Scared Straight

Over the past few months, my stomach is feeling a lot better and I think it's thanks to low-carb lattes I've been having for breakfast. Plus a lot of Pepto-Bismol. Doing a little research, it turns out that all the ingredients in the latte (coconut milk, cocoa powder, peppermint extract, and even coffee) are antibacterial. So is Pepto-Bismol. I've also been avoiding high-FODMAPS foods that cause bloating. So I think my problem was SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) after taking too many probiotics...and maybe some carb creep.

Something felt off. I was tired, I'd gained a few pounds, and felt puffy. I got a new blood glucose meter and tested my fasting and post breakfast levels (breakfast being bacon, eggs, two lattes and some dried seasoned tomatoes). That was about 18 grams of carbohydrate. My blood sugar went from 91 to 146. Not good! After two hours, it went to 109 and stayed around there for the next four and a half hours, when I stopped taking readings.

Officially, 146 is a normal, non-diabetic reading. But Dr. Richard Bernstein's Diabetes Solution says,

No nondiabetic will have blood sugar levels as high as 140 mg/dl except after consuming a lot of carbohydrate. "Normal" in this case has more to do with what is considered "cost effective" for the average physician to treat....an individual frequently displaying a blood sugar of 140 mg/dl is a good candidate for full-blown type 2 diabetes. I have seen "non-diabetics" with sustained blood sugars averaging 120 mg/dl develop diabetic complications.

It looks like I'll have to whack back the carbs again. Fortunately, I just got an order of fatty pork from a (somewhat) local farm and just ordered 500 Ketogenic Recipes by Dana Carpender. I followed her recipe for braised hog jowl on Google Books--wonderful! I had some with cole slaw for a snack tonight.

I should also start exercising again. Being more fit should improve my insulin response.

UPDATE: I woke up ill this morning, so I hope oncoming illness was partly to blame for my high blood sugar yesterday.

Source: Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution by Richard K. Bernstein, MD. 2011, Little, Brown & Co., p. 46.

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