Diabetic?

[Leadinglights]

Oops don't know what happened there! I love potatoes and pasta ,so I might struggle with eating less,I think I'll need a nurse or dietitian to help me , appreciate advice on here too..

I have never seen a dietician or nurse about how to tackle reducing my blood glucose but have looked at all the good advice and suggestions people on here make about reducing carbohydrates and the sort of substitutes and reduction in portion size of those high carb foods like the potatoes and pasta. So if you normally had 3 potatoes then just have 2 or a smaller portion of the pasta with more of the sauce as long as you are careful of bought pasta sauces as they also high carb. There are lower carb pastas made from black beans or edamame beans, you can have other veg to fill up on to replace the potatoes or use celeriac or cauliflower for mash.
Plenty of ideas if you look in the food and recipes thread and good ideas for meals in the thread What did you eat yesterday. Just bare in mind there is a mixture of diabetic types and medication regimes so some people may have more carbs than would be suitable for you.

 

[Sharon 71]

I have never seen a dietician or nurse about how to tackle reducing my blood glucose but have looked at all the good advice and suggestions people on here make about reducing carbohydrates and the sort of substitutes and reduction in portion size of those high carb foods like the potatoes and pasta. So if you normally had 3 potatoes then just have 2 or a smaller portion of the pasta with more of the sauce as long as you are careful of bought pasta sauces as they also high carb. There are lower carb pastas made from black beans or edamame beans, you can have other veg to fill up on to replace the potatoes or use celeriac or cauliflower for mash.
Plenty of ideas if you look in the food and recipes thread and good ideas for meals in the thread What did you eat yesterday. Just bare in mind there is a mixture of diabetic types and medication regimes so some people may have more carbs than would be suitable for you.

I wouldn't say I eat lots of potatoes but usually have three to four medium sized ones or if it's mash maybe about three ice cream scoops which isn't a lot so I'm probably ok with that,I don't eat much fruit and veg ,do occasionally..

 

[Leadinglights]

I wouldn't say I eat lots of potatoes but usually have three to four medium sized ones or if it's mash maybe about three ice cream scoops which isn't a lot so I'm probably ok with that,I don't eat much fruit and veg ,do occasionally..

I think you will be surprised just how much carbohydrate there are in potatoes, a potato about the size of a hen's egg would be about 10g of carb so 4 medium potatoes are going to be pretty high, similarly mash the 3 scoops might well be 40g carb. If you are going for a low carb dietary regime then that would represent a large proportion of your daily carbs.
If I have potatoes I would at most have 1 small potato but that really is so little it isn't worth the bother.
A lot of people have found that if they try a variety of vegetables they actually really enjoy them.

 

[Sharon 71]

I think you will be surprised just how much carbohydrate there are in potatoes, a potato about the size of a hen's egg would be about 10g of carb so 4 medium potatoes are going to be pretty high, similarly mash the 3 scoops might well be 40g carb. If you are going for a low carb dietary regime then that would represent a large proportion of your daily carbs.
If I have potatoes I would at most have 1 small potato but that really is so little it isn't worth the bother.
A lot of people have found that if they try a variety of vegetables they actually really enjoy them.

So could I have potatoes a few times a week,how many carbs is recommended,I've really no idea

 

[Sharon 71]

So could I have potatoes a few times a week,how many carbs is recommended,I've really no idea

I'm not sure about a low carb diet as I'm only just in the diabetic threshold.. maybe I could eat as normal a few days in the week then a lower carb the rest of the week?

 

[Leadinglights]

I'm not sure about a low carb diet as I'm only just in the diabetic threshold.. maybe I could eat as normal a few days in the week then a lower carb the rest of the week?

I suppose it depends on how serious you are about reducing you blood glucose to a normal level which is below 42mmol/mol. Yes, you are starting just in the diabetes zone but you are diabetic so your body has a problem tolerating carbohydrates and it is by reducing those that your blood glucose levels will come down but potatoes are not really something that you should be risking having more than very occasionally as you want to minimise the number of times your blood glucose levels are high not just in the day but after each meal.
I'm not suggesting other people should go as low carb as I did but my max carb per day is 70g. I started off at 50mmol/mol like you and was down to below 42 in 6 months and 36 in another 3 months.
But everybody is different in how they tolerate carbohydrates.

