Hi Everyone

[Captain Crunch]

Hello everyone,

Diagnosed with T2 two weeks ago. HBA1C of 78 that led to my diagnosis, dropping to 62 at my last blood test. I'm on a virtually carb-free diet ATM, but I fully expect to have some diet-related questions for the relevant section of the forum 🙂.

The whole diabetes thing came as a bit of a shock and is taking some getting used to. My previous diet had lashings of carbs (bread, pasta, potatoes, rice) for every meal so a radical re-think was required. I'm experimenting with cooking properly for myself (instead of heating up ready meals) and buying all sorts of unfamiliar items to stock my larder with. I'm also paying attention to the nutritional info of foodstuffs and I'm quite frankly shocked at the carb content of many items.

Sorry, I rambled on a bit there. So much on my mind just now - mostly food .

 

[Jha19]

How long ago was your first a1c ? I'm assuming more than two weeks ago. My consultant said it was too soon to be worth doing a second test five/six weeks after my first...

Anyway well done on the decrease already and looking at your diet. I was a terror for having snacks at shop by work. Now I look at carb content, there's almost nothing in there that I feel is acceptable amount for a snack these days..

 

[Captain Crunch]

How long ago was your first a1c ? I'm assuming more than two weeks ago. My consultant said it was too soon to be worth doing a second test five/six weeks after my first...

Anyway well done on the decrease already and looking at your diet. I was a terror for having snacks at shop by work. Now I look at carb content, there's almost nothing in there that I feel is acceptable amount for a snack these days..

Hi Jha,

My first blood test was on 27 Nov and the second was 16 Dec. My GP didn't mention anything about the spacing between tests. She seemed pleased with my progress to date though.

My first diabetic groceries shop was a real eye-opener. I'd say that over 95% of items in the average supermarket are ill-advisable for diabetics. Gone are the days when a quick sandwich and sausage roll constituted a lunch, particularly when at work. I have to plan a bit more carefully now. There's always the fall-back of pre-packaged cooked chicken and a microwave/steam pack of broccoli and cauliflower for a quick meal. I haven't yet figured out the option if I'm out and about without access to a microwave.

 

[SueEK]

Hi and welcome to the forum, glad you have joined us. Good that your HbA1c is coming down. It is very hard when first diagnosed to know what you should and shouldn’t eat. You say that you are on a virtual carb free diet, this is going to be extremely difficult to keep up. Can I suggest you look around the site and then ask us any questions you may have at all, none are too big, small or even daft. Diabetes is very individual to us all and a food that is fine for one will really spike another. I for example can have a few chips or small amount of rice no bother but pasta and bread send my bg levels rising. It has taken me most of the year to work out which foods do and do not like me, this has been by self testing.
I won’t go into further detail as yet as information overload is not good either. Please ask your questions as there are literally thousands of us and many who post regularly so always someone who can help.
Sue x

 

[Jha19]

It's a brilliant start! The a1c shows how your average has been over a couple of months, so if you keep up with low carb diet you should see great results next time (as the changes you've made will take a few more weeks to be reflected fully in your a1c result).

My go to snacks at the shop are now pepperami sticks and skips, and the occasional freddo. Not carb free (or completely healthy), but better than the sausage rolls and large chocolate bars that I'd get previously. Enjoying nuts too (in moderation as they contain more fat then you'd think). As I'm on insulin and suspected T1, I'm currently on healthy eating and just eating less carbs rather than a low carb diet.

 

[Drummer]

If you can test your blood glucose it is a good thing to check just what you can and't can't cope with this early on.
I can't eat any high carb foods without a reaction - high blood glucose at first, no instant weight gain - sigh.
You ned to discover what - if anything, you can cope with - I, and a few others I've mentioned it to, find that legumes punch above their weight when it comes to blood glucose.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Thank you for all your replies.

My GP has encouraged me to ease up a bit on the low carb regime so I'll tentatively add small portions of pasta or rice and see how I get on. She also explained that nothing is off-limits, just to be aware of how much carb I'm getting and to cut down elsewhere if I have something carb-rich.

