Question:
Can anyone tell me how to lower my blood sugar levels?
I just have 2 questions. Can anyone tell me how to lower my blood sugar levels using my diet? I am still pre-op but would like to lower these levels as much as I can prior to surgery. I don't like to cook much because I stay so busy (not exercising like I should but rather running around with the kids and hubby with their daily athletic programs). Also, is there a protein drink out there that a diabetic can drink? I've had diachrome and I wasn't all that pleased with it. It didn't mix well and in order to get the full benefits of the mix, you had to use an entire scoop but that was too much for the milk. Is there a fruit style drink that diabetics can have? Thanks, Jeneen in PA — Jeneen (posted on September 19, 2003)
September 19, 2003
I am 6 weeks post-op, and no longer need my insulin or blood pressure
medications, I am down 40 lbs and 32 inches. But, before surgery the
surgeon told me that I had to lose weight or there would be no surgery. I
am diabetic, and before surgery I was on 70/30 Novlin insulin and when I
changed my eating habits to get ready for surgery, I also lowered my blood
sugar numbers. The normal A1C is 6.0 to 6.5 and I went from a A1C of 7.9
to a 6.6 before surgery in 3 months time. By the way the reason your blood
sugar numbers need to be so low, is during surgery and the time in the
hospital your body is under so much stress, that your blood sugar numbers
get very high. I was running about 119 before surgery and during my
hospital stay it went as high as 272. The protein drink is Glucerna for
diabetics, it is sold in the cans, it has alot of nutients in it, that
other protein drinks do not have. I would drink a Glucerna and have a
piece of low fat luncheon meat for breakfast, NO CARBS, for lunch I would
have tuna fish, or a small piece of steak, NO CARBS, then for dinner I
would have a piece of meat, fish or chicken and veggies. Sometimes I would
have a potatoe. But the potatoe is a bad carb, the veggies are a good carb.
For a snack in the afternoon I would have some cut block chedder cheese and
a hard boiled egg, and I was able to lose 12 lbs in 3 months, and bring my
blood sugars down from 7.9 to 6.6, of course that in turn helped me reduce
the amount of insulin that I had to take daily.
<p>Let me remind you, I no longer need my insulin or my blood
pressure medications at 6 weeks, my only regret is not having this surgery
sooner. Hope this helps
— cindy
September 19, 2003
From a former diabetic (I just love to be able to say "former"):
the best ways to control your blood sugar are to avoid all refined
carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, sweets, anything made with
sugar and/or white flour), and to eat frequent, small meals or snacks
(about every three hours or so). Most of your food should be in the form
of protein (it creates a glucogon reaction, the opposite of an insulin
reaction), and non-root veggies (avoid root vegetables such as carrots, and
other starchy veggies like corn and peas). Fat consumption has no affect
(either good or bad) on your insulin levels, but certainly has other health
implications, so limit fats for those reasons. At first, it's really hard
to keep away from the carbs, but after a couple of days, it gets easier.
Best wishes to you.
— Vespa R.
September 19, 2003
i don't know how far you are pre-op but your sugar levels probably won't be
a problem after surgery. All the diabetics in my support group came out of
the hospital off their meds and haven't had any since. i don't know how to
lower it pre-op. I would just say carbs do cause an increase in levels.
Like white bread, potatoes and pasta. those sort of things. EAS at
walmart that is pre-mixed has no sugar in it. it is called EAS Advant
Edge. A four pack costs 5.86.
— Delores S.
September 19, 2003
If you are really busy and sometimes don't eat right, you might try a meal
replacement drink like Choice DM or Glucerna. (It's like Ensure or Boost
but made for diabetics.) I wasn't diabetic, but Choice DM was recomended
post op by the dietician as part of the diet. It wasn't bad tasting. Stay
away from carbs and like the others said, your sugars will go down after
surgery. I give you high marks for working on that now so you will heal
well. All the best!
— koogy
September 19, 2003
Hi Jeneen. Well, I was diagnosed w/diabetes last May and had my surgery 11
days ago. My blood sugars are already down without the medication. So for
now I don't have to take it. My doctor told me it would probably go away
for 10-20 yrs. I'm not sure which type you are but maybe yours will go away
also. Also, losing weight will bring your levels down, so if you could, try
to lose weight before surgery. Good Luck!
— Angela Q.
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