Struggling……..

[Duane Charles]

to get to grips with my diet.

I’m quite a fussy eater and I’m sure there’ll be those of you fussier than me. I only eat a handful of veg, don’t do salads and hate fish. Also because my work pattern I’m going long periods of the day without food. I have breakfast every morning but my next meal won’t be until after midnight when I get in from work. Most of my shifts at work start at 4 and feel it’s too early to eat a meal before going to work. Just looking for some advice on how to conquer this and ensure my readings aren’t too high. I’m being treated as T2, but there’s a possibility of being T3c and I’m sure regardless of my type the diet will remain the same?

 

[Leadinglights]

to get to grips with my diet.

I’m quite a fussy eater and I’m sure there’ll be those of you fussier than me. I only eat a handful of veg, don’t do salads and hate fish. Also because my work pattern I’m going long periods of the day without food. I have breakfast every morning but my next meal won’t be until after midnight when I get in from work. Most of my shifts at work start at 4 and feel it’s too early to eat a meal before going to work. Just looking for some advice on how to conquer this and ensure my readings aren’t too high. I’m being treated as T2, but there’s a possibility of being T3c and I’m sure regardless of my type the diet will remain the same?

When do you sleep as that may make a difference as to when your best times are for eating.
Even without diabetes to contend with people who work nights or awkward shift patterns find it difficult to know when to eat what, what is breakfast, what is dinner etc.
It may need a change of mind set as to what foods you think of as breakfast and dinner.
It may be some of the foods you say you don't like could be prepared in a different way and you would find them OK.
Give us an idea of what foods you like.

 

[Leadinglights]

People often have misconceptions about food the don't like.
I have always said I would never eat black pudding despite going to school in the reputed home of black pudding but we were in Northern Ireland and had a meal where I selected as a starter pigeon breast with boudin noir. I commented that it was very nice and then somebody (my other half) commented 'you know what that was don't you' I clearly didn't as there was no way I would have eaten it. I still won't.

 

[Duane Charles]

People often have misconceptions about food the don't like.
I have always said I would never eat black pudding despite going to school in the reputed home of black pudding but we were in Northern Ireland and had a meal where I selected as a starter pigeon breast with boudin noir. I commented that it was very nice and then somebody (my other half) commented 'you know what that was don't you' I clearly didn't as there was no way I would have eaten it. I still won't.

The issue with food is that the things I don’t eat make me want to be sick. I’ll come back later with the foods I do like.

 

[Duane Charles]

When do you sleep as that may make a difference as to when your best times are for eating.

Usually I’m asleep by 1:30 after eating and will wake a couple of hours later to do my after meal BS. Breakfast around 09:30 and take my after meal BS two hours later. I do tend to relax after that until it’s time to get myself ready for work and leave around 3:30. My start times vary between 4:00 and 5:00

Give us an idea of what foods you like

Definitely a meat lover and have a very bad sweet tooth, that said I seem to have the desire for cakes, biscuits etc under control.

On the veg side I tend to eat peas, carrots, green and runner beans, spuds, corn, onions, peppers.

Fruit: apples, pears, oranges, pineapple. It has been suggested I take a snack into work but it can be full on for the time I’m there.

Plus being in a “fast food” environment the temptation to eat is always there and I seem to have my controls set to combat this.

 

[Leadinglights]

The variety of foods you like seems a reasonable basis for creating good meals, it is probably a matter of trying not to have 2 of the more carby veg in one meal so don't have say peas and corn together or either of those if you have potatoes.
Pineapple is one of the higher carb fruits, if you like melon that may be an alternative.
One of the reasons you may be seeing higher readings after your 'main meal' is that you are sleeping rather than being active and at a time when the natural body clock means your metabolism is likely to be slower.
A snack could be something like a Nature Valley protein nut bar which are only 10g carb per bar.

 

[Duane Charles]

I have a phone consultation booked for tomorrow to discuss how I’m coping with the Metformin and a face2face one booked for the week after to discuss further investigation and possible treatments going forward in view of my queries about T3c. I will certainly ask about seeing a dietitian after Christmas.

 

[Duane Charles]

A snack could be something like a Nature Valley protein nut bar which are only 10g carb per bar.

Unfortunately nuts aren’t allowed in my workplace.

 

[Leadinglights]

Unfortunately nuts aren’t allowed in my workplace.

 

[Duane Charles]

I’m sure there are other protein bars or are they higher in carbs?

 

[RJN123]

That’s tough - nuts are one of my go-to snacks when I need a quick pick-me-up. My other two snacks are pork scratchings and salted microwave popcorn (Butterkist have no additives). Personally, my blood sugar is tolerant of virtually all fruit and veg, so it is worth testing which ones specifically you react to, so you don’t limit yourself for no reason. If I fancy a dessert, I have cut fruit with whipped cream and maybe some vanilla powder. This is also great for a work snack. Hope you find more ideas down the line.

 

[Duane Charles]

That’s tough - nuts are one of my go-to snacks when I need a quick pick-me-up. My other two snacks are pork scratchings and salted microwave popcorn (Butterkist have no additives). Personally, my blood sugar is tolerant of virtually all fruit and veg, so it is worth testing which ones specifically you react to, so you don’t limit yourself for no reason. If I fancy a dessert, I have cut fruit with whipped cream and maybe some vanilla powder. This is also great for a work snack. Hope you find more ideas down the line.

I like the sound of pork scratchings as a snack. There isn’t a microwave at work for the popcorn though.

 

[Leadinglights]

I’m sure there are other protein bars or are they higher in carbs?

FibreOne 90 bars only 9.6g carb for a 21g bar milk choc popcorn, I don't see nuts listed in the ingredients.

 

[RJN123]

I get these https://www.awfullyposh.com/ as they don’t have added flour etc, and don’t taste too “porky”. The crackling are great - I buy a big box at the time to save ££ and time.