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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.
Diagnosed today type 2
- Thread starter kelkel153
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- She/Her
Welcome to the forum, you will find lots of information to help you along your way.
An important thing for people to know so they can make appropriate comments is what your HbA1C as that determines how far into the diabetic zone you are and also if you have been prescribed any medication as again that will helpful to know.
It is carbohydrates that your body struggles with so reducing your intake of those in your diet is important, it is not just sugar but all carbs. Many find a low carbohydrate approach is successful in reducing blood glucose and losing weight if you need to, it is suggested that no more than 130g total carbs per day is a good starting point.
Basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, non starchy vegetables and fruits like berries but restricting portions of high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits and cutting out cakes, biscuits, pastry, sugary drinks including fruit juice will still give plenty options for tasty meals.
Food which would be considered healthy for non diabetic are sadly not so if Type 2 diabetic.
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet.
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Some people find a low calorie or shakes-based regime gives them a kick start but whatever you choose has to be enjoyable otherwise it will not be sustainable.
Looking at packets or the internet for the total carbs so you can see what a portion would be and decide if that fits with your personal carb allowance per day or per meal. Everybody is different in their tolerance to carbs so a one size fits all does not always work.
An important thing for people to know so they can make appropriate comments is what your HbA1C as that determines how far into the diabetic zone you are and also if you have been prescribed any medication as again that will helpful to know.
It is carbohydrates that your body struggles with so reducing your intake of those in your diet is important, it is not just sugar but all carbs. Many find a low carbohydrate approach is successful in reducing blood glucose and losing weight if you need to, it is suggested that no more than 130g total carbs per day is a good starting point.
Basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, non starchy vegetables and fruits like berries but restricting portions of high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits and cutting out cakes, biscuits, pastry, sugary drinks including fruit juice will still give plenty options for tasty meals.
Food which would be considered healthy for non diabetic are sadly not so if Type 2 diabetic.
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet.
Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Looking at packets or the internet for the total carbs so you can see what a portion would be and decide if that fits with your personal carb allowance per day or per meal. Everybody is different in their tolerance to carbs so a one size fits all does not always work.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
No - it is all those 'healthy' carbs we are encouraged to eat.
I eat a low carb diet and can maintain normal numbers, I bounce around like a spring lamb most of the time, though these days my immune system is on the blink. What should have been a bit of a cold now seems to hit me like a truck. It could be my age, but it feels a lot more like a conspiracy theory would explain it better.
I did manage to make sausages and a stir fry for dinner, and there is a dessert of yoghurt jelly and berries in the fridge which I did not manage to generate enthusiasm for. Low carb really reduces the appetite from time to time, I find, so that my usual two meals a day reduces down to one or even none occasionally.
I eat a low carb diet and can maintain normal numbers, I bounce around like a spring lamb most of the time, though these days my immune system is on the blink. What should have been a bit of a cold now seems to hit me like a truck. It could be my age, but it feels a lot more like a conspiracy theory would explain it better.
I did manage to make sausages and a stir fry for dinner, and there is a dessert of yoghurt jelly and berries in the fridge which I did not manage to generate enthusiasm for. Low carb really reduces the appetite from time to time, I find, so that my usual two meals a day reduces down to one or even none occasionally.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You should have a blood glucose monitor so you can keep a check on how you get on with reducing carbs, particularly the gliclazide will be encouraging your pancreas to produce more insulin so you need to be cautious of too low carbs. I have never seen anything suggesting a lower limit if on that medication, I suspect it is because everybody is different in how they react.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome. Were you told what your HbA1c was (the blood test measurement which determines diabetes)? I am guessing from your medication, your level must have been quite a bit above 48 mmol/l which is the base line for diabetes. It helps us tailor our responses to any questions you may have. As usual LeadingLights has given you excellent advice.
I suggest you work your way through the Learning Zone (orange tab above) at your own pace, so you can take in the information. You might like to make a note of questions you have for your nurse when you meet them. First thing I did on diagnosis was get an app which measures cals and carbs. It is my bible and I plan my day's food on it every morning, so I know exactly what my carb level will be. I find it easier than keeping paper/spreadsheet records or forever checking packaging. There are several on the market - mine currently offers a free trial then there is a small monthly fee.
I also suggest you look at the Forum post "Food ideas with photos", specifically those made by Type 2 diabetics. I post mine daily now to keep myself honest!!! Lots of good ideas (I'm a bit limited). You are advised to be careful with fruit. My diabetic nurse told me no more than 2 x 80gm portions per day. Berries are preferable, but tropical fruit is high in carbs.
Most people find breakfast the most difficult.
Typical breakfast: Greek yogurt with a few berries, nuts and seeds; eggs in some form plus a selection from tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions or similar vegetables; a shake (I make mine with water and unsweetened almond milk)
Ideas for lunch: Home made soups (without thickening); salads (but not potato) with some protein; eggs (if you don't have them at breakfast); vegetable crudities
Best wishes
I suggest you work your way through the Learning Zone (orange tab above) at your own pace, so you can take in the information. You might like to make a note of questions you have for your nurse when you meet them. First thing I did on diagnosis was get an app which measures cals and carbs. It is my bible and I plan my day's food on it every morning, so I know exactly what my carb level will be. I find it easier than keeping paper/spreadsheet records or forever checking packaging. There are several on the market - mine currently offers a free trial then there is a small monthly fee.
I also suggest you look at the Forum post "Food ideas with photos", specifically those made by Type 2 diabetics. I post mine daily now to keep myself honest!!! Lots of good ideas (I'm a bit limited). You are advised to be careful with fruit. My diabetic nurse told me no more than 2 x 80gm portions per day. Berries are preferable, but tropical fruit is high in carbs.
Most people find breakfast the most difficult.
Typical breakfast: Greek yogurt with a few berries, nuts and seeds; eggs in some form plus a selection from tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions or similar vegetables; a shake (I make mine with water and unsweetened almond milk)
Ideas for lunch: Home made soups (without thickening); salads (but not potato) with some protein; eggs (if you don't have them at breakfast); vegetable crudities
Best wishes
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @kelkel153
You are right that foods with lots of sugars added (like cakes and biscuits), or a high natural sugar content (like fruit juice) are best avoided, but as others have said you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
That doesn’t mean that you have to avoid all those things entirely, but gradually and cautiously reducing your portion sizes (making sure they balance with your meds) can be a very helpful strategy. 🙂
You are right that foods with lots of sugars added (like cakes and biscuits), or a high natural sugar content (like fruit juice) are best avoided, but as others have said you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
That doesn’t mean that you have to avoid all those things entirely, but gradually and cautiously reducing your portion sizes (making sure they balance with your meds) can be a very helpful strategy. 🙂
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