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Valley1

Valley1

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Type 2
Hi, I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic in 2019. I’ve been on Metformin 500mg three times a day since then! The medication seemed to be working, but I haven’t had a review with my GP since June last year. I’ve found cutting sugar and limiting my carbs difficult and it would be great to hear others experiences on this forum.
 
Hi @Valley1 and welcome! Lots of us doing the same as you. I was scared sh$t- less on diagnosis so that really helped with the motivationo_O. Lots of threads in here & loads of people to help you.
 
Hi @Valley1

What does your diet look like? If you post some typical meals I am sure people will be able to post little modifications that might help
 
Hi, thanks for the reply. For information my Hba1c was 46 in June 2020. When I was first diagnosed in 2019 it was 84. As I’m not overweight the diagnosis came as a complete shock to me and I was scared! Obviously I now realise I have fat on the inside and I have to deal with it. Last year my GP was happy with the direction things were going and I feel this has been due to a combination of the medication, less stress, more sleep and being good ‘sometimes’ with my diet! I’ve also cut out potatoes, pasta, rice and crisps from my diet. I also check the amount of carbs in my meals and try to keep it as low as possible. I like dairy foods such as cheese, butter, plain Greek yoghurt, cream etc. I’m not sure if I need to reduce dairy? My biggest problem is my sweet tooth and snacking, especially chocolate, pastries, buns, which I’ve found really hard to give up. I have a tendency to sometimes say sod it and binge on this sort of food! Lockdown hasn’t helped! Also, I find it difficult to be creative with my meals and end up having just meat/fish with veg or salad; a bit boring! I also eat about 2 pieces of fruit a day and I have a healthy smoothie most mornings. I’m not one for lots of exercise, but I do keep active and walk daily. I would be grateful for any advice.
 
Valley1 said:
I have a tendency to sometimes say sod it and binge on this sort of food!
Click to expand...
That's a feeling that I can relate to !! :D
Generally though very well done @Valley1.
You look to have taken on board many of the helpful things to do to keep your blood sugar under control.
Do you have a home glucose monitor to help get an idea of how things are going?

Your eating and exercise regime sound very similar to mine, which works out fairly well for me most of the time.
I also eat quite a lot of dairy, although tend to keep the cream, butter and hard cheese as occasional treats, and focus more on oils nuts avocados etc

..... and yes the 'sod it all' does happen from time to time, particularly in these difficult times. My answer is to keep it short lived 'what's done is done' forget it and get back to normal regime as quickly as possible.
Keeping my 'danger' foods out of the house, or if nor possible out of sight and hard to get to also helps.
 
Valley1 said:
Hi, thanks for the reply. For information my Hba1c was 46 in June 2020. When I was first diagnosed in 2019 it was 84. As I’m not overweight the diagnosis came as a complete shock to me and I was scared! Obviously I now realise I have fat on the inside and I have to deal with it. Last year my GP was happy with the direction things were going and I feel this has been due to a combination of the medication, less stress, more sleep and being good ‘sometimes’ with my diet! I’ve also cut out potatoes, pasta, rice and crisps from my diet. I also check the amount of carbs in my meals and try to keep it as low as possible. I like dairy foods such as cheese, butter, plain Greek yoghurt, cream etc. I’m not sure if I need to reduce dairy? My biggest problem is my sweet tooth and snacking, especially chocolate, pastries, buns, which I’ve found really hard to give up. I have a tendency to sometimes say sod it and binge on this sort of food! Lockdown hasn’t helped! Also, I find it difficult to be creative with my meals and end up having just meat/fish with veg or salad; a bit boring! I also eat about 2 pieces of fruit a day and I have a healthy smoothie most mornings. I’m not one for lots of exercise, but I do keep active and walk daily. I would be grateful for any advice.
Click to expand...
Your story sounds similar to mine although I am somewhat overweight, I can't remember being what is considered correct for my height, I tipped into the diabetic range last June. I made dietary changes and reduced my HbA1c from 50mmol/mol to 38 in six months without medication. To make meals more interesting I use rubs and dry spices and herbs rather than prepared bought sauces. Spicetice do a nice range. If you want a bit of a 'sweet hit' Nature Valley do some protein bars which are less than 10g carb per bar but I cut them into 4 pieces as that is plenty in one go. I also discovered ASDA do a quark desert Lindahls Kvarg which although low fat is only 5g carb per 150g pot and goes well with some berries.
The thing I most miss are things with a crunchy texture, nuts seem to be the best bet.
 
