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Hello again

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
H

HippyChick

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I first found this forum 10 years ago. A lot has changed since then. Not least I've had two cancers. I was diagnosed November 2019 with type 2 started to change my diet tried a couple of medications that didn't agree with me so stopped taking them. Yes I know not the smartest thing to do. The last year I've been made redundant given notice on my home moved in with my mother in law for 4 months found a new job moved again. Eventually went back to the doctors and I've started again new medication and working on my diet. I have to admit I feel sad and alone even though I know lots of people living with the same conditions. If I'm honest I'm not 100% sure on what I'm doing the advice seems conflicting dibateic nurse says you needs to eat 'healthy diet' including carbs. While a course I started said to restrict them when I said it made me feel hungry I was told I was imaging it. I didn't go back to the course. Can't actually remember the name of it.
Anyway this is a long winded way of saying hello again and hoping to find a support network.
 
HippyChick said:
I first found this forum 10 years ago. A lot has changed since then. Not least I've had two cancers. I was diagnosed November 2019 with type 2 started to change my diet tried a couple of medications that didn't agree with me so stopped taking them. Yes I know not the smartest thing to do. The last year I've been made redundant given notice on my home moved in with my mother in law for 4 months found a new job moved again. Eventually went back to the doctors and I've started again new medication and working on my diet. I have to admit I feel sad and alone even though I know lots of people living with the same conditions. If I'm honest I'm not 100% sure on what I'm doing the advice seems conflicting dibateic nurse says you needs to eat 'healthy diet' including carbs. While a course I started said to restrict them when I said it made me feel hungry I was told I was imaging it. I didn't go back to the course. Can't actually remember the name of it.
Anyway this is a long winded way of saying hello again and hoping to find a support network.
Click to expand...
As Type 2 then restricting carbohydrates is going to have the greatest impact on reducing your blood glucose level, how much you restrict your carb intake depends on a number of factors, what medication you are on, how high your HbA1C is and your individual tolerance to carbohydrates. That is something you can find out by home monitoring the effect of foods and meals with a blood glucose monitor. You will probably have to self fund that but inexpensive ones can be had on line the GlucoNavii is the one with the cheapest test strips. By testing before you eat and after 2 hours you can see if you have tolerated the meal if the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l.
To help you not to feel hungry then increasing protein and healthy fats so avoid low fat products as the are often higher in carbs.
It is suggested that to reduce glucose levels that no more than 130g TOTAL carbs per day is needed though many do need to go lower than that.
I suspect the course you went on promoted the standard NHS Eat Well Plate which is low fat and higher carbs than many would be able to tolerate if Type 2 diabetic (it may be fine for non diabetics).
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet and there are some do's and don'ts as well as meal suggestions. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
 
Gosh @HippyChick - I actually thought, Oooh, haven't seen her on here lately! when I saw your user name, so welcome back from me anyway.

It's a shame the forum couldn't have supported you in the interim - but there again when you're dealing with what you've had, other things do take a back seat inevitably - so have some {{{{Hugs}}} now anyway.

You really don't have to feel hungry by reducing the amount of carbs you eat - no way would anyone ever be able to stick to a diet like that for very long. Best thing is work out how much of what you eat normally, does comprise a lot of carb, and start reducing it. A million years ago when people were eating eg a chop, spuds and another veg for their main meal, they'd start by reducing the spud, but having 2 sorts of 'other veg' instead. If they used medium sliced for the lunchtime sandwich - start using thin sliced instead. Whatever it is, do it bit by bit - not entirely stop eating either spuds or bread, instantly.

The 'little by little' still applies now - unless of course there are things you know in your heart of hearts you shouldn't have - one of those things for me was sugar in my tea. When I was diagnosed 50 years ago, aged 22 all young girls wanted to have a figure like Twiggy. I'd given up sugar in my coffee already but still liked it in tea. I had the ?advantage of having the raging insatiable thirsts to begin with so being that thirsty I did do that there and then - and said c.24 hours later - Blimey - tea is really so much more thirst quenching, without sugar - if I'd known that I'd have packed it in ages since! So - all I'm saying there is, you might be surprised sometimes that it is a bit easier than you imagined. The other thing is, as @Leadinglights has already said - you can increase how much protein you have, and actually, fat too.

It used to be vaunted as LCHF - low carb, high fat - but I've long said that really is so wrong. What it should be is LCNF - lowER carb, normal fat !
 
Restricting calories is the surest way to make a Low Carb way of eating fail, because then you feel deprived hungry and lacking in energy.
By eating more protein and a little more fat you compensate for the calories in the carbs you are cutting down on and so don't suffer those effects.
Fat is very satisfying and fives you lots of energy. Just stick to traditional fats and avoid the industrially processed seed oil - which is what the so-called 'vegetable oils ' actually are. - Originally produce to lubricate machines, but later bleached and ultra processed to take out the disgusting flavour and improve the shelf life.
 
I also hate the word diet or dieting as that implies it is something with a beginning and an END whereas what people need to adopt is a way of eating to manage whatever medical condition they have.
To be pedantic it is your dietary approach, regime or whatever you like to call it rather than a DIET.
 
Hi HippyChick, welcome back to the forum!

Really glad you've joined us again as we're happy to support you along this journey.

I think for me that's the most frustrating thing about diabetes, the conflicting advice re what a 'good' diet is.

