Help please

[Manicmaive]

Hello, I have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and am totally flumuxed do I go for low carbs, low sugar, low calories, low fat or what, I have never had a sweet tooth so going without sugary things is no problem, I don't drink, don't smoke, very rarely eat out, have been eating healthy for over 5 years, I hate salmon, tuna, avocados, butternut squash, tofu, courgettes, aubergines, am allergic to most sea food including fish except for some reason, haddock beginning to wonder exactly what I can eat someone please help as I'm hungry. I see the nurse at my surgery on the 27th but what do I do till then?

 

[Gwynn]

Hi, you are one of many who get a diagnosis and very little useful advice or help to start with.

If anyone here is to offer advice or help then a bit more information from you will help. For example, do you know your blood test result that gave you the diagnosis (HbA1c). Are you on any medications? Do you exercise? Any weight issues? etc

Regarding diet. All foods are 'processed' uniquely by each individual. One person my cope well will a specific food but another person may have problems with the same food. How do they know if they can cope or not? They do a little blood finger prick test before eating that food and 2 hours after consumption. Looking for BG rising no more than 2.0 from the before reading. I use a Spirit Tee2 blood test device but now only need to test twice a day.

So, what can you eat? My view is to reduce carbohydrates, increase protein and increase fats whilst looking at your calorie intake. It is a bit of a juggling act and pretty complicated to start with, but it does get easier with time and practise.

To simplify things, just reduce (gradually) your carb intake. How do you know your carb intake? Every single food sold in the UK has nutritional information on its packaging which includes carbohydrates (not just sugars). The painful bit is adding up the carbs for your daily meals, but there are applications out there to help you with that. Many, including me, keep a food diary so that they can record what they are eating AND can get ideas easily for future meals.

So, what should you be aiming for in your carbohydrate consumption? I am afraid that varies from person to person but one thing you can say for sure is that whatever you were eating before was to much for your pancreas to cope with, so use that as a starting measure and try to reduce your carbs away from that (gradually).

Personally, I aim to keep my carb intake to below 130g a day and often it is around 90g.

The good news is that you have plenty of time to discover what your body can cope with and the new foods you will enjoy. It is a long journey you have started on, so pace yourself and, whatever you decide to do, make it sustainable AND do not get discouraged if things don't quite go to plan at times. It is all a learning exercise where you learn about you.

The NHS may not be able to give you the 1 to 1 support you may feel you need because every single one of us is different, they just don't have the time or resources. Sounds like your on your own? Well, yes you are and, no you are not as we are all here to help you through this confusing time. So come back to us with your questions and we will help where we can.

I hope some of that helps.

 

[Manicmaive]

Hi, you are one of many who get a diagnosis and very little useful advice or help to start with.

If anyone here is to offer advice or help then a bit more information from you will help. For example, do you know your blood test result that gave you the diagnosis (HbA1c). Are you on any medications? Do you exercise? Any weight issues? etc

Regarding diet. All foods are 'processed' uniquely by each individual. One person my cope well will a specific food but another person may have problems with the same food. How do they know if they can cope or not? They do a little blood finger prick test before eating that food and 2 hours after consumption. Looking for BG rising no more than 2.0 from the before reading. I use a Spirit Tee2 blood test device but now only need to test twice a day.

So, what can you eat? My view is to reduce carbohydrates, increase protein and increase fats whilst looking at your calorie intake. It is a bit of a juggling act and pretty complicated to start with, but it does get easier with time and practise.

To simplify things, just reduce (gradually) your carb intake. How do you know your carb intake? Every single food sold in the UK has nutritional information on its packaging which includes carbohydrates (not just sugars). The painful bit is adding up the carbs for your daily meals, but there are applications out there to help you with that. Many, including me, keep a food diary so that they can record what they are eating AND can get ideas easily for future meals.

So, what should you be aiming for in your carbohydrate consumption? I am afraid that varies from person to person but one thing you can say for sure is that whatever you were eating before was to much for your pancreas to cope with, so use that as a starting measure and try to reduce your carbs away from that (gradually).

Personally, I aim to keep my carb intake to below 130g a day and often it is around 90g.

The good news is that you have plenty of time to discover what your body can cope with and the new foods you will enjoy. It is a long journey you have started on, so pace yourself and, whatever you decide to do, make it sustainable AND do not get discouraged if things don't quite go to plan at times. It is all a learning exercise where you learn about you.

The NHS may not be able to give you the 1 to 1 support you may feel you need because every single one of us is different, they just don't have the time or resources. Sounds like your on your own? Well, yes you are and, no you are not as we are all here to help you through this confusing time. So come back to us with your questions and we will help where we can.

I hope some of that helps.

Thank you, most of what you say has helped a bit, I am not overweight, am on statins and now Metformin I walk my dog 3 times a day and not just round the block. I have no idea yet what my blood results are, I get to find them out on 27th. I'm a tad depressed as I eat healthy and cant get my head round this. Thank goodness for people like you who can help people like me.

