taking a blood sugar reading

[historyteach]

I'm a pre-diabetic right now, and trying to keep from becoming another type 2 diabetic with diet and exercise. I'll admit, I'm much better with the exercise than the diet! LOL!

Anyway, I took my blood sugar reading yesterday for the first time by myself. It was @2 hours after eating lunch. On Saturday, lunch is a brunch type gathering at the Temple. I had -1/2 pumpernickel bagel with a cream cheese and salmon spread. - coffee with low fat milk - 1/4 of a gooey muffin, (I couldn't resist! ) - 1/4 cup of fresh fruit. - some type of baked apple with granola and cinamon.

The blood sugar reading was 103. Doc said she wanted it below 140 after 2 hours after eating. So, I guess that means I did good! Breakfast today was a cup of oatmeal and a cup of coffee with milk.

Anyone want to share? Give me hints? Got some tips? By the way, it took me about 20 minutes to work up the nerve to stick myself with the needle!

Thanks for any imput....
And is anyone else here pre-diabetic?

Shalom!

[ladyamalthea]

I too am prediabetic. I need to be testing my blood sugar, but I haven't been doing so well with that lately. I don't even know where my test taker thingy is at the moment, probably packed away somewhere since I wasn't expecting my stuff to be in storage this long

103 is a great reading though, as anything under 100 is considered "normal," or non prediabetic, which means you are probably pretty darn close to accomplishing your goal of avoiding diabetes. Or at least you're well on your way, which is awesome.

Are you taking anything to regulate your blood sugar?

[historyteach]

No, I am not taking any meds.
I am exercising 3-6 times a week; walking and/or swimming.
And I'm trying to be careful with what I'm eating. I've lost almost 30 pounds now! It's been a few months, though, so, as you can see, it's a pound or two a week. Very "doable."

I didn't know under 100 was "normal." :
She just told me she wanted it under 140.
I had blood work done last week, and it should be in Monday - tomorrow. I can't WAIT to see it now!!! :>)
I really thought that the lunch I had was "bad" and that it was going to be a high reading, lol! I sure do not understand this stuff yet!

Thanks for the feedback.... :>)

Shalom!

[mikel60]

Hiya Historyteach,
I'm Mike and a diabetic. I teach history (well, Civics this year) as well. I've seen you around the forums. I'd kill for a 103 two hours after eating. Normal is 80-120. I find exercise to be very effective. Sometimes a good walk or hike can drop my blood sugar right down to where it should be. That can be as much as 100 points at times. Weight lifting can raise my bs though. Nice work and good luck on the blood work. School starts next week here in Boston - I can hardly wait. Mike

[ScootinScooter]

OK.. I am a type II diabetic my doctor has stated that the national average for normal blood sugar is 70 - 140 He does not like my sugar to go over 180 mine goes up and down.. regretfully I am overweight and that is a long long story..anyone else have diet problems like me? right now it is 372 ( yes that is very high.. very) but it has been as low as 65 and yes getting sweaty and feeling dizzy to me has been a sign of low blood sugar. I am currently on a pill called Glucovance that helps regulate my insulin levels.. but it depends on me and my dietary input. It is extremely hard to stay away from sugars.. even with natural sugars in most everything.. much less added ones... examples are : Corn Starch/ Corn Syrup and such.. if you read most labels the predominate item is listed first and so on. It is a constant struggle but a winnable one. It truly is your mindset and changing that mindset that makes a difference. My problem is I win then I lose.. over and over. I agree with Mike a good walk around a block can lower my readings by 60 - 80 points.

[ananda]

Hi - I'm diabetic too. So far I have found that when I tracked my blood sugar I could see patterns in eating that were more likely to raise the levels. My understanding from class was that there are some variences between people.

They put me on meds, but it caused me to have way to low readings (it's really scarry). When I was diagnosed I was still drinking.

My understanding from my physisian is that my diabitis was probably caused by my pancreatitis and that for that kind it is not uncommon to not be able to sucessfully take meds as the lows happen pretty baddly...and that diet was the best option.

the goal I was given was 120 one and one half to two hours after a meal. Right now I am running too high on a regular basis because after quiting drinking I became a huge sugar addict I'm just starting to work on that using a thread on here for no obvious sweets work.

The sticking myself doesn't really bother me and didn't after the first few times. I go in for my a1c ??? tomarrow (3 mos average). Sorta think I'll fail it, but ready to start dealing more effectively with diet now.

[ScootinScooter]

And btw I have quit drinking beer in over 1 year now but it is also noted that when i did drink my blood sugar readings never ever went up..no mater how much I drank (go figure) At any rate... good luck all and keep in mind... truly its up to you and no one else. Only you can make a difference in your life.:

[ananda]

HIstory - hope the sticking part is getting easier. Let us know how you are doing.

[Rohwen]

Hi, I am type 1 diabetic so I have been doing the sticking my whole life. What kinda meter do you have? If you get one that does readings on your arm rather than your fingers it makes it much easier and less painful. Once I switched to an arm meter I could never go back.

[historyteach]

I had a med check with the doc a few weeks ago. He asked about if he should do a reading or not. I told him the last time I weighed in, I had lost weight; the last time my sugar was checked, it was "normal" and that I had lost a bit more weight again since then. So, he checked my weight chart, and decided that he didn't need to check my sugar!!!!
I know he will when I go for my yearly physical. But, this was really thrilling cuz, he's a fabulous doc, and takes *nothing* to chance. So, he's confident that what I'm doing is working, or he *would* have checked it!

I haven't been doing my readings now for quite some time. I've just been focused on losing weight. Still losing, but, *very* slowly. I'm out in the garden now, so, getting back into good exercise. I wasn't allowed to exercise this past winter due to a medical issue. Thank goodness that's over with!

Hope all is well with you.

Shalom!