Use your meter

Jim Warren said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

10!!! - oh dear..........

Quoted message said:

I also tried it on milk.

Quoted message said:

before Ritz 158

With that reading before I wouldn't have done it. Certainly not ten.

Quoted message said:

one hour later 193 two hours later 210

Quoted message said:

Will anything you eat raise your blood sugar?

Yes. The big question you have to answer is by how much and over what period of time. Obvious carb
content will do it every time.

Quoted message said:

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Not necessarily but certainly not in that quantity!

Quoted message said:

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Quoted message said:

Should I avoid milk?

Not necessarily, but as a drink it might be inadviseable.

Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide
+ Asprin 210lbs at Dx to target 174lbs achieved. To mail: aspen3 at freeuk.com

Both the milk and the Ritz are items that contain carb, especially the crackers. Obviously, from
your test results you now know that the Ritz are not a wisw idea. You were high before you ate them.
I eat VERY low carb if my BG is above 110 before a snack or meal. Portion is also a concern. You may
find, in time, that you can eat 2 Ritz crackers but 10 will do a number on you, literally. The milk
also has carbs. Again, portion might make the difference. How much milk did you drink? There's
around 10 carbs in 1cup of milk. It's very easy to down several cups and not realize it. Whole milk
is actually the lowest carb and easiest on BG because the fat slows it down. I use skim milk to
treat hypos. You're heading in the right direction. A lot of it is learning to rethink food.

Oh, and regards to your other post, you don't have to like lima beans. You can always do
broccoli. ;>😉 c

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

I also tried it on milk.

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210 Will anything you eat raise your
blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Should I avoid milk?

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

I also tried it on milk.

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210 Will anything you eat raise your
blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Should I avoid milk?

I've told you before to see a dietician, and I will say it again. SEE A DIETICIAN!

Ritz Crackers are not good for you. They are not good for anyone! They contain highly refined flour
and probably trans-fats. If it is crackers you want, then look for whole grain ones, preferably with
no trans-fats. They're harder to find and probably more expensive, but better for you.

As for the raising BG, carbohydrates will raise it more than other foods. What are carbohydrates?
Things like flour, rice, pasta, bread, crackers, sugar, honey, corn syrup, sweets, fruit, fruit
juice, pancakes, cereal, peas, corn, dried beans (including Lima beans), potatoes, some sauces, milk
the list goes on and on. Eat more of these things than your body can handle and you'll have high BG!

Some foods contain carbs, but such a small amount that it isn't enough to raise your BG unless you
eat a large quantity. This list would include cottage cheese, some hard cheese, some lunch meats,
green beans, lettuce, spinach, carrots, celery, again, the list goes on and on.

Get into the habit of reading nutrition labels. Get yourself a book that lists the various food
counts. This is helpful when dining out or when you have a prepared food with no nutrition label.
"The Complete Book of Food Counts", but Corinne Netzer is a great book and you'll probably find it
in the paperback section of your local drug or grocery store.

Protein will also raise BG, but to a lesser extent. Fat delays the absorption of carbs. So a little
fat in a meal is good. A lot of fat is not. Why? Because you might test fine at the 2 hour mark, but
then have a spike (high BG) an hour or two later. Or worse still, you may have a hypo (low BG) at
the 2 hour mark and then eat some carbs to bring your BG back up to normal. Then *wham*, an hour or
two later, those carbs from your high fat meal dump into your system, which by now is probably
normal BG, and you'll wind up with even higher BG.

The best thing to do when eating is not to consume carbs by themselves. This will raise your BG
quickly. If you want crackers, eat them with some cheese, meat or peanut butter. This will help to
slow down how fast those carbs hit your system and will also help them to stick around a bit longer,
making your BG less likely to wild ups and downs.

Now there is an exception to this. When you are having a hypo (low BG) you want straight carbs. And
the more straight the better! Here, I'm talking about hard candy, jelly beans, Sweet [censored], juice,
skim milk, regular soda, etc. During a hypo, you want to bring your BG up as quickly as possible.