 

[Sharon 71]

I suppose it depends on how serious you are about reducing you blood glucose to a normal level which is below 42mmol/mol. Yes, you are starting just in the diabetes zone but you are diabetic so your body has a problem tolerating carbohydrates and it is by reducing those that your blood glucose levels will come down but potatoes are not really something that you should be risking having more than very occasionally as you want to minimise the number of times your blood glucose levels are high not just in the day but after each meal.
I'm not suggesting other people should go as low carb as I did but my max carb per day is 70g. I started off at 50mmol/mol like you and was down to below 42 in 6 months and 36 in another 3 months.
But everybody is different in how they tolerate carbohydrates.

So how do I know how well my body tolerates carbohydrates,so are you now not diabetic as your blood glucose is normal,? I don't know much about diabetes ,but I've heard it can be reversed , and if it can be reversed to a healthy blood glucose can we then eat as we want?

 

[Leadinglights]

So how do I know how well my body tolerates carbohydrates,so are you now not diabetic as your blood glucose is normal,? I don't know much about diabetes ,but I've heard it can be reversed , and if it can be reversed to a healthy blood glucose can we then eat as we want?

I know what foods and meals I can tolerate by using a blood glucose monitor to test the effect of food on my blood glucose levels. I don't do it so much now but when I started I tested with a finger prick before eating and after 2 hours and if the difference was more than 2mmol/l and was above 8mmol/l then I knew that there was some component of the meal that was too high in carbohydrate so next time I would have less or cut it out all together. Although GP often don't suggest home monitoring the view of many people is that it is an important part of managing your condition.
I still keep to the low carb way of eating as once you have a problem handling carbs then you would be very lucky for that not to be always the case so by returning to old ways of eating would push levels up again. I was diagnosed at the upper end of prediabetic 6 years age and got down under the range but the diet slipped and I was eating far to much carbs and then low and behold was actually in the diabetic zone last June. So no, I don't think you can take your eye off the ball. Some things have to become the occasional treat rather than a regular thing, for example a square of dark chocolate at the weekend, an ice cream when out on the odd occasion.
I feel the regime I have chosen is now a way of life and is sustainable.
Do look at the Learning zone and some of the links and hopefully it will give you a better understanding of how to make those changes necessary to reduce blood glucose levels and avoid diabetic complications.

 

[Sharon 71]

I know what foods and meals I can tolerate by using a blood glucose monitor to test the effect of food on my blood glucose levels. I don't do it so much now but when I started I tested with a finger prick before eating and after 2 hours and if the difference was more than 2mmol/l and was above 8mmol/l then I knew that there was some component of the meal that was too high in carbohydrate so next time I would have less or cut it out all together. Although GP often don't suggest home monitoring the view of many people is that it is an important part of managing your condition.
I still keep to the low carb way of eating as once you have a problem handling carbs then you would be very lucky for that not to be always the case so by returning to old ways of eating would push levels up again. I was diagnosed at the upper end of prediabetic 6 years age and got down under the range but the diet slipped and I was eating far to much carbs and then low and behold was actually in the diabetic zone last June. So no, I don't think you can take your eye off the ball. Some things have to become the occasional treat rather than a regular thing, for example a square of dark chocolate at the weekend, an ice cream when out on the odd occasion.
I feel the regime I have chosen is now a way of life and is sustainable.
Do look at the Learning zone and some of the links and hopefully it will give you a better understanding of how to make those changes necessary to reduce blood glucose levels and avoid diabetic complications.

