Help - Confused

[Sazzaroo]

I am struggling at present regards what to eat so I can loose weight and look after my diabetes at the same time. I have bought a couple of cook books but get confused as most have got either a lot of carbs in or sugar so would like some help if poss?
I take 1000mg met twice a day and am type 2
I have either weetabix or porridge for breakfast,
Something on ryvita at lunch
main meal in evening
I get really bored with the same in and same out each day, have read some of the threads but does anyone know a good cook book or such?

Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[Copepod]

Good question, to which there are many answers / points of view, to put it mildly.

Some people have found that Low GI (Glycaemic Index) foods are best - and there are cook books for that approach.

Others have found that looking up carbohydrate content in a guide such as Collins Gem is the best approach.

In all cases, it's important to consider portion size - to put if far too simply, but it makes the point - there's twice as much carbohydrate in 2 Weetabix as in 1.

Also, important to consider how individual foods affect you personally, as everyone is different - the only way to discover that is to test your blood glucose levels before and 2 hours after eating (levels will spike even higher 1 hour after eating).

Sorry I can't help with specific cookery book recommendations, as my partner and I use ones inherited from our mothers for baking recipes, and tend to make up recipes depending on what we get from reduced price sections of supermarkets or from our garden veg patch / ducks (eggs) or out of date food donated by neighbour!

 

[Northerner]

Here are links to a couple of reviews of good books I found useful and well written:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=7719

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=7337

They introduce the GL Diet, which is a modification of GI making it closer to 'real life', since it takes account of likely portion sizes of meal constituents. For example, the GI of carrots is arrived at by someone eating a very large amount of carrots - and nothing but carrots - and then testing their blood glucose responses over time. However, no-one would sit down and eat such an amount of carrots as a meal, so GL (Glycaemic Load) provides a method of taking this into account and giving a more realistic expectation of a normal portion of carrots with a meal.

Some people have found that restricting or removing just certain items from their diet help enormously both with weight loss and BG control - one of our members has achieved great things after discovering that removing bread has resulted in great weight loss! 🙂

 

[Newtothis]

I am struggling at present regards what to eat so I can loose weight and look after my diabetes at the same time. I have bought a couple of cook books but get confused as most have got either a lot of carbs in or sugar so would like some help if poss?
I take 1000mg met twice a day and am type 2
I have either weetabix or porridge for breakfast,
Something on ryvita at lunch
main meal in evening
I get really bored with the same in and same out each day, have read some of the threads but does anyone know a good cook book or such?

Thanks in advance 🙂

Hi Cuisinequeen, I too am Type 2 and when diagnosed in August '11 didn't know where to start; I've managed to go from 13stone to 9stone 7 in 6 months by reducing carbs; saturated fats and ensuring I have 5 a day - plenty of veg; fruit, water and increasing my physical activity.

I have tried to have meals that I had prior to diabetes but have modified them because you can become bored with the same menus and diabetes is for life so you need to have some variation (small portions; mix and match etc...) I was never a big chip or spicy food lover so was ok with that but I have a really sweet tooth🙄

It really is a case of testing, testing and more testing and seeing what foods are good/not so good and modifying your meals - it is a slow process but one worth sticking with - in terms of weight loss - try and lose between 1-2lb per week, its a slow steady loss.

As my diet changed so have my taste buds; some foods I have tried since diagnosis just don't taste the same; my sweet tooth is still there but I love fruit and sugar free jelly as an alternative to chocolate and cake.

Christmas was hard because I ate some naughty food because it was there not because I wanted it...but treats in moderation are fine...

Just remember to take each day as it comes and things will become clearer over time; ask as many questions as you can - the guys are fantastic on this site.... Good luck...you'll get there...Amanda x 🙂

 

[Sazzaroo]

Thanks for all your help, advice and encouragement it's appreciated.🙂😱

Northerner - I have researched your recommendation of books and found my local library has the GL for dummies so am off first thing tomoz to get it. I had a book out over a year ago about GI and found it interesting but now as you have seen in my other posts this is for real so need to pull this out the bag once and for all.

Copepod - I didn't know you could get a collins gem for carbohydrate and really think now it's time for me to educate myself properly on food and get a better understanding.

Newtothis - I hear you on taking each day as it comes but have always had the "want it done yesterday" head on (I'm the female version of Worzel Gummidge you know) lol. I really want and need to change this now and make/take small steps. I just worry bout not eating the right things and trying to not let my sugar level drop as well as not eat to put on weight, find it so hard to juggle the two really.

This afternoon for example I had 2 slices multigrain bread, spread and a little grated cheese and fresh red onion, cup of tea with a sweetner at 1.30 and by 4 pm I felt a bit shaky inside but my dinner won't be ready till 6 so had a cup of bovril and 2 ryvita crackers which has made me feel ok now. Haven't been doing anything strenuous so don't understand really?

 

[Northerner]

This afternoon for example I had 2 slices multigrain bread, spread and a little grated cheese and fresh red onion, cup of tea with a sweetner at 1.30 and by 4 pm I felt a bit shaky inside but my dinner won't be ready till 6 so had a cup of bovril and 2 ryvita crackers which has made me feel ok now. Haven't been doing anything strenuous so don't understand really?

It may be that your blood sugar levels were lower than you have been recently used to experiencing, so you can get some symptoms of a low blood sugar without your levels actually being too low. The only way to know is to have a test when you feel like this so that you can learn how the changes you are making are affecting your levels. 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Have you actually got a meter and strips CQ?

 

[Sazzaroo]

Have you actually got a meter and strips CQ?

Hiya TW yes I have although I keep being told I only need to test once a week due to me being on Met and also the strips are expensive so have been using them sparingly but thinking now I need to test more so will and gonna cross the prescription thing when I come to it. Put it this way I have only used 1 container of 50 and maybe a third of the 2nd one in 2 years 🙄

Also picked up the Book GL diet for dummies today so gonna sink me ole noggin in it this evening. Found another in the library called Low GI food for friends by Azmina Govindji so thought I'd grab that one too, should keep me busy eh 🙂