But now back to the specifics of what you ate/drank:

Quoted message said:

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210

You started at 158. This number is too high to begin with. At this number you should have eaten
little to no carbs. Why did you eat then? Was it a craving? Was it hunger? What you need to do is
find some foods that you can eat between meals that won't affect your BG as much. Some examples are:
Hard boiled eggs, beef jerky (but watch the carb count), olives, nuts, cheese, cold meat, pickles,
raw veggies, sugar free Jell-O (the gelatin, not the pudding), sugar free Popsicles, hot broth, or
leftover cooked veggies. Leftover cooked veggies can be added to broth to make it more substantial.

Your jump from 158 to 193 and then to 210 is probably to be expected. Each 5 g of carb that you eat
will raise your BG about 15 points. Now keep in mind that these numbers apply to a test tube/lab
type setting. The human body has so many other variables, such as exercise, stress, hormonal levels,
illness, other foods eaten along with the carbs, etc. But it is a good general rule of thumb.

Another general good rule of thumb is to remember that if you eat a food with less than 4 g of carb,
less then 25 calories, and no fat, it probably isn't going to raise your BG, so long as you stick to
the one serving of it. Some of my foods on the above list, like olives, cheese and nuts, might have
more calories and fat. They might not raise your BG, but they could add to your waistline. So you
must consider that before eating them.

Quoted message said:

Will anything you eat raise your blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Your 158 was too high. 187 is WAY too high and no way should you be consuming carbs now.

If you feel the need to eat between meals, you must consider why. Did you normally snack before
diabetes? If so, then you could shift some of your food from your meals and eat that food at
snack time.

Are you hungry between meals? I suspect you might be. I say this because the numbers you've shown
are too high. When your BG is too high, you can be VERY hungry. Reason being, your cells are
starving because of the high BG. No amount of food will cure this. The only way to lessen this
hunger is to get your BG down to where it should be and keep it there. Tell yourself that it is
normal to feel really crappy, cranky, hungry, etc. for about two weeks while your body is adjusting.
I remember this time period well, and it wasn't any fun! Tough it out and soon you'll feel better.

Are you getting hypos or hypo symptoms? I went through a period of time where I had frequent hypos
between meals. I don't normally snack, but I had to do it then just to keep my BG up. I have other
medical problems besides diabetes, and those came into play. But you can have hypo symptoms without
having an actual hypo (low BG). If you are feeling shaky, dizzy, light headed, sweaty, headachy,
sleepy, etc., but do not have actual low BG, then eat something with 5 g of carb. This will raise
your BG a little bit. So you don't want to do this very often. Only do it if you are feeling so
sick that you can't stand it. The 5 g of carbs will be enough to make you feel better, but you
don't want to get into the habit of using this for a crutch or you'll never get your BG down to
where it should be.

Again, I must stress the importance of seeing a dietician. You seem to know very little about food.
For many of us, there are no good foods or bad foods. It all boils down to portion size. If you
really want Ritz crackers, or milk, tell the dietician this. He or she might try to steer you away
from the Ritz and in the direction of a healthier cracker, but if they are important to you, make
your needs be known. These things did raise your BG, but your BG was already too high before you had
them. The amount they raised your BG was not overly spiky though.

A healthy diet is important, but it must also be a diet you can stick to. As I said in my other
post, I love beans. If I had a dietician tell me I could no longer eat them, I'd probably effect a
very dramatic suicide attempt right there on her desk. Hehe. Some things I simply refuse to give up!

Some people do find that they can no longer eat certain foods. Popcorn is that food for me. Oddly,
it worked really well for me for a while, but now it does not. I do try it again every once in a
while and then the next morning I am kicking myself because my BG is too high.

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

I read some of the replies and agree its all good advice, just wanted to add my 2 cents. I just
wanted to make sure you are factoring in activity levels and fasting levels when using your meter
to check the effects a specific food will have on your BG. Anyone can correct me on this if I am
wrong (I am T1) but your results will be more accurate if fasting and resting. You can adjust for
activity later.

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

I also tried it on milk.

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210 Will anything you eat raise your
blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Should I avoid milk?