Reducing carbs and sugar is usually a good way to try and get your numbers down and stay down but you don't need to be hungry because of it.

Might be worth creating a food diary of what you'd usually eat and then looking at ways you can swap things out. My go to is a healthy carb free cooked brekky of eggs and bacon instead of porridge , chicken salad for lunch and steak and veg for dinner, not perfect but works well for my BS numbers.

Have a look around the food section for ideas and let us know if we can help with any specifics.
 
Cherrelle DUK said:
Hi HippyChick, welcome back to the forum!

Really glad you've joined us again as we're happy to support you along this journey.

I think for me that's the most frustrating thing about diabetes, the conflicting advice re what a 'good' diet is.

Reducing carbs and sugar is usually a good way to try and get your numbers down and stay down but you don't need to be hungry because of it.

Might be worth creating a food diary of what you'd usually eat and then looking at ways you can swap things out. My go to is a healthy carb free cooked brekky of eggs and bacon instead of porridge , chicken salad for lunch and steak and veg for dinner, not perfect but works well for my BS numbers.

Have a look around the food section for ideas and let us know if we can help with any specifics.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the welcome and great advice
 
Leadinglights said:
I also hate the word diet or dieting as that implies it is something with a beginning and an END whereas what people need to adopt is a way of eating to manage whatever medical condition they have.
To be pedantic it is your dietary approach, regime or whatever you like to call it rather than a DIET.
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree with you more.
 
Leadinglights said:
As Type 2 then restricting carbohydrates is going to have the greatest impact on reducing your blood glucose level, how much you restrict your carb intake depends on a number of factors, what medication you are on, how high your HbA1C is and your individual tolerance to carbohydrates. That is something you can find out by home monitoring the effect of foods and meals with a blood glucose monitor. You will probably have to self fund that but inexpensive ones can be had on line the GlucoNavii is the one with the cheapest test strips. By testing before you eat and after 2 hours you can see if you have tolerated the meal if the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l.
To help you not to feel hungry then increasing protein and healthy fats so avoid low fat products as the are often higher in carbs.
It is suggested that to reduce glucose levels that no more than 130g TOTAL carbs per day is needed though many do need to go lower than that.
I suspect the course you went on promoted the standard NHS Eat Well Plate which is low fat and higher carbs than many would be able to tolerate if Type 2 diabetic (it may be fine for non diabetics).
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet and there are some do's and don'ts as well as meal suggestions. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Click to expand...
Thank you for taking the time to reply. It's makes me feel better that you understand. I think I've been a bit sorry fir myself and lonely. Plus thank you for the advice. Funny enough this week I have been eating more protein. I have bought myself a monitor but was a little unsure when to test. I have been testing in the morning mostly.
 
trophywench said:
Gosh @HippyChick - I actually thought, Oooh, haven't seen her on here lately! when I saw your user name, so welcome back from me anyway.

It's a shame the forum couldn't have supported you in the interim - but there again when you're dealing with what you've had, other things do take a back seat inevitably - so have some {{{{Hugs}}} now anyway.

You really don't have to feel hungry by reducing the amount of carbs you eat - no way would anyone ever be able to stick to a diet like that for very long. Best thing is work out how much of what you eat normally, does comprise a lot of carb, and start reducing it. A million years ago when people were eating eg a chop, spuds and another veg for their main meal, they'd start by reducing the spud, but having 2 sorts of 'other veg' instead. If they used medium sliced for the lunchtime sandwich - start using thin sliced instead. Whatever it is, do it bit by bit - not entirely stop eating either spuds or bread, instantly.

The 'little by little' still applies now - unless of course there are things you know in your heart of hearts you shouldn't have - one of those things for me was sugar in my tea. When I was diagnosed 50 years ago, aged 22 all young girls wanted to have a figure like Twiggy. I'd given up sugar in my coffee already but still liked it in tea. I had the ?advantage of having the raging insatiable thirsts to begin with so being that thirsty I did do that there and then - and said c.24 hours later - Blimey - tea is really so much more thirst quenching, without sugar - if I'd known that I'd have packed it in ages since! So - all I'm saying there is, you might be surprised sometimes that it is a bit easier than you imagined. The other thing is, as @Leadinglights has already said - you can increase how much protein you have, and actually, fat too.

It used to be vaunted as LCHF - low carb, high fat - but I've long said that really is so wrong. What it should be is LCNF - lowER carb, normal fat !
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply and advice. I gave up sugar in tea and coffee a few years ago I used to take two spoons gave up one and stuck at that thinking I couldn't take the next step. One Sunday I thought right it's going cut 1/4 spoon each day and by Thursday I stopped. I ended up changing the brand of tea I drank because I could taste the tea!
 
ianf0ster said:
Restricting calories is the surest way to make a Low Carb way of eating fail, because then you feel deprived hungry and lacking in energy.
By eating more protein and a little more fat you compensate for the calories in the carbs you are cutting down on and so don't suffer those effects.
Fat is very satisfying and fives you lots of energy. Just stick to traditional fats and avoid the industrially processed seed oil - which is what the so-called 'vegetable oils ' actually are. - Originally produce to lubricate machines, but later bleached and ultra processed to take out the disgusting flavour and improve the shelf life.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply and advice luckily I've always stuck with traditional fats.
 
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