Carbing up for medical tests.

shunsweets · 06-28-2009, 12:47 PM

Hi everybody. I'm going to the Dr for the first time in years this week as I'm finally admitting that I can no longer control my BGL's with very low carb and exercise and may need meds. I've been a faithful VLC er(<20, sometimes 0) for 7 years and I'm slim and exercise every day(jog 3 miles) but still my BGL's are headed up more each week. I feel like a failure and don't know what more I could have done.

Anyway I need to be on the Standard American Diet for a few days prior to lab work so I ate extra carbs yesterday (a banana, an apple, 2 ears of corn, and oatmeal = 140 total carbs per fitday spread through the day). This morning my Fasting was 204! Usually about 120. Wow. So now I know how much VLC has been helping me but I hate to do damage to my body for 3 days for these tests. I'll be glad when they are done. It certainly is an eye opener of how crucial VLC is for control - at least with no meds.

I'm still in shock and denial that I have full blown diabetes but would like to join you guys if there is a support thread we use. I'll know more where I stand after the tests. Thanks for listening.

Leo41 · 06-28-2009, 04:05 PM

Good luck with the tests. And I'm sorry about your BG issues. You did everything you could to avoid high glucose numbers, but we can only control our bodies so much.

Thanks for the info about how low carb can help folks with BG problems. I've posted here before about the fact that my endo says that low carb eating is the only thing keeping me from full-blown diabetes. I've managed to keep my levels constant with vigilence AND the cooperation of my body.

shunsweets · 06-30-2009, 12:31 PM

Thanks for the support, Leo. I'm sure I'll get it under control with the Dr's help and I won't be going off very low carb any time in the future! I'm leaning toward meat, egg, and cheese only (and water of course). What do you think?

PMoon · 07-09-2009, 09:34 PM

Did you get your tests done? How did it go? how are you feeling now? Better I hope!

shunsweets · 07-11-2009, 01:08 PM

Got the tests done. Fasting insulin and c peptide were low so looks like I'm not making much insulin. For now the Dr just started metformin ER 500mg at bedtime and increase to 1000 in 2 weeks if fastings are still high. Hopes it will help my beta cells if there is any insulin resistance going on.

I'll be starting next week when my meds are delivered from medco. I've been reading the metformin threads and it looks like most people benefit from it if they can stand the GI effects.

Meanwhile I'm zero carbing and my BGL's are back at their usual 120 fasting, 160 after meals - not too bad.

Thanks for asking PMoon! I'm still ticked that I can no longer handle this with diet and feeling depressed about starting the whole med routine and the Dr said it's only going to get worse. What a bummer.

PMoon · 07-11-2009, 01:48 PM

Shun, I agree it's very discouraging to think that our best efforts sometimes aren't good enough. The pancreas can go out on us no matter what we do.

Kind of like that old joke about 'live healthy, die anyway.'

I hope you'll keep us updated on how it goes.

watcher513 · 07-18-2009, 04:01 PM

I guess the question is, did you have any protein with those carbs? I always heard that if you have carbs, have protein with it to balance it out.

hpjrt · 07-29-2009, 09:58 AM

Can someone explain why Shunsweets had to carb up for the tests? I thought the point of the blood tests was to find out what is happening under one's normal eating habits. That would have been VLC eating for Shunsweets. Didn't her having to "carb up" for the tests give a false result?

I guess I'm new enough to this whole Diabetic thing to just not understand about these things! LOL

Mary

shunsweets · 07-29-2009, 01:00 PM

Hi hpjrt. My Dr advised me to eat a standard amerian diet for 3 days prior to the tests for diagnostic purposes as the norms for the tests are set by the SAD. Now for treatment and ongoing monitoring we go by my results on my normal diet as the diet is the most effective treatment anyway.

And yes I always balance any carbs (if eating them at all) with protein and fat.

Leo41 · 07-29-2009, 01:48 PM

Shunsweets-

Why do you think you need to eat zero carb? My own preference is for the Diabetic Solution of Dr. Richard Bernstein. It's stricter than Atkins but based on the science of blood glucose. For example, I can't eat zero carbs because I'm hypothyroid, but Dr. B's info about 10 carbs or less per meal has been very helpful to me. For every restriction, he explains the reason in terms of controlling blood glucose.

You don't even need to buy his book; most of the basic information is on his website (although I'd buy the book for the science).

fshagan · 07-29-2009, 04:31 PM

This may not apply to you because you've been doing well for so long, but there are a number of diabetics who are LADA (latent autoimmune ... sort of Type 1.5) rather than Type II. They are often diagnosed as Type II, but have trouble controlling with diet alone.

See this person's blog post for some more on it.

shunsweets · 07-29-2009, 05:47 PM

Hi Leo. I have Dr Burnstein's book and have basically followed his guidelines for years, but now my BGL's are up even on his diet so I took it even lower, but they are still up - hence the Dr appt and metformin and whatever may come next.

Thanks fshagan - my Dr did mention LADA or MODY as possibilities as my insulin levels are low. I guess time will tell.

watcher513 · 08-01-2009, 02:40 AM

I thought the carbing up was odd too. I'd think they'd want you eating as you normally do. No A1C done evidently which seems odd since it tracks the last 3 months.