On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 10:22:20 -0500, Jim Warren <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours before Ritz 158
one hour later 193 two hours later 210

Quoted message said:

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Howdy Jim,

Sounds like you should avoid too many carbs anytime YOU are over 120. Or add fat and or protein to
the carbs when you eat them.

If it had be me, and when I tested I was 158, I would not have had the crackers or the milk. I would
have had a chicken breast and some veggies instead. Or maybe peanut butter and the crackers.

Quoted message said:

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211 Should I avoid milk?

Depends on how well you do having milk with other items that are not carbs.

Quoted message said:

Will anything you eat raise your blood sugar?

Depends on what your bg levels were before eating the foods and how many grams of carbs, fat and or
protein you consumed.

You're getting some pretty good advice, typical of what I found in this newsgroup. You'll soon know
which foods are more likely to shoot your bg up. You are to be congratulated on one thing, though -
You're using your meter to find out the effect of eating different foods. Every time I try a new
food I measure bg after at the intervals you mentiond and at other times. I measure the effect of
the same food when eaten at different times of day. After all is said about the food's carb content,
it is interesting to know exactly what effect it has on your bg. When I was diagnosed I did see a
dietician, however she must have been having a bad day - first I got the idea that ANY food was
evil, then I got the other idea that bread was good for me! This newsgroup and my meter soon woke me
up to the significance of eating too many carbs.

Henry

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

I also tried it on milk.

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210 Will anything you eat raise your
blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Should I avoid milk?

Quoted message said:

Jim Warren <[email hidden]> WROTE: Will anything you eat raise your blood sugar?

Just about anything except ice cubes & water!

Some items are lower in carbs than other items, but, contrary to the crazy diet advice that many
Type 2's seem to delight in giving out, a diabetic, Type 1 or Type 2, can eat anything that anyone
else can eat. You just have to have the right amount. That amount can vary depending on your BG, the
exercise you plan on getting shortly after eating, and your medication. Overdoing most any food item
is not good, but you do not need to give up stuff that you like, unless, of course, you want to lose
weight, which you need to do.

There are exchange lists that will allow proper substitutions for any food item. Your dietitian
should have explained all of this to you.

You are also incorrect in thinking that you were put on a 3500 calorie diet. Chances are, you made a
mistake. In case no one ever told you, anyone who weighs nearly 300 lbs, is a fat pig. Even 2500
calories would maintain that weight. It not only makes it hard to control your diabetes, but it also
makes you a likely candidate for open-heart surgery. 290 is 2 much. The reason that you think you
look thin at a normal weight is because you are use to what you are. And, no one has told you that
you are F_A_T.

Now, you can't go on a crazy diet. Especially some of these Type 2 weird diets. There is nothing
wrong with meat, potatoes & vegetables. But, you need to know the amounts to have, and your
medication needs to be adjusted accordingly. As you are overweight, a slightly low carb diet
wouldn't hurt. I suspect that for you, low carb would be about 2000 calories per day. It would be
better than no diet at all. You can eat Ritz crackers for a snack. I think they are great with
Peanut Butter. However, not when the blood sugar is already at an after meal level. If you are going
to a gym to work out, or planning to run around the block two or three times, then you might
tolerate some crackers.

Go back to the dietitian and tell her you need more instructions, and a specific diet routine. Maybe
you need to take your ex-wife with you.

I did see a dietician at the best hospital in town. According to my exwife I litterly wrapped her
around my little finger.

She put me on a 3500 calorie per day diet.

My ex wanted to kill her.

There are no absolutes

Jim

Julie Bove said:

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

I also tried it on milk.

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210 Will anything you eat raise your
blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Should I avoid milk?

I've told you before to see a dietician, and I will say it again. SEE A DIETICIAN!

Ritz Crackers are not good for you. They are not good for anyone! They contain highly refined flour
and probably trans-fats. If it is crackers you want, then look for whole grain ones, preferably
with no trans-fats. They're harder to find and probably more expensive, but better for you.

