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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
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- Thread starter DappyLady
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Hi @DappyLady and welcome to the forum.
We aren't doctors, but if you have question about diet or medication you will find a wealth of experience here. Just tell us a little about your situation so that we don't make the wrong assumptions.
For example your HbA1C level upon diagnosis ( or the last one it diagnosis was some time ago), which medication (if any) you are on, do you have some weight to lose or are you losing too much weight. etc.
We aren't doctors, but if you have question about diet or medication you will find a wealth of experience here. Just tell us a little about your situation so that we don't make the wrong assumptions.
For example your HbA1C level upon diagnosis ( or the last one it diagnosis was some time ago), which medication (if any) you are on, do you have some weight to lose or are you losing too much weight. etc.
Hi & thank you . I’m type 2 , for the last 16 years. I’m on novomix 30 insulin. 18 units at breakfast, & 28 units at tea time. I also take 2sr 1,000 mg metformin at lunch time. Also on 10mg ramipril & 5mg amliodopine blood pressure tablets & 40 mg of simvastatin.My last hba1c in July was 62, which had come down from 72. So heading in the right direction.However I’m just about to start taking dapagliflozin 10mg. I’m just a little apprehensive because of the side effects ie water infections thrush etc. Wondering if anyone has experienced any of these side effects. My diabetic nurse has been very good & discussed this with me. I m probably over thinking this, but would like to know of anyone else’s experience.Many thanks.
rebrascora
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Hi and welcome.
Have you made any lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) to go alongside your diabetes medication as a few simple changes might offset the need for the new tablets.
Have you made any lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) to go alongside your diabetes medication as a few simple changes might offset the need for the new tablets.
Hi I do aqua aerobics 3 times a week, & I’m trying to go to the gym once a week. But I must admit the gym is a bit hit & miss. Mainly because I’m not a big fan of the gym.Diet I eat 3 meals a day ,eggs on toast for breakfast. Usually some sort of crackers for lunch with a humous dip . Also have some cucumber & tomatoes with it & fruit or a yogurt to follow.Main meal Usually meat or fish with veggies & potatoes, or rice or pasta.But I don’t really eat pasta or rice that often.When I do it’s always brown rice or pasta, as is the bread I have at breakfast.I have heard a lot of diabetics are on the low carb diet. Just not sure what I can & can’t eat. Also I don’t want to feel hungry all the time.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
hello @DappyLady You should not feel hungry on a low carb diet, as it is the up and down rollercoaster of insulin release and glucose levels which encourage you to eat.
Limiting the grains you eat - bread, crackers - possibly the humous, maybe the fruit, potatoes or rice or pasta - the colour isn't all that important, so your blood glucose levels are what you can cope with is the key to controlling type two as long as you are an ordinary type two. Sometimes people prove to have something more interesting which means that low carb doesn't work for them, though they might feel better with more fat and protein anyway.
I bought a blood glucose meter which helped a lot. It showed me that the rise I got from eating peas and beans was almost twice what it ought to have been if the accepted carb content was to be believed - just one of those oddities which actually checking up reveals.
Limiting the grains you eat - bread, crackers - possibly the humous, maybe the fruit, potatoes or rice or pasta - the colour isn't all that important, so your blood glucose levels are what you can cope with is the key to controlling type two as long as you are an ordinary type two. Sometimes people prove to have something more interesting which means that low carb doesn't work for them, though they might feel better with more fat and protein anyway.
I bought a blood glucose meter which helped a lot. It showed me that the rise I got from eating peas and beans was almost twice what it ought to have been if the accepted carb content was to be believed - just one of those oddities which actually checking up reveals.
Hi there,
You're a long term T2 on insulin and meds and with a Hba1c of 62 (7.8%) you are in the right ball park area but could do with getting it down a bit by tweaking carbs.
For long duration T2s like us on insulin the ACCORD study said don't try to go under 7% (53) and Prof Craig Currie of Cardiff after extensive research says 7 - 8.5% (53 - 69) is the optimum range for us. So yes get it down to the 7 area (53) but don't be tempted by the common assumption that 'lowest is best' for T2s. It isn't so for us veterans.
