Re: Bacon does not raise BG???

Michelle C. wrote:
Michael wrote:
Michelle C. wrote:
Michael wrote:
Michelle C. wrote:
BDR529 wrote:
Michael wrote:
BDR529 wrote:
Steve Hopkins wrote:
"StarDust" <gysz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:61520a65-5235-491f-8d0b-bd868f606120@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I've been having pork bacon for breakfast, smoked, sliced and un-
fried as it comes from the store.
6 gr fat/ 2 slices!
This morning, I had 4 slices of bacon, 2-3 slices of wheat bread, half
tomato and onion.
Before breakfast, 7:30 AM my BG was 104, than I measured my BG later
at work around 11 am, it was 129 and I was feeling good.
Yesterday I had similar result.
Also, eating pork bacon, I'm not hungry for 5-6 hours and have more
energy!
Why is that?
JS
-

12gm of fat is quite a bit especially when most diabetics are the most
resistant in the morning. The bacon as others have stated is protein
and fat. A portion of the protein will converted to glucose a few hours
after you eat it. I've found it can hit even the following day if I
eat to
large of a steak. As for the fat, that will delay the spike from
whatever
carbs you've eaten. This probably is why your glucose was 129 at
11am instead of back down to where you started. I would bet if you
tested even a few hours later you probably would have seen a small
rise from the protein as it was being converted into glucose. As for
having more energy, the reason why is protein helps fuel the body as
does glucose. When you eat this meal again, you might want to test
at various times over a 6hr period (every 30min-1hr) to see where
you peak and just how much of a peak. I would bet you will have
more than one peak.

Steve H.
The glycemic index of all meats, fat and fish and protein is zero, but,
eventually everything will be turned into sugar. Lipids in general will
either be stored as fats near fatcells, or they will be converted into
glycogene in the muscles as a means to store energy when you need it.
Muscles and glycogene is the first thing to be burned when you start a
low cal diet, burning fat comes later.

The problem with bacon is simply the saturated fat content, so this is
bad for LDL and triglycerides. And high levels of all cholesterols and
triglycerides in your blood will decrease the remaining functionality of
your pancreas (assuming that it is still somewhat functional) which is
to produce insulin. The remaining insulin that is made hardly arrives at
the cells requiring it, the pancreas gets stressed, and the body starts
dumping the excess glucose via the kidneys which also become stressed,
and this worsens the problem for diabetic patients. Actually, stressing
the pancreas and kidneys over time is the way diabetes and high blood
pressure develop over the years.

For this reason I would not recommend eating a lot of bacon, fish and
anything that contains a lot of animal fats even if you're healthy.
Maybe if you do a lot of physical hard work like working in the forests
all day then you could survive on such a diet.

To conclude: don't live according to your glucose meter, consult your GP
and ask for a professional advise if you think you're diabetic.

Q


If we T2s want to maintain our health, we must eat to our meter. End of
story. How we eat to that meter is very important in my view. If we ate
cardboard that would probably look good on the meter.

We know we should not do that. We should not put foods that contain
dangerous chemicals in our body. Common sense.

However, recommending that a person living with T2 go ahead and eat a
"balanced diet" and let the BG levels fall where they may is
recommending a slow painful death.

Michael

In my opinion you are exaggerating the T2 problem. With T2 you don't
need to check yourself with a meter, it is the 3 monthly Hba1c that
counts. Furthermore the fastening blood sugar level should be below 6.5
mmol/l. At least, this is the general practice in the part of the world
where I live.

Q


Anytime a T2 spikes over 140 (7.7) they are suffering damage. These spikes lead to those nasty complications. HgbA1c does not necessarily reflect the spikes. A person can spike over 140--significantly over--and may also have some lowish numbers, perhaps even a few hypos and have a perfectly fine A1c--since the A1c is just an average.

So I disagree with your assertion that T2s do not need test--since I fully plan to live without complications. I'm rather fond of my eyes, kidneys, and limbs.

Best regards,
Michelle C., T2, no meds

Michelle,

I have a colleague who has T2. He absolutely refuses to accept that he has this disease. I believe there is a range of denial for this illness. My colleague is at the extreme end of this range. He is in denial because he is completely unwilling to change. He is going to eat what he wants until it kills him.

The other range of this spectrum might be people like me who completely freak out at a 137 reading. I recently went from 93 to 129 when I had 1/4 cup of blueberries. That was the end of all fruit for me for an indefinite period.

There must be people in between who would like to believe they can have some carbs, especially ones they particularly like, even if this causes a serious spike. They may rationalize that it is only the A1C that counts and not the spikes. This allows them to eat more of what they want.

