Carb total and appetite

[RebelT]

I have to admit, by most peoples standards my appetite is huge. But I am also a fussy eater.

This is creating problems trying to keep the carbs down. Especially when it seems that all (or at least most) of the taste comes with all the carbs. 🙄

I understand that everyone is different, but until I see the dietitian, I wondered if their was a maximum carb intake I should be looking at eg 150g?

I'll be on my future dose (2g) of metformin from next week. As it takes 2 - 3 weeks to take effect, I'm looking at starting testing again around 1st June, when I can fine tune the carb intake to get and keep my BG at an acceptable level.

Water
I'm finding that I'm having to force myself to drink water (unless it's in tea or coffee).

I've never really been a cold drink person, so am really struggling with this. Any suggestions please?

 

[DeusXM]

It really depends on the effect carbs have on your blood sugar. There's no magic 'right' number, although I would say that 150g is high carbohydrate, really. Bernstein proposes no more than 24g a day. I personally try to shoot for less than 75g and really under 50g as much as possible.

As for water...that's a habit you're going to have to learn. However, if you're not thirsty, you don't need more water. You might find adding some slices of lemon or cucumber to a glass of water cheers it up a bit, or try sugar free squash.

 

[Copepod]

There's no need to get your fluids in drinks other than tea or coffee, unless you want to. If you take sugar, then you'll need to cut down to control carb intake, and if you need to lose weight and drink lots of creamy coffee, you might need to cut down, perhaps restricting to one luxury coffee per day, but it depends on your overall daily diet.
The other thing to consider is that exercise can balance some of the carbohydrate in your diet, both overall and eg a quick energetic walk to reduce a one off high reading.

 

[RebelT]

Thanks for the replies.

Bernstein proposes no more than 24g a day. I personally try to shoot for less than 75g and really under 50g as much as possible.

Crikey. My porridge was 54g 😱

There's no need to get your fluids in drinks other than tea or coffee, unless you want to. If you take sugar, then you'll need to cut down to control carb intake, and if you need to lose weight and drink lots of creamy coffee, you might need to cut down, perhaps restricting to one luxury coffee per day, but it depends on your overall daily diet.
The other thing to consider is that exercise can balance some of the carbohydrate in your diet, both overall and eg a quick energetic walk to reduce a one off high reading.

That's great news about the tea and coffee.
Replaced sugar with sweetner accross the board. (tried tea and coffee without either Yuk) Drunk black coffee for years so no problem there.
I haven't done as much exercise for decades (starting slowly of course). May be able to (almost) keep up with the grandchildren one day.

 

[Copepod]

Playing tig with children is a great way to exercise. I don't have ny own children, so no chance of grandchildren, but I often borrow nieces or friends' children. Have run with 2 girls aged 11 & 12 at their first 5km parkruns at different locations this year, for example. In previous jobs, have been an orienteering coach, children's activity birthday party organiser and observed 7 - 8 year olds eating in school playgrounds for a research project, when children often invited researchers to join their games of tag.

 

[DeusXM]

Crikey. My porridge was 54g

And here's what'll really freak you out!

That's an equivalent glycaemic load of one and a half Mars bars.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

In your shoes I might be more tempted to try to work out results-per-meal rather than carbs per day RebelT.

One of the frustrating things about diabetes is just how individually variable it is. So you might do absolutely brilliantly on 150 or 100g a day (divided in the right way between meals), whereas someone else might have sky high BG on half that. You really do have to work it out for yourself.

Additionally you may well find that different times of day give you different results. Many people are more insulin-resistant in the mornings, so eggs/omelette/bacon/cold meats/cheese/yoghurt & berries might provide better mid-morning BGs than cereals/breads/pastries. Whereas in the evenings you might have a much greater ability to deal with a higher carb load.

 

[RebelT]

And here's what'll really freak you out!

That's an equivalent glycaemic load of one and a half Mars bars.

And porridge was recommended for breakfast too. 🙄

In your shoes I might be more tempted to try to work out results-per-meal rather than carbs per day RebelT.

One of the frustrating things about diabetes is just how individually variable it is. So you might do absolutely brilliantly on 150 or 100g a day (divided in the right way between meals), whereas someone else might have sky high BG on half that. You really do have to work it out for yourself.

Additionally you may well find that different times of day give you different results. Many people are more insulin-resistant in the mornings, so eggs/omelette/bacon/cold meats/cheese/yoghurt & berries might provide better mid-morning BGs than cereals/breads/pastries. Whereas in the evenings you might have a much greater ability to deal with a higher carb load.

I fully intend to test test test once the full dose of metformin takes effect. Being a bit of a control freak will help. 🙂

To me, diabetes means that my body has lost control over how it deals with what I eat. That means that I will have to take control myself. Although it hasn't worked with the smoking (yet).

None of us asked for it or want it, but the way I see it, it's a four stage process. Accept that we have it (maybe the hardest part), find ways to deal with it (emotionally challenging, I'm still angry 😡), fight it and control it.

 

[KookyCat]

Sounds like you've got the right attitude Rebel. It's a process really and a balance between what your body can tolerate and what you're willing to compromise on. I for example work with 100g a day on the whole and that works very well for me, but I can tolerate much more carb at breakfast and dinner than lunchtime (slightly annoying because I like food much more at lunchtime, and could eat more but you win some, you lose some 🙂).

Porridge is one of my favourite things, but nigh on impossible for my body to cope with these days, but I have a theory that it the hot milk that does me in (latte does the same thing to me). I have oats soaked overnight in Greek yoghurt and that works well, it's similar to porridge in taste just cold, I have a bit of stewed Apple in there, and it behaves completely different to porridge (hence my conclusion that it's not the oats, it's the milk!), with almost no increase in blood sugar. I don't have a massive amount of oats in there because if you leave it overnight it swells massively in the yoghurt. Might be worth a try 🙂

 

[Annette]

Porridge is one of my favourite things, but nigh on impossible for my body to cope with these days, but I have a theory that it the hot milk that does me in (latte does the same thing to me). I have oats soaked overnight in Greek yoghurt and that works well, it's similar to porridge in taste just cold, I have a bit of stewed Apple in there, and it behaves completely different to porridge (hence my conclusion that it's not the oats, it's the milk!), with almost no increase in blood sugar. I don't have a massive amount of oats in there because if you leave it overnight it swells massively in the yoghurt. Might be worth a try 🙂

Kooky, have you tried using unsweetened soya milk for hot porridge? Virtually no carbs in the milk, and it gives it a sort of creamy taste (I cant stand cold soya milk, but hot in porridge, its lovely!)

 

[heasandford]

Do you like vegetables? - just pile as many vegetable on your plate as possible! Remember potatoes are carbs, and other root vegetables can be a bit carby

I always try to balance the advice of 'very low carbohydrates' with 'think about what you're going to replace it with'. I know many people on here recommend very low carbohydrates, but there is no long term evidence yet about the corrresponding effect of high fat and high protein as a result.

I think the advice to see how carbohydrates affect you is best, and then work from there. Everything is a bit of a compromise! (I cope ok with porridge!)

 

[RebelT]

Well I just tested and had a pre meal result of 6.0. That's the lowest it's ever been so the extra metformin must be doing something

Mind you, with todays shift my last meal was at 14:30

 

[Tafty]

I used to suffer from this, I had to compensate with a little bit more fat.

Also helps to get something that you immerse yourself (side job or hobby) to make time FLY!