As for the raising BG, carbohydrates will raise it more than other foods. What are
carbohydrates? Things like flour, rice, pasta, bread, crackers, sugar, honey, corn syrup,
sweets, fruit, fruit juice, pancakes, cereal, peas, corn, dried beans (including Lima beans),
potatoes, some sauces, milk the list goes on and on. Eat more of these things than your body can
handle and you'll have high BG!

Some foods contain carbs, but such a small amount that it isn't enough to raise your BG unless you
eat a large quantity. This list would include cottage cheese, some hard cheese, some lunch meats,
green beans, lettuce, spinach, carrots, celery, again, the list goes on and on.

Get into the habit of reading nutrition labels. Get yourself a book that lists the various food
counts. This is helpful when dining out or when you have a prepared food with no nutrition label.
"The Complete Book of Food Counts", but Corinne Netzer is a great book and you'll probably find it
in the paperback section of your local drug or grocery store.

Protein will also raise BG, but to a lesser extent. Fat delays the absorption of carbs. So a little
fat in a meal is good. A lot of fat is not. Why? Because you might test fine at the 2 hour mark,
but then have a spike (high BG) an hour or two later. Or worse still, you may have a hypo (low BG)
at the 2 hour mark and then eat some carbs to bring your BG back up to normal. Then *wham*, an hour
or two later, those carbs from your high fat meal dump into your system, which by now is probably
normal BG, and you'll wind up with even higher BG.

The best thing to do when eating is not to consume carbs by themselves. This will raise your BG
quickly. If you want crackers, eat them with some cheese, meat or peanut butter. This will help to
slow down how fast those carbs hit your system and will also help them to stick around a bit
longer, making your BG less likely to wild ups and downs.

Now there is an exception to this. When you are having a hypo (low BG) you want straight carbs. And
the more straight the better! Here, I'm talking about hard candy, jelly beans, Sweet [censored], juice,
skim milk, regular soda, etc. During a hypo, you want to bring your BG up as quickly as possible.

But now back to the specifics of what you ate/drank:

Quoted message said:

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210

You started at 158. This number is too high to begin with. At this number you should have eaten
little to no carbs. Why did you eat then? Was it a craving? Was it hunger? What you need to do is
find some foods that you can eat between meals that won't affect your BG as much. Some examples
are: Hard boiled eggs, beef jerky (but watch the carb count), olives, nuts, cheese, cold meat,
pickles, raw veggies, sugar free Jell-O (the gelatin, not the pudding), sugar free Popsicles, hot
broth, or leftover cooked veggies. Leftover cooked veggies can be added to broth to make it more
substantial.

Your jump from 158 to 193 and then to 210 is probably to be expected. Each 5 g of carb that you
eat will raise your BG about 15 points. Now keep in mind that these numbers apply to a test
tube/lab type setting. The human body has so many other variables, such as exercise, stress,
hormonal levels, illness, other foods eaten along with the carbs, etc. But it is a good general
rule of thumb.

Another general good rule of thumb is to remember that if you eat a food with less than 4 g of
carb, less then 25 calories, and no fat, it probably isn't going to raise your BG, so long as you
stick to the one serving of it. Some of my foods on the above list, like olives, cheese and nuts,
might have more calories and fat. They might not raise your BG, but they could add to your
waistline. So you must consider that before eating them.

Quoted message said:

Will anything you eat raise your blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Your 158 was too high. 187 is WAY too high and no way should you be consuming carbs now.

If you feel the need to eat between meals, you must consider why. Did you normally snack before
diabetes? If so, then you could shift some of your food from your meals and eat that food at
snack time.

Are you hungry between meals? I suspect you might be. I say this because the numbers you've shown
are too high. When your BG is too high, you can be VERY hungry. Reason being, your cells are
starving because of the high BG. No amount of food will cure this. The only way to lessen this
hunger is to get your BG down to where it should be and keep it there. Tell yourself that it is
normal to feel really crappy, cranky, hungry, etc. for about two weeks while your body is
adjusting. I remember this time period well, and it wasn't any fun! Tough it out and soon you'll
feel better.

