Blood Sugar/Green Smoothie Record - January 2008

Definition of Diabetes: Blood sugar of 200 or above any time of the day, regardless of when your last meal was eaten. Fasting glucose level of 126 or more ("fast" = 8 hrs. after you have eaten anything). GTT (glucose tolerance test) after fasting you are given 75g pure glucose to drink, then test after 2 hrs. If 200> you have diabetes.

Definition of Pre-Diabetes: Fasting glucose between 110-125. GTT between 140-199.

Putting my blood to the test!!!! Putting Green Smoothies to the Test!!!

A little bit of backround info first: I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes - this is the only traditional western healthcare I have had access to in the last 10 years and it was through my midwife. She wrote me a prescription for a glucometer and a year's worth of testing supplies. The doctors would not test me for regular diabetes after my son was born because they said that gestational diabetes does not turn into type 2 diabetes, and then my health insurance ended. Midwife had me test my FBS, before each meal, and 2 hours after each meal during my pregnancy. I have continued to do this off-and-on as resources and circumstances allowed me to eat healthy. (I didn't really want to know my blood sugar when I didn't have the $$ to eat right! Too depressing to know!!)

1/9/08

11:30 Drank 64 oz. green smoothie (kale, strawberry, banana)

1:30pm blood sugar is 78

Had 2 heaping servings of Hamburger Helper at 1:30.

3:30pm blood sugar is 85

6:30pm blood sugar is 82

Had two tortillas fried in butter, sprinkled in cinnamon at 6:30

8:30pm blood sugar is 106

Had insomnia all night - didn't do a morning FBS (fasting blood sugar) because I snacked all night, and didn't fast for 8 hrs.

1/10/08

6:00pm had Chilli and Cornbread

10:00pm Green smoothie (orange, apple, turnip greens, pasteurized OJ concentrate, cucumber, and a crushed-up vitamin pill) - also sipped a bit at 12am and 3am.

1/11/08

8:00am blood sugar is 102

9:30am quinoa w/butter and lemon pepper, 1c of the smoothie left over from last night

11:30 blood sugar is 96

Had a green smoothie with romaine, raspberries, pears, and banana at 11:30. Had 1c melon blended into a smoothie, and a salad made up of mostly cabbage and tomatoes and steak pieces.
I really wish I was better about checking my blood sugar, but we were busy with relatives and working so I often forgot about it at the critical times!! Or else snacked here and there, so there was never a 2 hr. time where I didn't eat after a meal so I could test!!

1/13/08

I woke up this morning shaky and took a blood sugar measurement, thinking it would be very low, but it was on the high side 103 at 7:30am. I often wake up feeling extremely hungry in the middle of the night. Especially when I am trying to "watch my diet" and eat low carb. It's unbearable to cut out carbs - I cannot sleep when I feel so HUNGRY! I have tried to beat it with willpower, and tried "toughing it out" I just end up miserable with this weird stomach growly feeling. I got up for a bit and used the computer and the feeling went away, as it often does... but it sure disrupts my sleep. If I EAT SOMETHING I can usually go RIGHT back to sleep, but if I don't eat it usually takes 2 hours and then sometimes I STILL have to eat to go back to sleep.

9:30 blood sugar is 83

Had a green smoothie (3 stalks celery, 3 kiwis, banana, water) at 9:30am. Then we had Subway for lunch at 11:30am (footlong ham, with lots of veggies and mayo - no oil, salt, pepper, or cheese).

1:30pm blood sugar is 139 - gaa!!

Had 5 hard tacos with beef, lots of lettuce and LOTS of tomatoes and salsa at 6:00pm. SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT WITHOUT HAVING TO GET UP AND SNACK!!

1/14/08

7:30am FBS is 98

Had green smoothie at 7:30am (kale, strawberry, banana)

9:30am blood sugar is 79

Ate 1 green apple and 1 banana dipped in Skippy peanut butter at 10:30am.

12:30pm blood sugar is 93

Had more green smoothie - made 64 oz. (celery, kiwi, banana) at 12:30, then some Top Ramen with loads of chopped celery, celery greens, and onion. Went out for some exercise - haven't had a lot of chance to do that lately due to deep snow and lack of childcare - walked up and down hills through 1 1/2 foot snow in the mountains. Fun!! Hiked between 3:00-4:30, then had rest of smoothie made earlier.

6:00pm blood sugar is 84

Ate taco salad w/corn chips, ground beef/turkey, lots of romaine, kale, and tomatoes.

9:00pm blood sugar is 98

1/15/08

6:30am FBS is 95

Things are looking good so far! I am so thankful to have discovered green smoothies. Without them my blood sugar used to gradually creep up throughout the day, and I felt miserable, unable to function without coffee or energy drinks. Green smoothies have completely eliminated my desire for sweets. I couldn't go more than 3 days without some form of sugar in the past.
Something about green smoothies satisfies a deep need in my body.