Re: morning blood sugars

[Guest guest]

I agree with your conclusion...have you tried eating dinner earlier? And

keeping it as lowcarb as possible? and no food after dinner, of course...Are

you taking ALA? Vicki

<<

I know high morning sugars are common, has anyone been successful in

reducing theirs? Any tips? I'll try it my CDE's way for a few days just

to say I tried, but I have a feeling it will just mess me up.

>>

[Guest guest]

I agree with your conclusion...have you tried eating dinner earlier? And

keeping it as lowcarb as possible? and no food after dinner, of course...Are

you taking ALA? Vicki

<<

I know high morning sugars are common, has anyone been successful in

reducing theirs? Any tips? I'll try it my CDE's way for a few days just

to say I tried, but I have a feeling it will just mess me up.

>>

[Guest guest]

I agree with your conclusion...have you tried eating dinner earlier? And

keeping it as lowcarb as possible? and no food after dinner, of course...Are

you taking ALA? Vicki

<<

I know high morning sugars are common, has anyone been successful in

reducing theirs? Any tips? I'll try it my CDE's way for a few days just

to say I tried, but I have a feeling it will just mess me up.

>>

[Guest guest]

Could you make lunch your major meal of the day? Do you have a microwave at

work? Maybe you could do major homemade soup and reheat...or could you eat

on the way home? Do you take a train? Drive? Maybe you could pack food and

it eat while traveling home? (Where do you live?) Vicki

<< I just started taking ALA yesterday as a matter of fact! I hope it helps.

Eating an early dinner is tough, I have an hour train commute every night,

so

the earliest I get home is 6, usually more like 7. At that point I have no

energy

or interest in cooking, so I just end up snacking. I should get a

microwave,

then I could make dinner faster, but there's just no room in my teensy

studio

kitchen. I definitely need to eat earlier, my nutritionist and CDE kept

pushing

that point with me. But I'm used to dinner at 9 or 10, so eating at 8 is

making

progress.

>>

[Guest guest]

Could you make lunch your major meal of the day? Do you have a microwave at

work? Maybe you could do major homemade soup and reheat...or could you eat

on the way home? Do you take a train? Drive? Maybe you could pack food and

it eat while traveling home? (Where do you live?) Vicki

<< I just started taking ALA yesterday as a matter of fact! I hope it helps.

Eating an early dinner is tough, I have an hour train commute every night,

so

the earliest I get home is 6, usually more like 7. At that point I have no

energy

or interest in cooking, so I just end up snacking. I should get a

microwave,

then I could make dinner faster, but there's just no room in my teensy

studio

kitchen. I definitely need to eat earlier, my nutritionist and CDE kept

pushing

that point with me. But I'm used to dinner at 9 or 10, so eating at 8 is

making

progress.

>>

[Guest guest]

I just started taking ALA yesterday as a matter of fact! I hope it helps.

Eating an early dinner is tough, I have an hour train commute every night,

so

the earliest I get home is 6, usually more like 7. At that point I have no

energy

or interest in cooking, so I just end up snacking. I should get a

microwave,

then I could make dinner faster, but there's just no room in my teensy

studio

kitchen. I definitely need to eat earlier, my nutritionist and CDE kept

pushing

that point with me. But I'm used to dinner at 9 or 10, so eating at 8 is

making

progress.

But I don't know how much of it is related to my dinner. Looking at my log

book now, my blood sugar could be 93 two hours after dinner, then 124

when I wake up. I have Bernstein's book and I know he discusses this

problem, but I don't remember if he gave any advice on how to correct it.

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*

[Guest guest]

I just started taking ALA yesterday as a matter of fact! I hope it helps.

Eating an early dinner is tough, I have an hour train commute every night,

so

the earliest I get home is 6, usually more like 7. At that point I have no

energy

or interest in cooking, so I just end up snacking. I should get a

microwave,

then I could make dinner faster, but there's just no room in my teensy

studio

kitchen. I definitely need to eat earlier, my nutritionist and CDE kept

pushing

that point with me. But I'm used to dinner at 9 or 10, so eating at 8 is

making

progress.

But I don't know how much of it is related to my dinner. Looking at my log

book now, my blood sugar could be 93 two hours after dinner, then 124

when I wake up. I have Bernstein's book and I know he discusses this

problem, but I don't remember if he gave any advice on how to correct it.

