Hi, Paul,
The weight loss is a red flag for LADA, I think. The same thing happened to me. I was quite slim to start with but after I was diagnosed, I quickly lost 25 pounds. I’m guessing that the few pounds I had put on in the last several years had been because of extra insulin production due to high blood sugar from impaired first phase insulin. (I have islet cell antibodies.) Once I cut back on carbs, I wasn’t making all that extra insulin and I lost weight. I’ve stabilized now, but am a bit too thin. I try to maintain my weight with extra fat and protein in my diet.
let us know how your tests come out. Make sure you have the whole antibody panel and not just GAD.
Good luck,
Libby
I tried the Dreamfields pasta and it didn’t work for me at all. My BG-levels were as high as when I eat normal pasta if not higher, so be careful !
Thanks for bringing up that result you found. I haven’t used it, only read about it. Kind of expensive too 
Those who have said they use it successfully, are adamant about the cooking time, and have said if they go over, then their numbers act like they ate regular pasta, so I have to ask, even if its redundant, if you were as accurate as you could be with the cooking time? Hope that doesn’t put you off like I am saying you did it wrong or something. I just like information that I can use.
Thanks,
John
Amen to that. I think a lot about how the A1c is just another tool, but not the ultimate for the same reason you mention. When I screw up, or just say “what the heck” I can get numbers that are pretty high for me, approaching 180, but they are gone in an hour, which will have very little effect on my A1c. Since I am in the 80’s when I go to bed, and still there in the morning, that will make my A1c look pretty good if I behave myself during the day, but the spikes still do their damage if they happen
I try to stay in the same ranges you mention, and usually do okay, but sometimes, even when I eat the same thing, at the same time as a few days back, when I test, the numbers are higher. Not sure why that would be, but it does show that my body is having a hell of a time with this
I am T2, no drugs or insulin.
John
Hi John,
I’m sure I didn’t overcook the Dreamfields-pasta and I did find it a little too chewy
I do have strange BG-reactions on any kind of wheatproduct, so maybe I’m just an exception.
And I appreciate your reaction, that’s what we’re here for, aren’t we ?!
Hey John,
Hope all is well. I have a quick question. I read that All Bran cereal could be a good choice for Type 2s so I bought a box and gave it a try. I had 1 cup with 1 cup of soy milk and here are my numbers. Before (which is fasting # in the morning) 84, 1 hour after - 167, 2 hours after 97… Would you be ok with eating this for breakfast if these were your numbers or would you avoid it and stick to eggs and such which don’t affect my BS as much… Here are the numbers for 2 scrambled eggs, 1 slice of deli ham and a couple of pieces of fruit… Before - 81, 1 hour after - 95, 2 hours after - 90…
Thanks, Paul
Your All Bran was perhaps 35g of carbs, with the Soy milk another 10g, so a total of 45g of carbs. I can’t tell you about the eggs, ham and fruit without know what and how much fruit, but it appears to be a modest amount. Either way you can clearly see the difference in how your body responds. If you read http://bloodsugar101.com/, it is suggested that you try to keep your blood sugar under 140 mg/dl all the time. That being said, although you went up to nearly 170 mg/dl, you did come down to a nice number within 2 hours.
Personally, I would seek to up the amount of protein in your diet while reducing the carbs and hence would go for the eggs. But of course, my morning fasting numbers is more like 130-140 mg/dl and I’d never drink soy, so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
Hi bsc,
Thanks for your input… I’m trying to get a handle on what meals/foods etc spike my numbers and what spikes are ok… I too have read that 140 should be the max so the All Bran is probably a no-go in the mornings…
I double checked the numbers and actually Kelloggs All Bran has only 27g carbs + 5 fiber per 1 cup (what I measured out) and 1 cup of my Soy Milk had 4 grams of carbs + 1 fiber… So I guess if this amount of carbs spiked my BS I should probably stay away from it…
Thanks again for your input… it all helps me understand and manage this…
Paul
You are right, I had looked at the allbran.com website, but looked at the wrong one. The original has 46 g carbs and 20g fiber per 1 cup. Trader Joes has a high fiber cereal with less carbs and more fiber, but the all bran is actually one of the best ones out there. You may also find that you are more or less sensitive to carbs at different times of the day. I actually have a high morning fasting number and benefit from carbs in my breakfast as it sort of resets my blood sugar. If I don’t eat in the morning, my blood sugar can continuing rising in a punishing way.
