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- Thread starter MrPixels
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Hi @MrPixels and welcome to the forum.
If you know your HbA1C test result number that would help us know how far into the diabetic zone you are and thus whether you should be advised to make slight modifications to yur lifestyle, or if you need to take mor serious steps.
The condition is simple:1). The bloodstream can hold only a small amount of glucose (sugar). When the level starts getting high we get lots of nasty short term symptoms such as distorted vision, brain fog, urinary problems etc. and if it stays too high for quite a long time then we can get the really nasty complications such as blindness and needing amputations.
In Type 2 it gets high because no matter how much insulin our body makes it finds it hard to overcome 'insulin resistance'. This means that although Type 2 is treatable with insulin (like Type 1 is), doing that tends to make our insulin resistance get worse, so we go round in circles needing more and more insulin (if that is our main treatment).
But there are 2 alternative approaches: 1. Try to improve our insulin resistance a large weight loss is thought to do this.
2. Eat less of the food which is digested into glucose in our body. That means carbohydrates (which our bodies are perfectly OK without). Carbs are starches as well as sugars, so that means cutting back (a certain amount) on grains (such as wheat, barley, oats, rice etc.- even whole grains) and flours, root veg such as potato, sugary fruit (mainly tropical fruit) and also fruit juices as well as table sugar, honey high fructose corn syrup etc.
Fortunately natural animal fats have infinitesimal effect on Blood Glucose and protein has little effect on it- so we can eat lots of protein and traditional fats and fill ourselves up with low carb veg.
If you know your HbA1C test result number that would help us know how far into the diabetic zone you are and thus whether you should be advised to make slight modifications to yur lifestyle, or if you need to take mor serious steps.
The condition is simple:1). The bloodstream can hold only a small amount of glucose (sugar). When the level starts getting high we get lots of nasty short term symptoms such as distorted vision, brain fog, urinary problems etc. and if it stays too high for quite a long time then we can get the really nasty complications such as blindness and needing amputations.
In Type 2 it gets high because no matter how much insulin our body makes it finds it hard to overcome 'insulin resistance'. This means that although Type 2 is treatable with insulin (like Type 1 is), doing that tends to make our insulin resistance get worse, so we go round in circles needing more and more insulin (if that is our main treatment).
But there are 2 alternative approaches: 1. Try to improve our insulin resistance a large weight loss is thought to do this.
2. Eat less of the food which is digested into glucose in our body. That means carbohydrates (which our bodies are perfectly OK without). Carbs are starches as well as sugars, so that means cutting back (a certain amount) on grains (such as wheat, barley, oats, rice etc.- even whole grains) and flours, root veg such as potato, sugary fruit (mainly tropical fruit) and also fruit juices as well as table sugar, honey high fructose corn syrup etc.
Fortunately natural animal fats have infinitesimal effect on Blood Glucose and protein has little effect on it- so we can eat lots of protein and traditional fats and fill ourselves up with low carb veg.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum, it comes as a shock to many people when they are diagnosed as diabetic but sometimes it can be a relief as it explains symptoms that people have been experiencing, The higher your HbA1C over the diagnostic threshold of 47mmol/mol the more work you need to do. If not too high then dietary changes may be sufficient but if a long way over then oral medication may be prescribed. The first one that is usually tried is metformin which just helps the body use the insulin it produces more efficiently but only will help alongside reducing the amount of carbohydrates you eat.
This link gives a good explanation and some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
It is a low carb approach which suggests no more than 130g total carbs per day.
You may also find the book or app Carbs and Cals a useful guide to the carb values of foods and portion sizes which will allow better choices of foods.
This link gives a good explanation and some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
It is a low carb approach which suggests no more than 130g total carbs per day.
You may also find the book or app Carbs and Cals a useful guide to the carb values of foods and portion sizes which will allow better choices of foods.
Hi MrPixels, welcome to the forum.
Glad that you've joined us as it can be overwhelming to start with but hopefully, with the right support, you'll find your way.
You've had some great replies above so I just thought I'd pop in with some links from our main site which may be helpful.
This page gives an insight on what type 2 diabetes is and the second helps you understand what to eat.
www.diabetes.org.uk
www.diabetes.org.uk
Have a read through when you get a minute and let us know if you have any specific questions that we can help with.
Glad that you've joined us as it can be overwhelming to start with but hopefully, with the right support, you'll find your way.
You've had some great replies above so I just thought I'd pop in with some links from our main site which may be helpful.
This page gives an insight on what type 2 diabetes is and the second helps you understand what to eat.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is high blood sugar levels due to your body not making enough of a hormone called insulin, or the insulin it makes not working properly, known as insulin resistance. High blood sugar levels over time can cause other health problems like heart attacks and strokes, as well as...
I have type 2 diabetes – what can I eat?
If you've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one of the first things you might be worried about is food. You’re likely to be faced with what seems like an endless list of new tasks. Medical appointments, taking medication, stopping smoking, being more active and eating a healthy, balanced...
Have a read through when you get a minute and let us know if you have any specific questions that we can help with.
Was 52 on the first blood test, dropped to 50 and I wont know what it might have dropped to now until my next blood test in December. So pretty close to borderline in some ways hence my desire to control it rather than it control me.
Been trying to find a book or App, that might be more relevant to a plantbased diet. Every one I've look at has so much detail on foods I don't eat.
