Hi still coming to terms with being diagnosed with Type 2. GP advising to lose weight and exercise, and won't put on meds YET. I am really confused by what I can now eat, must say ignorant to carbohydrates. GP saying cut out potatoes, I am now just more or less having fruit and veg, with small chicken and fish. Feeling very worried about it all, my blood pressure seems fine as she said I have to send in 10 readings a day for two days. Any advice or reassurance would be good, thanks
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Just been diagnosed on Monday, overwhelming
- Thread starter joannem
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Leadinglights
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Hi Welcome to the forum.
One of the moderators may suggest you change your user name as if it is an e-mail then it can attract spammers.
Yes many people wonder what they can eat but you are right it is carbohydrates that are the problem for Type 2 diabetics to cope with. That is not just potatoes but pasta, rice, bread, breakfast cereals, pastry, tropical fruits, starchy veg as well as obvious cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks.
Basing meals on meat, fish, eggs. cheese. dairy, vegetables and salad, nuts, and fruits like berries with only small portions of those high carb foods will still give plenty of options for tasty meals.
What is your HbA1C which has given you the diagnosis, it will be a number over 48mmol/mol as that is the diagnostic level
Knowing that will indicate how much you need to do, it may be just cutting out a few things and reducing portion size of other will be sufficient.
One of the moderators may suggest you change your user name as if it is an e-mail then it can attract spammers.
Yes many people wonder what they can eat but you are right it is carbohydrates that are the problem for Type 2 diabetics to cope with. That is not just potatoes but pasta, rice, bread, breakfast cereals, pastry, tropical fruits, starchy veg as well as obvious cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks.
Basing meals on meat, fish, eggs. cheese. dairy, vegetables and salad, nuts, and fruits like berries with only small portions of those high carb foods will still give plenty of options for tasty meals.
What is your HbA1C which has given you the diagnosis, it will be a number over 48mmol/mol as that is the diagnostic level
Knowing that will indicate how much you need to do, it may be just cutting out a few things and reducing portion size of other will be sufficient.
janw
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Hi and welcome. Sorry you have been given so little info, but that isn't too unusual sadly. I can see you have already been given some good basic ideas, if you have any questions, please ask, we are all here to help each other - and no-one know it better than those who live with diabetes 24/7. This site has been brilliant for me these past 6 months, I'd have been lost without it.
Sounds like you are pre diabetic. Have you a follow up appointment to monitor your progress? I was pre diabetic for years then suddenly a year ago my sugar levels (33 and 99) spiralled out of control and all hell was let loose. A year later, I have been able to stop the insulin injections, reduce my medication and have lost almost 20lbs by continuing to exercise and reduce my carbohydrate intake (and by getting COVID quite badly). Don’t deprive yourself of everything - have the occasional treat. The bread I have is GI bread from Lidl’s- it is a slow release type bread, I have cut right back on potatoes, parsnips and pasta ( casseroles made with lots of low carb veg like carrots, leeks, swede etc, and spiralized courgettes instead of spaghetti). I eat lots of protein - eggs, fish and chicken and never go hungry. My Diabetic team at my doctors surgery were fantastic- they called me every week as I had to monitor my levels 4 - 6 times a day. I now have a blood test every 3 months and my sugar readings are now around 6 - 7 in the mornings. My other reading is now 49, down from 99! I am aiming to reverse my diabetes, although it does run in the family.
Leadinglights
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I would be a good idea to ask what the HbA1C result was as it gives you a starting point and also somewhere to aim at.
I don't know why the GPs are so reluctant to tell people the actual number.
Hi following on from my diagnosis of type 2 last week, I contacted GP surgery to find out more info. Was told that my HbA1c is 6.5 and nurse will contact me tomorrow.had to take BP 10x daily for two days and results were 125/77 and 117/73. Adopted a low carb fasting diet, lost 5 1/2 lbs in a week. Just confused if I lose weight can it be cured, conflicting on reading as some say can't be, just that it can go into remission. Concerned about eating out, what is suitable?
Leadinglights
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You have been given your HbA1C in % which is the old units but when converted is 48mmol/mol just at diagnosis level so some modest changes to your diet should improve things. The link gives conversion to mmol/mol which is what people will be more familiar with.
What is HbA1c?
HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).
The weight loss will help things along as well as the low carb dietary regime.
Many people are able to get into remission by reducing their blood glucose by reducing carb intake and exercise which usually results in weight loss.
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Welcome to the forum @joannem
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but yes it does sound as if you have just snuck over the line into diabetes territory.
I agree with @Leadinglights - remission, which is most often associated with weight loss, but can also come from managing blood glucose levels by moderating carb intake, is possible for some people. And seems to be more achievable in the early years after diagnosis.
There is more information on remission here
www.diabetes.org.uk
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but yes it does sound as if you have just snuck over the line into diabetes territory.
I agree with @Leadinglights - remission, which is most often associated with weight loss, but can also come from managing blood glucose levels by moderating carb intake, is possible for some people. And seems to be more achievable in the early years after diagnosis.
There is more information on remission here
Type 2 diabetes remission
Type 2 diabetes remission is when your blood sugar levels return to a safe, non-diabetes level long-term, without the need for glucose-lowering medication. It stops diabetes in its tracks and boosts your chances of a healthy future. When you are in remission, you reduce the risk of diabetes...
