Hi I'm a newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic!!! trying to get my head around everything. I started metformin about 3 weeks ago and have been told I don't need to check my blood sugars! I also work 12 hour shifts days/nights, so food is an issue, when to eat?? sometimes its a quick slice of toast, not good I Know. Can anyone help me and give me some ideas as i like bread, potato, pasta & rice!! I've swapped to wholemeal pasta, brown rice and trying to find a bread I like. Is there any low carb breads I can try?? Feeling confused.com!!
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Newly diagnosed type 2
- Thread starter MRS S
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Welcome to the forum @MRS S
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Yes it can be a lot to get your head around to begin with, but things will get easier, and you will soon become your own diabetes world expert with more understanding of your own unique version of this weirdly individual condition!
If you would like a good overview of T2 diabetes, members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which you can work through gradually and will give you a solid starting point. There are also lots of helpful modules in the Learning Zone (highlighted menu item above) which you can dip into.
One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
Many new members also find it can be really helpful to keep a food diary for a week or two. Be brutally honest! Note down everything you eat and drink. It can be especially helpful to estimate the amount of carbohydrate in the meals and snacks to give you an idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu.
The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to various foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself.
You can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them). Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing amounts of carbs and trying different types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference). Gradually tweaking and tailoring your menu to find one that suits your tastebuds, your waistline and your BG levels 🙂
If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework.
If you need to self fund your BG meter, the most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 - which both have test strips at around £8 for 50
Of course, checking your own levels doesn’t appeal to everyone, but many members here find it very helpful, especially in the early weeks and months.
Let us know how you are getting on 🙂
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Yes it can be a lot to get your head around to begin with, but things will get easier, and you will soon become your own diabetes world expert with more understanding of your own unique version of this weirdly individual condition!
If you would like a good overview of T2 diabetes, members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which you can work through gradually and will give you a solid starting point. There are also lots of helpful modules in the Learning Zone (highlighted menu item above) which you can dip into.
One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
Many new members also find it can be really helpful to keep a food diary for a week or two. Be brutally honest! Note down everything you eat and drink. It can be especially helpful to estimate the amount of carbohydrate in the meals and snacks to give you an idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu.
The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to various foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself.
You can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them). Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing amounts of carbs and trying different types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference). Gradually tweaking and tailoring your menu to find one that suits your tastebuds, your waistline and your BG levels 🙂
If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework.
If you need to self fund your BG meter, the most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 - which both have test strips at around £8 for 50
Of course, checking your own levels doesn’t appeal to everyone, but many members here find it very helpful, especially in the early weeks and months.
Let us know how you are getting on 🙂
Leadinglights
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Welcome MRS S
Sadly for you all those things you mention are high carb foods but there are alternatives but they perhaps require a bit more work and imagination to make good tasty meals. Some advanced preparation and planning helps.
The metformin does not act directly on food but helps the insulin you are producing to work more effectively but people find taking them with food helps to reduce any stomach issues some people get.
It would be helpful to know what your HbA1C is which has led to your diagnosis as that will indicate how much you need to do. If not far into the diabetic zone (above 48mmol/mol) then reduction in portion size and cutting out some of the higher carb foods may be sufficient.
Most people do find that testing their blood glucose levels before and 2 hours after food helps them identify any specific foods which increase their blood glucose more than desirable, but you would have to self fund the monitor and strips.
The wholemeal/brown versions of things like pasta and rice are no lower carb than the white.
There are some low carb breads around but sometimes hard to find LivLife and a few others are around. You need to look for the TOTAL carbohydrate content on the packet or supermarket web site to compare.
Have a look on the thread What did you eat Yesterday to get an idea of what Type 2 folk have but bear in mind people can be having very different amount of carbs depending on whether they are dietary only or take meds as well.
But in any event reducing carbohydrates is the key.
SB2015
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Toucan
Forum Host
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- Type 2
Hello @MrsS and welcome to the forum.
