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Hello there

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Newbie777

Newbie777

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello,

My name is Niaz, I am 49 years old, Asian Male, I live in Manchester.

I have type 2 Diabetes which I have had for about 6 years ( known) and possibly a lot longer unknown.

Just wanted to say hello and thank you for any help or support provided.


Kind regards

Niaz
 
Hi Niaz and welcome. The forum is a great place for friendly support and advice.

Would you like to tell us a bit more about your diabetes... ie what medication (if any) you are on for it? What your most recent HbA1c reading was. Any particular difficulties you have managing your diabetes. Any problems or complications as a result of your diabetes? Do you self test your BG to help you tailor your diet to manage your diabetes.... this is something that many members of the forum find hugely beneficial, even though it is discouraged by most health care professionals?
We can recommend the most economical and reliable meters if you think you might like to try this approach as well as give you guidance on how to go about it. Being able to see which foods cause you problems or what portion size your body can handle is invaluable in bringing your levels down and managing them better.
 
Hello Barbara,

Thanks for your help.

I am taking maximum Metformin 500mg, x4, Glucazide 80mg X2 and Canagflorizin 300mg x1, for my type 2 Diabetes. I am also taking tablets for my high blood pressure/high Cholesterol.

My Diabetes have been uncontrolled for a number of years and to that is only myself to blame.

My HbA1c have been 152, 3 years ago, then 102, 2 years ago and then 102 in Oct 2020,

I test my bloods usually once in the morning and these vary from around 5.6 to around 9.0. I think my reads spike to 16.0 plus, after a meal and then decrease slowly. My biggest issue has been and still is my high carb intake.

The complications are my eyes, left eye Macula Irena, right eye I had cataract removed and just now recovering from Vitrectomy ( tractional retina detachment).

My blood pressure is good around 117/78,but my Chlorestoral is slightly high.

I don't have any many issues with kidneys/liver etc.

My GP has advised on ok increasing my Glicizide to 3 X, but am too happy about that.

Also, I have worked away from home and don't cook, always eating out, I have never experienced being hypo!

I have posted asking for help on Carb replacement and would be most grateful if I could get some advice on any other tablets to take/replace.

Thank you
Niaz
 
Sorry to hear about your eye troubles @Newbie777

Well done for your HbA1c reductions over recent years, hopefully a little carb reduction will see that reduce still further. Good news that your BP is in a good range, as that really helps the eyes I think.

Hopefully some of our T2 members can suggest hints and swaps for carbs. Cauli ‘rice’ seems a very popular option.
 
Hello,
Thank you for your kind comments.

My BS has been too high (104) and I need to reduce it, so aiming tor 80 in the next 3 months and want to achieve 60 or below in the next 12 months.

i am learning about Carb reduction, but realise it is not as easily as I first thought, it is definitely mind over matter.

The positive in all this is that I am now determined, better prepared and better educated, thanks to everyone on these Forums.

Yes, cauliflower rice is on my list to try out asap
 
Hi @Newbie777
Hopefully you have cut down on bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and other root veg etc. Celeriac and cauliflower can both be used as replacements for mashed potatoes. Cauliflower rice is popular, and pork scratchings (if you can eat them) are a good replacement for crisps. In my case I don't bother to replace carbs with substitutes. With a Sunday roast I'll have extra green veg while the family has potatoes. Last night I cooked a chilli - the family had rice while I had a bowl of chilli. After all, the chilli is the tasty bit! Tonight I'm cooking a Saag Paneer and will again have a bowl of curry with no rice.
 
Hello,

That's very sensible and I like that approach.

i am now thinking when I have a curry just to leave out the chapati and if that does not work, possibly look at almond flour chapati.

Also, I may try out the brown rice but only a small amount.

I like the idea of chilli, as long there is something that is solid to eat, I think I can do it.

Thanks
 
Brown rice has just as many grams of carbohydrate as the white variety - the inside of a human body couldn't care less what colour it is as far as converting the carb to glucose is concerned!
 
Oh dear, I thought it was less carbs and slow release, in n that case it is a non starter. Thank you
 
I found that a vegetable bhaji as an alternative to rice with a simple shashlik worked well, especially when I convinced the chef at the takeaway to use less of his gravy which, being based on potatoes, was a heavy carb load. Not been to the takeaway for ages so now make my own veg bhaji - spicing is nowhere near as good as the chef but it works OK.

My veg bhaji recipe is: Grate up some garlic, fresh ginger and frsh chilli ( proportions to suit your taste). Put putter and oil in pan and add the mix and fry a little while. Add some onion and cook. Add whatever veg you like or have.... I normally have some steamed potato in the fridge, and frozen mixed veg from the freezer. Add whatever extra spicing you need - I generally use some ready made garam masala - and cook until everything is sorted. I have a couple of options for add a sauce... either some white wine, or better, if I have it, some of whatever home made soup I have in the fridge. Finish with a dollop of creme fraise.