I know nobody wants diabetes., but 6.5 or 48 is the best possible scenario when you do have it. You can bring your numbers down to safe levels with a few tweaks I’m sure. Xx
harbottle
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Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but you seem to be doing the right thing.
The only advice I got from my GP was 'stop eating chips' to which I replied, 'I don't eat chips'. (I was partial to the odd bag of Haribo and a weekly 'five guys' though!). I switched to a diet of meat and veg, and it seems to have worked so far.
Drummer
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@joannem I think that people who are diagnosed with type two often have lived with an intolerance to carbs for a long time, so they have some inkling as to how they ought to eat, but have always been encouraged, or assumed to eat carbohydrate - sugar and starch.
I am 5 years from diagnosis, so all the 'healthy' high carb low fat foods went from that moment.
I eat meat, fish and seafood, eggs and cheese, along with stir fry, salads, or as curry with chopped cauliflower rather than rice, stews, I make bubble and squeak with swede rather than potatoes, but just at the moment I could eat more carbs, and my blood glucose levels would not be badly affected - but I would efficiently stash them away around my waist and spend a week getting rid of them.
There are lots of recipes around for low carb options, some of which seem rather strange - 'fat head' pizza being one, so there is no need to feel deprived.
At Christmas I sat down cheerfully before a plate of festive food and did not feel at all deprived. There were Yorkshire puddings made with bread flour, cream and eggs which everyone tucked into - my mum would have been proud. The trifle was a real treat too.
It was just a matter of removing the burden of what my metabolism could not cope with and then letting it recover.
Ad added bonus is that my thyroid, long needing to be supplemented with Thyroxine, seems to have woken up and I keep having the dose reduced.
I am 5 years from diagnosis, so all the 'healthy' high carb low fat foods went from that moment.
I eat meat, fish and seafood, eggs and cheese, along with stir fry, salads, or as curry with chopped cauliflower rather than rice, stews, I make bubble and squeak with swede rather than potatoes, but just at the moment I could eat more carbs, and my blood glucose levels would not be badly affected - but I would efficiently stash them away around my waist and spend a week getting rid of them.
There are lots of recipes around for low carb options, some of which seem rather strange - 'fat head' pizza being one, so there is no need to feel deprived.
At Christmas I sat down cheerfully before a plate of festive food and did not feel at all deprived. There were Yorkshire puddings made with bread flour, cream and eggs which everyone tucked into - my mum would have been proud. The trifle was a real treat too.
It was just a matter of removing the burden of what my metabolism could not cope with and then letting it recover.
Ad added bonus is that my thyroid, long needing to be supplemented with Thyroxine, seems to have woken up and I keep having the dose reduced.
Thanks for all your replies, I heard from the diabetic nurse this week to report I can't actually be diagnosed until I've had two blood tests. I have another one in 3 months. I am still following healthy diet and reduced carbs and hoping I can lose weight. Also not eating after 6pm and this seems to help. Weird how I am not hungry and I am not eating much.
Leadinglights
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From your earlier posts it looks as if you were just on the cusp of a diagnosis so they probably want to give you the opportunity to make some adjustments to your diet to get down to normal range during the next 3 months which from where you are is very possible and would be a better option that being put on medication when reducing carbs would be sufficient.
It sounds as if you have got a grip on this and it will be reflected in the next test result. Do remember your new regime is something that has to be sustainable for you long term as going back to old habits would likely result in blood glucose going up again.
Hi all struggling with my eating, can anyone recommend a good cook book with what I call normal food. A friend who has lost 3 stone in as many months recommended Pinch of nom but on looking it seems carb heavy. The book has to be low carb and slimming recipes. Much appreciated, getting fed up eating chicken, don't mind fish but it's not a meal I really enjoy. Many thanks
harbottle
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I lost 3 stone in 3 months using the books by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi. I tend to avoid the ones that are heavy in Saturated fats or replace things like double cream with Greek yoghurt (usually half and half)
Their recipes are pretty simple in the 30 minute cook book and quite delicious. Giancarlo has type 2 diabetes in remission.
Their recipes are pretty simple in the 30 minute cook book and quite delicious. Giancarlo has type 2 diabetes in remission.
Leadinglights
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Pinch or Nom Quick and Easy is one I have others are
Low Carb Revolution Annie Bell
The Diabetes weight-loss Cook book Caldesi
The Keto kitchen Monya Palmer
Or you can just do a internet search for low carb or keto recipes.
If you think something is carb heavy then make it do more portions and add extra veg or salad to the meal.
trophywench
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By the way - since normally, the body likes to extract glucose from carbohydrates in favour or other foodstuffs, cos it's easier for it, even though should you happen to low carb enough for long enough, it can convert both protein or fat (if carbohydrate converts 100% to glucose, protein is 40% and fat is 10%) Hence the protein element of food has less effect on blood glucose than does the carb, and the fat element, less still. So - you can eat virtually any meat you happen to fancy, not just chicken or fish, by ANY means! And eggs and cheese are also protein - but there again there's a reasonable amount of protein in various legumes ( eg beans) but because there's also a lot of carb in legumes, probably best to stay away from them except as an accompanying vegetable at the mo!
Thanks for all the support, had my second hbA1c results today, 3 months later from my initial one. Now reading as 5.9, down from 6.5 so really pleased. Was told, no further action but on reading online think I am in the prediabetes range. So will still continue with low carbs, down 1.7 stone. Trying to eat out is tricky, can't understand why restaurants don't seem to offer much low carb meals.
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