Are you getting hypos or hypo symptoms? I went through a period of time where I had frequent hypos
between meals. I don't normally snack, but I had to do it then just to keep my BG up. I have other
medical problems besides diabetes, and those came into play. But you can have hypo symptoms without
having an actual hypo (low BG). If you are feeling shaky, dizzy, light headed, sweaty, headachy,
sleepy, etc., but do not have actual low BG, then eat something with 5 g of carb. This will raise
your BG a little bit. So you don't want to do this very often. Only do it if you are feeling so
sick that you can't stand it. The 5 g of carbs will be enough to make you feel better, but you
don't want to get into the habit of using this for a crutch or you'll never get your BG down to
where it should be.

Again, I must stress the importance of seeing a dietician. You seem to know very little about food.
For many of us, there are no good foods or bad foods. It all boils down to portion size. If you
really want Ritz crackers, or milk, tell the dietician this. He or she might try to steer you away
from the Ritz and in the direction of a healthier cracker, but if they are important to you, make
your needs be known. These things did raise your BG, but your BG was already too high before you
had them. The amount they raised your BG was not overly spiky though.

A healthy diet is important, but it must also be a diet you can stick to. As I said in my other
post, I love beans. If I had a dietician tell me I could no longer eat them, I'd probably
effect a very dramatic suicide attempt right there on her desk. Hehe. Some things I simply
refuse to give up!

Some people do find that they can no longer eat certain foods. Popcorn is that food for me. Oddly,
it worked really well for me for a while, but now it does not. I do try it again every once in a
while and then the next morning I am kicking myself because my BG is too high.

Hi Jule,

Thankyou for your detailed responce, I really appreciate it.

I am a chemist by training and someone who whats to control diabetes.

For several years I have been clinically depressed and after the divorce I got treatment for the
depression and am now thinking a lot more clearly.

For several years now my BG's have been over 250. This scares me and I want to get it down to 120's.

I ate the crackers because I noticed the carb content on the package and wanted to do my first one
and two hour test to determine what the effect would be.

I think if I totally understand the food/bg effect I will be in control instead of being out
of control.

Anyway this is the first step in a one thousand mile journey and I really appreciate everyones help.

Thanks Jim

Julie Bove said:

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

I also tried it on milk.

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210 Will anything you eat raise your
blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Should I avoid milk?

I've told you before to see a dietician, and I will say it again. SEE A DIETICIAN!

Ritz Crackers are not good for you. They are not good for anyone! They contain highly refined flour
and probably trans-fats. If it is crackers you want, then look for whole grain ones, preferably
with no trans-fats. They're harder to find and probably more expensive, but better for you.

As for the raising BG, carbohydrates will raise it more than other foods. What are
carbohydrates? Things like flour, rice, pasta, bread, crackers, sugar, honey, corn syrup,
sweets, fruit, fruit juice, pancakes, cereal, peas, corn, dried beans (including Lima beans),
potatoes, some sauces, milk the list goes on and on. Eat more of these things than your body can
handle and you'll have high BG!

Some foods contain carbs, but such a small amount that it isn't enough to raise your BG unless you
eat a large quantity. This list would include cottage cheese, some hard cheese, some lunch meats,
green beans, lettuce, spinach, carrots, celery, again, the list goes on and on.

Get into the habit of reading nutrition labels. Get yourself a book that lists the various food
counts. This is helpful when dining out or when you have a prepared food with no nutrition label.
"The Complete Book of Food Counts", but Corinne Netzer is a great book and you'll probably find it
in the paperback section of your local drug or grocery store.

Protein will also raise BG, but to a lesser extent. Fat delays the absorption of carbs. So a little
fat in a meal is good. A lot of fat is not. Why? Because you might test fine at the 2 hour mark,
but then have a spike (high BG) an hour or two later. Or worse still, you may have a hypo (low BG)
at the 2 hour mark and then eat some carbs to bring your BG back up to normal. Then *wham*, an hour
or two later, those carbs from your high fat meal dump into your system, which by now is probably
normal BG, and you'll wind up with even higher BG.

