Say Hello To My Little Friend…
A recent visit to the doctor has left me a bit perplexed, with the need to do some research and self-experimentation. Let me explain…
Myself, I’m one of those people who eats a relatively low-carb diet.
Yeah… I’m one of THOSE people.
And not only do I eat low-carb, but I also consume massive quantities of fat, along with hefty amounts of fiber, and large amounts of protein.
And what do I have to show for this high-fat, high-protein, high-fiber diet?
Absolutely fantastic blood work.
With regards to my lipid panel, well, it’s amazing, with jaw-droppingly low triglyceride levels, phenomenal HDL to triglyceride ratios, and an outstanding LDL level.
Honest, I have the sort of numbers that a twenty year old would kill for.
Well, maybe not kill for… But you get the point.
Anyways, getting back to the whole matter of puzzlement after the recent doctor’s visit…
Again, my lipid panel is great. I also have a phenomenally low C-reactive protein level (here’s a Wiki article about C-reactive protein), along with other outstanding readings related to my sodium and potassium levels, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum albumin, and total protein.
So, where’s the puzzlement?
Well, my Fasting Blood Glucose level runs surprisingly high, and during a recent lab test was measured at 99 mg/dL. If that number doesn’t mean anything to you, realize that a reading of 100 is considered by the medical establishment to be an indicator of pre-Diabetes.
Hmmmmm… I’m a 50 year-old male, six foot tall, 182 pounds, who gets tons of regular exercise, is in excellent physical shape, and eats a low-carb/super low-sugar diet AND somehow I have a fasting Blood Glucose Level that’s right on the edge of being a indicator for pre-Diabetes.
Something doesn’t quite add up.
And so I’ve gone into research mode.
And I have a new best friend…
What you see in my hand is a FreeStyle Lite portable glucose meter. It’s compact. It’s inexpensive (at least for the meter itself). Easy to use (once you get past the absolutely cryptic instruction manual). And allows me to test blood sugars whenever and wherever.
And what I’ve learned from my initial tests is pretty damn interesting.
For example…
• My fasting blood glucose level typically runs between 95 and 99 mg/dL, but after my first cup of coffee in the morning –– a cup of coffee that’s laden with butter and coconut milk AND no sugars –– then my blood glucose typically level drops down to around 85.
• A high protein meal, with minimal carbs, will shoot my blood sugar level up a bit –– right around 105 gm/dL for about an hour or two.
• A sugary muffin (which I ate solely for the purpose of testing and self-experimentation) will skyrocket my blood glucose reading up to 130 mg/dL within a half hour, and the reading will remain elevated for at least an hour and a half.
Anyways, for the moment, I’m in a data gathering mode, where I’m testing out specific foods, specific conditions, and specific time periods. So far, I’ve already established my baseline glucose level at being somewhere between 95 and 99 (again, a bit on the high side), and it’s a very consistent baseline. I do have to say that it’s fascinating –– to me, at least –– that chugging down a cup of fat-laden coffee makes my blood sugars drop a fairly significant amount. Also, if ever there’s a reason –– or an example –– of why a low or lower-carb diet is the right diet to follow, well, the simple fact that a single sugary muffin (again, consumed solely for research purposes) shot my glucose levels up 30% within a 30 minute period, well, that should be food for thought.
So, what about you? Do you eat a low-carb diet (or perhaps not)? And what have you seen with your blood sugar levels? Lastly, are you doing any sort of self-testing and self-experimentation?
If you’re willing to share, it would be great to get your feedback in the comment section below.
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