Why write this post?
Prevalence of diabetes has been growing…
According to International Diabetes Federation: Approximately 463 million adults (20-79 years) were living with diabetes; by 2045 this will rise to 700 million
http://www.diabetesatlas.org/
The numbers above are from 2019, so this is pre-COVID lockdown and restrictions. Today, the number of people suffering from diabetes and other diseases of insulin resistance are likely to be much higher.
Those numbers equate to a LOT of pain and suffering, much of which is needless.
I say ‘needless’ because much of the pain and suffering could be eliminated or greatly diminished, if every diabetic knew a ‘better way’ to self-treat diabetes. The medical industry including the American Diabetes Association promotes blood sugars that are TOO HIGH and promotes a diet that is TOO HIGH in carbohydrates.
So, why write this post?
I want to share what I have learned. Simple as that.
For new readers: I am a formerly obese, formerly drug and insulin dependent diabetic, who weaned off all drugs and four insulin shots a day. Since my diabetes diagnosis in 2009, I maintain truly normal blood sugars and normal weight.
Note: I do apologize for the numerous smiley faces, it happens when you maintain truly normal blood sugars. 😀 Try it some time.
24 Hours of Blood Glucose Testing
Below is a picture of my six blood sugar readings in a 24 hour period. In the next section I provide more details about my activities and I convert the numbers to mmol/l for those not living in the US. 😀
I don’t test much ‘these days’, test strips are expensive here in Canada and in short supply (Amazon.ca is out of stock). But it had been awhile since I had tested multiple times a day… so I was interested to see what the results would be.
I am excited to see these results!
After weaning off drugs and insulin over 12 years ago, my doctor cautioned that this was a ‘honeymoon period’. And he added that one day… the honeymoon would be over. The honeymoon might last days… or months, but that it would end.
That’s why I’m anxious when I haven’t tested my blood sugars in awhile. Now, over 12 years later, and I am still living the honeymoon! <3
In the next section I’ll provide a play by play.
Chronological Details
Overnight fasting readings are often affected by what happened the previous day and especially the previous evening. So this story begins the night before. Kelly and I had enjoyed an evening outside, listening to music, grilling meat, and drinking vodka sodas.
Side Note: I love vodka sodas, a little vodka, a little -0- carb soda water (1 to 1 ratio for me), and a squirt of lemon or lime. It’s very low carb and tasty… to me. And it’s ‘clean’ … no sweetened mixers, etc.
I mention the adult beverage because alcohol can blunt gluconeogenesis and the liver’s production of glucose. This ‘can’ cause blood sugars to decrease. Of course, this depends on many other variables including what and how much food was eaten, activities, stress, other medications, etc.
Below is a picture of the meat we wood-fire-grilled.
Having provided the background information…
Let’s get down to business!
85 mg/dl (4.7 mmol/l) – 7:52 AM, my initial overnight fasting blood sugar reading. As noted, it’s after drinking a couple of vodka sodas the night before. I didn’t measure how much meat I had eaten, but I’d guess about 8 oz. No other foods/nutrients were consumed.
86 mg/dl (4.7 mmol/l) – 12:15 PM, I fasted after waking, drinking only black coffee. I read and wrote, only activity was climbing the stairs for more coffee. 😀 I would expect these to be similar …so this is not a surprise.
Note: This is after numerous cups of coffee. Some people claim that coffee raises their blood sugars… this reaffirms many tests for me, coffee does not raise my blood sugar.
100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/l) – 3:57 PM, about 3 hours after eating 13 oz of meat (chicken and chuck roast) and about 30 minutes after a short, slightly intense exercise session. Again, no surprise.
78 mg/dl (5.3 mmol/l) – 5:05 PM, my previous reading was 100, I wanted to make sure it was heading down, so an hour later … I checked. I was elated, of course. 😀
97 mg/dl (5.3 mmol/l) – 10:13 PM, this bedtime reading was about one hour after eating dinner (more of a snack), 6 oz of chuck steak and 3 oz of cheddar cheese, and about two hours after finishing an intense bodyweight workout.
The workout was 101 push ups, 101 pull ups (chair assisted), and 101 jump squats. #Triple100 Bottom Line: This wasn’t a surprise either. 😀
Note: I ate about 9 pm, I don’t like to eat (or workout) this late but neither of us was hungry earlier and then suddenly, we were hungry. 😀
88 mg/dl (4.8 mmol/l) – 7:05 AM, my overnight fasting blood sugar. A little higher than I’d prefer but I’ll take it. If I had to guess, it’s probably due to the late protein eaten an hour before bedtime.
The honeymoon continues!
Not a bad 24 hours for a formerly obese, formerly drug & insulin dependent diabetic…
If you are a diabetic and you are eating a higher carb diet with bread, pasta, cereals, and sugary drinks… there is a better way to self-treat diabetes! And the journey begins here, “A Meal Plan You Can Live With“.
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