... etc). Been doing a low carb diet but still seeing a high fasting number in the morning of 170 or so. I take 1000 mg of metformin at night with dinner. I do drink lots of crystal light can that be the cause of my raised blood sure?
Diabetes, Type 2 - I have cut out all breads, flours, sugar, bad starches (corn,potatoes, rices?
Question posted by Momof3mjd on 23 Sep 2014
Last updated on 3 October 2014
Answers
I don't know the sweetener in crystal light, but it will raise blood sugars. There are recent articles on these sweeteners. For example aspartame definitely raises blood sugars. Sucrose is sugar. Saccharine raises sugars.
What you are not doing is eating a balanced diet. I suggest you see the dietician. Diet control is based on proportions. It is fat to protein to carbs ratio. There is less blood sugar raising with half a teaspoon of sugar than using most artificial sweeteners. As Kaismama says, water is essential. I have no artificial anything. I watch my diet by eating small servings four times per day with that balance of protein to fat to carbohydrates.
It is suggested to eat activated yogurt or take acidophilus pills to redo your intestinal bacteria. Turns out that artificial sweeteners kill our good bacteria and a different one comes to replace it that digests the artificial sweeteners. That doesn't help us a bit. And don't forget that alcohol will raise your sugars quickly. Diabetics really shouldn't drink.
Forgot to add that artificial sweeteners can make a person insulin insensitive. This is becoming common and needs to be reviewed by an endocrinologist.
You should drink allot of water. It isn't only carbs that can raise your blood sugar and the fact that its up after you haven't eaten in a while says its something other then carbs doing that. All foods can raise your blood sugar, its just that carbs hit your blood stream faster. Fats and proteins take longer to metabolize. Everything we eat eventually turns to sugar We have to also be aware of calories, because of those things we don't think turns to sugar. And stay away from things that say dietetic or no sugar. The biggest laugh in the grocery store is sugar-free jelly, that fruit has more sugar in it, and in the form that goes straight into our blood stream.
I really have only been eatting meat and veggies (green veggies and cauliflower) plus lettuce. I have not had any fruits in 2 weeks. My doctor suggested I try adding another 500 of metformin in the morning so going to try tomorrow and see how it goes. Since going low carb I have lost 10 lbs and try to exercise 3 times a week at least. All the sites I have been reading say I can have crystal light. I drink about 3 liters a day of water and crystal light. What do you think could keep it raised at fasting levels?
absolutely! Fruits will raise your blood sugar. While fruits are a needed nutrient, they need to be taken in in moderation as well. Carrots are a surprising source of sugar too. Learn to read labels. Look for carb content, calories and "high calorie vs. low nutrition" If something has a lot of empty calories, cut it from your diet or eat in moderation. Some condiments and non sweet cereals have a lot of "hidden" sugar. People often dont think of them because they dont taste sweet. It can help to keep a "food diary" and note what you are eating when your sugars are higher and then limit those foods.
I really have only been eatting meat and veggies (green veggies and cauliflower) plus lettuce. I have not had any fruits in 2 weeks. My doctor suggested I try adding another 500 of metformin in the morning so going to try tomorrow and see how it goes. Since going low carb I have lost 10 lbs and try to exercise 3 times a week at least. All the sites I have been reading say I can have crystal light. I drink about 3 liters a day of water and crystal light. What do you think could keep it raised at fasting levels? I have not eaten anything procesed in 3 weeks all fresh veggies and meat.
Lokk at any salad dressings you may use. some of them are surprisingly hing in sugars. I think Crystal Light is okay but you should be drinking more plain water than crystal light. It may help you to add the extra metformin.
You are doing well that you have lost weight! Add a evening walk if you dont already.
Look for ingredients like sucrose, dextrose, fructose etc because these are other words for sugar.
It is amazing it did go down from the two hundreds fasting so it has lowered to 160 to 170 for fasting . I will keep watching it and see if adding another 500 mg will help lower it more. Thanks for the advice looking for the hidden sugars.
I truly only eat, Eggs, fish, red meat, turkey and chicken. I put my seasonings that have no sugar in them. Also do a low carb dressing with less then 2 g of sugar in it. I also only have eaten veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and onions and spaghetti squash no other squash, don't even eat carrots anymore. And eat lots of lettuce 2 cups lunch and 2 cups dinner.
So here is my meal plan.
Breakfast- peppers and onions with 2 to 3 eggs with cheese
Snack-- piece of cheese. Or 11 almonds
Lunch-- 2 cups lettuce--- some protein like chicken or turkey-- and some dressing. (usually make a nice salad-- if I eat it as taco salad I use homemade salsa that has no sugar added) and I add veggies like cauliflower or broccoli
Snack-- cheese or nuts or slices of lunch meat
Dinner is just like lunch
And if hungry at night will do lunch meat or nuts or cheese. But most night full so don't need a snack.
Maybe this will help if someone also went on a low carb diet and sugar levels still high.
Sounds like you are eating right. You just needed a dose adjustment. Everyone is different on how much drug they respond to. Another thing, if your sugars are controlled and all of a sudden they jump high and you havent changed your diet, look for infection somewhere because often it is a signal there is a stressor on the body somewhere when your blood sugar elevates out of nowhere
Drugs like steroids can also make your sugars jump. If you get a steroid shot in a joint or whatever or if they give you a course of steroids, you'll see your sugars jump.
Ketchup is loaded with salt and sugar. Its a bad ones for me.
Related topics
diabetes, type 2, metformin, diet
Further information
- Metformin uses and safety info
- Metformin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Metformin (detailed)
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