Should you check your blood sugar at home?! - Dr. Eric Westman

[@Mat_Gallusman]

I am on keto and use sometimes a dual meter for glucose and ketones. Interesting and motivating to know whether I am in the range or not.

[@faisal-ca]

I am not diabetic but glucometer(poking finger) has been very helpful in identifying effects of different foods on my blood glucose levels. I follow fat and protein based diet. Always good to see a consistent blood glucose level.

[@chrismartin7579]

Dr. Westman, thanks for the video. I am no longer diabetic, 3/4 of my former self and working on being 2/3 my former self and owe a lot to your scientific low-carb approach. I used an Abbot Freestyle Libre 2 sensor along with an Ambrosia NightRider BluCon (NRBC) transmitter that converts the Abbot sensor NFC (Near Field Communication) to BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) so I can get blood glucose readings every 5 minutes via the NRBC app. The BluCon device, which fits over top of the Abbot sensor, essentially makes the Libre 2 sensor into a low cost continuous BGM. Regarding my own blood glucose, I learned A LOT from the Libre 2 data, and I encourage everyone to give a CBGM a try. I tracked and reported my findings to my doctor. Just a few key revelations (all in fasted state): I ate a lemon (1 whole, squeezed liquid) five minutes before eating 1C cantaloupe and had about 1/3 the increase in BG compared to not eating the lemon. Eating an orange over 1 hour (1 section every 5 minutes) did not spike my BG more than 11 points. I ate 1/2 an orange then walked a total of about 2.5 miles in 50 minutes. The CBGM showed, essentially, ZERO change. Eating yogurt 10 minutes before blueberries cut BG spike in half compared to yogurt mixed with blueberries. Also for me: Keto bread is BS (I spiked A LOT); the cheaper wraps DID work (bought at Food Lion, Extreme something) with no noticeable spike; the resistant starches DID NOT work for me. I am going to stay on my course; listen to Dr. Westman and my doctor, lots of low starch vegetables, stay low carb, eat salmon/fish, eggs, but not much dairy or beef. Your milage may vary. Everyone is different.

[@niccidee782]

Congrats Chris! 3/4? Wow, great accomplishment. Hope you are still doing well. :)

[@gabymalembe]

I learned from a cgm that the foods that most increased my blood sugar were rice noodles and flourless bread, surprising to me, so I pretty much stopped eating them. I was very glad I used the cgm. Hard to see the harm in finding out what foods spike your bloood sugar and what ones don’t. If you’re curious about or concerned about your health I’d say it’s well worth the cost, and it makes sticking your finger seem like so last century, though I could have got the same informatiion sticking my finger a few hundred times.

[@janismcgovern5067]

I’ve been following your diet for a few months and my a1c is down to 5.4 I had my annual physical Wednesday and my cholesterol was 300 so of course I got the statin lecture. I refused and told her I need my cholesterol to heal my body after 66 years of unhealthy high carb diet.

[@AdaptYourLife]

Awesome Janis 💪

[@johnsmith-dm2tq]

This is necessary. I have been 147 to 175 for 3 months.my feet hurt. I started keto last year when I was told I was pre diabetic. Than I did keto and lost weight. All was good until 3 months ago with foot tingling, then pain, after pricking my finger every hour my biggest culprit is my black coffee. Wtf, who would have thought. Stopped black coffee 3 days ago and I am averaging 117 to 130ish. Not awesome but better

[@jamescalifornia2964]

🍃 At the beginning I tested often - now less frequently. The A1C is important. Also a blood pressure cuff is important. 👌

[@vas4739]

Doing keto & IF just over 4 years now and would STILL like to see what effect some foods have on MY metabolism since “everyone is different “ but I can’t get a CGM. Sad really. I need to know how my stress level & lack of sleep due to neck pain effects my metabolism.

[@marianne1959]

Using my meter is exactly what helped me reverse my t2d! Now that my A1c is now 5.1-5.3 for past few years, the glucometer keeps me motivated to NOT eat the crap.

[@melissaandrews1603]

Very helpful. I’m one of those whose BG is highest first thing in the morning. Thank you 🙏!

[@robinfosha6491]

It's hard to reconcile having very high blood sugar and A1C even while sticking to a non-dairy keto diet. You feel like you are doing everything you should, and still ended up diabetic. My husband is a week now on meds, blood sugars back to normal ranges, so hoping continuing keto keeps the meds as low as possible

[@saxgirlhornboy6458]

Your experience may be completely different than mine, but I found that I needed to keep a lid on my daily energy intake in order to drive my glucose down. (A couple days of fasting before a colonoscopy helped, too...) Fortunately, I wasn't that hungry any more, so it was doable. Good luck!

[@Junebug93309]

I’ve checked mine in the past. After 3 days I was bored. When you stay in plan it doesn’t matter what a number says.

[@grahamedwards6824]

I think that once people can actually see cause and effect, it becomes extremely self motivational, and it will result in much improved glucose levels throughout the day. Which can only be a good thing….. Glycation seems to be the root of all evil…. Especially Advanced Glycation End products (AGE’s).

[@quartermoonsongs311]

Thanks for info. I am simply sticking to page 4 and feel great. I am not checking my blood sugar. We seem to be obsessed with gathering data.