Hi Bob,
Yes, I’m having a tough time with the weight… My Dr said not to worry as its the change in diet. I have changed my exercise routine from 4 days of 45 min jogs to walking 1hr + 15 mins everyday. I really enjoy the walking, it helps clear my mind and my wife can join me most of the time I will never give up the exercise!
I had 1 cup of All Bran with 1 cup of soy milk yesterday and my 1 hour was (9.3) 167 and 2 hour was (5.4) 97. I’ve been told and read that any spike over 140 could be harmful in the long term. Would you be worried about my 1 hour spike? I don’t want to break down my remaining good cells?
Actually, I haven’t given up on the beer 
I have don’t some testing and every time I have a couple of beers (tested 6 times now) I am always lower an hour and 2 hours after drinking. I have never been higher… Ditto with a glass of red wine.
Breakfast just seems to be the toughest meal for me as I’ve been eating cereal all my life and just cant eat eggs and meat every morning…
Thanks for your comments… Paul
Your reading for 1 hous is a little high but for 2 hours is good. I’ve been told that it’s the 2 hours one that is the best one to make a judgement on.
Having said that, the 1 hour result of yours is a cause for concern.
I’m most sensitive to carbs first thing in the morning so avoid them and have either eggs, bacon or sometimes sausage. Or I might have canned pork luncheon tongue or a small can of mackerel or some smoked mackerel from a packet.
I’m afraid in the world of diabetes “can’t eat” doesn’t exist. You have no option but to avoid cereals unless you can find one that doesn’t cause a spike. I used to love cereals but I learned to do without them. I’m afraid that diabetes is all about trade offs.
I can’t see any reason for you to give up beer or red wine as your body is telling you that it has no problem with those drinks. However maybe it’s the beer and wine that are causing the weight probs? It depends how much often you have beer.
Grrr. Sometimes I feel you just can’t win with Diabetes. Ok Mr Diabetes if I can’t beat ya then lets compromise, ok? I’ll have a beer now and again.
Hmm I think I need my meds lol.
Always the disclaimer: I am making this life process up as I go along, and so when I read that someone’s doctor says that the one hour reading doesn’t matter, I sit right up and take notice.
I am listening to anyone who wants to dispute my theory, all for the good of learning, but the one hour reading is -very- important, and I think any doctor who says otherwise, needs to be taken out for an afternoon of electroshock therapy.
All I have is my own experience, and constant testing has shown me many, many times, that I have overdone it, and in the first hour, I am 175 or there about, while after two hours, I am 100. Maybe I am not so far along with T2 yet that my body can recover faster, but its not good for me to do that to it. No exercise or anything, and not always, but it happens and to the best of my knowledge, spiking over 140 is a bad thing to do. If I take the advice of the doctor who says to only test after two hours, then I will go the rest of my life, constantly spiking 140+, and never, ever knowing it, thinking all is well. This will keep my A1c number looking good, because an hour is nothing over the course of months, but I am basically killing my organs and walking closer and closer to insulin and lots of meds, all because someone told me that two hours is all I need to test.
I say, rather adamantly, but with no malice that when eating foods you are not real positive about, you need to test right before, and then an hour, and two hours later, possibly even three hours if two is still high. Anything less, is not giving enough information to make a good decision on your diet.
If you don’t test before you eat, you don’t know how high that meal/food pushed your numbers, so you are wasting strips just testing two hours after you eat. For all you know, you may be 125 before you even eat, and in two hours, you are at 160. That is not a bad rise, but you started too high to begin with, so you need to be aware ofit, and to understand why.
Sometimes, when I am really hungry (which coincides with being bored ) I test myself and based on that number, I decide what I can and cannot eat. For instance, if I get an 85, I am gonna have a full scale meal which I already know will bump me forty points. If I am 100, then I might rethink the menu and leave out some things I know will push me too far.
Doctors who tell you when to test? Bah humbug! They don’t know what they are talking about, and it should be obvious to all, that I don’t care for that attitude from them. Its my disease, its my life, they are my organs, and all I want from the doctor is the prescription for the tools I need to control it, assuming I have insurance.
For decades, people died because they could not monitor their blood sugar. Doctors just told those people they were diabetic, don’t eat sugar, “have a nice day” then waited around for the amputations and the surgeries that followed. Now we have meters, and Doctors are STILL saying the same thing. We have learned to use the tools, they are still using stone knives and bearskins.
Giving up beer isn’t crazy. Listening to someone who doesn’t have this very personal disease, and following their unfounded advice instead of common sense and listening to all those who are out here fighting it every day, now that is crazy.