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*

[Guest guest]

I just started taking ALA yesterday as a matter of fact! I hope it helps.

Eating an early dinner is tough, I have an hour train commute every night,

so

the earliest I get home is 6, usually more like 7. At that point I have no

energy

or interest in cooking, so I just end up snacking. I should get a

microwave,

then I could make dinner faster, but there's just no room in my teensy

studio

kitchen. I definitely need to eat earlier, my nutritionist and CDE kept

pushing

that point with me. But I'm used to dinner at 9 or 10, so eating at 8 is

making

progress.

But I don't know how much of it is related to my dinner. Looking at my log

book now, my blood sugar could be 93 two hours after dinner, then 124

when I wake up. I have Bernstein's book and I know he discusses this

problem, but I don't remember if he gave any advice on how to correct it.

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*

[Guest guest]

Sharon wrote:

> My morning blood sugars are typically 30-40 points higher than the

> rest of the day. I've had this problem since I've been diagnosed in

> December.

Sharon,

When you say " morning blood sugars " are you referring to a reading taken

immediately upon rising, or after you have been up for an hour or so?

Also, when you get up, do you eat breakfast or skip it? If you eat

breakfast, how soon after getting up do you eat? The answers to all

these questions impact your BGs in the morning.

When you 1st arise, your BGs will be lower than if you wait for a while

to test. The " Dawn Effect " causes your BG to rise in the morning.

Several people here on the list have mentioned that if they eat

breakfast right away, the dawn effect is minimized or eliminated. I

seldom eat breakfast, so I cannot speak from personal experience. I do

know that my BGs are always 20 - 30 points lower if I check first thing

upon arising. If I wait for an hour or more, they will always be higher.

If I delay eating lunch, they will begin to go down (I do take Lantus at

bedtime as a basal insulin).

Vicki's response about eating dinner early in the evening is right on

target. Glucose from the dinner meal is more likely to be stored in the

liver as " excess " when the meal is eaten shortly before going to bed. If

your activity level is low after dinner, your glucose requirements are

also lower. If you eat a light dinner, followed by some light exercise

such as a walk, early in the evening, you may see a change for the

better in your morning readings.

Rick

[Guest guest]

Sharon wrote:

> My morning blood sugars are typically 30-40 points higher than the

> rest of the day. I've had this problem since I've been diagnosed in

> December.

Sharon,

When you say " morning blood sugars " are you referring to a reading taken

immediately upon rising, or after you have been up for an hour or so?

Also, when you get up, do you eat breakfast or skip it? If you eat

breakfast, how soon after getting up do you eat? The answers to all

these questions impact your BGs in the morning.

When you 1st arise, your BGs will be lower than if you wait for a while

to test. The " Dawn Effect " causes your BG to rise in the morning.

Several people here on the list have mentioned that if they eat

breakfast right away, the dawn effect is minimized or eliminated. I

seldom eat breakfast, so I cannot speak from personal experience. I do

know that my BGs are always 20 - 30 points lower if I check first thing

upon arising. If I wait for an hour or more, they will always be higher.

If I delay eating lunch, they will begin to go down (I do take Lantus at

bedtime as a basal insulin).

Vicki's response about eating dinner early in the evening is right on

target. Glucose from the dinner meal is more likely to be stored in the

liver as " excess " when the meal is eaten shortly before going to bed. If

your activity level is low after dinner, your glucose requirements are

also lower. If you eat a light dinner, followed by some light exercise

such as a walk, early in the evening, you may see a change for the

better in your morning readings.

Rick

[Guest guest]

Sharon wrote:

> My morning blood sugars are typically 30-40 points higher than the

> rest of the day. I've had this problem since I've been diagnosed in

> December.

Sharon,

When you say " morning blood sugars " are you referring to a reading taken

immediately upon rising, or after you have been up for an hour or so?

Also, when you get up, do you eat breakfast or skip it? If you eat

breakfast, how soon after getting up do you eat? The answers to all

these questions impact your BGs in the morning.

When you 1st arise, your BGs will be lower than if you wait for a while

to test. The " Dawn Effect " causes your BG to rise in the morning.