I have bought a blood glucose tester but either I'm doing it wrong or the lancet 'launcher' is faulty. On its maximum depth setting, I can get a blob of blood but I can't get another after I wipe it away. My fingers look like a dartboard after so many attempts. I'll persist and try to get it to work.

 

[trophywench]

Have a read of this Captain - it's very helpful for getting blood out of unwilling digits!

https://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/painless-pricks.html

 

[Captain Crunch]

Have a read of this Captain - it's very helpful for getting blood out of unwilling digits!

https://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/painless-pricks.html

Thank you for that Trophywench. I've just lunched but I'll try the tips out later.

 

[Felinia]

Hi Jha,

My first blood test was on 27 Nov and the second was 16 Dec. My GP didn't mention anything about the spacing between tests. She seemed pleased with my progress to date though.

My first diabetic groceries shop was a real eye-opener. I'd say that over 95% of items in the average supermarket are ill-advisable for diabetics. Gone are the days when a quick sandwich and sausage roll constituted a lunch, particularly when at work. I have to plan a bit more carefully now. There's always the fall-back of pre-packaged cooked chicken and a microwave/steam pack of broccoli and cauliflower for a quick meal. I haven't yet figured out the option if I'm out and about without access to a microwave.

When I was working I always took a packed lunch, either in a vacuum flask/jug or cooler box. So a homemade soup or stew for the winter weather, or a nice fresh salad in summer. I still have the same at home. I make good use of a website with downloadable app to check my foods. Mine shows all sorts of things, including calories, carbs, sugars, fats and proteins.
I had two HbA1c within 2 weeks when first diagnosed, and was told the 2nd one was to check that the first wasn't a false positive. Both mine were the same, so no! I experimented with carbs and found I felt unwell if I went too low, so now aim for around 75gm per day. It allows for the odd slice of low carb bread, and a bit of potato mashed in with my root veggie mash (carrot, swede, parsnip, spud) and I limit myself to a 100gm portion. I also get Bare Naked noodles which are virtually carb free and work well in pasta type dishes, or stir fries.
I live alone so am able to keep my cupboards free of heavy carb food - not so easy when there are others in the house. If it's not there I can't eat it as otherwise I have zero willpower.
Since my diagnosis in August this Forum has been invaluable. Good luck.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi Captain Crunch.
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your success in bringing down your HbA1C reading so quickly. I think mine only reduced by 0.2 between the 2 test which were 4 weeks apart. Though I didn't actually go into full low carb mode until after the 2nd one, I did cut out bananas and all high GI carbs. during that month.

For testing there are 2 tips which helped me:
1. Your hands need to be warm and clean (so nothing on them which could affect the reading).When they are warm the blood will flow easier rather than having to squeeze a drop out.
2. Don't prick the main pad of a finger (where the skin is thickest and hardest), instead prick slightly at the sides. This may seem obvious, but when I first stared I used to involuntarily flinch and thus the needle didn't go deep enough.

If neither of those tips help, it may be that your Lancet is faulty- which isn't a big deal as they are relatively cheap to buy a replacement.

 

[DebbieC]

Hi and welcome, not diabetic myself but mum to a 32 year old son who was diagnosed 1/9/19... following advice from here James got his Hba1c from 64 to 36 in 10 weeks and he’s lost just shy of 4 st ... he takes salad or soup for lunch and doesn’t eat pasta or rice, few new potato sometimes, low carb bread about 3 times a week , Greek yoghurt, berries, hummus, olives, cheese, nuts, avocado, meat, veg, salad, sugar free jelly,, I make lots of recipes from Blood sugar diet or from recipe section on here, fathead pizza, low carb muffins, trifle (on this forum) get yourself some almond flour and you’ll have some nice low carb treats...pork scratching sand these other snacks which are just baked cheese by same company.. scotch eggs with flaxseed and almond flour rather than breadcrumbs...no need to go hungry honest... good luck x

 

[Captain Crunch]

Thank you all for the blood-letting and diet tips.

