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.