Several people here on the list have mentioned that if they eat

breakfast right away, the dawn effect is minimized or eliminated. I

seldom eat breakfast, so I cannot speak from personal experience. I do

know that my BGs are always 20 - 30 points lower if I check first thing

upon arising. If I wait for an hour or more, they will always be higher.

If I delay eating lunch, they will begin to go down (I do take Lantus at

bedtime as a basal insulin).

Vicki's response about eating dinner early in the evening is right on

target. Glucose from the dinner meal is more likely to be stored in the

liver as " excess " when the meal is eaten shortly before going to bed. If

your activity level is low after dinner, your glucose requirements are

also lower. If you eat a light dinner, followed by some light exercise

such as a walk, early in the evening, you may see a change for the

better in your morning readings.

Rick

[Guest guest]

Crackers are carby and will raise your BG! Have a hunk of cheese - american,

etc - without the cracker. Boil an egg and have it in the fridge ready for

your breakfast if you don't have time to cook in the morning.

....

<< wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small

cracker with cream cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

peaking? >>

[Guest guest]

Crackers are carby and will raise your BG! Have a hunk of cheese - american,

etc - without the cracker. Boil an egg and have it in the fridge ready for

your breakfast if you don't have time to cook in the morning.

....

<< wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small

cracker with cream cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

peaking? >>

[Guest guest]

I've tested at various times in the morning. Normally, I wake up at 7:35

and am out of the apartment at 8:05, I eat breakfast within an hour of

arriving at work, between 9 and 10. I have found that my blood sugars are

between 5 and 10 points lower if I test right out of bed instead of as soon

as I get to work. But isn't it still a problem that they get higher by the

time I get there? I wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small

cracker with cream cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

peaking? I know if I just ate breakfast at home, not at work, I would be

ravenous all morning.

It seems like eating dinner earlier may be the key, but I also worry that I

won't be able to fall asleep with nighttime munchies. I'll try my best,

though, I know I have the willpower somewhere inside me. And I'll try

exercising before bed, perhaps it would help me sleep more soundly and wake

up more energized? Right now I'm getting more sleep than I ever had (6-8

hours a night) but I'm also waking up more exhausted than I ever have.

Thanks for your advice, Rick and Vicki. I really want to have more stable

blood sugars.

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*

[Guest guest]

I've tested at various times in the morning. Normally, I wake up at 7:35

and am out of the apartment at 8:05, I eat breakfast within an hour of

arriving at work, between 9 and 10. I have found that my blood sugars are

between 5 and 10 points lower if I test right out of bed instead of as soon

as I get to work. But isn't it still a problem that they get higher by the

time I get there? I wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small

cracker with cream cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

peaking? I know if I just ate breakfast at home, not at work, I would be

ravenous all morning.

It seems like eating dinner earlier may be the key, but I also worry that I

won't be able to fall asleep with nighttime munchies. I'll try my best,

though, I know I have the willpower somewhere inside me. And I'll try

exercising before bed, perhaps it would help me sleep more soundly and wake

up more energized? Right now I'm getting more sleep than I ever had (6-8

hours a night) but I'm also waking up more exhausted than I ever have.

Thanks for your advice, Rick and Vicki. I really want to have more stable

blood sugars.

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*

[Guest guest]

I've tested at various times in the morning. Normally, I wake up at 7:35

and am out of the apartment at 8:05, I eat breakfast within an hour of

arriving at work, between 9 and 10. I have found that my blood sugars are

between 5 and 10 points lower if I test right out of bed instead of as soon

as I get to work. But isn't it still a problem that they get higher by the

time I get there? I wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small

cracker with cream cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

peaking? I know if I just ate breakfast at home, not at work, I would be

ravenous all morning.

It seems like eating dinner earlier may be the key, but I also worry that I

won't be able to fall asleep with nighttime munchies. I'll try my best,

though, I know I have the willpower somewhere inside me. And I'll try

exercising before bed, perhaps it would help me sleep more soundly and wake

up more energized? Right now I'm getting more sleep than I ever had (6-8

hours a night) but I'm also waking up more exhausted than I ever have.

Thanks for your advice, Rick and Vicki. I really want to have more stable

blood sugars.

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*

[Guest guest]

Sharon wrote:

> I've tested at various times in the morning. Normally, I wake up at

> 7:35 and am out of the apartment at 8:05, I eat breakfast within an

> hour of arriving at work, between 9 and 10. I have found that my

> blood sugars are between 5 and 10 points lower if I test right out of

> bed instead of as soon

> as I get to work. But isn't it still a problem that they get higher

> by the time I get there?

