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- Thread starter Cornish72
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Hi and welcome, There are many and varied people on here with Type 1 and T2 all using different medications and applications, some like me are on no meds but have found this place a great source of inspiration and im sure you will too, we are glad to have you here. We know how hard this can all be. Are you taking anything for your diabetes? I dont have an official diagnosis as yet, im swinging over and under the cusp of it all at the moment But initially my Dr gave me advice "to cut out all 'obvious' sugar" and would retest 3 mths later. ...I managed to bring it down to 47 in 12 weeks....But ruined all my good work over the 2 week Xmas period (I could kick myself!) I got sloppy and didnt think the 'few' sweet things people eat over a festive event would matter that much? It did. However the Dr see this as a temp glitch and has given me a further 3 mths to get back on track, im in the middle of that now. I cleared out the larder, ditching anything high in 'hidden' sugars like tomato ketchup, sauces etc. I do all my own cooking, I eat only veg that grow above the ground as it seems to me these are generally lower in carbs than the root veg. I dont bother with low fat stuff, its usually bulked out with sugar and salt and i have to watch my blood pressure. I keep carbs like potatoes, bread, rice & pasta (whether brown or white) to an absolute minimum, and try to have a meal in the middle of the day without any carbs at all to give my 'insides' a rest. And it hasnt been too bad at all, im hoping by doing this when i go back in a couple of months my results should be similar to the 2nd lot i got ....One thing this diabetes has done for me is to make me sit up and think about what it is im really eating , to concentrate and plan nutritious and varied meals, and my hubby has enjoyed them too!... I have lost over half a stone in 17 days (1 more stone to go) but I ensure the changes I make will be sustainable for me, because I know im probably in this for the long haul. Hope my story helps you, there's loads of threads on here and topic around food, exercise and all sorts im sure you will find interesting. Please let us know how you are getting on.
Toucan
Forum Host
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum.
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis it can be a shock, and difficult to come to terms with. Please try to stay positive as there are many good solutions, as many people here on the forum have found out
It will mean making changes that lower your blood glucose levels, and the 3 main tools for doing this are diet, exercise and maybe medication.
There is no ‘one-size -fits-all.
The way we react to foods is different for everyone but diabetics usually have extra sensitivity to carbs. The amount of tolerance varies, and even the same foods eaten at different times of the day can have varying effects.
It may help you find your solution if you can find out which foods cause your blood sugars to rise, and eventually arrive at a lists that lets you maintain good blood sugar levels, that you enjoy eating, and fits your lifestyle in terms of how much preparation and cooking you like, and have time to do.
A glucose monitor is a way to find this out, by testing before and 2 hours after eating. (The aim is to have a rise of 2 or less) Also if you can keep a tally of the total number of carbs eaten in a day, your morning reading will guide you on working out how much you need to adjust.
One of the most affordable meters is the SD Gluco Navii.
It is all trial and error, so try to be patient, you are aiming for the long term, and a diet that you can sustain.
@Tee G has given some useful details of how she is getting some good results and it may also help to rea Maggie Davey's letter that shows how she found her solution.
Very best wishes with it all, and I hope you will keep posting and asking questions, and letting us know how it goes.
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis it can be a shock, and difficult to come to terms with. Please try to stay positive as there are many good solutions, as many people here on the forum have found out
It will mean making changes that lower your blood glucose levels, and the 3 main tools for doing this are diet, exercise and maybe medication.
There is no ‘one-size -fits-all.
The way we react to foods is different for everyone but diabetics usually have extra sensitivity to carbs. The amount of tolerance varies, and even the same foods eaten at different times of the day can have varying effects.
It may help you find your solution if you can find out which foods cause your blood sugars to rise, and eventually arrive at a lists that lets you maintain good blood sugar levels, that you enjoy eating, and fits your lifestyle in terms of how much preparation and cooking you like, and have time to do.
A glucose monitor is a way to find this out, by testing before and 2 hours after eating. (The aim is to have a rise of 2 or less) Also if you can keep a tally of the total number of carbs eaten in a day, your morning reading will guide you on working out how much you need to adjust.
One of the most affordable meters is the SD Gluco Navii.
It is all trial and error, so try to be patient, you are aiming for the long term, and a diet that you can sustain.
@Tee G has given some useful details of how she is getting some good results and it may also help to rea Maggie Davey's letter that shows how she found her solution.
Very best wishes with it all, and I hope you will keep posting and asking questions, and letting us know how it goes.
Ralph-YK
Much missed Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum Cornish, from a fellow T2.
I'd suggest self testing, to see what affect food has. Along with any changes you make. (SD Code free is one of the cheapes.)
Keep a food diary, along with a record of your levels (before and after eating). After a couple of weeks hopefully you'll start to see a patter.
It isn't food in general that raises your blood glucose (BG) when you eat. It's carbohydrates in particular. Potatoes, bread, rice, breakfast ceriel. Ceriel can be one of the biggest problems. You can eat some. Which, how much, and what with is the question. Self testing will help with that.
I'd suggest self testing, to see what affect food has. Along with any changes you make. (SD Code free is one of the cheapes.)
Keep a food diary, along with a record of your levels (before and after eating). After a couple of weeks hopefully you'll start to see a patter.
It isn't food in general that raises your blood glucose (BG) when you eat. It's carbohydrates in particular. Potatoes, bread, rice, breakfast ceriel. Ceriel can be one of the biggest problems. You can eat some. Which, how much, and what with is the question. Self testing will help with that.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hello @Cornish72 and welcome to the forum!
It's great that you've connected to our friendly and supportive community. We have literally centuries of lived diabetes experience on the boards, and no matter what your question or confusion, you can almost guarantee that several of us will have been there before you and will have experiences and thoughts to share.
There are all sorts of useful resources and links here: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/ including Maggie Davey's letter to the newly diagnosed, and Alan S's 'Test Review Adjust' suggestion of how to use a BG meter to make tweaks and adjustments to your menu, based on your own reactions to meals.
You might also find Gretchen Becker's book 'Type 2 diabetes the first year' a treasure trove of useful information written in a clear and understandable way.
Keep is posted and keep asking questions. 🙂
It's great that you've connected to our friendly and supportive community. We have literally centuries of lived diabetes experience on the boards, and no matter what your question or confusion, you can almost guarantee that several of us will have been there before you and will have experiences and thoughts to share.
There are all sorts of useful resources and links here: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/ including Maggie Davey's letter to the newly diagnosed, and Alan S's 'Test Review Adjust' suggestion of how to use a BG meter to make tweaks and adjustments to your menu, based on your own reactions to meals.
You might also find Gretchen Becker's book 'Type 2 diabetes the first year' a treasure trove of useful information written in a clear and understandable way.
Keep is posted and keep asking questions. 🙂
Neens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @Cornish72 and welcome - you will find lots of advice and support here. Keeping message short as everything has been said.
Snowwy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hi @Cornish72, welcome!
Newbie myself so can't offer anything but encouragement from this forum as there is an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience here.
Just one thing, keep asking questions until you get your head around it, there is a lot to take in.
Cheers
Newbie myself so can't offer anything but encouragement from this forum as there is an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience here.
Just one thing, keep asking questions until you get your head around it, there is a lot to take in.
Cheers
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