Thankyou for the help,I'm really quite lost when it comes to diet,I'm wondering if I lose some weight that will help too ,I'm not really sure why I've got diabetes but it does run in the family,plus I'm overweight and eat the wrong foods ,I'll have a look at the learning zone and see if I can gain a better understanding off it

 

[Drummer]

Thankyou for the help,I'm really quite lost when it comes to diet,I'm wondering if I lose some weight that will help too ,I'm not really sure why I've got diabetes but it does run in the family,plus I'm overweight and eat the wrong foods ,I'll have a look at the learning zone and see if I can gain a better understanding off it

Diabetes runs in my family too - but I am absolutely positive I know why I became so overweight - type two diabetics cannot cope with carbohydrates, and all my relatives became the same shape - almost spherical, because of the advice to eat healthy amounts of carbohydrates at every meal. They are the wrong foods for us.
Eating a low carb diet and losing weight is usually quite easy - you don't need to eat less, just differently.

 

[Sharon 71]

Diabetes runs in my family too - but I am absolutely positive I know why I became so overweight - type two diabetics cannot cope with carbohydrates, and all my relatives became the same shape - almost spherical, because of the advice to eat healthy amounts of carbohydrates at every meal. They are the wrong foods for us.
Eating a low carb diet and losing weight is usually quite easy - you don't need to eat less, just differently.

I looked at the learning zone but I'm still unsure about eating meats like bacon,sausages,corned beef etc,are those high in carbs ?

 

[Drummer]

I looked at the learning zone but I'm still unsure about eating meats like bacon,sausages,corned beef etc,are those high in carbs ?

They are usually zero or low in carbs - as long as you avoid those with added sugar - such as sweet cure bacon, or starch, such as sausages with lots of additives.
Unprocessed foods are usually safer bets as carbohydrate is cheaper than meat - it is why you see 'made with 100 percent chicken' or cod or steak, and then you realise that there is a coating or a sauce which is loads of carbs added to make it cheaper.
Any meat, or fish, eggs, cheese, full fat yoghurt, cream, will be a good basic shopping list. Berries, fresh or frozen are usually low carb. I have a list of several dozen low carb options, mushrooms, salad stuff, swede, onions, courgettes, beetroot - all colourful and tasty. I have had people swear to make cauliflower cheese to my recipe for ever after.

 

[Leadinglights]

I looked at the learning zone but I'm still unsure about eating meats like bacon,sausages,corned beef etc,are those high in carbs ?

Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy full fat rather than low fat are all low carb and good to base your meals on with the addition of green veg and salads, fruit in the form of berries are low carb. Sausages if high meat content are fine. The things to beware of a things like breaded chicken and fish and ready meals and prepared sauces.
Looking at the labels on food packets for the total carbohydrate usually on the back rather than the traffic light system which is misleading. It is carbs that your body struggles with, not protein or fat. Many low fat products are best avoided as they are often higher carb.
The book Carbs and Cals is a good guide for carb values of lots of foods and meals or just do a internet search and ask carbs in X and it will give you the carb per 100g. Store websites will give you nutritional info for the products they sell so you can look before you go shopping to see what options would be lower carb. I'm afraid it does take a bit of effort until you build up a record of things you find OK for you.

 

[Sharon 71]

They are usually zero or low in carbs - as long as you avoid those with added sugar - such as sweet cure bacon, or starch, such as sausages with lots of additives.
Unprocessed foods are usually safer bets as carbohydrate is cheaper than meat - it is why you see 'made with 100 percent chicken' or cod or steak, and then you realise that there is a coating or a sauce which is loads of carbs added to make it cheaper.
Any meat, or fish, eggs, cheese, full fat yoghurt, cream, will be a good basic shopping list. Berries, fresh or frozen are usually low carb. I have a list of several dozen low carb options, mushrooms, salad stuff, swede, onions, courgettes, beetroot - all colourful and tasty. I have had people swear to make cauliflower cheese to my recipe for ever after.

Oh ok..so I can have cream ,full fat yoghurt and any meat, cream is full of fat so I wouldn't have thought that would be ok ..that's good to hear though.. and cheddar cheese is also ok ?