The rise in your BG is related to the Dawn Effect. It isn't a " problem "

per se. The liver is dumping glucose into your blood stream to give you

a boost to start your day. This happens in non-diabetics also, but the

basal insulin secretion of the pancreas allows the extra glucose to be

taken into the cells of the body. In diabetics, that basal insulin

response can be nonexistent, limited, or just simply insufficient for

the needs of the body due to insulin resistance. The rise in your BGs

from 1st arising to later in the morning is just an indication that the

extra glucose is not being processed properly by your body. Now, the

question is, what to do about it. I went back through your previous

posts and I see that you were DX'd in December. I didn't see anything

about how you are treating your Diabetes. Are you on oral meds of any

kind? Insulin? Diet & exercise? How to handle a rise in BGs depends on

how you are managing your diabetes to begin with. If you are managing

using Diet & Exercise alone, it becomes especially important to eat

properly, both in content and timing, in all your meals, but especially

your dinner meal. Oral meds and/or insulin will give you additional

options for dealing with the dawn effect and other unexpected BG

increases.

> I wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small cracker with cream

> cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

> peaking?

This is a particularly carby snack as Vicki pointed out and would

increase your BG rather than lower it.

> It seems like eating dinner earlier may be the key, but I also worry

> that I won't be able to fall asleep with nighttime munchies. I'll try

> my best, though, I know I have the willpower somewhere inside me. And

> I'll try exercising before bed, perhaps it would help me sleep more

> soundly and wake up more energized? Right now I'm getting more sleep

> than I ever had (6-8 hours a night) but I'm also waking up more

> exhausted than I ever have.

>

Remember, light dinner, light exercise. Too much exercise will

definitely increase your hunger before bed. It can also prompt your

liver to dump more glucose, if your exercise greatly exceeds your

glucose intake at dinner.

> Thanks for your advice, Rick and Vicki. I really want to have more

> stable blood sugars.

You're welcome. I hope you can get a handle on it too. Please let us

know if you are taking any meds or not. It will help in addressing some

of these issues. If you've already told us and I have missed it somehow,

forgive me. )

Rick

[Guest guest]

Sharon wrote:

> I've tested at various times in the morning. Normally, I wake up at

> 7:35 and am out of the apartment at 8:05, I eat breakfast within an

> hour of arriving at work, between 9 and 10. I have found that my

> blood sugars are between 5 and 10 points lower if I test right out of

> bed instead of as soon

> as I get to work. But isn't it still a problem that they get higher

> by the time I get there?

The rise in your BG is related to the Dawn Effect. It isn't a " problem "

per se. The liver is dumping glucose into your blood stream to give you

a boost to start your day. This happens in non-diabetics also, but the

basal insulin secretion of the pancreas allows the extra glucose to be

taken into the cells of the body. In diabetics, that basal insulin

response can be nonexistent, limited, or just simply insufficient for

the needs of the body due to insulin resistance. The rise in your BGs

from 1st arising to later in the morning is just an indication that the

extra glucose is not being processed properly by your body. Now, the

question is, what to do about it. I went back through your previous

posts and I see that you were DX'd in December. I didn't see anything

about how you are treating your Diabetes. Are you on oral meds of any

kind? Insulin? Diet & exercise? How to handle a rise in BGs depends on

how you are managing your diabetes to begin with. If you are managing

using Diet & Exercise alone, it becomes especially important to eat

properly, both in content and timing, in all your meals, but especially

your dinner meal. Oral meds and/or insulin will give you additional

options for dealing with the dawn effect and other unexpected BG

increases.

> I wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small cracker with cream

> cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

> peaking?

This is a particularly carby snack as Vicki pointed out and would

increase your BG rather than lower it.

> It seems like eating dinner earlier may be the key, but I also worry

> that I won't be able to fall asleep with nighttime munchies. I'll try

> my best, though, I know I have the willpower somewhere inside me. And

> I'll try exercising before bed, perhaps it would help me sleep more

> soundly and wake up more energized? Right now I'm getting more sleep

> than I ever had (6-8 hours a night) but I'm also waking up more

> exhausted than I ever have.

