Hi Steve;

I am just starting 2 weeks into low carb, no wheat diet and I am in the same boat has you except I am 30 lbs heavier than you when started and I take 30 mg of Actos (along with boat load of meds similar to what you listed).  Here is where I am at now:

1. Blood sugars significantly dropped to normal range 90-140 (for diabetics!) but can go erratic with some gluten free foods has high as 200mg at one point.  I am still taking Levimir insulin at night time to keep me afloat until it gets more stable.  I quit all other meds cold turkey! 

2. I am experiencing the worse withdrawal effects of wheat: vertigo, dizziness, headaches, flu-like symptoms, etc...   I was scared at the first week went to ER for vertigo but the meds they gave didn't work, but now I am feeling much better.

3. Still struggling with consistency related to eating low carbs aiming for >60g per a day, but sometimes go up to 75g (does effect sugar spikes!!)

4. My doctor is not happy about this, insisting that I take Actos and Humalog, but it makes me more hungry and swelling in the joints, so will not continue them.

I am very interested in finding some earlier readings on how you started (not the end results you have now) how you went off your meds, and how you handled the withdrawal effects, etc....

Thanks.
Suzette

Hi Steve:

What is considered "normalized" blood sugars.  For example, maybe I am wrong, but for the past week it's been average 90-140mg regular daily basis check it three times a day.  Sooooo, I consider that "normalized"  but like today I had a gluten-free pizza small about 4 slices and one gluten-free beer that I tried and yes my sugars spiked up to 200mg, but then after 2-4 hours it went back to 130mg so I learned that I can't eat the whole small pizza and probably can't have a beer at least not now.  But, I don't believe taking any insulin based on these readings is warrant?? My doctor has instructed me that it's the morning readings that need to be your baseline for determining if you need insulin or not.   So far in 7 days waking up morning readings are averaging 90-130mg which is excellent for me compared to previous readings of 150-200mg with 4 insulin shots!!

It's just so frustrating to find a "happy" satisfying blood readings that can be consistent enough across all eating.  I am still at the beginning stages and learning what works and what doesn't in terms of carbs and specific foods-grin.  Sooo my question again is what is considered "normalized" blood sugars and how long does it have to be 1 day, 5 days, 7 days, etc.... to determine if it is stable enough??

Steve:

Thanks, but your "harsh" approach is not gonna get people to stay with you on this journey-grin.  Take it easy, I am new and I am gonna find out in my own way how things work and/or don't work for me :-).  Yes, I have read ALLLL your postings dozen times over, but it will take time for me to get to where you are.

Thanks.
Suzette