Leo41 · 08-01-2009, 04:42 AM

Shunsweets-

If your glucose is up while eating so well, I'm sure that meds are the only solution. It's a shame when the body doesn't reward our good efforts, but eating so well has kept you from complications, I'm sure. And you seem to have a good doctor who is considering all options. Good luck with this!

shunsweets · 08-01-2009, 07:50 PM

Yes Leo. That was the Dr's conclusion as well.

Thanks for your good wishes!

Watcher513 - We did do an A1c - knowing it would not be really helpful as the high blood sugar while on VLC was of fairly recent onset.

Over $1000 of blood tests (thank goodness for insurance) and a GTT. It justn't wasn't worth it to go in at zero carb status. I still was low carb by ADA standards just not near zero. Looks like my beta cells are failing. The question is is it auto immune, genetic, environmental, or just garden variety burn out.

Diabetes is so complex and can have so many iteologies - like solving a mystery.

Has no one else had to carb up, change diet, or even do a long fast/prep for medical tests? I'm surprised so many are questioning my Dr's choice on this. He's actually pretty good and very thorough.

Anyway thanks for all the support folks.

CookinsForMe · 08-02-2009, 07:59 AM

In 10 years since diabetes diagnosis I've never been asked to carb up or change diet or do any kind of fasting other than overnight fasting. It seems to me that eating carbs in preparation would give a not so accurate look at the picture of how it could be rather than an accurate picture of how it is.

I had the same problem with high bg even with beautiful, low carb eating so I started insulin a few years back and it helped for quite awhile. But I absolutely detest it and as time passed was taking massive amounts trying to get the BG back under control which is why I'm now working out and losing weight in the hopes that I can reduce the insulin or perhaps get off it.

The Dr agrees that I seem to be insulin resistant so she added metformin to my regimen.

At any rate, good luck to you on this and keep us posted on your progress.

06-28-2009, 12:47 PM	#1
shunsweets Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 358 Gallery: shunsweets Stats: 115 WOE: Bernstein's 6-12-12 Start Date: May 2003	Carbing up for medical tests. Hi everybody. I'm going to the Dr for the first time in years this week as I'm finally admitting that I can no longer control my BGL's with very low carb and exercise and may need meds. I've been a faithful VLC er(<20, sometimes 0) for 7 years and I'm slim and exercise every day(jog 3 miles) but still my BGL's are headed up more each week. I feel like a failure and don't know what more I could have done. Anyway I need to be on the Standard American Diet for a few days prior to lab work so I ate extra carbs yesterday (a banana, an apple, 2 ears of corn, and oatmeal = 140 total carbs per fitday spread through the day). This morning my Fasting was 204! Usually about 120. Wow. So now I know how much VLC has been helping me but I hate to do damage to my body for 3 days for these tests. I'll be glad when they are done. It certainly is an eye opener of how crucial VLC is for control - at least with no meds. I'm still in shock and denial that I have full blown diabetes but would like to join you guys if there is a support thread we use. I'll know more where I stand after the tests. Thanks for listening.

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06-28-2009, 04:05 PM	#2
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,446 Gallery: Leo41	Good luck with the tests. And I'm sorry about your BG issues. You did everything you could to avoid high glucose numbers, but we can only control our bodies so much. Thanks for the info about how low carb can help folks with BG problems. I've posted here before about the fact that my endo says that low carb eating is the only thing keeping me from full-blown diabetes. I've managed to keep my levels constant with vigilence AND the cooperation of my body.

06-30-2009, 12:31 PM	#3
shunsweets Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 358 Gallery: shunsweets Stats: 115 WOE: Bernstein's 6-12-12 Start Date: May 2003	Thanks for the support, Leo. I'm sure I'll get it under control with the Dr's help and I won't be going off very low carb any time in the future! I'm leaning toward meat, egg, and cheese only (and water of course). What do you think?

07-09-2009, 09:34 PM	#4
PMoon Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 404 Gallery: PMoon	Did you get your tests done? How did it go? how are you feeling now? Better I hope!

07-11-2009, 01:08 PM	#5
shunsweets Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 358 Gallery: shunsweets Stats: 115 WOE: Bernstein's 6-12-12 Start Date: May 2003	Got the tests done. Fasting insulin and c peptide were low so looks like I'm not making much insulin. For now the Dr just started metformin ER 500mg at bedtime and increase to 1000 in 2 weeks if fastings are still high. Hopes it will help my beta cells if there is any insulin resistance going on. I'll be starting next week when my meds are delivered from medco. I've been reading the metformin threads and it looks like most people benefit from it if they can stand the GI effects. Meanwhile I'm zero carbing and my BGL's are back at their usual 120 fasting, 160 after meals - not too bad. Thanks for asking PMoon! I'm still ticked that I can no longer handle this with diet and feeling depressed about starting the whole med routine and the Dr said it's only going to get worse. What a bummer.