No quantities I am afraid, in my world you experiment until you get something you like and which your pancreas can cope with.
 
Thank you.

Thats interesting and a really good idea.

My wife makes them using Gram Flour and the spices you mention, usually with potato, but I guess we can try without these now.

Also, I was thinking of experimenting with Gram flour, as it made from Chick peas, but will find out if it carb heavy.
 
I use chopped cauliflower instead of rice for curries.
Although not everyone can digest beans like me - I can get about twice the listed carbs out of peas, beans and other legumes, I think it is well worth checking with a glucose meter after meals at least for a while after diagnosis.
 
Newbie777 said:
Thank you.

Thats interesting and a really good idea.

My wife makes them using Gram Flour and the spices you mention, usually with potato, but I guess we can try without these now.

Also, I was thinking of experimenting with Gram flour, as it made from Chick peas, but will find out if it carb heavy.
Click to expand...

I use the term bhaji in the way the takeaway use it for this dish..... it is a simple curry and does not involve any the deep frying in batter that bhaji usually entails in anglo/indian cooking. As such no flour is needed at all. The sauce is thickened by reducing the cooking liquor. I have never experimented with Gram flour so I have no idea how it compares with wheat flour as far as my system is concerned.
 
My understanding is that brown rice is the same as white rice from a carb point of view. It is however slower to absorb so does not give such a high spike in the blood sugars. This is good for T1 but not so helpful for T2 who are trying to reduce overall carb intake. Brown rice is high in fibre and other nutrients. Start with brown rice. Remove all the goodness. Polish the remains. you have got white rice!
 
Drummer said:
I use chopped cauliflower instead of rice for curries.
Although not everyone can digest beans like me - I can get about twice the listed carbs out of peas, beans and other legumes, I think it is well worth checking with a glucose meter after meals at least for a while after diagnosis.
Click to expand...
I am def going to try cauliflower and will try it with lentil and chick pea curry. I presume I need to keep from baked beans as they are full of sugar.
Also as I am not doing any exercise, so need to keep to keep the portions down, my weakness though is I do like hot food, especially in winter.
 
Newbie777 said:
I am def going to try cauliflower and will try it with lentil and chick pea curry. I presume I need to keep from baked beans as they are full of sugar.
Also as I am not doing any exercise, so need to keep to keep the portions down, my weakness though is I do like hot food, especially in winter.
Click to expand...

There is no bar on substantial foods - I often have a stir fry of mushrooms, sweet pepper, courgette or aubergine, the outer sticks of celery, a bit of onion - anything I find in the fridge that look likely. Other times I might have frozen mixed veges with what I have in the fridge, all cooked together to make a stew. I blend some of the veges to thicken the gravy.
 
Newbie777 said:
I am def going to try cauliflower and will try it with lentil and chick pea curry.
Click to expand...
You are better off sticking to a meat curry if you are not vegetarian rather than lentils and chick peas as both of those are quite high in carbs.
It is not just the sugar in the sauce with baked beans (you can get no added sugar variety) but the carbs in the beans themselves and then there is the temptation to have them on toast so you end up with a triple whammy of carbs.... toast, sauce and the beans themselves.... yes lots of fibre especially if you use wholemeal bread for the toast but lots of carbs too. They are off my menu completely now.
Today I had fillet steak with a big plate of ratatouille
 
Drummer said:
There is no bar on substantial foods - I often have a stir fry of mushrooms, sweet pepper, courgette or aubergine, the outer sticks of celery, a bit of onion - anything I find in the fridge that look likely. Other times I might have frozen mixed veges with what I have in the fridge, all cooked together to make a stew. I blend some of the veges to thicken the gravy.
Click to expand...
I like the idea of mixing stuff as you mentioned.

Unfortuntely, most Asian food I eat is currified and that includes the Veg, so not necessarily getting the full benefits and also to make matters worse I am biased towards this food and everything else can taste very plain.

But as they say ‘beggars cant be choosers’ and I am not in position to be fussy, I n ed to reduce my BS with immediate effect.

I will definitely try out the recommendation you and other people have so kindly provided. I can honestly say that I have been given loads of great foods ideas and this has changed my perception, as I thought would be stuck with celery ;(.
Thank you
 
There is no restriction on flavours - I added turmeric to my stew - and a little black pepper - things I do automatically so I don't think to mention doing it.
With salad - oregano, basil, thyme - make the most of the availability of dried herbs these days.
 
Great,

Definitely to try out different flavour.

cheers
 
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