40 and newly diagnosed type 2 - devastated

[EllsBells]

Hi @Jo12- sorry to hear about your covid and now D diagnosis. My HbA1c was very similar when I was diagnosed. Can I just emphasise not making too many dietary changes too quickly otherwise you risk causing permanent damage. Lots of small changes over time that you can sustain is a much better strategy.

As others have said, keep a food diary for a few weeks and pay attention to your carb intake. Alongside testing before and after meals, you will start to spot what you can't tolerate. I've found I can cope with half (packet recommended) portions of pasta and basmati but I wouldn't have them every day. You'll also find that different foods work differently depending in the time of day.

There are some easy swaps out there. Courgetti and pre-riced cauliflower can be bought from the supermarket. I've converted one of the men in my life to courgetti when I made him a creamy seafood sauce with it, which was a total surprise!

You've got this!

 

[Jo121]

Hi @Jo12- sorry to hear about your covid and now D diagnosis. My HbA1c was very similar when I was diagnosed. Can I just emphasise not making too many dietary changes too quickly otherwise you risk causing permanent damage. Lots of small changes over time that you can sustain is a much better strategy.

As others have said, keep a food diary for a few weeks and pay attention to your carb intake. Alongside testing before and after meals, you will start to spot what you can't tolerate. I've found I can cope with half (packet recommended) portions of pasta and basmati but I wouldn't have them every day. You'll also find that different foods work differently depending in the time of day.

There are some easy swaps out there. Courgetti and pre-riced cauliflower can be bought from the supermarket. I've converted one of the men in my life to courgetti when I made him a creamy seafood sauce with it, which was a total surprise!

You've got this!

Thank you. I fear I may have already done too many changes the last few days. I've had hardly any carbs or calories if im honest as too scared to eat as dont want to eat the wrong thing or do anymore damage. I need to sort a monitor I think as I've no idea what's affecting me personally and what I can tolerate. My fear is how it will fit with meals out and holidays etc as I dont want to eat nothing nice again for the rest of my life (pizza is one of my fav foods and the thought of not having that again makes me very sad) but at the same time I dont want to damage my health. I also feel so guilty as I'm sure I could have prevented myself getting this by having a better diet. I think I just stupidly thought because I was slim and exercised it wouldnt get me.

 

[EllsBells]

Thank you. I fear I may have already done too many changes the last few days. I've had hardly any carbs or calories if im honest as too scared to eat as dont want to eat the wrong thing or do anymore damage. I need to sort a monitor I think as I've no idea what's affecting me personally and what I can tolerate. My fear is how it will fit with meals out and holidays etc as I dont want to eat nothing nice again for the rest of my life (pizza is one of my fav foods and the thought of not having that again makes me very sad) but at the same time I dont want to damage my health. I also feel so guilty as I'm sure I could have prevented myself getting this by having a better diet. I think I just stupidly thought because I was slim and exercised it wouldnt get me.

Oh bless you. Honestly, take a deep breath and relax a little.

Just eat normally and start recording what you are eating. Your diabetes isn't going anywhere in a hurry so nor do you. There isn't anything forbidden - it's simply going to be a case of quantities or special treats.

I haven't touched a pizza since December but the last time I did, I became insanely thirsty and downed 3 large glasses of water and still had a mouth like the Sahara. It was horrid and has put me off going near one!

Having a spot glucose monitor makes sorting levels out so much simpler because you can adjust diet as you go - you don't necessarily need to make massive changes. Some have found they can get a free starter kit when contacting suppliers about strips so do look into that.

 

[Leadinglights]

You seem to be desperately worried about never being able to eat the things you like, but if you start to plan your menu around the things you like but look at the portion size of those. I'm sure there are things on your list that are relatively low carb so just increase the portion size of those. Don't worry too much about calories or fats as they in themselves will not impact on your blood glucose levels. You imply you don't need to lose weight so it is important you have enough protein and good fat in your diet.
The monitor when you get it will help you see what you can tolerate and hopefully find some substitutes.
When I first started to monitor I shocked myself when I had had some pasta and then a pancake, it was the last time I did that. But I can still have a pancake if I don't have much carb in my main course so just some meat or fish and veg.