Thank you for your welcome and advice...Hi MrPixels, welcome to the forum.
Glad that you've joined us as it can be overwhelming to start with but hopefully, with the right support, you'll find your way.
You've had some great replies above so I just thought I'd pop in with some links from our main site which may be helpful.
This page gives an insight on what type 2 diabetes is and the second helps you understand what to eat.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is high blood sugar levels due to your body not making enough of a hormone called insulin, or the insulin it makes not working properly, known as insulin resistance. High blood sugar levels over time can cause other health problems like heart attacks and strokes, as well as...
I have type 2 diabetes – what can I eat?
If you've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one of the first things you might be worried about is food. You’re likely to be faced with what seems like an endless list of new tasks. Medical appointments, taking medication, stopping smoking, being more active and eating a healthy, balanced...
Have a read through when you get a minute and let us know if you have any specific questions that we can help with.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Might this be helpful
and this
Vegan meal plan
This nutritionally balanced meal plan is suitable for vegans and and contains at least five portions of fruit and veg per day.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
The link didn't work, so I went onto Amazon and searched Plant Based Diabetic Cookbook and got several options.Might this be helpful
and this
Vegan meal plan
This nutritionally balanced meal plan is suitable for vegans and and contains at least five portions of fruit and veg per day.
Thanks, I'll have a look to see whether it's available from anywhere else. I don't really want to use Amazon and encourage a billionaire's lifestyle...Might this be helpful
and this
Vegan meal plan
This nutritionally balanced meal plan is suitable for vegans and and contains at least five portions of fruit and veg per day.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Sorry you are right.
Yes, they seem to be the default, If I can get it from an independent so much the better, it keeps them in business. Thanks again for you input.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I've got a few plant based soup recipes and a hotpot recipe I could send you. As you are just in the diabetic range, the little bit of potato or sweet potato should not have too much effect. I took them from an ordinary vegetarian cookbook I got many years ago, and just tinkered with them, using my app to measure the cal and carb contents.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Tomato and vegetable soup (vegetarian minestrone without the pasta or bacon)
Cheats version for busy people. Serves 6. I freeze in old ice cream containers
- 600.0g Sainsbury's Diced Swede & Carrot 600g
- 200.0g Green Beans, Raw, chopped
- Large onion, Raw, chopped
- 3 sticks celery, chopped
- 400ml Tomato Juice/Water
- Marigold Swiss Vegetable Bouillon or stock cubes
- 200g Sainsbury's Cabbage & Leek 200g
- 400.0g Hubbard's Foodstore Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice
- 400gm tin haricot or similar beans (optional)
165 cals and 24.4gm carbs with haricot beans
Mist a large pot with 1-Cal spray.
Add carrot, swede, chopped onions, celery and steam for 7 minutes
Add tinned tomatoes, tomato juice/water and vegetable bouillon or stock cubes
Brink to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes
Add cabbage, leek, green beans and optional beans
Simmer for 10 minutes.
Cowboy Hotpot serves 6
The original recipe had sweet potato instead of carrots, smoked cheese instead of cheddar, and sliced potatoes on top, but I use thinly sliced butternut squash. Too many carbs with both potatoes and I don't like smoked cheese..
· 1 onion – sliced
· Fry Light
· 1 medium red pepper, sliced
· 2 medium carrots, chopped
· 115 gm green/French/fine beans, chopped
· 400 gm can low salt and sugar baked beans
· 200 gm frozen sweetcorn
· 1 tbsp tomato puree
· 1 tbsp barbecue sauce
· 180 gm reduced fat mature cheddar, cubed
· 450 gm thinly sliced butternut squash or potatoes (I use a mandolin on the thin setting)
· salt and ground black pepper
257 cals and 27 gm carbs per 1/6 of dish with squash
279 cals and 34.3 gm carbs per 1/6 of dish with potatoes
Spray a large saucepan with Fry light.
Place the onion, pepper and carrots in the pan and sweat gently until softened.
Add the green beans, baked beans, sweetcorn with liquor, tomato puree and barbecue sauce.
Bring to boil then simmer for 5 minutes.
Transfer the vegetables to a shallow ovenproof dish and scatter with the cheese.
Cover with the sliced squash/potato, spray with Fry Light, and season to taste.
Bake at 190 C / 375 F / Gas 5 for 30 – 40 minutes until golden brown on top and the squash/potato is cooked.
Leek and mushroom soup Serves 4
This is well flavoured soup, perhaps for a dinner party starter. Can't remember where I found it.
- 300.0g Chestnut Mushrooms, diced
- Average leek (90g) Leeks, diced
- 45.0ml Dry Sherry
- 5ml Lea and Perrins Worcester Sauce
- Vegetable bouillon or stock cube
- 1 level teaspoon, ground Nutmeg, Ground
- 750ml Water
- Fry light
Mist a pan with Fry Light
Add mushrooms and leek and sweat for 7 minutes
Mix water, sherry, Worcester Sauce, nutmeg, bouillon or stock, (don't overdo the nutmeg or Worcestershire sauce)
Add to vegetables and simmer for about 10 minutes
Blitz the soup
Something else I make is a squash lasagne, using sliced squash instead of pasta. Someone else used unravelled leek sheets instead of pasta. No reason why you can't make a vegetarian version with a sauce of a selection from mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, peppers, celery etc plus tinned tomatoes, and a white sauce on top.
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