Breakfast advice

[WelshRoo]

Hi all
Im newly diabetic so still finding my feet’s please bare with all my questions

I usually have porridge or toast for breakfast but I’m finding then that by about 10-11 I am feeling tired and sluggish and then I struggle because I’m aware I’m having quite a few carbs early morning and I don’t want to them have much more in the day.

This morning I decided to have fat free natural yoghurt (200g) and a sliced small banana.
The yoghurts label says
Carbs 7.3G per 100g
Sugars 4g per 100g

Those numbers are lower than the porridge (25g of carbs per 30g serving with milk) and the toast (wholemeal 2 slices with olive oil spread is 17g per slice from recollection)

But now I’m wondering if it’s going to be a good option if I have it with fruit like blueberries, strawberries but am I missing something that might mess with getting my numbers lower?

 

[harbottle]

My standard breakfast since being diagnosed is Yoghurt and berries - I use FAGE Greek yoghurt. I find I don't need a lot of it to keep me full for hours (Usually mix in a teaspoon of peanut butter and sometimes sprinkle some sweet cinnamon on it.)

Banana can be quite high in carbs, especially if it's ripened, although used in moderation should be fine (I sometimes make banana cakes and banana pancakes using eggs and peanut butter).

Do you test your blood a few hours after breakfast? Feeling tired can be a sign of high blood sugar.

 

[WelshRoo]

My standard breakfast since being diagnosed is Yoghurt and berries - I use FAGE Greek yoghurt. I find I don't need a lot of it to keep me full for hours (Usually mix in a teaspoon of peanut butter and sometimes sprinkle some sweet cinnamon on it.)

Banana can be quite high in carbs, especially if it's ripened, although used in moderation should be fine (I sometimes make banana cakes and banana pancakes using eggs and peanut butter).

Do you test your blood a few hours after breakfast? Feeling tired can be a sign of high blood sugar.

Thank you.
I was given a monitor by my nurse but was told that I don’t really need to use it so haven’t really been told how/when/what time to use it although my grandmother was diabetic and had one so I have an idea.
When my nurse tested my number at my appointment I was 7 which she said was perfect.

I will maybe replace the banana with berries instead.

 

[bulkbiker]

But now I’m wondering if it’s going to be a good option if I have it with fruit like blueberries, strawberries but am I missing something that might mess with getting my numbers lower?

Eggs and bacon would likely provide more satiety and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Also they wouldn't cause the blood sugar spike and crash that is leading to your tiredness .

I'd heartily recommend getting a blood glucose monitor too so you can see what different foods do to your blood sugar levels so you can avoid spikes completely.

I gave up on solids for breakfast completely and survive the morning on coffee with double cream. Extending yor overnight fast can be a powerful tool in lowering blood sugar.

 

[Leadinglights]

I have breakfast at about 8.30am (retired) and either have full fat Greek Yoghurt and berries with a 15g portion of low sugar granola or All Bran or eggs (boiled, poached, scrambled, fried) with mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes, smoked salmon and 1 small slice of toast. I don't have anything else except a cup of coffee until lunch at about 1-30 and don't feel hungry, tired or lacking energy.

 

[harbottle]

I have breakfast at about 8.30am (retired) and either have full fat Greek Yoghurt and berries with a 15g portion of low sugar granola or All Bran or eggs (boiled, poached, scrambled, fried) with mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes, smoked salmon and 1 small slice of toast. I don't have anything else except a cup of coffee until lunch at about 1-30 and don't feel hungry, tired or lacking energy.

Same here - I sometimes get to lunch and don't feel hungry, so skip it.
If I had a fry up like that I probably wouldn't need to eat for the rest of the day!

 

[Leadinglights]

Same here - I sometimes get to lunch and don't feel hungry, so skip it.
If I had a fry up like that I probably wouldn't need to eat for the rest of the day!

I didn't mean I have all those things at once.
1 scrambled egg and 25g smoked salmon, 2 rashers bacon, a few mushrooms or tomatoes and 1 fried egg. 1 poached egg or 2 boiled eggs.