07-11-2009, 01:48 PM	#6
PMoon Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 404 Gallery: PMoon	Shun, I agree it's very discouraging to think that our best efforts sometimes aren't good enough. The pancreas can go out on us no matter what we do. Kind of like that old joke about 'live healthy, die anyway.' I hope you'll keep us updated on how it goes.

07-18-2009, 04:01 PM	#7
watcher513 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 259 Gallery: watcher513	I guess the question is, did you have any protein with those carbs? I always heard that if you have carbs, have protein with it to balance it out.

07-29-2009, 09:58 AM	#8
hpjrt Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 74 Gallery: hpjrt	Can someone explain why Shunsweets had to carb up for the tests? I thought the point of the blood tests was to find out what is happening under one's normal eating habits. That would have been VLC eating for Shunsweets. Didn't her having to "carb up" for the tests give a false result? I guess I'm new enough to this whole Diabetic thing to just not understand about these things! LOL Mary

07-29-2009, 01:00 PM	#9
shunsweets Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 358 Gallery: shunsweets Stats: 115 WOE: Bernstein's 6-12-12 Start Date: May 2003	Hi hpjrt. My Dr advised me to eat a standard amerian diet for 3 days prior to the tests for diagnostic purposes as the norms for the tests are set by the SAD. Now for treatment and ongoing monitoring we go by my results on my normal diet as the diet is the most effective treatment anyway. And yes I always balance any carbs (if eating them at all) with protein and fat.

07-29-2009, 01:48 PM	#10
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,446 Gallery: Leo41	Shunsweets- Why do you think you need to eat zero carb? My own preference is for the Diabetic Solution of Dr. Richard Bernstein. It's stricter than Atkins but based on the science of blood glucose. For example, I can't eat zero carbs because I'm hypothyroid, but Dr. B's info about 10 carbs or less per meal has been very helpful to me. For every restriction, he explains the reason in terms of controlling blood glucose. You don't even need to buy his book; most of the basic information is on his website (although I'd buy the book for the science).

07-29-2009, 04:31 PM	#11
fshagan Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 21 Gallery: fshagan	This may not apply to you because you've been doing well for so long, but there are a number of diabetics who are LADA (latent autoimmune ... sort of Type 1.5) rather than Type II. They are often diagnosed as Type II, but have trouble controlling with diet alone. See this person's blog post for some more on it.

07-29-2009, 05:47 PM	#12
shunsweets Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 358 Gallery: shunsweets Stats: 115 WOE: Bernstein's 6-12-12 Start Date: May 2003	Hi Leo. I have Dr Burnstein's book and have basically followed his guidelines for years, but now my BGL's are up even on his diet so I took it even lower, but they are still up - hence the Dr appt and metformin and whatever may come next. Thanks fshagan - my Dr did mention LADA or MODY as possibilities as my insulin levels are low. I guess time will tell.

08-01-2009, 02:40 AM	#13
watcher513 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 259 Gallery: watcher513	I thought the carbing up was odd too. I'd think they'd want you eating as you normally do. No A1C done evidently which seems odd since it tracks the last 3 months.

08-01-2009, 04:42 AM	#14
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,446 Gallery: Leo41	Shunsweets- If your glucose is up while eating so well, I'm sure that meds are the only solution. It's a shame when the body doesn't reward our good efforts, but eating so well has kept you from complications, I'm sure. And you seem to have a good doctor who is considering all options. Good luck with this!

08-01-2009, 07:50 PM	#15
shunsweets Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 358 Gallery: shunsweets Stats: 115 WOE: Bernstein's 6-12-12 Start Date: May 2003	Yes Leo. That was the Dr's conclusion as well. Thanks for your good wishes! Watcher513 - We did do an A1c - knowing it would not be really helpful as the high blood sugar while on VLC was of fairly recent onset. Over $1000 of blood tests (thank goodness for insurance) and a GTT. It justn't wasn't worth it to go in at zero carb status. I still was low carb by ADA standards just not near zero. Looks like my beta cells are failing. The question is is it auto immune, genetic, environmental, or just garden variety burn out. Diabetes is so complex and can have so many iteologies - like solving a mystery. Has no one else had to carb up, change diet, or even do a long fast/prep for medical tests? I'm surprised so many are questioning my Dr's choice on this. He's actually pretty good and very thorough. Anyway thanks for all the support folks.

08-02-2009, 07:59 AM	#16
CookinsForMe Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northeast Texas Posts: 819 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: CookinsForMe Stats: 188.8/171.2/140 WOE: Lower carb, moderate fat, & workouts 6 days a week Start Date: 6/24/09 for the umpteenth time.	In 10 years since diabetes diagnosis I've never been asked to carb up or change diet or do any kind of fasting other than overnight fasting. It seems to me that eating carbs in preparation would give a not so accurate look at the picture of how it could be rather than an accurate picture of how it is. I had the same problem with high bg even with beautiful, low carb eating so I started insulin a few years back and it helped for quite awhile. But I absolutely detest it and as time passed was taking massive amounts trying to get the BG back under control which is why I'm now working out and losing weight in the hopes that I can reduce the insulin or perhaps get off it. The Dr agrees that I seem to be insulin resistant so she added metformin to my regimen. At any rate, good luck to you on this and keep us posted on your progress.