The best thing to do when eating is not to consume carbs by themselves. This will raise your BG
quickly. If you want crackers, eat them with some cheese, meat or peanut butter. This will help to
slow down how fast those carbs hit your system and will also help them to stick around a bit
longer, making your BG less likely to wild ups and downs.

Now there is an exception to this. When you are having a hypo (low BG) you want straight carbs. And
the more straight the better! Here, I'm talking about hard candy, jelly beans, Sweet [censored], juice,
skim milk, regular soda, etc. During a hypo, you want to bring your BG up as quickly as possible.

But now back to the specifics of what you ate/drank:

Quoted message said:

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210

You started at 158. This number is too high to begin with. At this number you should have eaten
little to no carbs. Why did you eat then? Was it a craving? Was it hunger? What you need to do is
find some foods that you can eat between meals that won't affect your BG as much. Some examples
are: Hard boiled eggs, beef jerky (but watch the carb count), olives, nuts, cheese, cold meat,
pickles, raw veggies, sugar free Jell-O (the gelatin, not the pudding), sugar free Popsicles, hot
broth, or leftover cooked veggies. Leftover cooked veggies can be added to broth to make it more
substantial.

Your jump from 158 to 193 and then to 210 is probably to be expected. Each 5 g of carb that you
eat will raise your BG about 15 points. Now keep in mind that these numbers apply to a test
tube/lab type setting. The human body has so many other variables, such as exercise, stress,
hormonal levels, illness, other foods eaten along with the carbs, etc. But it is a good general
rule of thumb.

Another general good rule of thumb is to remember that if you eat a food with less than 4 g of
carb, less then 25 calories, and no fat, it probably isn't going to raise your BG, so long as you
stick to the one serving of it. Some of my foods on the above list, like olives, cheese and nuts,
might have more calories and fat. They might not raise your BG, but they could add to your
waistline. So you must consider that before eating them.

Quoted message said:

Will anything you eat raise your blood sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Your 158 was too high. 187 is WAY too high and no way should you be consuming carbs now.

If you feel the need to eat between meals, you must consider why. Did you normally snack before
diabetes? If so, then you could shift some of your food from your meals and eat that food at
snack time.

Are you hungry between meals? I suspect you might be. I say this because the numbers you've shown
are too high. When your BG is too high, you can be VERY hungry. Reason being, your cells are
starving because of the high BG. No amount of food will cure this. The only way to lessen this
hunger is to get your BG down to where it should be and keep it there. Tell yourself that it is
normal to feel really crappy, cranky, hungry, etc. for about two weeks while your body is
adjusting. I remember this time period well, and it wasn't any fun! Tough it out and soon you'll
feel better.

Are you getting hypos or hypo symptoms? I went through a period of time where I had frequent hypos
between meals. I don't normally snack, but I had to do it then just to keep my BG up. I have other
medical problems besides diabetes, and those came into play. But you can have hypo symptoms without
having an actual hypo (low BG). If you are feeling shaky, dizzy, light headed, sweaty, headachy,
sleepy, etc., but do not have actual low BG, then eat something with 5 g of carb. This will raise
your BG a little bit. So you don't want to do this very often. Only do it if you are feeling so
sick that you can't stand it. The 5 g of carbs will be enough to make you feel better, but you
don't want to get into the habit of using this for a crutch or you'll never get your BG down to
where it should be.

Again, I must stress the importance of seeing a dietician. You seem to know very little about food.
For many of us, there are no good foods or bad foods. It all boils down to portion size. If you
really want Ritz crackers, or milk, tell the dietician this. He or she might try to steer you away
from the Ritz and in the direction of a healthier cracker, but if they are important to you, make
your needs be known. These things did raise your BG, but your BG was already too high before you
had them. The amount they raised your BG was not overly spiky though.

A healthy diet is important, but it must also be a diet you can stick to. As I said in my other
post, I love beans. If I had a dietician tell me I could no longer eat them, I'd probably
effect a very dramatic suicide attempt right there on her desk. Hehe. Some things I simply
refuse to give up!

