I’ve gone back to testing more frequently, even though I keep coming up with normal numbers. Normal numbers are great, but they do have a downside. They almost give you the green light to go back and eat like garbage. As many of you know, I’ve been diet and exercise controlled for nearly a year.
I keep turning up completely normal (always sub 100, nearly always sub 90) numbers regardless of when I test. That’s why I cut back on testing. I keep eating the same safe foods and I feel I have really customized my diet to where I don’t have to worry.
This morning upon waking, 84. Breakfast, a medium sized red apple and a banana. 2 hours post, 87. I should mention that even though I am a low carb advocate, I have added many natural carbs back into my diet because I can now tolerate them.
Lunch – premeal 81, turkey and cheese, no bread, mustard. Some almonds and a handful of popcorn. Post meal 85.
Now here is what has me freaked out completely. I went to my favorite mexican restaurant tonight for an early dinner. Haven’t been there in 18 months. My intentions heading in were solid – just get the fajita and don’t eat the rice beans or tortilla. Do that, I don’t have to worry. My premeal was 85. However, I spazzed a bit with the meal. More than a bit. Mexican is my weakness. I had a boatload of fresh, hot, homemade tortilla chips with salsa. I ate the heaping serving of rice and beans. I ate the tortillas with the fajitas. And to top it off – yes, I feel guilty – I had a couple of sopapillas with honey. After eating the chips before the main course, it was too easy to rationalize that I "blew the entire meal", so I obviously went heavy with the carbs after that. I was mad when I was doing it. Afterwards, I was extremely full. I tested as soon as I got home, which was one hour after first bite. 83. I don’t get it. I really, really don’t. I was expecting a one hour to be above 140. An hour and a half later – 92. At two hours I registered a 90. And just to make sure, I checked my three hour number 88. I also just tested my four hour number which was 85. No exercise after the meal.
My strips are fine, my calibration code is ok, my QC checks are fine.
I’m not trying to be a bleeding heart because I know people would kill to get these numbers. I’m just trying to figure out what is going on. Doesn’t this seem like a completely normal, non-diabetic response to a large (high carb) meal? Do you think my pancreas is overworking to maintain these numbers?
I’m sick in the head. I’m at the point to where I WANT to see bad numbers after a not so healthy meal so I can just stay with eating healthy. Although I know if I make this a habit, they’ll soon be there.