I think there are much better dietary sources of potassium besides OJ (and bananas). I try to eat lots of potassium rich low carb foods, greens, yogurt, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, green beans and asparagus. Most varied diets that include these sorts of things should be fine (well unless you are in DKA).
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I consider the glycemic index interesting, but of little use to me. When I was first diagnosed and got my meter, I ate 1/2 of an apple (as was my custom) as a bedtime snack. Then I watched my BG spike to over 200. I had reasoned that an apple would be OK because it is low on the glycemic index, but it was clearly not OK for me. Since then I only count carbs and do not use either the glycemic index or the glycemic load. Only my meter will tell me if it is OK to eat.
The only fruit that I now eat and only on occasion is berries.
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Are you on a low carb diet? if so, how do you define low carb? < 60, <30?
How much insulin do you take? I haven't had any apples recently, but seem to recall numbers in the 200's a few weeks ago when I didn't know.
Presently,I take 3 units Lantus, and 1 to 2 units Novolog for meals.
I eat a little bit of food and I'm full. This is recent. Has anyone else experienced this?
According to this site, a medium baked potato with skin has more potassium than any of these!
http://www.drugs.com/cg/potassium-content-of-foods-list.html
I will never forget when I had an episode of severe muscle spasm on a very hot day which temporarily paralyzed my lower legs that eating a banana and drinking a soda seemed to help me enough so that I could move off a stairwell somewhere to rest until I was able to walk again, so bananas are usually what I think of first for potassium and then oj too. It's nice to know I'm eating a lot of other foods that have good potassium levels also. I just wonder with D and other issues how much gets into us so I'm going to stay on the supplement too for now.
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I'm T1 and can manage moderate carb meals without too much hassle. I eat a couple of apples a day dosing by weight and eating the apple at the end of my meal. I rarely spike as a result.
Maurie
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I do not take any insulin. Metformin and very low carb diet only.
I follow a very low carb diet. Generally less than 50 grams of carbs per day.
Potassium is certainly important, but you should generally be able to get more than enough potassium with a varied diet.
Being in DKA or undertaking extended exercise leads to leaching of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Like meee, I've experienced this after long days working in the hot sun or very long bouts of exercise. My suggestion under those circumstances is to use low carb electrolyte replacements of which there are many. You can just mix it into a bottle of water.
Do you find small amounts of ketones? From what I've read, small amounts of ketones with BG in the "normal" range of 80 to 160 is usually of not concern. There is concern when BG is high AND ketones.
For the past few days, my BG numbers have been decent (a few above 160, a few around 80's; mostly around 100 to 140). However, I do have abdominal discomfort. Has anyone else experience this?
Fruit have so many health benefits that I include them in most of my meals. Berries work well for me as well as lunchbox sized apples. Bananas spike me but I eat only 1/2 of one for the potassium benefit since I have issues with low potassium. Pineapple and watermelon are okay at the end of a meal in moderation. I am learning that there
are lots of factors which contribute to blood glucose.
Brian_BSC would you recommend a low carb electrolyte replacement ? I searched “low carb electrolyte replacement” on the internet and three suggestions: Emergen-C Electro Mix, salt, and bouillion cubes.
Two of the most common ones are Poweade zero which has zero gramas of carbs per serving and Gatorade G2 Low Calorie which has seven grams of carbs per serving.
I used to have milk or yogurt at breakfast which always raised my bg
Now I use almond milk( no carbs) problem solved
Thanks Brian_BSC!