High glucose levels

(Kellie) #1

What could be the cause of high glucose levels ? I tested about an hour after I woke up and it said 97. I haven’t eaten anything . The last day or so it’s been high but I can’t think of any sugar I have eaten to cause it to be high. Would not eating enough cause it to be higher ? How much does it effect keto?

(German Ketonian) #2

It’s the dawn effect, most likely. But difficult to tell without knowing any other stats.

(TJ Borden) #3

If 97 is your “high”, you’re doing fine.

(Kellie) #4

I just read optimal levels for weightloss and someone in keto should always be between 65-90 and 90 - 115 means you ate something with sugar and Your producing insulin in small amounts like what the hell I haven’t even eaten

(TJ Borden) #5

Like @Zimon said, it’s likely just morning phenomena. Your body generates glucose before you get up so you have fuel to get up and going. It’s nothing to worry about, especially if your “spike” is under 100.

My moring phenomena can get up to 130-140.

#6

The body produces small amounts of insulin 24/7 (without it we would be very, very ill type 1 diabetics who need regular insulin injections).

The body (veryone’s body) produces a small burst of hormones in the morning as a wake up call to get you up and ready for the day. This is called Dawn Phenomenon. It is perfectly normal and happens to everyone, although most people don’t know it is happening.

In a person with perfect blood glucose and good insulin sensitivity, the two things balance so well that there is virtually no increase in glucose.

But really, if your readings are 97, then they are fine. Seriously fine.

#7

In the morning we get a bust of feeding from the body to get the day started, just don’t eat till hungry. The rise in glucose is a good thing it had to get it from your fat stores, now just go burn it off.

#8

@Alley
Funnily enough, the best way for me to stop my DP from raising my blood glucose higher than I want, is to eat something. Even a cup of coffee substitute and cream will do the trick.

It appears that my body will keep generating unwanted glucose until I give it the signal (food) that it will be getting energy from elsewhere. This happens even on strict keto with extremely depleted glycogen stores.

But then I have very dysregulated glucose control, so don’t want to imply that other people will experience the same situation.

#9

I eat chia in almond milk and it drops into the 60’s/70’s

#10

Hi Kellie
I agree with everyone else who have suggested the Dawn Phenomenon to you.
"How is dawn phenomenon caused?
Dawn effect occurs when hormones (including cortisol, glucagon, epinephrine) are released by the body, causing the liver to release glucose. " this quote taken from
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/dawn-phenomenon.html

I appreciate you are not diabetic however this is an excellent site to understand this. To help me to minimise my dawn phenomenon and insulin resistance (I am T1D) I take root ginger capsules daily. These were recommended by @SlowBurnMary who is a very knowledgable contributor to the forum. Suggest do a search on ginger capsules within the forum to find her posts. Ginger helps to reduce cortisol (amongst other things). :smile:
Ali

(Ronald Weaver) #11

I’ve been using a Codefree Blood Glucose meter for nearly a year now and yesterday decided to test myself on the hour, every hour for 12 hours.
According to my meter, my waking BG is, on average 6.3 mmols/l or about 113 in America. I usually then test before and after my dinner in the early evening. before dinner it’s usually high 5 mmols/l or just over 100 in America, and 2 hour later it’s nearly always around 6.3 mmols or 113 in America.
But, surprisingly, of the twelve hourly readings I took, the lowest was 6 mmols/l and the highest 7.1 mmols/l . And that’s with having a lunch and a reasonable evening dinner…

I’m 70 years old, my last Hba1c was 5.6% but blood tests before that had shown that I was approaching a pre-diabetic situation. In the last year, since going keto, I’ve lost 25 kilos and have maintained a weight of 85 k for the last six months.

If I exercise and/or fast I can bring my morning blood glucose levels down quite a bit but if I don’t they tend to stay at around 6.3mmols/l and nothing else seems to change this.

Maybe I’ll try gingering myself up !

#12

There are other things that affect my blood sugar other than sugar. Low sleep, high stress, PMS, heavy exercise, under eating - really anything at all that causes the body to stress out will increase my BG.

#13

Go for it! Will be interesting to find if it works for you too. I’m a convert :smile:

(Ronald Weaver) #14

Hi buffy,
I got a tub of ginger root capsules the other day. They’re 300mg per capsule and on the label recommends between 4 and 6 a day.
So what dosage would you recommend and what time of day should I take them ?
Thanks,

Ronnie.

#15

:grinning:Hi Ronnie

Apologies for not replying sooner: I’ve been away on holiday and just returned a few hours ago. Hopefully someone else has already replied to you. I personally take 2 x 550mg capsules each morning and each evening (4 in total). As everyone is different I would suggest starting low and working up if necessary ie one twice daily. I hope you’re already benefitting and do let me know. @SlowBurnMary is the expert re ginger root capsules: I learnt from her. All the best, Ali

(Ronald Weaver) #16

Hi Buffy,
No rush ! I hope you had a nice holiday ? I took your advice and checked out @SlowBurnMary . So, since the beginning of the month, I’ve been taking 4x 300mg capsules a day and I’m hopeful that they do the trick. I’m afraid that this is really bad diagnostics, I’ve started taking Ginger Root capsules and at the same time given up alcohol in all forms. It’s only been 2 weeks and my latest blood glucose results are stabilising, but I don’t know whether it’s the Ginger Root or the lack of alcohol…or both ?
This is a long term project ,I’ll find out eventually…??