There can be a lot adjust to when you are first diagnosed, but as you can see from the replies you already have there is plenty of help and experience here to try and help you.
A few years ago the many of the words you have just written could have been said by me. It takes a while some trial and error and ups and downs to find what works best for you, it is very individual. It is also very worthwhile and rewarding and I now feel much fitter, have more energy and ,more zest for life than I have had for a long time.
For me, a new way of eating, and increased exercise, plus some metformin is what works. As well as cutting out all the sugary things, I cut down on the carbs particularly the ‘white’ ones (white bread and flour,rice,pasta,etc ) and mainly eat fish, poultry, yoghurt, some cheeses, nuts and seeds, and have learned to love vegetables . I also try to avoid too much processed food, and to include plenty of fibre some from the veg, plus seeds and pulses. There are many good recipes to make these things really tasty.
Fruit is quite high in natural sugars but these are still carbohydrates, so I try to limit to just one portion a day. Berries like raspberries or strawberries or blackberries are best.
As @Leadinglights mentioned, LiviLife bread is very low in carbs ( 3.4 per slice rather than the 14 in an average slice of wholemeal). The slices are very small, but they still make a platform for toast of a small sandwich.
Good luck, and please keep posting and ask any questions - we will always try to help.
There can be a lot adjust to when you are first diagnosed, but as you can see from the replies you already have there is plenty of help and experience here to try and help you.
A few years ago the many of the words you have just written could have been said by me. It takes a while some trial and error and ups and downs to find what works best for you, it is very individual. It is also very worthwhile and rewarding and I now feel much fitter, have more energy and ,more zest for life than I have had for a long time.
For me, a new way of eating, and increased exercise, plus some metformin is what works. As well as cutting out all the sugary things, I cut down on the carbs particularly the ‘white’ ones (white bread and flour,rice,pasta,etc ) and mainly eat fish, poultry, yoghurt, some cheeses, nuts and seeds, and have learned to love vegetables . I also try to avoid too much processed food, and to include plenty of fibre some from the veg, plus seeds and pulses. There are many good recipes to make these things really tasty.
Fruit is quite high in natural sugars but these are still carbohydrates, so I try to limit to just one portion a day. Berries like raspberries or strawberries or blackberries are best.
As @Leadinglights mentioned, LiviLife bread is very low in carbs ( 3.4 per slice rather than the 14 in an average slice of wholemeal). The slices are very small, but they still make a platform for toast of a small sandwich.
Good luck, and please keep posting and ask any questions - we will always try to help.
Drummer
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Whatever amount you can deal with - it is a very personal thing, and a blood glucose meter helps a lot to show what you should and should not eat.
Kopiert
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum @MRS S.
I was diagnosed about 2.5 years ago, and I remember being as confused as you are now (I still am!). For what it is worth I found the Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, The First Year incredibly useful. It really helps you understand what his happening to you body, how to test, how life changes - for the better. I also decided to try and manage the condition through diet so the second thing I bought was Carbs and Cals. It is a book and an app which tells you all about nutritional information in food and allows you to better measure your carb intake if you decide to limit carb intake. Thirdly I bought a meter, although my original nurse got really quite angry about that, I found it an invaluable tool to help me understand he impact of different foods. I discovered that I could tolerate a little potato, but noodles and pasta sent my Blood Glucose (BG) through the ceiling. I now test on and off, so at the moment I am going through a two/three month session just to check, and to remind myself!
Also if you buy off Amazon and you don't support another charity go to smile.amazon and plug in this charity, they will get a few pence for every purchase you make
I was diagnosed about 2.5 years ago, and I remember being as confused as you are now (I still am!). For what it is worth I found the Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, The First Year incredibly useful. It really helps you understand what his happening to you body, how to test, how life changes - for the better. I also decided to try and manage the condition through diet so the second thing I bought was Carbs and Cals. It is a book and an app which tells you all about nutritional information in food and allows you to better measure your carb intake if you decide to limit carb intake. Thirdly I bought a meter, although my original nurse got really quite angry about that, I found it an invaluable tool to help me understand he impact of different foods. I discovered that I could tolerate a little potato, but noodles and pasta sent my Blood Glucose (BG) through the ceiling. I now test on and off, so at the moment I am going through a two/three month session just to check, and to remind myself!
