Hi,

[sonia76]

Hi My Husband is newly diagnosed, not overweight but is struggling to lower his sugar level.
i do most (all ) the cooking so looking for ideas.

 

[SB2015]

With all types of diabetes it is getting your head round the amount of carbohydrates is being eaten at each meal. The information about this is on packets of ingredients, or available on Mr Google for veg etc. Ignore the information about ‘of which sugar’ as our bodies are not interested in where the carbs come from. Any carbs eaten will become glucose once inside, and so will need insulin to deal with them. At diagnosis I had not known anything about carbs, but soon learnt.

If you could start to work out how many carbs are in your meals (these are are in pasta, potatoes, pulses, veg, ... as well as the more obvious sugars), you can then start to reduce this either by swapping to different foods or just by reducing the portion size. With Diabetes there is not enough insulin to go with carbs eaten or people are not able to use it efficiently. Reducing the amount of carbs eaten means that the glucose levels are more able to match the linsuoin available. Sounds simple but it is a new way of thinking.

I hope that this helps.

 

[Si100330]

Hi Sonia76. Like your husband I wasn't overweight when diagnosed and my blood sugar was high. My wife has been an absolute star and like you she does most of the cooking. We both now try and eat fresh and have cut out the ready meals. I eat a lot of chicken, turkey, pork, steak eggs and plenty of veg. I do however watch my carb intake so dont really touch rice or pasta and have substituted white bread for brown seaded bread. We both look at sugar/ carb levels on packaging but I would say it's a little trial and error at first and I've found my taste has changed drastically in the last 18 months. I dont know if your husband likes walking but I started walking more to help reduce my blood sugar. Good luck, it is a struggle but there is plenty of help on here and people do post plenty of recipes. You will get there.

 

[Matchless]

Get your self some accurate kitchen scales and weigh all the carbs you eat ,Get a copy of carbs and cals or similar book good luck.

 

[trophywench]

One of the investments you would find exceptionally useful is a blood glucose meter because if you can both see that something you eat has sent his BG skywards, you can do nothing else but grasp instantly that you either need to cut down the amount of it or maybe even cut it out from his diet, if the effect is that bad.

Then follow this advice https://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

You'll find it informative and helpful!

 

[CathyB]

Hi and welcome. I would agree that testing his blood sugar is key to working out what foods work best, I found it helpful to track my readings in a food diary, test before the meal and again 2 hours after, if the rise is more than 2 then review and adjust the carbs and try again.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @sonia76

Hope you can find some hints and tips here to develop a sustainable way of eating that suits you both, your waistlines, your tastebuds and your husbands BG!

There‘s an enormous thread in the Food section where people have posted their daily choices that you might find gives you some ideas

What did you eat yesterday?

Breakfast: eat natural granola and yogurt Lunch: wasn’t hungry Snack: tea and 1 foxes cream biscuit Dinner: 2 eggs, 3 bacon, 3 sausages, mushrooms and avocado

forum.diabetes.org.uk

Its usually best to make changes fairly slowly and to make sure that you are opting for a way of eating that is sustainable long-term.

let us know how you get on!