Newbie here

[tillytaylor19]

Hi everyone, I've had type 2 for years but first time on here. Recently halved my metformin because of constant loose bowels and many embarrassing moments and now struggling to get my blood sugars down. Does anybody know how much sugar we should be having. I keep reading about 30g of sugar but is that all sugars, natural sugars or added sugars. Confused

 

[Alan44]

Hi @tillytaylor19 and welcome to the forum

I can't answer your question directly, but I'm sure someone will be able to advise/help

Alan 😉

 

[Inka]

Welcome @tillytaylor19 🙂 Do you mean carbs? It’s not just sugar you need to limit as a Type 2, but all carbs including savoury ones such as bread and potatoes. The daily carb figure is generally that anything under 130g carbs a day counts as low carb, but some people eat less than that. Your blood glucose results will guide you.

 

[tillytaylor19]

Welcome @tillytaylor19 🙂 Do you mean carbs? It’s not just sugar you need to limit as a Type 2, but all carbs including savoury ones such as bread and potatoes. The daily carb figure is generally that anything under 130g carbs a day counts as low carb, but some people eat less than that. Your blood glucose results will guide you.

That is a great help thanks. I've had diabetes about 15 years and that's the first time I've heard that. I've always been focusing on the sugars. Maybe I knew about the carbs and forgotten over the years. That makes sense, thankyou so much

 

[Leadinglights]

That is a great help thanks. I've had diabetes about 15 years and that's the first time I've heard that. I've always been focusing on the sugars. Maybe I knew about the carbs and forgotten over the years. That makes sense, thankyou so much

You are certainly not the only one to have that misapprehension not helped by Doctors and Diabetic nurses telling people they need to reduce their sugar, sugary drinks and foods whereas it is ALL carbohydrates that convert to glucose and the suggested amount of carbs per day is no more than 130g.
Have a look at this link as it has lots of good information, some do's and don'ts and menu plans which may give you some ideas of where making some modification to your diet will help you reduce your blood glucose. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[saffron15]

@tillytaylor19 are you on slow release metformin.? It has SR on the packet.
I was told not to go beyond 200 gms of carbs a day. I try and stick to about 130. Today I went into an M and S café with poor choices and had a veggie toastie which was 45 gms so a bit top end. If you buy ready meals the carbs are under nutrition.
I now use alternatives for pasta and rice. Fortunately I was aware of the need to keep an eye on carbs after joining the forum.

Good luck

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @tillytaylor19

Sorry to hear you’ve seen a rise in your levels since adjusting your Metformin dose. Has your tum settled down a little now?

Hope you are swiftly able to find a balance between your reduced metformin doses and your menu. Do you have a BG meter? Many T2s on the forum find that a really direct way of observing how their bodies are coping with different meals. You can take a reading immediately before eating, and again 2hrs later. Ideally you’d want to see a ‘meal rise’ of 2-3mmol/L, and ultimately to aim for less than 8.5mmol/L at the 2 hr mark.

The same foods can behave surprisingly differently from person to person, so a BG meter can help you adjust portion sizes, and look for tasty and satisfying meals that are also kind to your BG levels 🙂

 

[tillytaylor19]

You are certainly not the only one to have that misapprehension not helped by Doctors and Diabetic nurses telling people they need to reduce their sugar, sugary drinks and foods whereas it is ALL carbohydrates that convert to glucose and the suggested amount of carbs per day is no more than 130g.
Have a look at this link as it has lots of good information, some do's and don'ts and menu plans which may give you some ideas of where making some modification to your diet will help you reduce your blood glucose. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

Thankyou for the link I will check it out. I feel I have some new learning to do

 

[tillytaylor19]

Welcome to the forum @tillytaylor19

Sorry to hear you’ve seen a rise in your levels since adjusting your Metformin dose. Has your tum settled down a little now?

Hope you are swiftly able to find a balance between your reduced metformin doses and your menu. Do you have a BG meter? Many T2s on the forum find that a really direct way of observing how their bodies are coping with different meals. You can take a reading immediately before eating, and again 2hrs later. Ideally you’d want to see a ‘meal rise’ of 2-3mmol/L, and ultimately to aim for less than 8.5mmol/L at the 2 hr mark.

The same foods can behave surprisingly differently from person to person, so a BG meter can help you adjust portion sizes, and look for tasty and satisfying meals that are also kind to your BG levels 🙂

Hi, I am also on insulin which I've almost doubled since stopping one of my metformin. My bowels literally returned to normal in 2 days. I now realise that I've not been watching the carbs, only sugars.

 

[tillytaylor19]

@tillytaylor19 are you on slow release metformin.? It has SR on the packet.
I was told not to go beyond 200 gms of carbs a day. I try and stick to about 130. Today I went into an M and S café with poor choices and had a veggie toastie which was 45 gms so a bit top end. If you buy ready meals the carbs are under nutrition.
I now use alternatives for pasta and rice. Fortunately I was aware of the need to keep an eye on carbs after joining the forum.

Good luck

I am on slow release metformin and insulin. Thankyou for your reply

 

[saffron15]

@tillytaylor19 I know type 1s carb count so I assume you will too. I keep a carefull eye on carbs because I rely on my pancreas to sort out my carbs and assume I am insulin resistant. I'm not sure how it affects you but assume you need to take care.

 

[Leadinglights]

I am on slow release metformin and insulin. Thankyou for your reply

That information puts a whole new complexion about the comments for suggesting low carb of no more than 130g per day as what carbs you need to have will depend on your insulin regime. So please don't make any drastic changes and give a bit more details about what insulins you are taking and those more in the know may make some suggestions to help you./

 

[tillytaylor19]

That information puts a whole new complexion about the comments for suggesting low carb of no more than 130g per day as what carbs you need to have will depend on your insulin regime. So please don't make any drastic changes and give a bit more details about what insulins you are taking and those more in the know may make some suggestions to help you./

Thankyou, I test four times a day and I can adjust my insulin accordingly. I am currently being reviewed by the nurse but feel it's my lack of knowledge about the carbs which is causing my problems

 

[Inka]

Thankyou, I test four times a day and I can adjust my insulin accordingly. I am currently being reviewed by the nurse but feel it's my lack of knowledge about the carbs which is causing my problems

As you’re on insulin, don’t reduce your carbs without advice, and when you do so, make small, gradual changes.

What insulin do you take?

 

[Aish]

Hi everyone, I've had type 2 for years but first time on here. Recently halved my metformin because of constant loose bowels and many embarrassing moments and now struggling to get my blood sugars down. Does anybody know how much sugar we should be having. I keep reading about 30g of sugar but is that all sugars, natural sugars or added sugars. Confused

Hello and welcome to the forum @tillytaylor19. I’m sorry about the accidents you’ve been experiencing. I’m not sure if you’ve gotten on top of it now, but it may also be worth it discussing these symptoms with your DSN.
Let us know how it goes.
Best regards.