Good Morning.

Just a quick fly through this morning.

Welcome Leann.
I too am new to this.

What do all of you consider a good BG when you wake up? I'm not sure if mine is good or bad @ 6.8.

It depends on where you have been and where you are going. A "NORMAL" fasting blood sugar in in the 4's or low 5's at worst. (non-diabetic). If it is often higher for you, and you are getting lower, its good if you are getting better (lower) numbers. It is relatively high, but at least not over 7.
Check out blood sugar 101 and diabetes for dummies for more professional opinions

Rosebud Thanks for the welcome and the suggestion of the whole grain crackers and cheese. I will have to get some crackers. I have some in the cupboard but they are probably stale they have been in there so long but I will check as they are in a sealed glass jar. I did try a piece of low carb whole wheat bread with a smear of miracle whip and a piece of cheese last night and this morning fasting was 112. Not the greatest but better than the 122 the day before. Will try this and let you know how it works. I have also changed my workout time from mornings to about 4pm after work now. So I don't know if that would help any or not. Sorry for the rambling.

Lindyloo Thanks for the welcome too.......

Everyone has been so friendly and helpful. I have been watching your chat for about the past 2-3 weeks and I'm so glad I joined in.

Thanks for making me feel welcome
Leann

THANKS, RUTH ~ ya, I do have one on top of my fridge (well, I move it down when I use it); and now you got me thinking of what I could make in it. That's a good idea and we do have a porch too ... :)

THANKS, MAD ~ I appreciate the encouragement; have been doing very well as of late ... think I'm winning the battle right now. Have been finding lots of good foods to eat that are low in calories, so have been able to eat lots and yet still stay on plan! :cheer2:

LEANN ~ changing the time of your exercise may help your sugars stay in balance; have you added in hand-weights yet? They are supposed to be able to increase your metabolism over the day ... you could do those in the AM (every other day) and the other exercises later on as you planned.

LINDYLOO ~ you are on the cusp, but still under that 7.0 or 112 mark; that is considered OK, but your goal may be to get down into the 5's. If I go down into the 4's, I feel woozy; so that is too low for me. I feel best in the 5.0 to 5.3 range; but I don't get too upset if it goes to the higher fives. When it slips into the sixes like it did for you; I take a closer look at what I am eating to see if I can get it back down ie have a lighter snack at night and so on. I find if I have protein, fat, and a bit of complex carb that my numbers are good. And a small cheddar cheese snack at night can bring it right down to 5.0 by the next morning ... I found that I must have an evening snack or I get dizzy in the middle of the night (at 3 am).

Went up town today to run errands and pick up a few groceries; so got some walking in today -- did the perimeter thing today. I packed up a couple dozen baggies of Rhubarb for the freezer, and we hope to go out blueberry picking this week coming up as it is supposed to be a bit cooler. They are setting things up for our SUMMERFEST & BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL today; saw the tents as we went through town by the lakes.

Just noticed that it was :rain: ing outside just now as I was closing up our front door. Good for the garden. Have a fantastic Friday tomorrow folks ... Rosebud :flow1:

I made yesterday a more carb day according to diet doctors give diabetic and call it low carb. Checked BS before and after each time I ate. Very definitely CANNOT eat all those carbs as my after BS was in the low 200s. So I decided to do Atkins Induction again starting this morning. I have only read Dr. Atkins' wife's website and have his book. I decided to check out the New Atkins website and they tell how to do induction so I shouldn't experience the Atkins flu and tiredness I usually feel on Induction. So I'm back on Atkins plan as of this morning. Guess I've proved that carbs are my problem and I like the way Atkins teaches you how to add the carbs slowly till you reach your carb limit and still lose weight. I really think Atkins and SBD isn't that different. Also I'll use food and save my protein powder for snacks or emergencies only.

Got my blood drawn yesterday and will get results next Friday. I am headed out this morning to Walmart to pick up prescription and a few Atkins friendly foods. Got my plan and committed.

Y'all have a great day.

I bought the new Atkins book today when I was at Walmart. I think it is a great addition to Dr. Atkins' book. It really helps me understand exactly what is going on with my body and how the blood glucose works. It is very clear to me as to how my body reacts to starchy carbs and that I have no other choice but to do low carb... may as well be Atkins. Had nothing but low carb foods today and the BS is coming back down. I don't think I need to do all the testing any more that I've been doing. Just my FBS and maybe 1 time 2 hours after main meal. The book confirms what my daughter told me the last time we talked. Her significant other is diabetic on insulin. As we were getting ready to hang up she said, "Hey Mama, you know that greens brings your blood sugar down". So now my salads are made mostly with raw greens instead of lettuce and then the regular veggies I put in my salads making it a really great fiber salad. I told Hubby that I don't want to eat out any where during this 2 weeks of Induction. I just don't want anything to mess up what I'm doing.

Have a great weekend Everybody!!!

