How is blood sugar high with only high protein/low carb diet

[jeffrey 3]

I was sleeved on 4/18. Two weeks later, I am doing great. My high blood pressure seems to have just about resolved itself--haven't taken the meds in 48 hours and it is normal. Strangely, though, my blood sugar is all over the place. Sometimes fasting in the morning it's almost 120 then later in the day it might be 150 or might be in the 90s. Prior to surgery I took 2,000 mg. of long acting metformin a day and the numbers were slightly lower. I can't take the long acting (since it can't be crushed) this soon after surgery. I have been strict about the full liquids, and mostly drink high quality Protein Shakes, take Vitamins, unsweetened greek yogurt, occasional cream of wheat or pureed Soup with plenty of Fiber and again, not high carb, and very few simple carbs. So, how can I have a higher blood sugar reading if I am eating little which should give a blood sugar reaction? I thought low carb/high Protein would give my body nothing to react to. The blood pressure meds can cause issues with blood sugar, but I would hope with it out of my system for 48 hours I would have a more normalized blood sugar.

Any medical types out there who can explain it? Someone said the fasting levels being too high in the morning had something to do with the body producing energy for the wakeup hours. I don't want to be on meds any more, and am just so confused given what I am actually eating. Thanks.

[So Cal Kurt 32]

I was on 2 doses each of 1000 mg Metformin and 10 Mg Glyburide prior to my surgery. Also took a dose of actos every day. Morning readings were in the 160s on a good day to 190s on a bad day. I stopped my meds 48 hours prior to surgery, did get a single injection of insulin in the hospital. When I got out, I was advised to check my blood sugar and if I needed it take what I had to. THe second day out, I think my #s were in the 140s and they declined from there. I never did take anything again for my diabetes and haven't since the insulin. That was June 9 2010. By 4 weeks out, my morning numbers were in the low 100s, 8 weeks out the 90s, finally around 12 weeks out after a week of 85s, I stopped taking it. out of habit I took it every few weeks to check and the highest I have had was a 98. I had an A1c taken in November, it was 5.6. (no meds) the last time I had labs, my PCP didn't even order one, he just ordered a regular blood glucose. It was 81. Don't sweat it, your liver dumps glucose when you sleep. It will level out and I would say as long as you aren't seeing anything approaching 180 in the morning, I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt you can get enough Carbs in to make a difference. Maybe try some cottage cheese before bed the Protein used to help me when I was having high morning numbers. It is a hard adjustment letting go of the glucometer, It was kind of my lifeline but caused me a lot of frustration. BTW, I also stopped my bp meds after a few weeks(maybe 3 weeks out), halfed them first and then discontinued them (under my Dr''s orders) be careful, low bp can be as dangerous as high bp.

[jeffrey 3]

I was on 2 doses each of 1000 mg Metformin and 10 Mg Glyburide prior to my surgery. Also took a dose of actos every day. Morning readings were in the 160s on a good day to 190s on a bad day. I stopped my meds 48 hours prior to surgery, did get a single injection of insulin in the hospital. When I got out, I was advised to check my blood sugar and if I needed it take what I had to. THe second day out, I think my #s were in the 140s and they declined from there. I never did take anything again for my diabetes and haven't since the insulin. That was June 9 2010. By 4 weeks out, my morning numbers were in the low 100s, 8 weeks out the 90s, finally around 12 weeks out after a week of 85s, I stopped taking it. out of habit I took it every few weeks to check and the highest I have had was a 98. I had an A1c taken in November, it was 5.6. (no meds) the last time I had labs, my PCP didn't even order one, he just ordered a regular blood glucose. It was 81. Don't sweat it, your liver dumps glucose when you sleep. It will level out and I would say as long as you aren't seeing anything approaching 180 in the morning, I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt you can get enough Carbs in to make a difference. Maybe try some cottage cheese before bed the Protein used to help me when I was having high morning numbers. It is a hard adjustment letting go of the glucometer, It was kind of my lifeline but caused me a lot of frustration. BTW, I also stopped my bp meds after a few weeks(maybe 3 weeks out), halfed them first and then discontinued them (under my Dr''s orders) be careful, low bp can be as dangerous as high bp.

Thanks so much. I guess I just don't understand the mechanism. It seems so illogical to get higher readings when I am eating so few carbs, and virtually no simple carbs. I tapered off for a few days before surgery from 2,000 mg. of Glumetza (long acting metformin). The morning numbers at first were between 100-120. Confusing, but not scaring me. This morning it was 156. Not even 1000 calories, fresh vegetable juice and Protein shakes (very low carb) and Water the day before. It's the highest reading I have ever had, fasting or not. Guess the liver thing is something to start googling and understanding. Am grinding up my Glumetza and back on it since last night--so high reading this morning is even more baffling. I am happy to be patient--just don't get it and worry about organ damage with these numbers. It's never been this high, even times when I was reckless with my eating and had way, way, way too many simple carbs. Hope in a matter of weeks it will work out. I was sleeved on 4/18 btw. The blood pressure was a big surprise. Crazy and too high before and right after surgery until the two week mark. Then, suddenly, with absolutely no medication for 5 days it is absolutely normal. Actually good for the first time in a while. I did read that it could mess with blood sugar, but since it's been out of my system my blood sugar is actually worse. And very, very erratic. Low of 85 to high of 156, though almost always over 100. Can't find the key to what is associated with high and low numbers. Thanks for the advice. I will try some cottage cheese at bed time. If anything else comes to mind I appreciate hearing from you. I am, btw, a middle aged woman in spite of the dude sounding screen name.