Some people do find that they can no longer eat certain foods. Popcorn is that food for me. Oddly,
it worked really well for me for a while, but now it does not. I do try it again every once in a
while and then the next morning I am kicking myself because my BG is too high.

Ditto - I agree. having indulged in a big croissant this morning, and having my bg go up from 130
fasting to over 260 an hour later, I hopped on my bicycle for about half an hour and came back with
my bg at a much nicer 93. I try to make excercise a focal point of my diabetes management. (Try, but
sadly do not always succeed....)

Henry

"vguidera" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I read some of the replies and agree its all good advice, just wanted to

add

Quoted message said:

my 2 cents. I just wanted to make sure you are factoring in activity

levels

Quoted message said:

and fasting levels when using your meter to check the effects a specific food will have on your
BG. Anyone can correct me on this if I am wrong (I am T1) but your results will be more accurate
if fasting and resting. You can adjust for activity later.

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours

I also tried it on milk.

before Ritz 158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210 Will anything you eat raise your blood
sugar?

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211

Should I avoid milk?

will the protein and fat counter act just what you are eating or will it help bring down the
blood sugar?

Vegetables are carbohydrate? How do they react to refined carbs? Or as the book says do their fiber
content subtract from the sugar content?

Thank yiou for your reply Jim

BlkBear said:

Jim Warren said:

I used the meter to test the effect of eating 10 Ritz crackers at one and two hours before Ritz
158 one hour later 193 two hours later 210

Quoted message said:

I take it I should avoid Ritz Crackers?

Howdy Jim,

Sounds like you should avoid too many carbs anytime YOU are over 120. Or add fat and or protein to
the carbs when you eat them.

If it had be me, and when I tested I was 158, I would not have had the crackers or the milk. I
would have had a chicken breast and some veggies instead. Or maybe peanut butter and the crackers.

Quoted message said:

Milk (2%) was 187 one hour 211 Should I avoid milk?

Depends on how well you do having milk with other items that are not carbs.

Quoted message said:

Will anything you eat raise your blood sugar?

Depends on what your bg levels were before eating the foods and how many grams of carbs, fat and or
protein you consumed.

Jim Warren wrote in message <[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi Jule,

Thankyou for your detailed responce, I really appreciate it.

I am a chemist by training and someone who whats to control diabetes.

For several years I have been clinically depressed and after the divorce I got treatment for the
depression and am now thinking a lot more clearly.

For several years now my BG's have been over 250. This scares me and I want to get it down
to 120's.

I ate the crackers because I noticed the carb content on the package and wanted to do my first one
and two hour test to determine what the effect would be.

I think if I totally understand the food/bg effect I will be in control instead of being out
of control.

Anyway this is the first step in a one thousand mile journey and I really appreciate
everyones help.

Thanks Jim

Nice that you're "eating to the meter". However, you seem to be doing research on the Glycemic
Index and Glycemic Load of various foods.

Try for a shortcut, read Mendosa before you do too much research:

diabetes.about.comngilists.htmOpen ↗

BTW: So far, you're trying to eat like a T1 on Insulin. . .won't work for most T2 unless they
use insulin.

Regards Old Al (A retired engineer watching 35 years in the Chemical Industry recede in his rear
view mirrow)

Jim Warren said:

Hi Jule,

Thankyou for your detailed responce, I really appreciate it.

I am a chemist by training and someone who whats to control diabetes.

For several years I have been clinically depressed and after the divorce I got treatment for the
depression and am now thinking a lot more clearly.

For several years now my BG's have been over 250. This scares me and I want to get it down
to 120's.

I ate the crackers because I noticed the carb content on the package and wanted to do my first one
and two hour test to determine what the effect would be.

I think if I totally understand the food/bg effect I will be in control instead of being out
of control.

Anyway this is the first step in a one thousand mile journey and I really appreciate
everyones help.

Thanks Jim

Hi Jim

Julie and Old Al and others have given you some great advice. I did a little googling, because I've
noticed a pattern here, where you seem to be experimenting with different specific foods - wheat,
lima beans, fruit, now ritz crackers and milk.