So when we have these conversations here, there may be an underlying layer of denial is some responses and questions.

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your insightful comments. I have tended to think of denial in terms of all or nothing, but I can see what you are saying--and I think it applies to other conditions besides diabetes. You've given me some things to think about.



Clearly you Michelle are not fond of that river in Egypt.

BTW in spite of Kurt's unsupported prejudice against low carb, I think he is right about bacon. I quit eating it 2 months ago when I realized what was in it. This was called to my attention by a friend here in town. I am grateful. Neither my wife or I eat any meat that is not cooked in a microwave. We are aware of the carcinogens that develop at the outer layer of the meat where it touches the fry pan. We have followed this plan for the last 7 years.

Actually, bacon is a rare treat in my house--and yes, I'm sure it's not the best for me due to the additives (unless you're lucky enough to live in a place where you can get the type of bacon Susan describes). That said, at the times I do eat it, I'm willing to live in denial. ;-) Seriously, I'm hopeful I can find a bacon much as Susan described, I didn't realize such a thing was available.

I am aware of the carcinogens that can form on cooked meat--although I heard it more in the context of grilled or seared meats--however, it appears if you marinade meat, it often prevents those carcinogens from forming.

Best regards,
Michelle C., T2, no meds


Michael

Michelle, as you might have read I am kinda agonizing over taking metformin. What issues might you want to share about your decision to forgo meds?

Michael

Hi Michael,

My feeling is that I won't take a medicine unless I cannot control by diet and exercise--without the diet becoming so restrictive as to become unhealthy. First, as you said, medications often have side-effects. Metformin is one of the older ones and has a pretty good track record, however, Susan suffered from adrenal insufficiency while she took it (although she does have Cushing's and I believe was undiagnosed when she took the metformin), and Nicky reported having more energy when she was able to drop it. Secondly, I don't need to add to my expenses.

That said, I grant myself a little more leeway than you do with your numbers. If my bg is under 140 at one hour, I'm satisfied. Still this does not allow me much fruit. I can eat a half apple with peanut butter (I don't know if I could eat that much apple without the peanut butter since I've never tried it), half a grapefruit, and strawberries. Most other fruit I've tried has put me over unless the portion is so small as to not be worth it. (I haven't tried blueberries.) I eat a full range of veggies practicing portion control with peas, corn, and dried beans. I eat carrots raw.

Even though I do grant myself more leeway that you do, most of my meals puts me around 122 +/- 5 at the one hour mark. I have been eating this way for the last 3 years and have seen no progression in my symptoms.

Metformin is specifically helpful for those with insulin resistance. My lipid panel does not indicate the presence of insulin resistance, and I've never been overweight (just average) which is often a hallmark of diabetics with insulin resistance.

Do you know your lipid numbers?

I'm going to have to dig out the formula--or we could just ask someone on the group. I *believe* the forumla is triglycerides divided by HDL. If the result is less than 3 insulin resistance is not really a factor. Like I said, we should confirm that with the others because it's been a long time since I've thought about it.

I hope my thoughts help you with your dilemma.

Best regards,
Michelle C., T2, no meds


They do Michelle, thank you.
I actually found the last lipid panel done on me. It is a year old.
TC 145
HDL 33
LDL 94
Trig 90

My total Chol looks like it is creeping up. It used to be a lot lower.

Michael
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Bacon does not raise BG???
    ... This morning, I had 4 slices of bacon, 2-3 slices of wheat bread, half ... after you eat it. ... Michelle C., T2, no meds ... My lipid panel does not indicate the presence of insulin resistance, and I've never been overweight which is often a hallmark of diabetics with insulin resistance. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: Bacon does not raise BG???
    ... I've been having pork bacon for breakfast, smoked, sliced and un- ... 12gm of fat is quite a bit especially when most diabetics are the ... after you eat it. ... that will delay the spike from ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: Bacon does not raise BG???
    ... I've been having pork bacon for breakfast, smoked, sliced and un- ... 12gm of fat is quite a bit especially when most diabetics are the ... after you eat it. ... that will delay the spike from ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: Bacon does not raise BG???
    ... This morning, I had 4 slices of bacon, 2-3 slices of wheat bread, half ... 12gm of fat is quite a bit especially when most diabetics are the most ... after you eat it. ... My lipid panel does not indicate the presence of insulin resistance, and I've never been overweight which is often a hallmark of diabetics with insulin resistance. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: Bacon does not raise BG???
    ... I've been having pork bacon for breakfast, smoked, sliced and un- ... 12gm of fat is quite a bit especially when most diabetics are the ... after you eat it. ... that will delay the spike from ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)