 

[harbottle]

Thank you.
I was given a monitor by my nurse but was told that I don’t really need to use it so haven’t really been told how/when/what time to use it although my grandmother was diabetic and had one so I have an idea.
When my nurse tested my number at my appointment I was 7 which she said was perfect.

I will maybe replace the banana with berries instead.

Well I didn't use a monitor for 3 months after being diagnosed - just changed diet and it seemed to right itself. (I did buy a tester, but decided to concentrate on diet and weight loss.) Now I find testing useful as I'm looking at what I can handle. For example, yesterday I had a large chunk of artisan bread in a nice cuban restaurant in Leamington Spa. Pre-meal reading was in the 5s. Two hours later, in the 5s again, which indicates that maybe I can handle modest amounts of bread.

With meals that I eat regularly, I don't bother testing as I know what they do.

 

[harbottle]

I didn't mean I have all those things at once.
1 scrambled egg and 25g smoked salmon, 2 rashers bacon, a few mushrooms or tomatoes and 1 fried egg. 1 poached egg or 2 boiled eggs.

I had 2 eggs, mushrooms,. 2 rashers of bacon, grilled tomatoes and two hash browns the other morning - that was all I had for the day.

 

[Felinia]

I get a packet of frozen strawberries and blueberries. That way I can measure out a 40gm portion to have with Greek yogurt. It can also be topped with a few nuts and seeds.

 

[Sharron1]

I had 2 eggs, mushrooms,. 2 rashers of bacon, grilled tomatoes and two hash browns the other morning - that was all I had for the day.

Wow. I'd be starving by the afternoon. Would need a Red Cross food parcel.

 

[susan-k-s]

I make low carb pancakes with just a handful of oats, coconut flour, whey powder, flax seeds, chia seeds or poppy seeds, a pinch of psyllium husk, shredded coconuts, a mashed banana and one or two eggs - work this into a batter with some milk of your choice and/or water and shallow fry them with a little coconut oil on a low heat. This makes about a dozen small pancakes that I eat within the span of 3-4 days. So even though it has oats and bananas, the amount you eat in one sitting is quite small - perhaps a quarter of a banana and a teaspoonful of oats, which shouldn't spike your BG too high. They keep well in the fridge and you can easily reheat them. Add a bit of Greek yoghurt/blueberries on top or nuts/nut butters to make them more filling.

Another go-to breakfast of mine these days is a protein shake that I make with: celery, spinach, half an apple for sweetness, chia seeds, walnuts, shredded coconut, whey powder, psyllium husk powder, collagen powder, no sugars coconut milk, and water. You can also add some ground flax seeds, though that ruins the nice green colour, so I tend to skip this for aesthetic reasons. This is full of fibre and very filling - also quite flexible, you can just use whatever you have available and swap the ingredients! You'll need a blender to blend all these together into a smoothie. It makes a great meal replacement on the go as well! If I don't have time for breakfast, I just make one of these and take it with me.

 

[bulkbiker]

Wow. I'd be starving by the afternoon. Would need a Red Cross food parcel.

Try it .. you might be surprised...

 

[Jodee]

I do alternate my breakfasts but initially I just reduced the quantity I was having, instead of 30g oats for instance reduce it to 20 or 25 g, instead of two slices of toast, have just one slice, instead of a whole banana have half in any one meal.
With bananas of a small one I have half at breakfast and the other half as a snack later or at lunch. If a large banana I cut it into 3 or 4 portions. The greek yoghurt and fruit is a nice breakfast but have smaller portions of 2 different fruits for instance, at least that is what I do. Another breakfast could be one slice of toast and one egg etc.

You can snack on nuts (Just a handful at a time) you could also snack on a boiled egg, an apple or the other half of the banana

You will get the hang of things. Do you have a finger prick tester to use initially before food then 2 hours after to get an idea how you blood glucose levels are behaving.

 

[susan-k-s]

Oh, I've just thought of an another one: a slice of pumpernickel rye bread with half an avocado and an egg fried in olive oil. That always keeps me going until my next meal. I also like to sprinkle some cayenne pepper on top - it warms you up and gets your metabolism going! I haven't had it in a white as I got bored with it, but I think it's time to bring it back!