[Diabetes-Talk] Eating and blood sugars

[Terri Stimmel]

Hello everyone,


I am writing to ask for some advice. I know part of what is happening is 
due to how I am eating. I am trying hard to change this. But it's really 
a struggle for more than one reason.


I have had some lows in my blood sugar lately. Today, a couple of hours 
after lunch, it went down to about 67. So I ate an orange, and some pork 
rinds. Not the best I know. But knowing things I should eat is really 
difficult for me. I've really cut down on my candy. And I quit 
purchasing snack cakes. Also, I even cut back on my diet soda.


Saturday night, for dinner my boyfriend and I ordered some barbecue. I 
had pork, and sausage. I did have just a bit of sauce on the pork. I had 
a piece of garlic bread, and a few good sized bites of some baked beans. 
I had eaten this before, and it didn't raise my blood sugar. So I 
figured it wouldn't this time. I was right.

However, a few hours after I ate, my blood sugar went down to 57. Before 
I had eaten dinner, I took my 30 units of insulin. I take Novalog. I 
also take Treseba in the morning, 80 units. And once a week I take 
Ozempic. Sorry if all of these are mis-spelled. I can't ever remember 
how to spell the names properly.


So I did eat 2 snack-size peanut butter cups. In the morning, my blood 
sugar was 121. That was good.


Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I feel like I am starving! Other 
times I am not very hungry at all, for a while. Some mornings, I drink 
the vanilla shake by Premier. But I'm never quite sure what else to eat. 
So usually my blood sugar ends up going low a couple hours later.


So first of all, what are some things I could possibly eat, when I have 
a shake? If I'm not careful, I can end up really hungry a few hours 
after having the shake. I seem to tend to need a good amount of protein. 
I've noticed this about myself.


Also, if I need to snack in between meals, what are some snacks I could 
eat that will help me not feel so empty? But that won't raise my blood 
sugar too badly?


I'm trying to make small changes. This way I don't get too overwhelmed. 
But it's hard for me. I feel I get mixed messages. My boyfriend who also 
has type II diabetes says that part of diabetes and how it affects us is 
genetic. Others say I shouldn't eat any sugary foods at all. Still 
others say that fruits, veggies, and even different meats can be eaten 
for snacks.

But then when I was talking with the nutricionist, she told me that I 
could have a sugar-free popsickle, or a sugar-free pudding. So I have 
done this a few times. I like both of these. But I know sometimes I need 
something more filling. She also told me to try to rate my hunger on a 
scale. This way it will cut down on me eating when I am bored, or just 
watching TV. So I have started doing this.


I don't cook much for myself. A lot of what we eat is pre-packaged, or 
frozen. Or we order out. Which I have tried to cut back on. But again 
this is difficult. Mainly, because it's not just me here by myself.

I have tried to start doing some cooking. Last week, I cooked some of 
the fish fellets we like. As well as a baked potato each, and some mixed 
veggies. Instead of having sour cream and butter on the potato, I had 
put olive oil on it, with a few other seasonings. They were really good.

However, doing all this made me pretty tired.


Any thoughts and advice are much appreciated. You all are always so 
nice, and kind to me. I really do appreciate it. I appreciate the 
advice. I try to make use of it the best that I can. I know I still have 
quite a ways to go, to get to where I want to be.

Also, my primary care doctor's office has a diabetes educator that I am 
going to start seeing. My first appointment with her will be on the 26th 
of this month. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm not sure how often 
I will be able to see her. But I should find out after this appointment.


Thank you to all who read this. It's not the most organized. But my 
thoughts were kind of all over the place.


I hope you all are well, and safe.


Thank you,


Terri