 

[D2PAUL]

very similar here
foccus on future go low carb ec]xercise a good bit every day
loose weight and you never know what may happen

i went from 70 to 36 in 12 weeks but its a lid=festyle change not a short term thing

 

[Spoon]

Honestly a type 2 diabetes diagnosis would send most screaming into the arms of an eating disorder and if you’re anything like me, you will starve then eat all the stuff you tell yourself you can’t just for spite. GPs have a lot to learn. You can’t just dump this info on someone and expect them to be alright with it! So you have every right to feel devastated but please be reassured it’s not your fault. Bodies fail. Also don’t start drastically changing your diet. You say you have been prescribed metformin? Give that a go first and see how it goes with your normal diet. Do buy a blood glucose monitor and test. I wasn’t given one and my bg got so out of control I am now on insulin, so I agree it’s scandalous Type 2’s just get told to go on a diet and that’s it! Makes no sense!! Only When you have all the information about your own body’s reactions make a decision about what to eat. You have plenty of time. Low carb never worked for me until I got my blood sugar under control with the medications first and even now I have some carbs in my day. Sending a big hug be kind to yourself xx

 

[Spoon]

Honestly a type 2 diabetes diagnosis would send most screaming into the arms of an eating disorder and if you’re anything like me, you will starve then eat all the stuff you tell yourself you can’t just for spite. GPs have a lot to learn. You can’t just dump this info on someone and expect them to be alright with it! So you have every right to feel devastated but please be reassured it’s not your fault. Bodies fail. Also don’t start drastically changing your diet. You say you have been prescribed metformin? Give that a go first and see how it goes with your normal diet. Do buy a blood glucose monitor and test. I wasn’t given one and my bg got so out of control I am now on insulin, so I agree it’s scandalous Type 2’s just get told to go on a diet and that’s it! Makes no sense!! Only When you have all the information about your own body’s reactions make a decision about what to eat. You have plenty of time. Low carb never worked for me until I got my blood sugar under control with the medications first and even now I have some carbs in my day. Sending a big hug be kind to yourself xx

Also extreme exercise (spinning and the like) can make blood glucose go up, as can stress and hormones. Walking or swimming is better if it affects you that way. If you’ve been ill that will also make it go up - a HBA1C measures glucose over the preceding 3 months, so if you’re just getting over covid that will have an effect. Diabetes isn’t just down to the food you eat or don’t eat. This aspect gets forgotten.

 

[adrian1der]

Yes, it is high but some of us - me included - were in three figures when diagnosed. By adopting a low carb way of eating (ie, less that 130g per day) I managed to bring mine right down and others have done the same.

Far from having to cook separate meals I still eat the same as the rest of the household but where they have potatoes (in whatever form) I'll have mashed cauliflower or mashed celeriac. Where they have rice I'll have riced cauliflower. Where they have an 80g portion of pasta I'll have 30g. So all I've done is switch to low carb alternatives or just smaller portions and 2 years after diagnosis I feel fitter and healthier than I've done in years.

Hopefully you're reassured by everything you've read on the Forum so far.

Martin

I'm fully behind @Anitram here. Like Martin I still cook normally - I even bake bread and cakes for the family. I just don't have the carb heavy bits. They have half a bowl of curry and half a bowl of rice. I get a full bowl of curry!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

How have things been going @Jo121 ?

Have you decided to get a BG meter to check your reaction to different foods?

 

[Jo121]

How have things been going @Jo121 ?

Have you decided to get a BG meter to check your reaction to different foods?

Not great tbh. I'm really down about the whole thing and struggling mentally (crying uncontrollably at any given time throughout the day) I spoke to my doctor again and they dont want me to get a monitor as they feel I will become obsessed but I think I probably will end up with one because this week has been awful. I'm tracking all my food but being a full time working mother of 2 young kids everything about diabetes is just taking time I dont have. There's no convenience foods I can grab and I've a week full of medical appointments next week that I really dont have time for. It's just putting huge pressure on my already stressful life.

