Now what?

Welcome Crispie! Please don't be distressed over this. We'll try to help you with a lot of information. What has your doctor told you to do? You are testing your blood sugar but has he given you information about why your blood sugar is high and has he prescribed any medication?

For some information and resources, please read the two stickies at the top of the Diabetes Forum and this website: www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/. That website has a lot of information about blood sugar, diabetes, studies, etc.

To make a long explanation short: carbohydrates will raise blood sugar. Bread (or anything made with flour), potatoes, rice, corn, anything food with sugar or honey or molasses. These are all fast-acting on the blood sugar. Since processed food, any food you buy in boxes or pre-made, has multiple ingredients, you must read the labels. The more carbs listed, the higher the blood sugar will go.

This means it's best to stick with natural food: natural vegetables, all types of leafy greens, all types of protein (beef, pork, poultry, fish), nuts, oils, whole milk products if you like milk or yogurt (not with added sugar).

Your blood sugar readings that you listed are not critical. I'm guessing that your doctor told you to "watch what you eat"? However, the tortilla chips would make your blood sugar spike. The sauce on the hotwings might have had sugar. That's the problem with sauces, even ketchup - they are prepared with sugar. If you prepared them yourself and made the sauce yourself, you could alter the sweetener.

I understand that this can be depressing because I sent through this years ago and I didn't know any of these facts at that time. It does mean you have to change some of what you're eating but this is for your health and you'll be able to do this, I promise!

I'm glad you posted here! Please continue. Questions, experiences and so on!

I don't know about returning to what is normal, to tell you the truth. If this is because of a stress release, how do you stop the stress release? I think that's the key.

The 'fight or flight' response helps us deal with danger or problems but normally it gets turned off when the danger passes but if the stress is still there, and always there, I think that is the problem - so, it's not just handled with what you eat. I guess the mind is also involved. And you need to pursue that part of it.

As far as pure blood sugar and how food affects it regardless of other factors, you need to know that carbs do raise blood sugar, just as physical pain, some medications and illness do.

I wish I could give you a better answer. Have you looked into how to deal with the stress in your life that may be causing this?

Here is a link to one of several I found that talk about this: www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/111609p38.shtml

I thought that was a clearly-written article, too, Lynnwood. Now I know it's more complicated than just diet and a mal-functioning pancreas, etc. The puzzle for me is how to control it.