[LVikingFan 14]

I was on over 200 units of insulin a day. I saw my PCP yesterday, 12 days post-op. He took my off insulin completely! I had stopped Metformin just before the surgery and he said it can go too! Just taking Onglyza and Glimipiride for this month and he said they will probably go at my next visit next month. That alone has made the surgery worth it.

[mistyk 0]

LVikingFan that is soooo exciting! I love to hear that you are off of insulin!

[Pookeyism 1,143]

I am going to be the wet blanket. Your numbers are all over the place, and that isn't good. One very basic problem with diabetes is that many doctors go for well enough, rather than really good, so once you are looking at it from a weight loss perspective it looks better than it is.

Did your doctor take you off you high blood pressure meds? Did you check to see if you should go off cold turkey?

My blood pressure has never been high, I have always been within normal range for all of the basics - bp, cholesterol, trig's...but I am also diabetic.

I am not a doctor, but I can tell you my experiences since I was diagnosed with diabetes. I was told by doctors that 6.1 was ok (after 8.2 at time of diagnoses), and that 140 BG was ok for a diabetic. I lost down from almost a size 30 to a size 26, and there I stayed. I began to do research on BG and relation to your metabolic rate, healing, immunodeficiency problems, and how this affects weight loss and exercize. I tightened my belt on my readings, and the weight loss began again. But I had stalled. It took me two years to find the realtion between my readings and my weight. Doctors just aren't thorough enough to cover everything. I personally think they spend so much time looking after increasing workloads that they couldnt possibly be following up on the information that is coming out.

First, you should aim for a 40 point spread throughout the day. 80-120, 90-130, 100-140 even is OK - studies are finding that your "daily high" can be 150 even, and if your point spread is in the 40 point range you are about 80% likely to have less complications than someone who goes as low as 70, but never past 140. or worse.

I would start with a journal to keep you bg readings and when you ate logged in. test about 6 times a day, but alternate the times...2 hours before meal, two hours after, morning, evening, before scheduled exercize times, etc, if you test on the varying schedule, you get a really comprehensive view of your BG readings over the course of an average day over the course of about a week...and you will catch your repetitive highs and lows.

Doctors give really inconsistent information from one doctor to another, so I did research from publishes positions, test results, etc. I interpreted what I could and took the others to my doctor to help me understand the data. I did not ask her opinion, only facts. I made my decisions from there. I got my BG down to the 80-120 range, with some days 90-130, with some occasional high mornings. My A1C is 5.2 to 5.4. your A1C is a average of BG within the body for about 90 days. So the higher you get with an average, the higher and more frequently your BG fluctuates.

May I suggest you talk to your doctor and see in any of the newer medicines that are injected might be of benefit to you? Victoza had 3 different dose levels, and is a once daily injection, and doesnt have to be times with food - just take it at the same time each day, preferably when you wake for the day. The lowest dose might be enough to help control your levels for awhile.

You are still healing, and you will or have begun to exercize, and you aren't out of range for complications yet. Diabetes affects your body's ability to heal, and can cause inflammation, etc. When I say heal, I don;t just mean the incision in your tummy, but your body's ability to cope with less food in a very permanent way, the bowel issues as you acclimate, your skins ability to recover, your immume system in general. I have not yet read it, but a friend of mine read a study that the more you BG fluctuates after wls, the more likely you are to develop gall stones or a blockage, pancreatitis, pleurisy, even empyema (you may need to google that one, people often mistake it for pneumonia).

My background is medical to an extent, but I am not a nurse, doctor, nor do I even dress up as one on the weekend , but if you would like I can pull up some of the positions and articles I was referring to.

I didn't men to imply that you couldn't go on doing pretty well at what you are now. I have found, however, a few points difference in levels, the "point spread" and a daily journal to keep an eye on it all was the difference of 30 lbs for me - I am still pre-sleeve, and I am still loosing.

[Liberated Sleeve 148]

I was on 3 Diabetes medications before surgery. 100 units of Lantus, Victoza 1.8 mg and 2 each of 1000 mg Metformin per day. I have not had any diabetes medications since surgery and my fasting sugars are between 90-120 in the a.m. and also before I go to bed at night same range. I worried because they were in the 100's but the doctor told me not to worry unless they exceeded 150. I am still on liquids and exercising minimal. I know once I start to add in solid foods and amp my exercise routine up this should also affect my numbers. My next A1C will be my proof and determine if I will need to start any meds back. Praying that will not be the case.