I've tracked my food all week and been super careful but I'm now struggling to eat. Averaging 1000calories a day max which is not enough but I'm such a fussy eater I literally dont like anything I can now eat apart from veggies and salad. I only like a small amount of meat at once so plates of meat and veg just turns my stomach and I dont have time to cook diff meals for me and rest of the family so a lot of days I've just had veg with a small amount of meat so little calories. I'm struggling for work lunches too as going to supermarket every few days to get salad is again time consuming. I used to get meal prep lunches from a local healthy living company that I could just grab and go on a morning but these are more low fat than low carb so no good.

I think I'm going to really struggle as I dont like any pure protein foods. I'm also panicking massively about an upcoming holiday to blackpool as usually on hol I'd have treats and bad food most days as we would eat out but that's no longer and option so I'm worrying so much I'd cancel if it wasnt for the kids.

So sorry for the long reply -top and bottom I'm struggling to come to terms with it

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Oh @Jo121

I am so sorry to hear what a tough time you are having. Please be kind to yourself. Diabetes is generally a slow-moving foe, and times like holidays usually involve a few treats and goodies. It is all too easy to feel overwhelmed at the start, but this will get easier. It sounds like you’ve made major changes, and perhaps these aren’t sustainable for you.

I wonder if it might help to share some of the family meals you would usually have, and see if members here can suggest some swaps and tweaks? eg There are lower carb alternatives to pasta which you might be able to cook for you, while the rest of the family has ‘regular’. Alternatively some people find that cooking pasta, cooling it, and then reheating it significantly affects the impact it has on their BG levels.

I wonder if the ‘not knowing’ about what is happening after food might actually be worse for you than being able to check and see. Your Dr is right about the risk of monitoring becoming burdensome... but it can also be liberating too. If you check after a regular portion and don’t like the rise, try a reduced portion. But if the regular portion is OK then there’s no reason to avoid it!

 

[Jo121]

Oh @Jo121

I am so sorry to hear what a tough time you are having. Please be kind to yourself. Diabetes is generally a slow-moving foe, and times like holidays usually involve a few treats and goodies. It is all too easy to feel overwhelmed at the start, but this will get easier. It sounds like you’ve made major changes, and perhaps these aren’t sustainable for you.

I wonder if it might help to share some of the family meals you would usually have, and see if members here can suggest some swaps and tweaks? eg There are lower carb alternatives to pasta which you might be able to cook for you, while the rest of the family has ‘regular’. Alternatively some people find that cooking pasta, cooling it, and then reheating it significantly affects the impact it has on their BG levels.

I wonder if the ‘not knowing’ about what is happening after food might actually be worse for you than being able to check and see. Your Dr is right about the risk of monitoring becoming burdensome... but it can also be liberating too. If you check after a regular portion and don’t like the rise, try a reduced portion. But if the regular portion is OK then there’s no reason to avoid it!

Thank you I do feel I'd rather know what food has done us I remember when I had gestational diabetes the monitor showed some of my fav things were ok like sweet potatoes and an egg sandwich on brown bread.

The types of meals I make are all homemade with no jars but things like-
Lasagne
Spag bog
Chillie
Keema curry
Roast dinners
Chicken tikka masala
Macaroni cheese
Pesto past
Quiche
Pizza
Fajitas
Enchiladas
Toad in the hole
These can likely be tweaked but I struggle to eat the meat bit if it's not paired with some carb on the fork at the same time.
The changes arent sustainable but I've no idea where to start as this week has been hectic so my kids and hubby have had macaroni cheese, and pizza this week. I'm swapped my meal prep lunches for salad as well. Only thing that hasnt changed is breakfast because I always eat berries, natural greek yoghurt and one weetabix before diabetes with toast as a weekend treat
Thanks

 

[Leadinglights]

Some of those meals look as if they are quite high in carbs but with some substitutions you could reduce their impact. Have you tried edamame or black bean pasta which is much lower in carb than standard pasta. Stir fries are a good option as you can add just as much meat as you can cope with. Cauliflower rice to go with your chili or sliced courgette instead of the pasta in a lasagne
It might be worth while investing a some recipe books for keto or low carb, I have The Diabetes weight-loss cook book by Caldesi which has some good recipes in.
If you have reheating facilities where you work you could take soup for lunch or left over from your dinner, but a nice mixed salad with cheese, boiled egg or tuna and coleslaw could make a good option for lunch.

