Stevia

In particular for attention of mods: Jeannie143 and/or Warren...

The reason for my question (above dtd 1-3-06) was because of an incident I had. (As I said in the past) I had my annual physical in Oct. 2005 and my BG was 111 (range from lab was 65-109). Previous year it was 114. My A1C on the Oct.. 2005 test was 5.2. Because of the 111, I was considering myself a 'pre-diabetic,' and trying to stick to a pre-diabetic menu. Prior to taking the the Oct. 2005 physical (summertime) I was eating a lot of watermelon and Eddy's sugar free/fat free, chocolate/vanilla ice cream. I would buy the large container and eat about 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups at each serving, finish the container in two days. And do this maybe once or twice a week. After my Oct. 2005 test, one of my friends told me that the Eddy's sugar free/fat free ice cream had a lot of other things added to it. He said there was 20g of carbs in each 1/2 cup, which meant I was ingesting about 60g or 80g per serving (1 1/2 cups to 2 cups), plus the ingredients (per 1/2 cup serving): dietary fiber 6g; sugar 4g; sugar alcohol 3g, glycerin, sorbitol, cocoa processed, plydextrose, maltodextren (and a note: can have laxative effect for sensitive individuals.

And so, I stopped eating the Eddy's FF/SF ice cream. During mid-Nov. 2005 I was with my daughter and grandchildren in a supermarket, when she bought some ice cream. I noticed Eddy's now had fat free/sugar free 'strawberry-swirl' and so, I decided to try it, but this time I would take a meter reading after eating some. Well, I got home and ate about 1 1/2 - 2 cups and took BS test 90 minutes (+/-) and the result was 180, which shocked me. After 120 minutes, reading was 156; 180 minutes=147; finally at 240 minutes=124. I decided that the Eddy's SF/FF ice cream was not for me; so decided not to eat it again, and threw out remainder.

That is why I originally asked the question as to whether it was at all possible, under any circumstances, for a non-diabetic to ever get a reading of 180 (or possibly higher). Some people have said "NO, - period!", as mentioned in my 1-3-06 post). Others have said "YES," but check to make sure reading comes down. Others have said only a pre-Diabetic (etal) would ever have a reading of 180, and a non-diabetic would never have reading of 180....  (especially my friend's wife, as mentioned in my 1-3-06 post).

That is why I am quite confused about meter results and in particular a reading of 180. I still have not received a definitive answer regarding the 180 and guess answers will be different from different people.

To the relief of several people, (I am sure) I only test now when I am trying a new food/snack (such as salt-free mixed-nuts, which I mentioned in another post). I have also increased my daily walk from 2 miles to 2 1/2 miles.

(P.S. I do not take any medication. PreD/senior/M)

Hi Robert,

Well you just ate about 2 cups (a decent amount) of stuff that was super high carb way up on the GI index and BANG, it was like loading sugar right into your system.  They say sugar free because they don't put any sugar in it and use Splenda to sweeten it, but its got sugar alcohols, sugar in the milk, etc. etc.  LOTTSA stuff to push you blood sugar way up.  Can a non diabetic go to 180.  Of course they can.

Now the question of how fast you return to a normal range is the issue.  It took your body 4 hours to shrug off most of the sugar load, seeing as how you normally average about 110 you were still at the high end of normal after 4 hours.  My best guess would be your Endocrine system is a bit sluggish and I sure wouldn't make the Eddy's a regular thing! 

Exercise is key to a sluggish endocrine system Robert, so make sure you are getting something to jump start that system every day! 

Pre diabetic, perhaps.  But you seem to be handling your sugars really well in most cases.  Im not going to reccomend Eddy's Sugar free Ice Cream for the "Serial TEster" seal of approval! (just teasing Robert).  In this case you showed yourself that this stuff puts an enormous load on your system!

Its to bad that stuff tastes so good!!!

Thanks Warren (and sharer)...

Warren, #1- is it true that your BS reading would/could go up if you were anxious or a bit stressed? and, #2- can 'fasting' reading sometimes go up to 100 or a bit higher?

Thanks again, Bob

Thanks Warren. Wow, I see what you mean about readings in a doctor's office. I've had the experience with the increased BP in the doctor's office (130/80) and then taking it at home (120/75). Not much of a difference, but still a difference.

You mentioned: "As long as that fasting BS stays within the safe zone consistenly." Once again I've heard different numbers from different sources. A book I read said should not be above 100; I believe you said previously 120; and (as I mentioned on another post) when I take my physical, the lab report states it should not be over 109. Which one is 'more' recognized?

A few times, in the morning, when I am going for my 2 1/2 mile walk (without eating), I've taken my BS and then again when I get home, to see what difference might be. I've noticed a few times that when I get home, my BS is slightly higher than when I started my walk. I thought my BS would drop significantly after the walk. Would you know why this might be? Or is it just "one of those things that can't be explained?"

Maybe you, or someone else, could answer this question:   I said before that I changed from Puffed Rice for morning cereal to Kellogg's All Bran because it has pretty good glycemic rating. I notice on front of package of All Bran that it states: "low carb 7g net carbs*" The contents on side of package state that Carbs are 20g; dietary Fiber13g. They state the 7g net carbs are subtracting the Fiber of 13g from the Carbs of 20 = 7. Why would the AllBran have a good glycemic rating (30-42) if it has 20g Carbs per 1/2 cup serving? Or are they using the net carb of 7g? Is it okay to stick with All Bran, or should I look around (again) for another cereal with lower total carbs, or is the All Bran's net carbs (of 7g) okay?