>

Remember, light dinner, light exercise. Too much exercise will

definitely increase your hunger before bed. It can also prompt your

liver to dump more glucose, if your exercise greatly exceeds your

glucose intake at dinner.

> Thanks for your advice, Rick and Vicki. I really want to have more

> stable blood sugars.

You're welcome. I hope you can get a handle on it too. Please let us

know if you are taking any meds or not. It will help in addressing some

of these issues. If you've already told us and I have missed it somehow,

forgive me. )

Rick

[Guest guest]

> My morning blood sugars are typically 30-40 points higher than the rest of

> the day. I've had this problem since I've been diagnosed in December. I

> take 1000 mg of Glucophage XR usually between 8-10 PM and it has had

little

> effect on the morning sugars.

***Higher morning readings are pretty normal - dawn phenomenon, having to do

with your body gearing up for the day, and your liver releasing glucose for

that. Try some other things first, but you might talk to your doc about

increasing your Glucophage for awhile.

> I just talked to my CDE about it and she

> recommended 20 minutes of exercise before bed and a low-fat nighttime

> snack. I feel like exercising before bed will make falling asleep

> difficult and it seems counterproductive to eat a high carb snack (she

> recommended fruit).

***I agree, this is NOT the way. Although exercise after dinner would be

good. As always, different things work for different people. A couple of

things that seem to work well for some: Don't eat anything after a dinner.

Eat dinner earlier. Eat a very low to no carb snack before bed, like cheese

and olives or dill pickles or pepperoni with a little cream cheese. You

might also try extended release Alpha Lipoic Acid - 300 mg (Jarrow) before

bed. You can get it at www.iherb.com. A powerful antioxidant, ALA has been

shown to help prevent and repair neuropathy and is very helpful with insulin

resistance.

Let us know how it goes. I'd can the fruit idea right now!

Barb

[Guest guest]

> My morning blood sugars are typically 30-40 points higher than the rest of

> the day. I've had this problem since I've been diagnosed in December. I

> take 1000 mg of Glucophage XR usually between 8-10 PM and it has had

little

> effect on the morning sugars.

***Higher morning readings are pretty normal - dawn phenomenon, having to do

with your body gearing up for the day, and your liver releasing glucose for

that. Try some other things first, but you might talk to your doc about

increasing your Glucophage for awhile.

> I just talked to my CDE about it and she

> recommended 20 minutes of exercise before bed and a low-fat nighttime

> snack. I feel like exercising before bed will make falling asleep

> difficult and it seems counterproductive to eat a high carb snack (she

> recommended fruit).

***I agree, this is NOT the way. Although exercise after dinner would be

good. As always, different things work for different people. A couple of

things that seem to work well for some: Don't eat anything after a dinner.

Eat dinner earlier. Eat a very low to no carb snack before bed, like cheese

and olives or dill pickles or pepperoni with a little cream cheese. You

might also try extended release Alpha Lipoic Acid - 300 mg (Jarrow) before

bed. You can get it at www.iherb.com. A powerful antioxidant, ALA has been

shown to help prevent and repair neuropathy and is very helpful with insulin

resistance.

Let us know how it goes. I'd can the fruit idea right now!

Barb

[Guest guest]

> My morning blood sugars are typically 30-40 points higher than the rest of

> the day. I've had this problem since I've been diagnosed in December. I

> take 1000 mg of Glucophage XR usually between 8-10 PM and it has had

little

> effect on the morning sugars.

***Higher morning readings are pretty normal - dawn phenomenon, having to do

with your body gearing up for the day, and your liver releasing glucose for

that. Try some other things first, but you might talk to your doc about

increasing your Glucophage for awhile.

> I just talked to my CDE about it and she

> recommended 20 minutes of exercise before bed and a low-fat nighttime

> snack. I feel like exercising before bed will make falling asleep

> difficult and it seems counterproductive to eat a high carb snack (she

> recommended fruit).

***I agree, this is NOT the way. Although exercise after dinner would be

good. As always, different things work for different people. A couple of

things that seem to work well for some: Don't eat anything after a dinner.

Eat dinner earlier. Eat a very low to no carb snack before bed, like cheese

and olives or dill pickles or pepperoni with a little cream cheese. You

might also try extended release Alpha Lipoic Acid - 300 mg (Jarrow) before

bed. You can get it at www.iherb.com. A powerful antioxidant, ALA has been

shown to help prevent and repair neuropathy and is very helpful with insulin

resistance.