 

[Gwynn]

Hmm, quite often people are surprised at how many carbohydrates are contained in their healthy diet. They seem to be in pretty much everything!

Do you know how many grams of carbohydrate you consume on an average day

Or

Can you show us what a typical days food is for you. We may be able to provide some pointers.

And, a lot of people on here helped me when I needed it right at the start

 

[Drummer]

One of the effects of statins is to elevate blood glucose, so you have probably got an uphill trudge to get back to normal numbers - cutting out high carb foods and replacing them with lower carb options should give you a fighting chance.
There is no need to go low fat - many low fat versions of everyday foods come with more carbs to compensate.
A typical type 2 has normal abilities to deal with the essential nutrients in proteins and fats - it is just the carbohydrates which cause their main problem.

 

[Leadinglights]

Many people think they are eating a 'healthy' diet but what may be so for somebody not Type 2 diabetic is not so if you are.
So the wholegrain bread, pasta, rice, cereals and fruit are too high carb for many to tolerate.
Making the food diary is a really good start as you then can know where you are and how much you need to reduce things, either by making substitutions or cutting portion size of the higher carb food.
The things you don't like may be down to how they are cooked so looking at using them in fifferent ways, the veg in particular as squash makes a good substitute for potatoes and in soups as does courgette in soups or in stirfries.
Any meat, eggs and cheese are all foods which are low carb and good to base meals on.
This link may help you find some meals and ideas for modifying your diet as well as some do's and don'ts. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

 

[Manicmaive]

Breakfast 2 slices of wholemeal toast with either low sugar marmalade or peanut butter, cup of coffee. Lunch 2 Ryvita crispbread with pumpkin seeds spread with low fat cottage cheese topped with cucumber, some melon, raspberries or strawberries, blueberry yoghurt. Dinner chicken or some other meat, different types of vegetables, potatoes, rice or pasta. Nothing else till next day. Drink water flavoured with lemon and lime, 2 cups of coffee in a day and a cup of warm semi skimmed milk at bedtime, no sugar.

 

[Manicmaive]

Many people think they are eating a 'healthy' diet but what may be so for somebody not Type 2 diabetic is not so if you are.
So the wholegrain bread, pasta, rice, cereals and fruit are too high carb for many to tolerate.
Making the food diary is a really good start as you then can know where you are and how much you need to reduce things, either by making substitutions or cutting portion size of the higher carb food.
The things you don't like may be down to how they are cooked so looking at using them in fifferent ways, the veg in particular as squash makes a good substitute for potatoes and in soups as does courgette in soups or in stirfries.
Any meat, eggs and cheese are all foods which are low carb and good to base meals on.
This link may help you find some meals and ideas for modifying your diet as well as some do's and don'ts. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

Thank you I don't like squash or courgettes but I will definitely look at the link you sent. Thank you

 

[Leadinglights]

Breakfast 2 slices of wholemeal toast with either low sugar marmalade or peanut butter, cup of coffee. Lunch 2 Ryvita crispbread with pumpkin seeds spread with low fat cottage cheese topped with cucumber, some melon, raspberries or strawberries, blueberry yoghurt. Dinner chicken or some other meat, different types of vegetables, potatoes, rice or pasta. Nothing else till next day. Drink water flavoured with lemon and lime, 2 cups of coffee in a day and a cup of warm semi skimmed milk at bedtime, no sugar.

It is not looking too bad so if that is typical then I would not expect your HbA1C to be desperately high.
Bread is quite high carb and 2 slices could well be at least 30g carb at a time of day when many are more sensitive to carbs. 1 slice with scrambled egg would give you some protein and less carb.
You are not having much protein or healthy fats going for low fat cheese but depending on your blueberry yoghurt it could well be higher carb than having some Greek yoghurt and adding your own fruit.
Depending on your portion size of the potatoes, rice or pasta dinner may or may not be OK.
It certainly should not need much tweaking to find a way that will reduce your blood glucose, looks like you are in a good position to make a difference.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello, I have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and am totally flumuxed do I go for low carbs, low sugar, low calories, low fat or what, I have never had a sweet tooth so going without sugary things is no problem

Welcome to the forum @Manicmaive

Sorry to hear you’ve been left to your own devices until the end of the month

All of the methods you list can be successful for different people, so really it’s a matter of finding out what works well for you, and how your body responds to the different options.

Many members find moderating or reducing their carbohydrate content works well as a long-term blood glucose strategy as it is carbohydrates that most significantly affect blood glucose.

Others have put their diabetes into remission through weight loss by following a very low carbohydrate diet for a limited period of time (sometimes called the Newcastle or 800cal Diet)

Others find focussing on their overall calorie intake is a good way to balance their weight and keep their BG in a healthy range.

You might find one of these meal planners gives you an interesting starting point.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/meal-plans

Let us know how you get on, and keep us updated once you’ve met with your nurse on 27th.

 

[Drummer]

At least you have a fair few things to remove from your diet if they prove to be the problem - I am sensitive to all carbs so do not eat bread, rice, pasta, crackers, potato, only fruit is berries, nothing low fat.