Best diet for Type 2 diabetes

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Bezman

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Type 2
Hi all,

Haven't post for a while now but I was hoping I could pick your brains please. My HbA1c went from 52 to 66 mmols do now the doctors have put me on Metformin which is fine but my question is what is the best type of diet for me to go on as I'm obese so I would like to lower my HbA1c and lose some weight.

Any help would be most appreciated
 
I don't believe in diets. However, as carbs are an issue with Diabetes, keep them low. It's also about keeping active and exercise if possible. Exercise is also an appetite suppressant, but not everyone is up for it.
 
Bezman said:
Hi all,

Haven't post for a while now but I was hoping I could pick your brains please. My HbA1c went from 52 to 66 mmols do now the doctors have put me on Metformin which is fine but my question is what is the best type of diet for me to go on as I'm obese so I would like to lower my HbA1c and lose some weight.

Any help would be most appreciated
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Many find a low carb approach work in both reducing blood glucose and losing weight.
If your HbA1C has risen then that indicates the amount of carbs you have been having have been more that your body can tolerate so reducing your intake will hopefully be effective. The metformin only gives your body a helping hand but dietary changes are equally if not more important.
have a look at this link for ideas for moving forward with that. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
I totally agree about not believing in 'DIETS', your regime needs to become a new way of eating for life. It is not a short term fix.
 
I've been following the low carb approach to control my diabetes but also limiting calories to lose weight. So far I've lost six stone and it hasn't been hard going at all. Low carb, for me at least, has now become my new normal and not a diet as such as I have found it has also helped with other issues, not just the diabetes.

Replacing the carbs with fat keeps you fuller for longer but there is also a lot of willpower involved 🙂
 
I used recipes in the books by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi and lost 3 stone in 3 months.
hba1c also came down as well and both weight and hba1c has remained down.
 
Deb_l said:
I've been following the low carb approach to control my diabetes but also limiting calories to lose weight. So far I've lost six stone and it hasn't been hard going at all. Low carb, for me at least, has now become my new normal and not a diet as such as I have found it has also helped with other issues, not just the diabetes.

Replacing the carbs with fat keeps you fuller for longer but there is also a lot of willpower involved 🙂
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That's great. What do you tend to eat for meals?
 
I want the fundamental questions people ask on here to see a timely reply instead of waiting days for feedback, just my 2c worth. I would also like experts to tell me how many carbs I should consume in any given day, instead all I hear is “everyone is different”, yes we all know this but there must be an average as a good guidline?
When I was young several members of my extended and close relatives had what used to be referred to “late onset diabetes” not “type 2” all with the exception of type 1 diabetics were over 60 and none of them had a weight problem.
These days it is associated with overweight or obese which greatly angers me because there are so many misconseptions. Even more irksome “it is their lifestyle choice”!
 
Deb_l said:
I've been following the low carb approach to control my diabetes but also limiting calories to lose weight. So far I've lost six stone and it hasn't been hard going at all. Low carb, for me at least, has now become my new normal and not a diet as such as I have found it has also helped with other issues, not just the diabetes.

Replacing the carbs with fat keeps you fuller for longer but there is also a lot of willpower involved 🙂
Click to expand...
Fat is good but you have to be careful, a good breakfast is bacon and eggs, but I would now love a full breakdown of the “low carb diet ingredients” don’t tell me about books, I have plenty or websites just tell me what you eat to simplify life, thanks:rofl:
 
Annette&Bertie said:
I would also like experts to tell me how many carbs I should consume in any given day, instead all I hear is “everyone is different”, yes we all know this but there must be an average as a good guidline?
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If you want an expert to give you that information then you’ll have to go and ask an expert and not a diabetes forum
 
Lucyr said:
If you want an expert to give you that information then you’ll have to go and ask an expert and not a diabetes forum
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Very informative thank you!
 
Last edited:
Bezman said:
Hi all,

Haven't post for a while now but I was hoping I could pick your brains please. My HbA1c went from 52 to 66 mmols do now the doctors have put me on Metformin which is fine but my question is what is the best type of diet for me to go on as I'm obese so I would like to lower my HbA1c and lose some weight.

Any help would be most appreciated
Click to expand...
For me the low carb way of eating has resolved a lot of problems for me, including type 2 and gaining weight - the only problem I've had is from time to time when the seasons change, I have nothing to wear. I have been delving into the backs of wardrobes and drawers, even boxes in the attic, and doing a lot more adjustments and making new garments for myself as my shape has changed considerably.
I have found Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution quite helpful in providing recipes menus and suggestions/options.
 
Annette&Bertie said:
I want the fundamental questions people ask on here to see a timely reply instead of waiting days for feedback, just my 2c worth. I would also like experts to tell me how many carbs I should consume in any given day, instead all I hear is “everyone is different”, yes we all know this but there must be an average as a good guidline?
When I was young several members of my extended and close relatives had what used to be referred to “late onset diabetes” not “type 2” all with the exception of type 1 diabetics were over 60 and none of them had a weight problem.
These days it is associated with overweight or obese which greatly angers me because there are so many misconseptions. Even more irksome “it is their lifestyle choice”!
Click to expand...
Unfortunately you'll read that 130gm of carbs a day are required, you might even be told it by the DN if you get to see one, but I set my daily limit at 40 gm to keep my blood glucose under 7mmol/l after meals.
Everyone IS different which is why you'll read on here that type 2's are testing to get control, but some GPs and DNs tell us not to for different reasons.
The variation between individuals does make me suspect that there are different problems all lumped together as type 2 plus some misdiagnosis on top of that.
Personally I want to be doing right for my problems and needs, not being pushed through a system which accepts no individuality.
 