Let us know how it goes. I'd can the fruit idea right now!

Barb

[Guest guest]

> I've tested at various times in the morning. Normally, I wake up at 7:35

> and am out of the apartment at 8:05, I eat breakfast within an hour of

> arriving at work, between 9 and 10. I have found that my blood sugars are

> between 5 and 10 points lower if I test right out of bed instead of as

soon

> as I get to work. But isn't it still a problem that they get higher by

the

> time I get there? I wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small

> cracker with cream cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

> peaking? I know if I just ate breakfast at home, not at work, I would be

> ravenous all morning.

**You're right. I use Atkins Breakfast Bars for this - 110 calories, few

carbs. And, if you eat a protein breakfast, rather than carbs, you will

find you won't be hungry at all until lunch. It's the carbs the bounce your

sugar around that gets you so hungry after eating it.

> It seems like eating dinner earlier may be the key, but I also worry that

I

> won't be able to fall asleep with nighttime munchies. I'll try my best,

> though,

***Again, protein and fat will assuage your cravings. And the lower carbs

you eat, the sooner your cravings will dissipate all together. It does take

awhile for the body to adjust.

Barb

[Guest guest]

> I've tested at various times in the morning. Normally, I wake up at 7:35

> and am out of the apartment at 8:05, I eat breakfast within an hour of

> arriving at work, between 9 and 10. I have found that my blood sugars are

> between 5 and 10 points lower if I test right out of bed instead of as

soon

> as I get to work. But isn't it still a problem that they get higher by

the

> time I get there? I wonder if eating a breakfast snack, like a small

> cracker with cream cheese or peanut butter, might minimize my later

> peaking? I know if I just ate breakfast at home, not at work, I would be

> ravenous all morning.

**You're right. I use Atkins Breakfast Bars for this - 110 calories, few

carbs. And, if you eat a protein breakfast, rather than carbs, you will

find you won't be hungry at all until lunch. It's the carbs the bounce your

sugar around that gets you so hungry after eating it.

> It seems like eating dinner earlier may be the key, but I also worry that

I

> won't be able to fall asleep with nighttime munchies. I'll try my best,

> though,

***Again, protein and fat will assuage your cravings. And the lower carbs

you eat, the sooner your cravings will dissipate all together. It does take

awhile for the body to adjust.

Barb

[Guest guest]

I subscribe to about 6 different diabetes mailing lists, so I

had about 100 new messages this morning at work. Forgive

me if I missed anyone who replied to me. Also, with all these

lists, it's hard to remember what I've said and where. I'll try to

answer all the questions you guys asked me. : )

I was diagnosed type 2 in December and I've been trying to

control it with exercise, meds, and diet. I'm about 60-80

pounds overweight, 60 over the weight I'd like to be and 80

over the weight the charts say I should be. So losing weight

would definitely improve my insulin resistance. I'm 25 (I turn

26 on Sunday, I hate getting older!) so I'm hoping to put off

injecting insulin for at least a decade or two. I take 1000 mg

of glucophage XR, either with dinner or right after it. The

reason the endo put me on it was to help with my morning

sugars; it's really helped with my sugars the rest of the day,

but not the morning. I started taking 500 mg on 12/27 and

1000 on 1/3. The CDE said we could up the dosage but

she wants to see if exercising later will help.

In terms of crackers, I eat a piece of Wasa rye crispbread

with only 4 carbs. Dipping it in hummus (I know, carbs there,

but I try not to go overboard) or smearing it with cream

cheese and sundried tomatoes makes it a nice substitute

for higher carbs crackers that I'm used to eating, plus I'm

getting the benefits of more fiber. This kind of cracker

(is calling it a cracker misleading?) is okay, right?

My daytime sugars are great, so I'm hesitant to mess

with a routine that's been successful so far. Breakfast is

a sausage egg mcmuffin with cheese, I throw away half

the muffin. Lunch is a marinated grilled chicken breast

from home diced up and mixed with a Mcs garden

salad and ranch dressing. My numbers stay in the 90's

throughout the day. I don't need a lot of variety in what I

eat, so I'm happy eating the same things for breakfast

and lunch everyday.