Thanks.... Bob

#1- As regards the All Bran...  I don't have to worry about the 20g of carbs it mentions on side of box, but more importantly should pay attention to the net 7g carbs. Is that correct? (Sorry, for these many questions, sometimes on the same topic) but I do believe that the makers of many food items try to confuse people (and I am confused) with their 'catch' phrases that make people believe their products are just great for us (for example - sugar free/but 'tons' of other 'stufff'). The All Bran statement: "for your low carb diet - just 7g net carbs." In this case the statement is correct. Would you say it is okay for me to continue eating All Bran?

#2- And so, if I had a fasting of, say 90, in the morning and I went for my 2 1/2 mile - 46 minute walk (no food intake), it would be possible for my BS to be 110 (or slightly higher) after that 1 hour walk?

#3- I think I would get very, very worried if I saw 243 or even over 109, which is (as I said) the number my doctor's lab uses as the high for a fasting reading. As Warren said: "As long as that fasting BS stays within the safe zone consistenly, don't worry about an occasional "flyer."" I will not worry about the occassional 'flyer' over 100, but I was trying to find out what the "SAFE ZONE" would be for me. Is there an answer?

As always, thanks again for your kind help.

Bob

P.S. I don't think you would really want my figures, which tend to swing all around when I get anxious, which is quite often. Getting a 'decent' night's sleep is another problem I've had for a long time, (which Warren mentions can also, at times, cause higher readings). But I have heard from quite a few folks my age (70 this month) that they have the same problem, maybe not.

(Just a note - I've been going to this doctor for about 30 years. He is a cardiologist; so he's always checking my heart.)

(I make copies of your replies and Warren's replies because they are sol informative and calming to me. Letting me know that I am not really "that bad," as my mind tends to tell me when I see a higher reading; then more anxiety and higher readings, and so on and so on....)

Hi Jeannie:

Thanks again for the kind and thoughtful reply. (Before I go any further - what a beautiful baby. It was long ago that I held a newborn, but seeing that picture brought back fond memories.)

(1)  Is there any way you (or Warren) can offer an answer to my question in previous post: "As Warren thoughtfully said in his reply: 'As long as that fasting BS stays within the safe zone consistenly, don't worry about an occasional 'flyer''. And I asked: "I will not worry about the occassional 'flyer' over 100, but I was trying to find out what the "SAFE ZONE" would be for me. Is there an answer?" Someone said 100, and another 109, and 120 and 130.

Warren also gave another excellent explanation, which I didn't know about: "The other thing that can happen is called the "dawn effect" and thats when the liver dumps excess glucose late in the night/early in the morning while you are sleeping.  This can often lead to a fasting level over 100." (2) I wondered if this could happen often (to me or to others)? Any way to prevent? I usually did the fasting test 10 hours after eating, and thought that if the number was 100 (+), I might be  testing too soon or too late after eating.

(Once again, Warren gave another excellent example of "why a higher fasting number," when he said: "Last but not least, not getting enough sleep can also be a culprit in pushing your numbers up.  See all the seemingly unrelated things that can push your sugar around??" As I mentioned in a responded post, I usually wake up several times during the night.)

All of these things can cause a higher fasting reading, (3) but why do they happen? Am I doing something wrong, or is it just something unique to each individual? I find it difficult to understand all these numbers (mostly ups) when my A1C in Nov. 2005 was 5.2 which many people have said is excellent for the way my body has been dealing with BS in past three months (especially when I was eating all that 'garbage' FF/SF ice cream, which also contains malitol, which I read is 'awful' stuff for some folks. I know I had to run to the toilet.)

(4) I don't do the fasting test every day now, but one time it might be 89, and another 108 and another 93. It is all so very confusing for me. Especially as a 'worrier,' for I get really anxious and worked-up when I see a new (higher) figure pop-up. I don't know what went 'wrong.' Did I eat something the night before that caused the 'increase?' That is why I was a bit concerned to see a fast of 100 and then after I took a 2 1/2 mile walk, my test when I finished the walk was 120, which was higher than the fasting, even though I did not have anything to eat. I NEVER have gotten low BS reading after that 2 1/2 mile walk (without eating breakfast), and that is why I wondered why my BS could go up after that 2 1/2 mile walk. I thought, if anything, the reading after 2 1/2 mile walk would be lower than my fasting reading. So, if my morning fast was 100 (for whatever reason it was that high, I don't really know), the 2 1/2 mile walk would make the reading after the walk go down instead of up.

Wow, did I write that much? Sorry. (Can you believe that I like the 1/2 cup All Bran; 1/2 sugar free Soy milk - and a few yellow grapes thrown in, on occassion. Since giving up the rice cakes and the 'bowl' of puffed rice, (I gave up eating bread and potatoes about a year or two ago.) etc., I have lost about 5-7 lbs. I am practically the same weight as when I first began to work, after I left school - 140. Have you tried the Planter's mixed-nuts (sodium free net carbs=3) yet?).

As always, thanks again for your (and Warren's) kind help. Don't know where I would have turned with my questions and concerns, without this site. (Just thinking, if I never bought that meter, I never would have found out about that awful Edy's SugarFree/FatFree ice cream and the results it produced for me.)

Bob