 

[Drummer]

Thank you I do feel I'd rather know what food has done us I remember when I had gestational diabetes the monitor showed some of my fav things were ok like sweet potatoes and an egg sandwich on brown bread.

The types of meals I make are all homemade with no jars but things like-
Lasagne
Spag bog
Chillie
Keema curry
Roast dinners
Chicken tikka masala
Macaroni cheese
Pesto past
Quiche
Pizza
Fajitas
Enchiladas
Toad in the hole
These can likely be tweaked but I struggle to eat the meat bit if it's not paired with some carb on the fork at the same time.
The changes arent sustainable but I've no idea where to start as this week has been hectic so my kids and hubby have had macaroni cheese, and pizza this week. I'm swapped my meal prep lunches for salad as well. Only thing that hasnt changed is breakfast because I always eat berries, natural greek yoghurt and one weetabix before diabetes with toast as a weekend treat
Thanks

Rather than pasta try cauliflower cheese, which always seems to be well liked. I usually use frozen cauliflower as it is just for me. I steam it until almost cooked and then pile it up in a warm bowl, cover it with cream cheese, sprinkle on any herb or spice you like, then add grated cheese - I like red Leicester, then put the dish back into the warm oven until the cheese is melting and just very lightly tanned.
Try fat head pizza, make curry with roughly chopped cauliflower instead of rice (there is cauliflower rice but I don't like it) I make pancakes with eggs and mozzarella cheese plus a little almond flour - I make them small so they can be flipped with a fish slice, as they break easily, but they taste great with lemon juice and artificial sweetener.
There are cheese waffles, aka chaffles, great with a rasher of thick sliced bacon or a sausage.

 

[Jo121]

Some of those meals look as if they are quite high in carbs but with some substitutions you could reduce their impact. Have you tried edamame or black bean pasta which is much lower in carb than standard pasta. Stir fries are a good option as you can add just as much meat as you can cope with. Cauliflower rice to go with your chili or sliced courgette instead of the pasta in a lasagne
It might be worth while investing a some recipe books for keto or low carb, I have The Diabetes weight-loss cook book by Caldesi which has some good recipes in.
If you have reheating facilities where you work you could take soup for lunch or left over from your dinner, but a nice mixed salad with cheese, boiled egg or tuna and coleslaw could make a good option for lunch.

Thank you thays my problem all my meals were low fat high carb.its going to be a huge overhaul and I think that's what I'm struggling to cope with

 

[Jo121]

Thank you

Rather than pasta try cauliflower cheese, which always seems to be well liked. I usually use frozen cauliflower as it is just for me. I steam it until almost cooked and then pile it up in a warm bowl, cover it with cream cheese, sprinkle on any herb or spice you like, then add grated cheese - I like red Leicester, then put the dish back into the warm oven until the cheese is melting and just very lightly tanned.
Try fat head pizza, make curry with roughly chopped cauliflower instead of rice (there is cauliflower rice but I don't like it) I make pancakes with eggs and mozzarella cheese plus a little almond flour - I make them small so they can be flipped with a fish slice, as they break easily, but they taste great with lemon juice and artificial sweetener.
There are cheese waffles, aka chaffles, great with a rasher of thick sliced bacon or a sausage.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you thays my problem all my meals were low fat high carb.its going to be a huge overhaul and I think that's what I'm struggling to cope with

A diabetes diagnosis means you have to engage with making some changes but take it step by step to find foods which you like and a diet which will be sustainable and it will become a way of life and your tastes may change. If you are not keen on meat then look for vegetarian low carb recipes to get ideas.

 

[Ditto]

Hello @Jo121 and welcome to the forum. 🙂

 

[Drummer]

Thank you thays my problem all my meals were low fat high carb.its going to be a huge overhaul and I think that's what I'm struggling to cope with

I had been arguing that the diet I was always pushed to use - ever since I was in my early 20s made me feel unwell - low fat high carb. I was almost spherical when diagnosed type 2 at the age of 65 - I used the diet advice to light the barbecue .

 

[Jo121]

I had been arguing that the diet I was always pushed to use - ever since I was in my early 20s made me feel unwell - low fat high carb. I was almost spherical when diagnosed type 2 at the age of 65 - I used the diet advice to light the barbecue .