I work in Chicago and live in a suburb, I take the train

everyday. Although I don't generally mind the trip, the

thought of eating on a crowded sweaty smelly city train

is very unappetizing.

I treated myself and ate a higher carb dinner last night,

chinese orange chicken and pot stickers. This is one

of my favorite meals and I only get it on special

occasions, like after I've reported my blood sugars

to my CDE like yesterday. So these numbers that

I'm about to report are somewhat higher than usual.

I did exercise for 10 minutes last night on a glider that

I have, I just got it and right now 10 minutes is about all

I can handle on it. When the weather gets warmer, I

plan to do nightly walks. Anyway, I tested my blood 3

times this morning, at 5:34 when I woke to take a

shower, at 7:52 right after I officially woke up, and at

8:55 when I got to work. I didn't eat anything until after

the third testing. My sugars were 123-146-156, so

they are definitely on the rise until breakfast. Maybe

over the weekend I can wake up and test at random

times during the night and see if I have a bit of a

hypo dip in there.

Thanks again for the ideas, everyone. I'll keep

experimenting with snacks, exercise, and testing

times and see if I can figure out a routine that works.

I'll let you know. Sorry this is so long!

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*

[Guest guest]

I subscribe to about 6 different diabetes mailing lists, so I

had about 100 new messages this morning at work. Forgive

me if I missed anyone who replied to me. Also, with all these

lists, it's hard to remember what I've said and where. I'll try to

answer all the questions you guys asked me. : )

I was diagnosed type 2 in December and I've been trying to

control it with exercise, meds, and diet. I'm about 60-80

pounds overweight, 60 over the weight I'd like to be and 80

over the weight the charts say I should be. So losing weight

would definitely improve my insulin resistance. I'm 25 (I turn

26 on Sunday, I hate getting older!) so I'm hoping to put off

injecting insulin for at least a decade or two. I take 1000 mg

of glucophage XR, either with dinner or right after it. The

reason the endo put me on it was to help with my morning

sugars; it's really helped with my sugars the rest of the day,

but not the morning. I started taking 500 mg on 12/27 and

1000 on 1/3. The CDE said we could up the dosage but

she wants to see if exercising later will help.

In terms of crackers, I eat a piece of Wasa rye crispbread

with only 4 carbs. Dipping it in hummus (I know, carbs there,

but I try not to go overboard) or smearing it with cream

cheese and sundried tomatoes makes it a nice substitute

for higher carbs crackers that I'm used to eating, plus I'm

getting the benefits of more fiber. This kind of cracker

(is calling it a cracker misleading?) is okay, right?

My daytime sugars are great, so I'm hesitant to mess

with a routine that's been successful so far. Breakfast is

a sausage egg mcmuffin with cheese, I throw away half

the muffin. Lunch is a marinated grilled chicken breast

from home diced up and mixed with a Mcs garden

salad and ranch dressing. My numbers stay in the 90's

throughout the day. I don't need a lot of variety in what I

eat, so I'm happy eating the same things for breakfast

and lunch everyday.

I work in Chicago and live in a suburb, I take the train

everyday. Although I don't generally mind the trip, the

thought of eating on a crowded sweaty smelly city train

is very unappetizing.

I treated myself and ate a higher carb dinner last night,

chinese orange chicken and pot stickers. This is one

of my favorite meals and I only get it on special

occasions, like after I've reported my blood sugars

to my CDE like yesterday. So these numbers that

I'm about to report are somewhat higher than usual.

I did exercise for 10 minutes last night on a glider that

I have, I just got it and right now 10 minutes is about all

I can handle on it. When the weather gets warmer, I

plan to do nightly walks. Anyway, I tested my blood 3

times this morning, at 5:34 when I woke to take a

shower, at 7:52 right after I officially woke up, and at

8:55 when I got to work. I didn't eat anything until after

the third testing. My sugars were 123-146-156, so

they are definitely on the rise until breakfast. Maybe

over the weekend I can wake up and test at random

times during the night and see if I have a bit of a

hypo dip in there.

Thanks again for the ideas, everyone. I'll keep

experimenting with snacks, exercise, and testing

times and see if I can figure out a routine that works.

I'll let you know. Sorry this is so long!

Sharon Olsen

Research Associate

Lexecon Inc

*I would have made this instrumental but the words got in the way*