[ma6791]

My dietician said I could have 3 carb serv (15 gm each) for each meal and one snack between meals and at night. But I've never been a big eater at 3 meals a day, as I prefer to eat every 2-3 hours so more of a snacker. I get all the nutrition but just prefer smaller more frequent meals. So I ask her if I could perhaps eat 2 carb serv each meal and 2 between meals. It would still total my allowed 12 carb serv a day. She said yes, if your bs will tolerate it.

So for years I proceeded that way. But now that I'm a bit more experienced ( at thinking about it anyway!). I'm not sure I did it right because if two hours after a mini-meal (as I have described) my bs was within the range I was told it should be (160), I thought it was ok to eat my snack. Now I'm thinking perhaps I shouldn't have a snack until it is at least down to 140 and it usually isn't so perhaps I shouldn't be eating like this?

I have been a diabetic about 5 years (I think) and started at an A1C of 6.3, have been as low as 6.0 but currently am at 7.2 (the highest I've had).

So I guess I have two questions:
1. Is my thinking correct about my bs needing to be at least 140 or below before eating between the three meals?
2. And can many diabetics tolerate snacks between meals?

ETA: I should also let you know that my eating habits have not been consistently good. There have been times I have completely gone off my plan and eaten whatever I wanted and was doing that before the last A1C. I think that is the cause of the rise in A1C more than anything. But the 7.2 did scare me so I'm now trying to be good and want to be sure I am doing it right.

[dano]

I won't be able to give you much advice, since your A1c's are better than mine. Currently I am at 6.9%, the lowest it has been since 6.3% over a year ago.

It appears that you are doing well. That said; in answer to your questions:

"1. Is my thinking correct about my bs needing to be at least 140 or below before eating between the three meals?" We all need to try and keep out BS at an average of 140 or below. Personally, I wouldn't think about eating at ~140. At 70 it would be another story. I try to keep my BS in the 100-120 range between meals and between 70-99 fasting.

"2. And can many diabetics tolerate snacks between meals?" Most any person with diabetes can tolerate snacks between meals, but if you are Type 2 you may have to take a 20 minute walk (exercise) and if you are Type 1 you may need to take an insulin injection. Most people use snacks to offset lows and do not use it to get their meal plan in. One thing that can be said for your approach is that it keeps your metabolism at it peak potential. This is great is you are trying to loose weight.

Have you considered counting the carbs and taking a bolus insulin injection for just the carbs consumed during each meal?

[ma6791]

Dan, my current (July 19) A1C is 7.2 so yours is actually better. I'd go a very long time between meals if I waited for 70 bs! I waited 4 hours (without a snack) today and felt like I was starving and it was 121 when I finally ate 4 hours later. I have no trouble with low bs. I think the lowest I have ever had was 98.

I count my carbs all the time. I am not on insulin. I am on Metformin (1000 twice a day).

I'm trying to get control of my diabetes with my eating as I don't want to take more meds. I told my doctor to give me until Nov as I felt it was still just the way I was eating....I usually eat healthy but sometimes eat too much at a time. ..so I'm trying to be really careful now.

Just trying to figure out when I can eat and when I should hold off. I get really hungry by 3-4 hours if I don't have a snack between, but it appears that if I have a snack after 2 hrs I'm starting to eat it with greater than 140 bs. and I'm thinking that's not good? I do eat in the morning with it that high or more (166 this morning) as I figure food starts metabolism, but later on perhaps I shouldn't? Or should I not even eat in the am until my bs comes down to at least 140? I realize I can eat non-carb food but I'm talking about carbs. Vegetables and lean meat do not agree with my stomach for breakfast.
I do eat an egg now and then but usually have toast with it.

[lisanstan]

My bg continues to climb in the morning until I eat so waiting for it to drop before I ate would be a losing battle. I eat three meals and three snacks daily regardless of my bg level just to remain steady. You probably need to adjust your carb amount and type to figure out what works for you. As I have discovered no body processes carbs or the same type of carbs the same.

[dano]

Originally Posted by ma6791

I'd go a very long time between meals if I waited for 70 bs!

I didn't mean that you should wait until it is that low. I just threw that number out because that is my cutoff. I am insulin dependent and anything below 70 is a hypo for many of us.

Just bare in mind that we should all try to keep our blood sugar "average" below 140, to eliminate problems down the road. Since, you are using diet and Metformin to control your blood sugar, about the only other thing that you can add is an exercise routine. You should take a look at the first three threads in the Type 2 Section, if you haven't read them already.

[ma6791]

Thanks for clairiying that. I usually exercise 5 days a week for a little over an hour...I walk on a track and/or treadmill, ride a stationary bike, and use three weight machines each of those days. It is not a really intense workout but for my age, I think I do pretty well...I'm getting close to 70. Overeating is my main problem. I was just about to create another post with questions about that. At the time I made this post I was doing pretty well but I continue to have problems keeping my eating in control.

[ma6791]

Originally Posted by lisanstan

My bg continues to climb in the morning until I eat so waiting for it to drop before I ate would be a losing battle. I eat three meals and three snacks daily regardless of my bg level just to remain steady. You probably need to adjust your carb amount and type to figure out what works for you. As I have discovered no body processes carbs or the same type of carbs the same.

You sound like me as that is exactly what I was doing. Perhaps that is not my problem ...maybe I just need to more consistently limit my carbs. As I explained in my last comment,...at the time I posted this I was doing pretty well but it seems like my good habits are only sporadic and frequently I still eat too many carbs. I'm about to post another question about that.