TRISH ~ I have the New Atkins Revolution book here too; and have read most of it for a second time recently just to get some more tips. Yes, there is a lot of explanation in the book. I don't have to follow the plan as strictly as you do, but it was interesting nevertheless. Hope the 2 week induction works out well for you. Let us know how it goes ... :)


It was very :hot: and humid here today; so I just stayed home and did stuff indoors with the A/C and de-humidifier on (spoiled, eh?). We had homemade wg submarines for our Friday Fun Meal; had sliced tomato and lots of lettuce on mine with the lean meats only. These are partial buns -- 8 inches, I think (not a long as the commercial ones). Great idea for a :hot: day too ... :D

Have a wonderful weekend, folks ... Rosebud :flow1:

Trish, thats great. Yes, once your sugars are doing better, most people will test just periodically. My doc suggested once a day, but do at diff times, so fasting once or twice a week, pc after each meal once a week, bedtime once a week. see if there is pattern or test more often if you are making changes, (like adding carbs back).
I have the new book too, but a lot of the atkins thread people don't like it. I don't like them using the bars and drinks as part of it. WOuld recommend you exchange those meals with other acceptable meals.
Its great to find your right stuff tho.

Fatmad - Thanks for the suggestion. When I saw the bars and shakes used on the website, I decided that I would not use the Atkins bars or shakes. I have the protein powder that I bought a few weeks ago and will only use it in an emergency. From what I read from the low carb/Atkins thread here at 3fc, the shakes and I assume the bars as well only slows down or halts weight loss. So I will be using actual food for meals and snacks.

I had seen the book at Walmart a few times and wouldn't buy it because I had Dr. Atkins book that had been recommended on 3fc thread. However, today I picked it up and it said that things that had been changed because of things learned scientifically. I guess I got it more out of curiosity. I'm actually glad I got it. For me, I'm not really changing what Dr. Atkins book said, I just seem to better understand his reasons for everything. As Rosebud said, there are some good tips in it. I really like the fact that one of the success stories is about a 64 y/o woman since I will be 67 in a couple of weeks. At my age, I always wonder how things work for people around my age or older. Younger people lose better. I think that is why Ruth has been such an inspiration to me.

I thank all of you guys for helping me with everything and encouraging me. I finally feel I have a chance to control of the situation. Feels really good to finally have hope. All the things I did to correct this years ago wasn't working this time.

Patty, I agree that the diet doctors prescribe is way too high carb. My own doc is a convert to lower carb but is not having much luck with his dietitian who is still pushing OJ and corn flakes when she does workshops with diabetics! Yes, this thing is manageable even when you get older - in fact it should be easier as we are more mature! :rofl:

I am debating taking a week off from FBGL testing on my vacation. My only concern is going too low but could stop that by dropping the evening glyburide. Opinions? I guess I should do the mature thing and stick to the usual. It's not like I need to take 5 pounds of testing paraphernalia along!

Today is another challenging day with lunch at the Diner of vegetarian pizza. My cousin is bringing three friends, Rajiv, Gauri and Dhruv, to introduce them to Canadian culture so I though Bob's Diner would do the trick. :) Tomorrow is the exact opposite with a lah-dee-dah brunch down at the Lake with the local dignitaries - another challenge as they will be serving Mimosas and Bloody Caesars. I'll stick with Bloodless Caesars.

On we go into a healthy weekend.

Do you a fasting sugar every am? I do mine twice a week unless I am getting odd numbers or making changes to my diet.
And is the doc ok with you making med changes on your own?

Trish, most dietitians just don't get the lower carb thing, neither does mine, tho she accepts me doing my own thing, but I worry about the damage that happens to others, and they take more and more insulin or other meds to control their sugars instead of using diet.
I have a friend (my administrators husband) who simply cannot control his sugars at all without atkins. Has never had any control for years until he did atkins, and yet his doc and dietitian keep telling him about the "dangers" of that fad diet! Not about the dangers of uncontrolled blood sugars, resulting in a severe neuropathy and foot ulcers, and two small amputations? He is up the carb ladder and can handle about 80-100g carbs/day with good healthy carbs like nuts and beans, even a bit of rye cracker most days. What is unhealthy and faddish about that?

Today my fasting was fine at 5.1 and my weight is true to ticker after being at the cottage for 10 days, so I am doing alright. I am a little worried about next week, I will be in Quebec and need a lot of wine to make my french better. LOL, and trying to explain my diet will be fun, but hey, its family.

have a nice weekend everyone.

