Hi Everyone, Just a quick post to introduce myself.

[Cisco]

I was officially diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2 a month ago, i was prescribed Humalog 25 insulin, i take 2 x 20 units a day, I can't change the fact i have Diabetes i accept it.
Diet is the biggest problem i have, i don't enjoy cooking so fancy recipes are not for me.
I find the labels on food almost impossible to understand, compounded by the fact my vision is blurred at the moment.
Can anyone suggest where i can find a booklet leaflet or book " Diabetic food for Dummies"
Thanking you in anticipation,
Cisco.

 

[adrian1der]

Hi Cisco and welcome. Your basic problem is your bodies inability to deal with carbohydrates. These are rapidly broken down into glucose. This is not just sugar but starchy things like bread, potatoes, rice and pasta as well. If you lower your portion size of these things and replace with lower carb options - meat, fish, cheese, green veg etc you will see improvements. Protein and fats are fine it is only the carbs you need to restrict.

 

[Inka]

@Cisco I don’t think there could be such a book that covered every person with diabetes. We’re all different.

As you’re on insulin and on fixed doses, the best thing for you would be to have some kind of routine about meal times and the carb amounts you have at each meal. Humalog 25 is a mixed insulin and mixed insulins demand consistency.

What you’re looking for on food labels is the total carbohydrate per serving. The insulin you’re taking will cover a certain amount of carbs. If you eat too many carbs for the insulin, your blood sugar will go high, too few and you’re at risk of going too low. So you need to find the right amount for you per meal and stick to it each day. It doesn’t have to be fancy food or special food.

What are your blood sugars like at the moment?

 

[Docb]

Hi @Cisco and welcome to the forum. Got to agree with the others that any book labelled "Diabetic food for Dummies" might be useful for some but highly unlikely to be useful to all.

Cooking does not have to be fancy! If you want a cookbook, then get something basic and get a few "one pan" meals under your belt. No need to follow ingredients religiously, as long as you don't burn it or undercook it then the result will be edible, so have a do.

Labels are a bit of a nightmare - they are always on the back of the packet and in the smallest type they can get a way with. If I were in charge I would make a law that required all nutritional labels to be on the front of the packet and in big writing. If it can be done for death notices on cigarettes, it can be done for life notices on food.

If there is one thing to get your brain around at the start it is the role of carbohydrates in diabetes. Put very simply, there is a very good chance that if you cut your carbohydrate intake, you will reduce your blood glucose levels.

Somewhere on the nutritional information of the back the packet will be a figure for "Total Carbohydrate". That's the number to look for. Start simply and easy is my idea. So, if you buy tinned soups then that is a good place to get into label reading. You can quickly compare one soup against another and see which has the lowest carbohydrate content. You can compare different brands of the same soup and find which has the lowest carbohydrate content. When you have got soups sorted then you can move onto something else.

There are a couple of ideas to think about. How did you come to be diagnosed and do you know why you went straight onto insulin? Most T2's on diagnosis start on pills and diet and exercise and head for insulin if that does not work.

 

[Leadinglights]

Were you given any guidance about the amount of carbohydrate you should have for the dose of insulin you have been prescribed.
Maybe it is something you did not take in at the time as many people are shocked at the diagnosis and forget what is said or don't quite understand the terminology. As @Docb says it is unusual for Type 2 to be put straight on insulin before trying oral medication.
Have a look in the learning zone (orange tab at the top) for the info re Type 2. Changes in eye sight is something that can lead to diagnosis as it is caused by high glucose levels but equally may arise by quick reduction in levels which may occur by having the insulin.
Have you been given a blood glucose monitor and test strips as you should be testing your levels especially if you drive and I believe you should also inform the DVLA. Hopefully someone will confirm that.

 

[mark king]

Welcome @Cisco.

@Leadinglights post #5 above makes many important points that you would benefit from doing.
The more knowledge you gain about your Diabetes the better you will be able to control it.
As your Diabetes effects your blood sugar levels [norm between 4- 8 mmol/L] it is beneficial to know yours and this can be achieved with a glucose meter and test strips.
Extreme blood sugar levels will cause eye blurring and other Diabetic problems too.

Some more info from your diagnosis would help to build up a profile for you and assist us all in making useful suggestions.

Best

 

[Drummer]

My way of eating is very simple - consists of stir the veges, or flip the wok, turn over the meat or fish open the fridge to find dessert or salad stuff.
Recipes are very few and far between, most things are single ingredient or chop up and assemble in a bowl.

 

[Hmd1978]

You might find the carbs and cal book or app useful as it show you portion sizes so you have an idea of how much food to have. All basic foods in there nothing really fancy. As you have problems with your eyes the app may have audio so could explain it to you

 

[Cisco]

Hi @Cisco and welcome to the forum. Got to agree with the others that any book labelled "Diabetic food for Dummies" might be useful for some but highly unlikely to be useful to all.

Cooking does not have to be fancy! If you want a cookbook, then get something basic and get a few "one pan" meals under your belt. No need to follow ingredients religiously, as long as you don't burn it or undercook it then the result will be edible, so have a do.

Labels are a bit of a nightmare - they are always on the back of the packet and in the smallest type they can get a way with. If I were in charge I would make a law that required all nutritional labels to be on the front of the packet and in big writing. If it can be done for death notices on cigarettes, it can be done for life notices on food.

If there is one thing to get your brain around at the start it is the role of carbohydrates in diabetes. Put very simply, there is a very good chance that if you cut your carbohydrate intake, you will reduce your blood glucose levels.

Somewhere on the nutritional information of the back the packet will be a figure for "Total Carbohydrate". That's the number to look for. Start simply and easy is my idea. So, if you buy tinned soups then that is a good place to get into label reading. You can quickly compare one soup against another and see which has the lowest carbohydrate content. You can compare different brands of the same soup and find which has the lowest carbohydrate content. When you have got soups sorted then you can move onto something else.

There are a couple of ideas to think about. How did you come to be diagnosed and do you know why you went straight onto insulin? Most T2's on diagnosis start on pills and diet and exercise and head for insulin if that does not work.

Hi Docb Thank you for your reply, i am so sorry for not replying sooner, i have been very busy.
Firstly thank you for welcoming me to the Forum.
I have taken on board your Carbohydrate advice. i have reduced my intake. and i walk 5 miles per day, i am not over weight.
One of the questions you asked me is why i was prescribed insulin straight away, the diabetic nurse said it was necessary because my HbA was 119 in May 2021(the only reading i have had) i was due a further test in August but due to shortage of blood testing containers this has been put on hold.
Kind Regards,
Cisco.

 

[Cisco]

My way of eating is very simple - consists of stir the veges, or flip the wok, turn over the meat or fish open the fridge to find dessert or salad stuff.
Recipes are very few and far between, most things are single ingredient or chop up and assemble in a bowl.

Hi Thank you for your reply, sorry for the delay in thanking you for your suggestions, i have invested in a George Foreman grill which i have found very useful.
Regards,
Cisco.