracy.
Nova Max Plus: .3 microliter
Precision Xtra: .6 microliter (far more accurate for me)
I did the 4 day glucometer test and I’m so confused. For a bit of background, my dad was a LADA diabetic dx’ed in his mid 30s. I’m having some symptoms so decided to monitor a bit. Here are the #s:
Day 1: fasting 12h:98
Prior to lunch: 95
Bagel w/cream cheese & mocha
1h: 125
2h: 143
3h: 101
Day 2: fasting 12h:85
Prior to lunch: 94
Fried foods and a Dr Pepper
1hr: 143
2h: 150
3h: 109
Day 3: fasting 12h: 88
Forgot prior to…
Salad w/apple cider dressing & cup chicken noodle soup
1hr:181
2h: 117
3h: 74 (boy did that feel horrid)
Day 4: fasting 12h: 89
Prior to lunch: 92
Boiled potatoes
1h: 103
2h: 87
Help?? Thanks
A comparison of my Reli On prime meter with my accu- chek meter showed a 25 pt difference! The difference between normal and pre-diabetic. I am not diabetic and only use a meter to gauge my reaction to food. So glad I compared as I was horrified to see high readings. The accu-chek compares best with my A1c and last fasting glucose, all of which are normal. Very scary. Had I been diabetic, it would be dangerous to rely on the Reli On, it’s not so cheap after all.
Hi Chris, I just discovered your site and I am thrilled to see someone take on health issues, and not just tote the party line. I am in a pickle. I am 48 years old with some Autoimmue thyroid issues, Ulcertive colitis since 20, and now sicca syndrome and UCTD.
About 2 years ago my endo did a battery of test on me because of symptoms, and one of the tests was a GAD antibody. Also the A1C and Cpeptide, GAD was positive 36, cpep was low at .77, but A1C was 4.6. At the time it was a watch and wait deal. Now my blood sugars when I wake are in the high 80’s to 100, and post meal goes 129 to 180 at 1 hour and then 120 to 84 2 to 3 hours.
My doctor is not calling me as diabetic yet. He said if anything I would go type 1.5 and I would know because when it happens I will need insulin. He said the tests he done is usually for type 1 and 1.5. Am I destined to get insulin dependent diabetes, or can the test be wrong and my other conditions be the cause? He also said there is no diet that will prevent type 1 or 1.5 that its not a lifestyle induced diabetes, but a autoimmune condition. I am starting to lose hope.
Could you give us a general idea of what you eat for a usual meal?
Yes Beverly, I am just starting to break away from junk foods and processed microwave dinners. I am active rather sedentary. It odd because I was a runner before getting sick 5 years ago, and did gymnastics growing up.
I am not really over weight 5’4 127, BMI 22. I just dont have any energy since getting these problems so I pop things in the microwave for convenience. And high carbs are the bulk. I dont live anywhere there is a lot of choice, we have one store for 70 miles, and I dont drive.
Meant to say*not active* rather sedentary
You might really enjoy this, Diana. The autoimmune thyroiditis is probably at the bottom of all of it. Just found this and it blew my mind, even though I’ve been reading about Hashimoto’s for a couple of years now.
http://www.nahypothyroidism.org/event/17-years-ahead-with-kent-holtorf-md-the-truth-about-thyroid/
Hi Chris,
Recently I have become a low-fat raw vegan. I understand that it is quite common for people on this diet to eat a lot of bananas, even 15 to 20 in a day. On a few occasions, I ate 7 medium (about 7″ to 7.5″ long) or 9 small ( 6″ to 7″ long) bananas for lunch. I checked my sugar before and after meal using a Relion glucose meter. Here are my readings:
Day 1 – meal of kale banana smoothie with 7 bananas (base: 95, 1hr: 156, 2hr: 124, 3hr: 75)
Day 2 – meal of kale banana smoothie with 9 bananas (base: 98, 1hr: 181, 2hr: 134, 3hr: 115)
Day 3 – meal of kale banana smoothie with 8 bananas (base: 89, 1hr: 160, 2hr: 127, 3hr: 90)
Day 4 – breakfast of spinach banana smoothie with 4 bananas (base: 92 (fasting), 1hr: 135, 2hr: 123, 3hr: 84)
So when I eat more bananas, my post-meal 1st and 2nd hour readings are more than your thresholds of 140 and 120 respectively. But my blood sugar returns to, or quite close to, the base reading within or shortly after 3 hours. Is this fine? Or you think that the blood sugar should ALWAYS be within 140 after 1hr and ALWAYS within 120 after 2hr mark?
If latter, I will have to eat fewer bananas, say only 4 bananas for a meal. Thus, I will have to split my 8-banana meal into 2 meals of 4 bananas each. I typically eat 3 meals a day. But if I split my banana meal, then on that day, I’ll have 4 meals.
What do you suggest?
Thanks,
Dicky
Dickey.
Eat low glycemic index fruit like berries, apples, pears, peaches.
I would avoid more that 1 banana per meal.
Flax oil, walnut oil and olive oil are okay to eat. You need some healthy fat in your diet. Too many carbs can be a problem.
James,
Thanks for your comment. But I would like to stick to high-carb (low-fat) diet for the time being, until I see any adverse effects. I do consume some nuts and seeds but the quantity is very low (say either 2 walnuts or 2 almonds a week). I do eat other fruits as well including those you mentioned. With 3 meals of fruits a day, I have to eat 20 meals of fruits in a week, and so I must eat bananas to get enough calories and stop losing my weight.
Chris, do you think the temporary blood sugar spike is a problem when I consume 7-8 bananas for a meal and considering that it comes down to base level in 3 hours. Otherwise, I am, in my opinion, an healthy individual.
Thanks,
Dicky
Dicky: You sound like a monkey! =) How’s it going? I can’t imagine eating like that. Apart from the fact I don’t really like bananas, that’s a huge amount to cram in for a meal!!