[@staclenore]

Thank you Dr. Eric-perfect timing for this video, I was debating getting another Cgm while doing 95% carnivore. I’m off carbs, diet soda/energy drinks, and all artificial sweetener over 2 weeks now, and I feel great, no calorie counting, etc…I am a person who can stress over “numbers”, so it seems a Cgm would be an unnecessary distraction for me. 🤓⭐️

[@lmarose0123]

Thanks for this. It’s a confusing topic for the lay person. Would love to hear even more about this and what’s normal and what’s not.

[@jamescalifornia2964]

- Avoid BG spike over 130 after meals. Average about 90 between meals is good 👍

[@lmarose0123]

@@jamescalifornia2964 how long after eating do you check to know if you are spiking over 130?

[@jamescalifornia2964]

@@lmarose0123 - 60 minutes .

[@barbjustus462]

@@lmarose0123 Im type 2 and you check 2 hrs after a meal

[@AdaptYourLife]

Review transcript here: adaptyourlifeacademy.com/dr-eric-westman/should-you-check-your-blood-sugar-at-home/

[@ralphhamdeed2977]

Hi dr westman do you think keto can help with a fib

[@tombirney7276]

born 1960; watched high bp standard drop and Rx increase; watched definition of "pre-diabetes" explode for seniors. Are there studies that seniors with no diabetes still die before age 82?

[@karahamil3657]

Hope he answers your question … I’d like to know the answer ..maybe post it in the fb group

[@utopia77334]

Do you have any advice for people that blood sugars are just unstable I tried doing keto and my pleasure just get really low

[@malvanlondon8683]

As a chronically ultra squeamish person (I am coining the term CUSP) I am waiting for a non-puncturing the skin version of CGMs. The reason I want one is to measure my carb reactions; given that I have to have a certain amount of carbs in my diet to avoid bad insomnia. (BTW, I think I'm on the way to type 2 diabetes but haven't been diagnosed.)

[@SandeepPatel-kp8ox]

It’s a fiber that goes into the random skin not a needle into the vein

[@lauriebarkley9756]

I have a adrenal insufficiency along with several autoimmune diseases and insulin resistance. I am following low-carb diet and wondering how the adrenal insufficiency plays into all of it because I have to take steroids daily 40 mg of hydrocortisone? Any thoughts on that?

[@suzieqgm643]

I don’t ever go to drs in last 14 years, I just eat real food and move my body. Don’t believe that any doctor or device or medication helps us at all. But ditching everything including ALL supplements including organ. The body heals itself without other human’s interventions. Just use your own intellect because it is quite remarkable ♥️

[@karahamil3657]

You’ve got to be under 50 or near past it? While I agree about staying far from doc’s sometimes it’s necessary… esp for people 60 and above

[@keithcitizen4855]

Too simple but appreciate your point .

[@hbrown3953]

Could not disagree with you more

[@suzieqgm643]

@@karahamil3657 almost 59 and stopped going to drs unless it’s a bone break, and eat carnivore drs tried to tell me I had all these issues and needed drugs from 18 to 47 and I went cold turkey off all of them and went paleo then keto then carnivore and healthier than anyone I know and healthier than all my peers. Also, unless you are dying from an accident or were poisoned there is never a reason to have any organ surgically removed. They all serve a purpose and the standard American diet destroys. We don’t need screenings. We just need to stay away from any kind of sugar going into our bodies on a regular basis and we heal.

[@suzieqgm643]

@@karahamil3657 also, I only carry medical insurance because my state forces me to 😡 I pay out of pocket for real doctors if I need one who understand nutrition cures not synthetic drugs or supplements and I reversed familial heart disease because they have lied about LDL cholesterol! I eat high fat/protein diet for over 12 years

[@ImDiabetic]

Very ECPENSIVE TO USE IN CANADA 96 dollars every two weeks AND YOU MUST BE TYPE ONE TO BE QUALIFIED FOR FREE VERY EXPENSIVE NOT ACCURATE AS A REGULOR METER MY OPINION YOUR RIGHT EAT THE REGULAT MEAL PLAN YOU KNOW YOURE NUMBER WILL BE THE MORE MAN MADE CARBS YOU EAT THE HIGH GOES I DO KETO FOR MY HEALTH REASON ITS HOW TO EAT WAT KETO GREAT

[@wocket42]

Even eating zero carbs, your blood sugar levels might be interesting. Some get high blood sugar during the night/early morning and can't get back to sleep or maybe they wonder what happens during exercise.

[@karahamil3657]

I’d like to hear your input on all these diabetes drugs that are now FDA approved for weight loss… makes no sense to me .. glad I’m no longer in need

[@krisofgod5619]

anyone can respond please : why is my blood sugar go from 4.7 to 5.1 back from a 40 minute slow walk and didn't eat for 16 hrs ?

[@ttiller3744]

Your liver probably put some glucose into the blood.

[@barbjustus462]

It goes high because its stress on the body a good stress but then it lowers after

[@krisofgod5619]

@@barbjustus462 thanks for answering now I know lolll sorry that it took a while to say thank you

[@krisofgod5619]

@@ttiller3744 is it normal? Sorry I know it's been a while I ask the question,,,lolll

[@sheilacollins9384]

I've seen my glucose numbers go up after exercise as well. I believe it's due to heightened cortisol.

[@H4KnSL4K]

tl;dr

[@Robinedghill]

Waste of money

[@DansTech307]

Are you diabetic?