Confused?? Blood sugar still high??

[DocMarianne]

When I started Atkins my fasting sugar was 170-220 (Bad). I'm not on meds. After 7 weeks of <20 carbg/day my average is 135-150. It is an improvement, but why doesn't it drop lower if I'm not eating carbs? If I eat, my post meal will be 105-120. Just my fasting number sucks. My doc ordered a new A1C/lipids etc to see where I am. I ended up fasting for 17 hours before the test and even did cardio. My number (finger prick) was 136. I don't know my fasting yet or A1C by the lab. I'm getting very discouraged. When I was on a typical high sugar diet 3-4 months ago my fasting level was 105. Is it because we are not eating carbs we have low insulin and hence higher fasting sugar? I'm so confused and the weight loss is so slow. Only 11 lbs in 7 weeks, the first 7 lbs the 1st week. I do cardio 5-6 days/week.

[imagood1]

My doctor changed my evening meds so I take double what I did before because my fasting numbers were so much higher than my afternoon numbers. I find that if I eat a small snack before dinner my fasting numbers are better than if I don't eat anything.

I wrote this to you in the induction area, but in case you didn't see it I'll tell you again. I was diagnosed Type 2 last June - my A1C at the time was 10.3 and I was immediately put on 5/500 glyb/metformin in the morning and 500 metformin at bedtime. After my fasting numbers were still too high in December she changed my evening metformin to 1000 mg.

It will take time for your numbers to come down and stay there - it doesn't happen overnight. Don't be surprised if your lipid panel comes back higher than it was the last time you had one done....the one I had done last week did - and I have been eating this way since January. I'm hoping when I have my next lipid panel done in 2 months my numbers will be better.

[sweeten09]

I have been trying to get off my insulin. My AlC 5.8 but I am still on 1500 metaformin a day, down from 2000. I now take only 2.1/2 glyburide before dinner, down from 10mg. I only take insulin if my BS is over 100 at night. I watch that figure closely because it is my judgement wether to take the Lantus or not. I have been reduced to 24U from 34U. I have been on this diet since January and have lost 14 pounds. I found that the last 2 pounds I lost were because I lowered my daily carbs from 20 to 10. It is hard to adjust my calories but I tried to do Fitday before the day starts.

I will say that exercise, although it is very little, 1 mile a day, brings my bs during the day back to normal ranges. These are the new changes to my schedule. I will keep this schedule until I reach another level of Rung 1.

[ziggy]

Originally Posted by DocMarianne

When I started Atkins my fasting sugar was 170-220 (Bad). I'm not on meds. After 7 weeks of <20 carbg/day my average is 135-150. It is an improvement, but why doesn't it drop lower if I'm not eating carbs? If I eat, my post meal will be 105-120. Just my fasting number sucks. My doc ordered a new A1C/lipids etc to see where I am. I ended up fasting for 17 hours before the test and even did cardio. My number (finger prick) was 136. I don't know my fasting yet or A1C by the lab. I'm getting very discouraged. When I was on a typical high sugar diet 3-4 months ago my fasting level was 105. Is it because we are not eating carbs we have low insulin and hence higher fasting sugar? I'm so confused and the weight loss is so slow. Only 11 lbs in 7 weeks, the first 7 lbs the 1st week. I do cardio 5-6 days/week.

dont worry even though the weight loss is slow Atkins is the best way

but also know its harder for type 2 diabetics to lose weight or even pre diabetics for a number of reasons there meds and cause they take insulin meds and insulin is also a fat storing hormone

but low carb requires alot less insulin cause theres no toxic blood sugar spikes that require large amounts of insulin to fix so low carb Atkins is the best way to go

so keep working towards becomeing drug free and also try doing full body muscle work outs not just cardio

[imagood1]

because of the fact we all take diabetes medicine we will loose slower - it's a fact of life. Our weight didn't get out of control overnight -- we didn't "become" diabetic overnight -- this isn't going to happen overnight for us either.

I would love for the weight to fall off like some people I read about -- I am one of the "welcome wagon" ladies who greet new members on a daily basis. I answer their questions, I pat them on the back when they have lost 20 - 30 pounds because I'm truly happy for them. After I do my job I go back to my life ... the one where I struggle to loose each pound - where I chart each piece of food I put in my mouth, where I ride the stationary bike 25 miles a day, walk 2 - 3 miles a day and exercise through a DVD for 30 minutes.

Every so often I go back a few rungs to see if there is anything differently I can do, foods I can add or get need to rid of. Each day is a struggle but also a Godsend because I know each day I am getting healthier and I'm not the person I was yesterday or the day I started this journey.

Patience....that's what it takes - there is no magic bullet to health - it's hard work!

[JohnC]

I have the same situation. It's called the Dawn Phenomenon. This theory is explained by Dr. Bernstein, a Type I diabetic himself. He said, "The Dawn Phenomenon is where the liver deactivates more circulating insulin during the early morning than at other times of the day. With inadequate circulating insulin to prevent gluconeogenesis, your blood sugars may be higher in the morning than at bedtime." I highly suggest you get his books on diabetes, they are fantastic. You can get them through Amazon.com. Hope this explains it for you.

[Evansmom49]

Same thing for me. I find that if I eat a small snack (a piece of cheddar or a hard boiled egg) before bed, my morning fasting numbers are always lower.

Good luck!