Also if you buy off Amazon and you don't support another charity go to smile.amazon and plug in this charity, they will get a few pence for every purchase you make
Hi I'm back again!! I am still really struggling with the food I can and cannot eat, I have no will power and really struggling. My blood sugars are between 9 and 12, I know this is not good. Can anyone share easy simple diet plans, food recipes ( must be simple) as I'm not a good cook. Many thanks x
janw
Much Missed Member.
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Hi Mrs S. There are tons of low carb and keto recipes online, but here's one site you can check out as it gives you some alternatives that we use. If you are unsure of anything, just ask. Click Here
What dose of metformin are you on ? 1500 is the minimum effective dose and 2000 the usual dose most are on. 500 and 1000 are just acclimatising, loading doses working up to that.
Docb
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- Type 2
That's an interesting observation @Burylancs. Do you have a source to back it up? I take 500mg a day of metformin to keep the DSN happy, but I have never been convinced that it has any real effect on my blood glucose.
The gliclazide I take is a different matter. That does affect my blood glucose which rose when I stopped taking it for a while.
Dominic DUK
Supporter Care Advisor
Hi there thank you for your post!
We fully appreciate how difficult it can be knowing what foods to eat when you have Diabetes. Firstly, can find our meal plans by clicking here https://bit.ly/3qlqHD3.
We also have a recipe finder available, which allows you to type in different ingredients to discover the recipes we have that encompasses those foods. You can access this by clicking here https://bit.ly/3qhUKM5.
Our Learning Zone will give you videos, quizzes, interactive tools which are tailored just for you, once you’ve told us a few details about your relationship with diabetes. From tasty food swaps to tips about managing day-to-day, our courses are all completely free. To sign up to our Learning Zone, please click here https://bit.ly/3D1IKSb
DESMOND – type 2 diabetes - https://dafne.nhs.uk/
This one day course for people with type 2 diabetes is sometimes offered over two half days and gives you six hours' education.DESMOND stands for Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed. It will help you understand your diabetes, make food choices and take control of your blood glucose levels.
X-PERT Diabetes Programme – type 2 diabetes - https://www.xperthealth.org.uk/
This course for people with type 2 diabetes is usually run in two and a half hour sessions over six weeks, with a follow up session every year.You’ll learn how diabetes affects your body and how lifestyle changes can help you manage your condition.
Lastly, you are more than welcome to contact our helpline for nutritional advice on 0345 123 2399 or helpline@diabetes.org.uk 9am-6pm Mon-Fri
🙂
Research published years ago. I'll look it up again. 500 improves hba1c by something like 0.2 (old money) and the benefit increases to something like 1.6 at 2000 ( e.g. from 7.7 to 6.1% which is something like 60 to 40 in current measures). Strange you were put on gliclazide before you had maxed out on metformin, seems to run counter to usual practice and Nice guidelines. It used to be said that the gliclazide is hammering your pancreas, forcing it to produce more and more insulin and hastening its demise.
Docb
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I was put on gliclazide because I was already taking 1000mg metformin when my HbA1c jumped from 50 to 80 odd and increases in metformin did not go well - yep i got all the well reported problems. The gliclazide and a lower carb diet brought the BG back under control and I now take minimal doses of both.
The analogies you used to hear 15 or 20 years ago about gliclazide were 'cracking a nut with a sledgehammer' and 'revving a motorbike engine'. And of course 3rd generation sulfonylureas, like glimiperide came along, that are far less likely to cause hypos than glic.
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