Cool Cat said:
That's great. What do you tend to eat for meals?
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Breakfast is generally eggs, in one form or another; poached, boiled, scrambled or an assortment of omelettes. Lunch and dinner I mix and match depending if I'm swimming or not but it's often a HUGE plate of salad and either chicken or pork. Veggies but no potatoes with the same meat. I eat lots of berries (mainly strawberries) with Greek yoghurt. Loads of olives for snacks and in the salad. Some nuts but I limit myself with these as I can't stop!! Hummus and cheese also make an appearance.

I do have some bread but that's my treat and it's often with breakfast.

I'm really not an adventurous cook at all and tend to stick to the same things but I'm not bored...........yet :D
 
Drummer said:
Unfortunately you'll read that 130gm of carbs a day are required, you might even be told it by the DN if you get to see one, but I set my daily limit at 40 gm to keep my blood glucose under 7mmol/l after meals.
Everyone IS different which is why you'll read on here that type 2's are testing to get control, but some GPs and DNs tell us not to for different reasons.
The variation between individuals does make me suspect that there are different problems all lumped together as type 2 plus some misdiagnosis on top of that.
Personally I want to be doing right for my problems and needs, not being pushed through a system which accepts no individuality.
Click to expand...
Drummer you are always the font of good advice and kind remarks to other posters. I am currently on 40-50g carbs but aim on bringing that down even more for the same reasons as you say, thank you.
 
Deb_l said:
Breakfast is generally eggs, in one form or another; poached, boiled, scrambled or an assortment of omelettes. Lunch and dinner I mix and match depending if I'm swimming or not but it's often a HUGE plate of salad and either chicken or pork. Veggies but no potatoes with the same meat. I eat lots of berries (mainly strawberries) with Greek yoghurt. Loads of olives for snacks and in the salad. Some nuts but I limit myself with these as I can't stop!! Hummus and cheese also make an appearance.

I do have some bread but that's my treat and it's often with breakfast.

I'm really not an adventurous cook at all and tend to stick to the same things but I'm not bored...........yet :D
Click to expand...
thank you Deb and can I say you are lucky you can swim or generally exercise I can’t do either. I eat a lot of berries, fruit except apples pears grapes, greek yoghurt and veg but I don’t eat meat have not done so since I was five years old. I often find it difficult, huge salads yes that’s anther would love to know what dressings you put on.
 
I dress my salads with balsamic vinegar... which I absolutely love!. I find that the acidity of the vinegar offsets/counteracts the slight carbs in it. In general I find that vinegar seems to reduce the impact of the carbs I eat and pickles like beetroot don't have any impact whereas, just boiled they do. I can eat pickled beetroot from the jar on it's own, even when sugar has been used in the pickling process and levels don't rise. I found this by testing. Others may respond differently to vinegar and pickl;ed products of course.
I also have a great big dollop of cheese coleslaw on my salads. Again I love the taste and it adds more cabbage and fat to my salad but with very minimal carbs.
 
rebrascora said:
I dress my salads with balsamic vinegar... which I absolutely love!. I find that the acidity of the vinegar offsets/counteracts the slight carbs in it. In general I find that vinegar seems to reduce the impact of the carbs I eat and pickles like beetroot don't have any impact whereas, just boiled they do. I can eat pickled beetroot from the jar on it's own, even when sugar has been used in the pickling process and levels don't rise. I found this by testing. Others may respond differently to vinegar and pickl;ed products of course.
I also have a great big dollop of cheese coleslaw on my salads. Again I love the taste and it adds more cabbage and fat to my salad but with very minimal carbs.
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Loved your reply.I love pickled beetroot, gherkins etc, love branston but that kind of pickle for rare occasions. I also like balsamic vinegar when i get a really good one. I am on Trulicity 4.5mg weekly and 2000mg Metformin SR. I seriously think I will get back to a low carb regime, I did it before with great success.
 
RichardsUsername said:
With the weight loss it's basically eat less and exercise more. Simple but effective.
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Not everyone can do a lot of exercise. It’s certainly can be helpful for overall health but not essential. You can’t outrun a poor diet.

And eating less is only relevant if you eat too much. Even if you don’t overeat by volume, or even by calories, if that is all sugary or starchy stuff then you’ll still have issues. Eat the right amount of the right stuff to meet nutritional needs - rather than emotional wants.
 
HSSS said:
Not everyone can do a lot of exercise. It’s certainly can be helpful for overall health but not essential. You can’t outrun a poor diet.

And eating less is only relevant if you eat too much. Even if you don’t overeat by volume, or even by calories, if that is all sugary or starchy stuff then you’ll still have issues. Eat the right amount of the right stuff to meet nutritional needs - rather than emotional wants.
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Yes I'm aware of that. Thanks.
 
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