Thank you for that information. When they raised my insulin slightly in July I had a few hypos. They are now better, but I’m struggling at bedtime, I have my insulin with my evening meal, & though I go to bed at about 6.5 range, I’m always hungry.If I don’t eat anything before bed sometimes I experience hypos. But if I do eat a little something before bed I’m high in the mornings. I think this is why they are trying me on a new tablet, so I can eventually lower the insulin, & suppress the hunger pangs.Its a bit of a juggling game at the moment.Interesting that you said ACCORD, advise not to go under 53. I have my annual check next week & a follow up with the diabetic nurse next month. I will mention all of these points & see what she says.Keep well.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
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- Type 2
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You do seem to be on a lot of different medications for your diabetes including insulin which will mean that balancing your carbohydrate intake with the amount of insulin is going to be critical in getting better management of your levels. You may be wise asking for some more guidance from a specialist diabetic team as you don't want to risk reducing carbs too much and risk hypos because of the insulin and the other meds.
There may be an alternative insulin regime which would help. Hopefully some of those more familiar with insulin use if Type 2 will chip in with suggestions.
There may be an alternative insulin regime which would help. Hopefully some of those more familiar with insulin use if Type 2 will chip in with suggestions.
Hi , I agree it’s a lot , which is why I’m a bit wary of trying anything new, as regards meds ZB& diet. I have several diabetic appointments coming up. So thanks to everyone here I have a few questions to ask my team.I’ll keep you all posted as to how it goes.Many thanks for your reply.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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If you are hungry at bedtime, then there are things that you can eat which will not significantly impact your Blood Glucose levels and will be filling. Things like a boiled egg or two with mayonnaise or coleslaw or a chunk of cheese or some veggie sticks with cream cheese, or some cooked meats. Foods which are high in fat and protein but low in carbs will help you to feel full without pushing your levels up.
rebrascora
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Your nurse should have advised you on a BG level which is safe to go to bed and if you are below that level to have a biscuit of something.
The snacks I have suggested in my post above are just to stop you from feeling hungry, but if your levels are too low at bedtime then you would need to eat something with slow release carbohydrates as well..... so perhaps some crackers or toast with the cheese or peanut butter or a digestive biscuit.
Diabetes is all about carbohydrates and when you are using insulin, it is about balancing the insulin to the carbohydrates you eat. Snacks high in protein and fat but without any carbs like eggs and meat and cheese will not have a significant impact but they will cure your hunger. If your levels are not high enough to be safe to go to sleep for fear of a hypo then you need some carbs like a slice of toast with peanut butter or cheese or a biscuit. If you do lots of testing on a night at bedtime and first thing on a morning, you will start to see what level you need a snack to stop you hypoing and when your levels are safe to sleep and choose an appropriate snack for those circumstances. So if your levels are say 10 at bedtime and you are hungry you could have a chunk of cheese or a boiled egg with mayonnaise but if your levels were just 6 at bedtime then it would be better to have a couple of crackers with your cheese or eggs or a slice of toast with peanut butter to bring your levels up before bed to keep you safer through the night.
The snacks I have suggested in my post above are just to stop you from feeling hungry, but if your levels are too low at bedtime then you would need to eat something with slow release carbohydrates as well..... so perhaps some crackers or toast with the cheese or peanut butter or a digestive biscuit.
Diabetes is all about carbohydrates and when you are using insulin, it is about balancing the insulin to the carbohydrates you eat. Snacks high in protein and fat but without any carbs like eggs and meat and cheese will not have a significant impact but they will cure your hunger. If your levels are not high enough to be safe to go to sleep for fear of a hypo then you need some carbs like a slice of toast with peanut butter or cheese or a biscuit. If you do lots of testing on a night at bedtime and first thing on a morning, you will start to see what level you need a snack to stop you hypoing and when your levels are safe to sleep and choose an appropriate snack for those circumstances. So if your levels are say 10 at bedtime and you are hungry you could have a chunk of cheese or a boiled egg with mayonnaise but if your levels were just 6 at bedtime then it would be better to have a couple of crackers with your cheese or eggs or a slice of toast with peanut butter to bring your levels up before bed to keep you safer through the night.
Yes I see , what you’re getting at. Sometimes I’m just hungry , at other times though within range,if it’s at the lower end of the range that’s when I have the hypos.But I’m sure with a bit of trial & error it will work out eventually. I have appointments coming up with the nurse soon, so I’ll ask her more on this subject.
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