Diet is my main problem I think as I don't eat fish or eggs (can't stand the smell of either!) so I'm limited to poultry (mainly chicken) and meat as the main constituent. My cholesterol is apparently high (my GP wants to address that later) so too much red meat is probably not a good idea. I'm largely subsisting on chicken, broccoli and cauliflower with some cheese, Greek-style yoghurt, nuts and fruit thrown in. I allow myself one slice of wholemeal toast with peanut butter at breakfast and one square of 90% cocoa chocolate a day. It's getting rather dull to be honest.

 

[ianf0ster]

Thank you all for the blood-letting and diet tips.

Diet is my main problem I think as I don't eat fish or eggs (can't stand the smell of either!) so I'm limited to poultry (mainly chicken) and meat as the main constituent. My cholesterol is apparently high (my GP wants to address that later) so too much red meat is probably not a good idea. I'm largely subsisting on chicken, broccoli and cauliflower with some cheese, Greek-style yoghurt, nuts and fruit thrown in. I allow myself one slice of wholemeal toast with peanut butter at breakfast and one square of 90% cocoa chocolate a day. It's getting rather dull to be honest.

Most of us doing Low Carb are eating High Fat. There are only 2 alternatives: either eating higher Fat or eating higher Protein.
I do understand why most people are afraid of fat - especially saturated fat from meat, especially red meat.
We have been indoctrinated about the dangers of Fat for over 40 yrs when the main problem all along has been Sugars and highly refined Carbs.

I am mainly eating LCHF, but some days are more High Protein if eating out with friends.
I had a 3x Coronary Bypass 3 yrs ago, after I'd already been eating high Car - the Low Fat for over 10yrs the Type 2 diagnosis was the last straw!
What I like about this 'Way Of Eating' is that I now eat red meat again: lovely lamb, super steak, brilliant bacon.
And Saturated Fat is my friend increasing my HDL and reducing my Triglycerides.

Here is some evidence that both Low Carb and Saturated Fat (at a level of 50% of Calorific intake) are your friends so far as CVD and Insulin Resistance (Type 2 Diabetes) are concerned: https://peterattiamd.com/the-straight-dope-on-cholesterol-part-ix/

Note that as Dr Peter Attia says, there has not yet been a 'dream trial' of long term Low Carb (Higher Fat) diet vs the standard American Diet measured for 'hard' outcomes - death/disease rather than of assumed indications of risk. But there was never any good evidence that high fat or high saturated fat caused CVD - the rapidly increasing heart disease in 1950s USA was more likely associated with smoking and with increased refined carbs in the diet after ww2.

And here is a short video highlighting the difference (scaremongering) between relative risk and absolute risk for red meats and bacon:

 

[Felinia]

Thank you all for the blood-letting and diet tips.

Diet is my main problem I think as I don't eat fish or eggs (can't stand the smell of either!) so I'm limited to poultry (mainly chicken) and meat as the main constituent. My cholesterol is apparently high (my GP wants to address that later) so too much red meat is probably not a good idea. I'm largely subsisting on chicken, broccoli and cauliflower with some cheese, Greek-style yoghurt, nuts and fruit thrown in. I allow myself one slice of wholemeal toast with peanut butter at breakfast and one square of 90% cocoa chocolate a day. It's getting rather dull to be honest.

Have you tried other sources of protein, like soya, quorn, lentils? You can make a bolognese type sauce with lentils, soya mince, or turkey/chicken mince, and use with pasta substitute, or topped with cauliflower cheesy mash. I tried a veggie lasagne with squash sheets and all sorts of veggies - onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, herbs, aubergines, courgettes, peppers plus a tin of haricot beans. Very tasty and you can freeze the leftovers in portions. I make burgers with turkey/chicken mince, cooked onions, cooked mushrooms, using a ring and baked in the oven (otherwise if you don't bind it with an egg, it falls apart.).
There are loads of recipes on the website to give you ideas, and if you cook in bulk and freeze, it would make things easier for you. If you experiment you are less likely to get bored and fall off the wagon. But for one day only, please do enjoy your Christmas dinner.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome. 🙂