John
Hi, Paul,
I have similar numbers to you when I eat higher carb, especially in the morning. I would rather not go above 140 even at one hour, because if it happens every time I eat that can add up to quite a bit of time and I want to preserve my beta cells for as long as possible. (I have LADA)
I rarely eat meat and prefer something sweet for breakfast but am gluten intolerant so I can’t eat wheat. Luckily there are some good low carb alternatives. Have you tried making pancakes or muffins with almond or coconut flour? I also make “granola” from toasted nuts- walnuts with cinnamon, sweetened with a few dried dates, apricots or raisins, taste surprisingly like cereal . Another breakfast favorite is full fat yogurt with a small amount of fruit (berries are fairly low carb) and some toasted hazelnuts. I like smoothies made with some combination of almond milk, almond butter, yogurt, coconut milk/coconut oil and berries. Let me know if you would like recipes. I have a fabulous recipe for a baked apple pancake that is pretty low carb and tastes great.
John…the thunder you are hearing is the sound of my applause! Well said…
I don’t want to take more medicines if I can help it. More importantly…I want to keep my kidneys…my feet…and my vision…for the rest of my life.
I believe every moment spent over 140 (I have these just like everyone else) works against these modest and reasonable goals.
John…you sound like you’ve tracked your numbers for a while, so you probably already know that there are many things besides food that can affect your BS…exercise, lack of sleep, stress, illness, strong emotions, when you get too hot or too cold, etc. I know there are more…just can’t think of them now.
Keep up the good work!
Frank…I beg to differ…in my world of diabetes “can’t eat” is alive and well. There are foods that I loved and haven’t touched since my diagnosis.
Hi John,
Thanks again for your informative and helpful response. I’m still learning so every bit of information does help. I’m trying to get a menu together that works for me while keeping my numbers within those important margins of 120-140, 1hour after a meal.
Cereal is now out for me because they all seem to spike at about 160-180, 1 hour after and then back to 93 2 hours after. I will be doing one more test tomorrow with oatmeal as I’ve read some good reviews about its benefits and I just want to test if my body can handle it… I’ll let you know how it went…
As far as giving up beer is concerned I don’t think I will be doing that just yet. I have tested myself before, during and after having a few beers (always light beer) and I have never been higher (actually always lower, good numbers) so until I notice a change that is one of the pleasures I will hold onto for now
I also love chocolate and have tested with a piece of dark chocolate (65% cocoa) I noticed my BS actually went down after (on more than one occasion), has anyone else had the same effect?
I know I’m rambling a little here but just want to talk about some of the things I’m noticing about my numbers. Friday was my daughters 12th birthday and we went out for super. I had a caesar salad to start and then a burger and yes, fries… I was only going to have a couple but ended up eating about half of them. I only had half of the whole wheat bun also. When we got home I tested myself at the hour mark and I thought I would be over the top but I was 130. Its amazing that 1 cup of Special K with 1 cup of soy milk sends me to about 175 but the burger and fries 130…
I’m learning and will continue to test, test and test… Thanks for all your comments… Paul
For me…In the beginning I ate high-fiber because generally speaking high-fiber is what is best for good health. Unfortunately for me, high fiber just meant it took longer for the carbs to burn out of my system and usually left me with high BS for longer periods of times.
What works for me may not work for others (hence all the disclaimers).
For managing my diabetes…high-fiber from grains or lentils doesn’t work…I look for fiber elsewhere…lots of low carb vegies and Whole Foods sells Psyllium Husks Capsules. Psyllium is the same thing in products like Metamucil. The instructions say you can take up to 4 capsules per day. I can’t imagine what that would be like…I take one (500 mg) every morning with my vitamin.
Hey Paul…have you tried taking cinnamon? I have read that it acts like a natural blood sugar regulator. I take 500 mg every day and can’t tell if it helps or not because I already have tight control. I think of it as just another tool.
Paul…have you tried the Special K Protein Plus? I loved Oatmeal and ate it every morning. It is one of the foods I had to give up. Good luck…I hope it works for you.
Hi Gerriann,
I haven’t tried the cinnamon yet but have also read about its benefits but not sure how much you would need to take for it to have effect?
Have you heard of Glucotor2? I have read a few things about it but not sure… Its supposed to be all natural and includes things like bitter melon which is supposed to be good for controlling BS? I’m not looking for a “cure” as I know that doesn’t exist but if there are products out which may help I might be willing to give it a try once…
Thanks, Paul