I found this list in "Think Like a Pancreas":

Things That Tend to Raise Blood Sugar

Menstrual hormones
Later stages of pregnancy
Rebounds from hypoglycemia
Gradual loss of beta cell function in type 2
Exiting the "honeymoon" period in type 1
Depression
Weight gain
Excessive sleeping
Caffeine
Steroid drugs
Thyroid supplements
Diuretics
Estrogen
Niacin

Things that Tend to Lower Blood Sugar

Alcohol
Heat/humidity
Heavy brain work
Previous intense exercise
New/unusual surrounding
Socializing
Stimulating environments
Early stages of pregnancy
Beta blockers
MAO inhibitors
Nicotine patches
Ritalin
Stress management
High altitude

I would add that stress tends to raise blood sugar, although it is not on the list.

BG increase?
Caffeine doesn't seem to have an effect on my BG.
I take 1000 mg of niacin after breakfast to keep my
HDL above 60-I'm unsure whether this affects my BG.
When I get superstressed or sick,my BG generally rises.
BG decrease?
Each shot of scotch will typically decrease my BG by about
10 points-I have to be careful with this one.
Aerobic exercise usually,but not always,significantly decreases my BG.
That appears to be how it works with me.
Signing off from Houston-beam me up,Scotty
Eddie

Interesting! Thyroid hormones? Hmmmm...

I started thyroid meds 6 months ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimotos. And now 6 months later, my blood work showed I am pre-diabetic. Fasting 116.
I wonder if its related?!

so...
I'm going to drink in a strange sauna, surrounded by chatty people while attempting the Rubik's cube at the top of a mountain (which I've just run up, of course) while said people continually perform stimulating feats to entertain me.

I'll skip the drugs and pregnancy thanks.

As we are all aware, not everyone reacts to various stimulants the same way.

I am also taking Niacin, which helped raise my HDL a few more points and lowered my total count by 100.

I also enjoy a good drink in the evening.

I do keep my carbs below 100 and do my best to keep it between 30-60.

There are days when I can do the limit of 30.

These are all personal decisions.

Ralph

My experience

Things that raise my Blood Sugar:

Sitting on my ass and being inactive
Weight gain with most of the fat in the belly
Eating high carb foods and stuffing myself
Skipping medications
Stressing and complaining about things
Not getting enough sleep
Expecting Doctors and medicines to help me
Not understanding about diabetes

Things that lower my blood sugars

Eating for health
Weight loss
Consistent use of supplements
Daily exericse
Not sitting for long periods of time
Not allowing stress to dominate my thoughts
Keeping a positive attitude
Trust in myself to care for my own health
Learning about Diabetes
Tracking my experience and sticking with what works

Great list !!!

Ralph

I thought of you when I read that and that was the main reason I posted it along with the info on steroids for Chandrala and Penni.

Caffeine definitely raises mine so I have to bolus a tiny bit more for coffee. Alcohol, with the exception of beer, lowers mine.

LOL! You could open a diabetes spa.

Well, I did switch to a higher dose a while back. I think I'm still not at a high enough dose. Maybe low thyroid function can mask diabetes or insulin resistance?

We know that diabetes and thyroid disorders often travel together, as well as celiac disease. I also have lupus in my family. The cousin who has lupus doesn't have diabetes and the 2 of us who have diabetes didn't get lupus. The 3 of us with autoimmune problems are 1st cousins on my father's side. The cousin who had diabetes (she's dead now) also had thyroid disease and scleroderma. My thyroid is probably on its last leg. I have a tiny patch of scleroderma on one elblow, but it isn't serious nor systemic like my cousin's.

You made an interesting point worthy of further research. I wonder what your BGs would be like if you carbed up for a couple of weeks?

You have just crushed my dreams of finding the Sit on Your Ass All Day Diet. I was even considering writing the book myself. I'm a pro people. Don't attempt this at home.

I purchased Think Like a Pancreas due to reviews here. I think it is a great book even for type 2 not taking insulin. He wrote with some humor - which I like. I think I read in that book that the life expectency of a person with diabetes is 13 years shorter. That was depressing. I'm assuming that is for someone who doesn't have tight control of BG.

~Danielle

After having some > 140 BG's after eating a dessert, I'm rather afraid of "carbing up". I guess it depends on how you define it.

I'm not terribly low carb, I eat lots of veggies, berries, peanut butter, ketchup, sweet pickle relish (sometimes) and stuff like that. I'd probably put myself in the 50-60 g range per day. I don't log though, so I could be way off.

Also, my thyroid is completely kaput. It was nuked with radioactive iodine to treat Graves disease back in my late 20's. A decision I'd make entirely differently if I had that opportunity now.

I would define carbing up to be 200-300 grams of carbs per day.



Do you think it is better to have it limp along? I have no plans to get nuked, even though my thyroid sputters and creates an occasional irregular heartbeat. I understand those are harmless. Right now, my TSH is a bit low.