After earlier advice from myself and others, I presume you have read Jennifer's test,test,test
advice. That is good, but you may have misunderstood it slightly.

The idea is to find out what effects the foods you are eating, in normal quantities, have on you.
There is no need to deliberately over-indulge in something to see the effect. That is dangerous;
particularly when you start from a high BG base and increase it further. You may not think it is
high; we certainly do.

You will find that the opposite is the real problem - very small quantities can have unexpected
effects. For example, a single slice of toast can raise my BG too high at breakfast, although I can
eat one comfortably later in the day.

Use the testing to eliminate the dangerous foods and discover when you can eat the less
dangerous ones.

In googling, I could not find a mention of your weight. Are you overweight, and if so, by how much?

Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002, diet and exercise.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

"Jim Warren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I did see a dietician at the best hospital in town. According to my exwife I litterly wrapped her
around my little finger.

She put me on a 3500 calorie per day diet.

My ex wanted to kill her.

There are no absolutes

Then you need to see her again for an explanation of various foods and how to read nutrition labels.
Either you didn't pick up what she said, or she wasn't a very good dietician. I can't explain the
3500 calorie part.

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

Hi Alan

I am 6'4" and 290 lbs. My ideal weight is about 195. When I weighted 205 people thought i was
anarextic (sp). I look good at 220.

Alan said:

Jim Warren said:

Hi Jule,

Thankyou for your detailed responce, I really appreciate it.

I am a chemist by training and someone who whats to control diabetes.

For several years I have been clinically depressed and after the divorce I got treatment for the
depression and am now thinking a lot more clearly.

For several years now my BG's have been over 250. This scares me and I want to get it down
to 120's.

I ate the crackers because I noticed the carb content on the package and wanted to do my first one
and two hour test to determine what the effect would be.

I think if I totally understand the food/bg effect I will be in control instead of being out of
control.

Anyway this is the first step in a one thousand mile journey and I really appreciate
everyones help.

Thanks Jim

Hi Jim

Julie and Old Al and others have given you some great advice. I did a little googling, because I've
noticed a pattern here, where you seem to be experimenting with different specific foods - wheat,
lima beans, fruit, now ritz crackers and milk.

After earlier advice from myself and others, I presume you have read Jennifer's test,test,test
advice. That is good, but you may have misunderstood it slightly.

The idea is to find out what effects the foods you are eating, in normal quantities, have on you.
There is no need to deliberately over-indulge in something to see the effect. That is dangerous;
particularly when you start from a high BG base and increase it further. You may not think it is
high; we certainly do.

You will find that the opposite is the real problem - very small quantities can have unexpected
effects. For example, a single slice of toast can raise my BG too high at breakfast, although I can
eat one comfortably later in the day.

Use the testing to eliminate the dangerous foods and discover when you can eat the less
dangerous ones.

In googling, I could not find a mention of your weight. Are you overweight, and if so, by how much?

Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002, diet and exercise.

Jim Warren said:

Hi Alan

I am 6'4" and 290 lbs. My ideal weight is about 195. When I weighted 205 people thought i was
anarextic (sp). I look good at 220.

I got to the weight the BMI suggested and those I hadn't seen for a while thought i was dying!!!
I looked at some old photo's the other day to compare. I must admit that I do not prefer the look
I have now.

Pete

[snip]

Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide
+ Asprin 210lbs at Dx to target 174lbs achieved. To mail: aspen3 at freeuk.com

Jim Warren said:

Hi Alan

I am 6'4" and 290 lbs. My ideal weight is about 195. When I weighted 205 people thought i was
anarextic (sp). I look good at 220.

Jim, you'll not only look good at 220 (or less) but it is probably the simplest and quickest way to
start getting some degree of control over your Bgs. Your heart and a lot of other overstressed
organs will also thank you.

Follow the advice you already received and you'll make it. If you want a more detailed plan email me
so I can reply direct with an attachment. Remove spam for email.

I started at 257, A1c 8.2. I'm now 198, A1c 6.2.

Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002, diet and exercise.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.