 

[Sharon 71]

Oh ok..so I can have cream ,full fat yoghurt and any meat, cream is full of fat so I wouldn't have thought that would be ok ..that's good to hear though.. and cheddar cheese is also ok ?

Do you know how many carbs we can have in a day ?

 

[Drummer]

Oh ok..so I can have cream ,full fat yoghurt and any meat, cream is full of fat so I wouldn't have thought that would be ok ..that's good to hear though.. and cheddar cheese is also ok ?

There is nothing wrong with the ability of a type two diabetic to cope with protein and fat - which are the essential food groups. Fat has been demonised for a long time, but it seems that - when it is checked up on, seed oils are the bad fats, not the natural ones.
By using a glucose meter we can check after eating to see if we can cope with the amount of carbs in a meal.
Checking two hours after a meal gives a good idea of how well the meal suits us.

 

[Sharon 71]

There is nothing wrong with the ability of a type two diabetic to cope with protein and fat - which are the essential food groups. Fat has been demonised for a long time, but it seems that - when it is checked up on, seed oils are the bad fats, not the natural ones.
By using a glucose meter we can check after eating to see if we can cope with the amount of carbs in a meal.
Checking two hours after a meal gives a good idea of how well the meal suits us.

I thought that ,butter, cream full fat cheeses are not great because of high cholesterol ,so is it ok to have those including full fat milk,I don't suppose too much off it will be good especially if you need to lose weight..

 

[Leadinglights]

Do you know how many carbs we can have in a day ?

That is something hard to say as everybody is an individual and will be able to tolerate different amount of carbs per day but a good starting point is to try to estimate how much you are having at the moment and then cut that down to start with by say one third for a couple of weeks, then reduce further depending on what your blood glucose levels are, that of course is dependant on having a monitor so you know your progress. and your tolerance to carbs. But a good starting point to aim at is less than 130g per day. Reducing blood glucose slowly is better as some people get issues with their vision if the go too quickly.
As people often say it is a marathon, not a sprint but I add that you do have to take a first step.
As long as you reduce carbs then the higher fat and protein helps many people with weight loss.

 

[Drummer]

I thought that ,butter, cream full fat cheeses are not great because of high cholesterol ,so is it ok to have those including full fat milk,I don't suppose too much off it will be good especially if you need to lose weight..

Sorry - most of the cholesterol we need is made in the liver - cholesterol is an essential part of our metabolism. Having less of it is not a good thing at all, we are just told that it is.
Limiting full fat milk is a good idea as milk contains the sugar lactose, but cream is far lower in carbs.
The foods are very nutritious, so I find that I only need two small meals a day.
Far from fat being fattening, I lost loads of weight without trying when I was just concentrating on my blood glucose being normal, and unlike many people I have not put on weight during the lockdowns - now that I am going out again I am losing again. I will weigh myself before the end of the year and see how I am getting along. I doubt I will ever regain the slender waist I used to have, but at least I am now ) ( rather than ( ) but it has meant a complete new wardrobe or remaking garments a couple of times as my shape changed.

 

[Sharon 71]

Sorry - most of the cholesterol we need is made in the liver - cholesterol is an essential part of our metabolism. Having less of it is not a good thing at all, we are just told that it is.
Limiting full fat milk is a good idea as milk contains the sugar lactose, but cream is far lower in carbs.
The foods are very nutritious, so I find that I only need two small meals a day.
Far from fat being fattening, I lost loads of weight without trying when I was just concentrating on my blood glucose being normal, and unlike many people I have not put on weight during the lockdowns - now that I am going out again I am losing again. I will weigh myself before the end of the year and see how I am getting along. I doubt I will ever regain the slender waist I used to have, but at least I am now ) ( rather than ( ) but it has meant a complete new wardrobe or remaking garments a couple of times as my shape changed.

Ok thanks for your help ,so full fat cheeses are ok but not whole milk, what about hazel nuts ,peanuts, almonds..I like those a lot ,I'm not aiming for a very slim figure either..but need to lose some weight..