Hi, thanks for the reply. For information my Hba1c was 46 in June 2020. When I was first diagnosed in 2019 it was 84. As I’m not overweight the diagnosis came as a complete shock to me and I was scared! Obviously I now realise I have fat on the inside and I have to deal with it. Last year my GP was happy with the direction things were going and I feel this has been due to a combination of the medication, less stress, more sleep and being good ‘sometimes’ with my diet! I’ve also cut out potatoes, pasta, rice and crisps from my diet. I also check the amount of carbs in my meals and try to keep it as low as possible. I like dairy foods such as cheese, butter, plain Greek yoghurt, cream etc. I’m not sure if I need to reduce dairy? My biggest problem is my sweet tooth and snacking, especially chocolate, pastries, buns, which I’ve found really hard to give up. I have a tendency to sometimes say sod it and binge on this sort of food! Lockdown hasn’t helped! Also, I find it difficult to be creative with my meals and end up having just meat/fish with veg or salad; a bit boring! I also eat about 2 pieces of fruit a day and I have a healthy smoothie most mornings. I’m not one for lots of exercise, but I do keep active and walk daily. I would be grateful for any advice.
 
Thanks for the advice. I will try to limit the dairy foods. I have got a blood sugar monitor and have been using it once a week. I wasn’t sure when the best time is to test my blood level so went for 2 hours after evening meal and first thing in the morning. My evening results have been in the normal range, but my morning results have been high and I can’t work out why! I don’t eat any carbs with my evening meal!
 
I'd be interested to know how you make a healthy smoothie, as I bought a Nutribullet just before I was diagnosed, and soon found that smoothies caused my glucose to shoot up, even if I used salad stuff rather than fruit. Eating more fruit on top would not do for me, but as you are still in the lower numbers it might be absolutely fine for you, but if you start to see your numbers going up - there are quite a few of the usual suspects you could work on to push things back.
If you switch to high cocoa chocolate and start baking for yourself you can find recipes which are lower in carbs, and which taste good. Unfortunatley the market is not considered large enough, or perhaps profitable enough to interest large suppliers. The things used in 'our' foods are more expensive by their very nature, so seen as less profitable.
 
I’ve been having a smoothie every morning for years and I’d rather give up other foods than go without this! I also have a nutribullet and put in spinach, apple, a couple of strawberries or a kiwi. You can experiment and you can make soups with the Nutribullet. I then add a teaspoon of Maca powder and Spirulina and some mixed seeds, then water up to the line. Obviously this does add to the daily carbs and my diabetes nurse advised to leave some time before eating anything else.
 
I found that blending anything - even the same quantities of my usual salad stuff, made the carbohydrate far too easily accessible for my overly efficient digestion, so what would have been fine to eat unprocessed spiked me at half an hour.
I can't have a smooth soup, I do blend a small amount of the veges in a stew, to thicken it, but leave most of it whole.
 
Welcome to the forum @Valley1

Congratulations on the terrific progress you have made so far, and the excellent A1c reduction.

I wonder if your elevated morning levels might be connected to the Dawn Phenomenon - part of the circadian rhythm where the liver releases glucose to ‘fire up the burners’ for the day in the early hours or just after rising.

Some people find that a lowish carb fat and protein snack at bedtime helps? As can eating breakfast as soon as possible after rising.
 
Hi thank you for your reply, sorry for the delay my broadband has been down!

Yes I think it maybe the dawn phenomenon! I‘ve actually tried to cut my carbs completely at dinner and no more food before bed to try and deal with the problem, but I will try your advice. Also, I find it difficult to eat breakfast as soon as I get up; coffee only, but I will try this. I just want to improve my sleep!
 
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