Although I don't agree with everything in The Diabetic Bible book I order, I have learned a lot about diabetes and how it works. I am sure I am a Syndrome X as well. I learned that my liver doesn't see insulin so it thinks I need more so it throws it out into my blood system thus the higher morning FBS and the Metformin is supposed to help the liver to stop sending out so much insulin that my body doesn't need. I also learned that many times when a person has clots as DH did that he is a diabetic but it just hasn't shown up yet. It usually shows up after the clots happen like his did. I also learned that by taking control myself and being the manager of my diet and exercise that it all can be reversed or controlled and that all the complications that diabetics used to experience doesn't have to ever happen. However, they say the key is that we have to face the fact that we have diabetes; do not deny that we have it and work to get rid of it or work to prevent if you know it is in your family. Great news. All the knowledge is out there to help us that they didn't have when Tony's first wife died from the complications of it. I am so thankful that we know so much more now. And I am grateful for this thread where we can help and encourage each other.

Ruth The part I didn't agree with in the book is they do push the thought that a carb is a carb... no such thing as good/bad carbs. Thanks for the encouragment and the chuckle I got from us being more mature as we get older. lol You are so cute. Hope things go well with your eating out with friends etc.

Fatmad I know what you mean. Not only diabetics, but I have a niece who has PCOS and I read that they need to take care of their blood sugar because they will eventually have diabetes if they don't. Too many doctors go by the old ways and think if the blood sugar is in the range mine is right now that they are not diabetic. I'm convinced that it runs in my family, I just don't think they recognized it before. In fact, I remember how I felt when I was a teenager and the all through the years. I was probably what they thought was okay, but I was pre-diabetic and they didn't know about that then. I can't believe that so many doctors and dieticians cannot see what starchy carbs do to a diabetic.

Oh, another thing I think I have discovered after reading the book and testing with the 2 hr after meals... I think I'm lactose intelorant. I know my Daddy is probably allergic to dairy products, but he says he isn't willing to give it. My bs shoots up when I drink milk, eat yogurt and I noticed last night when I had a cheese stick with my protein shake that my bs was too high although not extreme like milk and yogurt. I think it has to be the lactose.

Well, DH feels like going to church today:carrot:. So glad he is feeling better. So I better get headed in that direction.

Y'all have a great Sunday. WE CAN DO THIS GIRLS!!!

RUTH ~ don't blame you for not wanting to haul all that stuff with you on your holidays; maybe just a small make-up case for meds. How often do you test now; daily? My case is only about 5" x 7" give or take an inch or so. Ya, I am stunned by your lows; I've never been that low and wouldn't want to be -- as the 4's make me feel woozy as it is. Watch that wine, eh?

It sounds like you have a very interesting life; lots of social activities and dues and trips to go on, but I imagine that can make it harder to track your BSL's when you eat in so many varied places. Hope Bob's Diner has some healthy food there; but have a good time though ... :D

TRISH ~ I agree with your thoughts and those of the others that people are encouraged to eat too many high-sugar foods like orange juice, ice cream and pasta when on insulin. Some claim that people won't stick to the plans anyways, but I believe many will if they know what to eat and what not to. For many men, it is a matter of convenience, esp if they are single and don't cook; some go to restaurants a lot.

I think people's health are put at risk; when they could find better ways to to lower their sugars through diet and exercise. I think they just assume that we won't or can't or whatever. To me, diet and exercise should be the #1 plan for everyone, first and foremost. Even if they keep to it only 90% of the time, that is a major improvement ...

Hope you all have a great week coming up; it is supposed to cool down a bit -- we hope so. We went fishing today, but didn't catch anything; but we had a nice drive and time at the lakes. Take care ... Rosebud :flow1:

made it thru the weekend
 

Did fairly well at the wedding on Saturday evening, I had some dry white wine with supper, and a small petit four for dessert, otherwise ate on plan. But my sugar was 6.9 this am and I felt crummy, so I stayed on plan today at the family picnic, even tho I had planned on having some treats. BUt staying low carb let me feel better, I got more energy as the day went on, and had normal pc sugar when I tested this afternoon. I was surprised it was ok to stick to plan at the picnic, I thought it would be difficult.
Had a long conversation with my uncle there. He lost over 100 lbs a few years ago and has kept it off, using south beach. We talked about the similarities and differences in out plans, (he wasn't aware how similar they are). He doesn't have diabetes or anything, but he copes at these occasions by not eating at all. He eats before and after at home. He didn't eat any of the low carb choices available. There were a couple of green salads, my non-potato salad and a low carb cheesecake, some roasted veggie kabobs etc. I ate really well, but totally on plan. I think he was really a food-aholic and this is his way of coping. of course not eating isn't an option for us, we have to eat and properly to keep our sugars in line.
Overall it was a lovely weekend, both family events had good weather, fun stuff, no family arguments etc.
HOpe the rest of you are doing well.

Survived the weekend which ended with am impromptu dinner at a friend's house last evening. We started with corn on the cob as an appetizer. I had one cob - only the second one this season. FBL is 4.3 this morning - I do run low. It certainly was a foodie weekend but I survived.

On with another week of striving for perfection. :lol: No foodie events but it is really busy. Luckily I have a good freezer stash of quickie dinners - meatloaf, eggplant casserole, taco bake and cooked chicken breasts.