Gingseng & Jacket potatoes?

[Serlo]

Got diagnosed in June type 2 but still don't know if jacket potatoes are ok

Also Korean gingseng is it ok? Some sites say no others say it helps?

Thanks

 

[Northerner]

Hi Serlo, welcome to the forum 🙂 The only surefire way of knowing if you can tolerate certain things well is to test your blood sugar levels before and after eating - have a read of
Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S for a description of how to do this efficiently.

I'm getting the impression that your healthcare team haven't been very helpful in informing you how to manage your diabetes? Have you been offered a diabetes education course? Popular ones are DESMOND and XPert for Type 2, but others may be run locally.

 

[Serlo]

I'm just borderline I think over 49 was diabetes and was 50

I've not got time to take 8 hours off in the week to go on a course. Is there any easier way?

 

[Serlo]

Got told just test every 6 months no need to check my blood sugar all the time

 

[Northerner]

I'm just borderline I think over 49 was diabetes and was 50

I've not got time to take 8 hours off in the week to go on a course. Is there any easier way?

Well, you can educate yourself of course, which is certainly what many people do. Courses do, however, give you an opportunity to meet others in the same boat, which can be helpful 🙂 I'd suggest reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter for starters. You might also like to get a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker.

Got told just test every 6 months no need to check my blood sugar all the time

This is, unfortunately, the advice given to a lot of people at diagnosis. It is illogical and done chiefly for some short-term savings by not prescribing you the meter and strips. If you go back for your 6 monthly test having made the changes you think are necessary and the result is worse it is impossible for you to say what it was that you were doing wrong - you simply don't have the information. That 'healthy' cereal you have been having for breakfast each day might be sending your levels through the roof, but you have no way of knowing. Similarly, you have no way of knowing if a jacket potato is fine for you or should be avoided. Diabetes is a very individual thing, people have different tolerances for the same items, so it's not possible for anyone to say 'eat this, don't eat that', you have to find out for yourself. Once you have established what works well for you and what doesn't you won't need to test so often. It might sound like a pain, but remember that, until they find a cure, you've got this for the rest of your life. Getting things sorted at the beginning will mean that you can keep flexibility in your diet and know that you are managing things well. 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Well Serlo - nobody can tell whether jacket potatoes - or indeed any other morsel of food that you may wish to consume - is good for you or not - if you don't test before and after eating it!

So if YOU want to know - test! Forum can point you at some reasonably priced meters and strips, which a lot of T2s can't get on the NHS due to cost. They'll tell you it's for all sorts of reasons - they can be quite inventive with these! - but really - it is ONLY cost.

 

[Serlo]

Thanks for the advice I'll get the book.

Cereal is a problem and I've narrowed it down to weetabix and shredded wheat bein the healthiest? Is that correct
Also eat low GI bread

 

[grovesy]

I have found it is often not only what I eat, it can also be dependent on the portion size too!

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for the advice I'll get the book.

Cereal is a problem and I've narrowed it down to weetabix and shredded wheat bein the healthiest? Is that correct
Also eat low GI bread

Actually I found Weetabix to be dreadful for me, so stopped having it. A lot of people find they are more insulin-resistant in the mornings, so try and keep any carbs to a minimum - something like scrambled eggs are healthier when you have diabetes. I'd suggest reading up about the GL Diet - it's not a weight loss diet, but a way of selecting and combining food that will release its energy slowly and steadily - just what you need as a diabetic.
The GL Diet for Dummies is a good introduction 🙂

 

[HOBIE]

Thanks for the advice I'll get the book.

Cereal is a problem and I've narrowed it down to weetabix and shredded wheat bein the healthiest? Is that correct
Also eat low GI bread

Porridge for me. Slow release. Shredded wheat good for heart etc.