1st Time

[ShaggyT]

Hi, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes yesterday. I am trying to get my head around what I can and cannot eat and drink. It seems to be straightforward but when I look for an answer to a simple question like, can I carry on drinking Diet Coke I cannot find the answer. I would be grateful for the support.

 

[ShaggyT]

I make my living as a driver and find it difficult finding food that can be consumed easily. I would normally have a shake for breakfast that my wife makes for me. It contains full fat milk, 2 weetabix and 2 bananas. Can I continue to have this or are there changes I should make to it?

 

[Northerner]

I make my living as a driver and find it difficult finding food that can be consumed easily. I would normally have a shake for breakfast that my wife makes for me. It contains full fat milk, 2 weetabix and 2 bananas. Can I continue to have this or are there changes I should make to it?

Hi ShaggyT, welcome to the forum 🙂 In answer to your questions - diet coke is fine, shouldn't have any impact on your blood sugar levels 🙂 The morning shake - definitely NOT, I'm afraid 😱 Managing diabetes is all about trying to keep good blood sugar control, and the thing that will elevate your levels the most is anything containing carbohydrates. Your shake is almost 100% carbohydrate, with a bit of fat and protein. What's more, in a 'shake' form it will be digested especially quickly, so it will raise your blood sugar levels very quickly I'm sorry to give you this answer, but you will need to rethink your food choices now that you have been diagnosed. This doesn't mean that your diet needs to be especially restrictive, and you can still eat carbohydrates, but what you need to be aware of is how well your body tolerates the meals you choose. People can vary hugely in their tolerances for things, so it's important to learn your own so that you can reduce or exclude those elements you don't tolerate well and substitute them with things you do - by doing this you will retain maximum flexibility in your diet whilst keeping your blood sugar levels under control. The only way to effectively measure this is by using a home blood glucose monitor so you can see the effect of your food on your levels. Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S to understand how this works 🙂 If your GP or nurse won't prescribe you a meter and strips (they often refuse on cost grounds, but this is very short-sighted - anyone motivated to test should be given the means and support to do so), then it's definitely worth funding your own for a while as you discover your tolerances. The cheapest option we have come across is the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50 (High St brands can charge up to £30 for 50 strips 😱) Without testing you are just guessing

For an idea of a diet suitable for diabetes (and, in fact, healthy for anyone, not just people with diabetes!) have a read of the excellent Maggie Davey's letter. Start a Food Diary and record the amount of carbs in everything you eat and drink for a week or two - this will help you to identify areas that you might reduce or replace items e.g. less potato, more green veg. Coupled with the results of your testing you will be well on your way to learning how you can manage your diabetes well. It's a serious condition, but managed well it will not stop you from doing the things you want - many people find the adaptations they make result in them feeling happier and healthier than they have for some time, so there can be a very positive outcome from your diagnosis - it's not all doom and gloom! 🙂 It's a good idea also to start planning your meals so that you can take pre-prepared food out with you on your journeys instead of taking pot luck on the road.
You might also find Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker helpful, it's a positive guide to these early weeks and months.

Finally, do try and get some regular daily exercise, even if it's just a half hour walk - this will really help with your insulin sensitivity and help to keep those levels under control 🙂

All this can be a bit tedious and requires time, effort and patience, but the rewards are well worth it! There are many, many 'quick fix' diets around, but you need to bear in mind that you're in this for the long-term and the changes you make have to be sustainable 🙂

Please ask any questions you may have, there are loads of friendly, knowledgeable people here and no question is considered 'daft' - if it bothers or confuses you then ask! 🙂

 

[Eddy Edson]

As Northerner says, everybody's different and you really have to self-test to get a handle on what works & doesn't work for you over time. But I think it's pretty common for cereals to be particularly a problem for blood sugar levels (actually, for a lot of "normal" people to some extent, not just diabetics) so I'd zero in on the Weetabix in the first place.

Bananas also can be a problem for lots of people, along with other kinds of fruit. Maybe explore different portion sizes for what works & what doesn't. Personally, I think it would be a huge pity to ditch fruit altogether & I'd resist any advice to that effect unless absolutely necessary.

Really, the same goes for grains. Maybe you can explore replacing the Weetabix/banana combo with something oat-based like porridge and berries - that sometimes can work better.

Tediously, it really is a matter of experimenting and researching, unfortunately - there's no one-size-fits-all answer & everybody can only give you hints about what works for them. Best to ignore any advice that you must or must not eat certain things and find out what works for you.

On the upside, it really can be possible to get the thing under control with a bit of focus and maybe end up in a much better position health-wise in general, not just for blood sugar control. But don't need to sort it out all at once - small steps & think long term.

All the best!