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Lunchtime food

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Alter Ego

Alter Ego

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi All,

I'm relatively new to all this, I have been diagnosed as type 2 for a couple of years but did not take it too seriously as a typical hba1c would be 5-6. Suddenly it seems to be rising, going to 6.8 six months ago to 7.9 3 months ago. I am now on probation with a view to me going on pills unless it drops - my review is this coming Wednesday, so I'm a little nervous.

I have really been careful this last 3 months, 2 miles walk each day, and being as careful as I know how with the diet.

Anyhow, to the point - has anyone any advice on what to eat during the day, especially when it comes to taking a packed lunch to work? Today I have three slices of wholemeal with edam cheese and lettuce, low-fat spread, an apple, banana, Walkers baked crisps an a packet of "Go Ahead" plain yogurt biscuits. In your experience is this any good? are there any definite no-nos?

Thanks.
 
Woah! that is a lot of carbs!! I couldn't eat all those! I would go for a salad instead of all the bread or have crackers - like ryvita as they contain a lot less carbs. I would only have one piece of fruit - or have a lower GI one such as strawberries which have a minimal effect of your blood sugar. Check out the carb counting book I put in recommended books and try and find substitutes that satisfy your hunger but have low GI and lower carb values. These should bring your bs levels down - it is a chnage and may get hard to get used to - but it will be worth it to stay off the meds as far as possible - !! And there is nothing wrong with a treat now and then 😉
 
Thanks for that, Daisy. This is what I am finding confusing at the mo, the nurse says to eat wholemeal bread, cut out as much fat as possible, cut down on alcohol, etc. When I ask her what I can eat as a substitute she justs shrugs it off and says "It's not rocket science". Not much help really! Neither of the nurses I've seen have mentioned low carb, looks as though I'm going to have to do some research myself!
 
Read this!

As a great guide and to understand what is going on - the best book I have ever read for a comprehensive guide as to 'how it all works' is Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution - normally I think these books are full of c**p - but this one is brilliant and has a ton of advice and explanations for both T1 and T2 - and also explains how going low carb works. I try to low carb - but it is difficult - but as a type 1 lowering my carb intake - not cutting out altogether really, really stabilises my bs levels - I do have treats though 🙄 !!!!
Even if yoiu choose not to folllow the dietary advice - the science is well written and easy to understand. It is an an american book - you have to allow for that! - but is available on amazon uk. If I could afford it I would buy everyone on this messageboard a copy!:D
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dr-Bernstei...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227893806&sr=8-1
 
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I only take a simple cheese or ham sandwich with some salad. I used to take the fruit and energy bar, but I found I was taking in too much sugar etc.

It does take a bit of effort and getting used to but it seems to be working.

JOHN
 
Try Burgen Soya and Linseed bread which is only 11g carbs per slice as opposed to most wholewheat which will come in at 20g and upwards per slice. See http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/joomla/jennifers-advice for how to work out how your own body handles different carbohydrate foods.
 
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alter ego - the nurse probably told you to eat wholemeal as this gives you a much more stable blood sugar for the rest of the day unlike white bread. it also makes you feel fuller supposedly. i usually take a wholemeal pitta with some llean meat and salad in it. sometimes a packet of crisps. that usualy does me until dinner time!
 
Well wholemeal is a bit better but not a hell of a lot. The GI is about 80 for wholemeal and it still has about 20g of carb per slice.

33g carbs worth of burgen at breakfast will raise my BG by about 5 points after an hour wheras an omelette will raise it by between 1 and 1.5 keeping me in an acceptable BG range. But the big plus is, my BG will stay stable for 4 hours before dropping slowly wheras bread will shoot my BG up after an hour and then crash within 3 hours. It also prevents hunger for longer because it takes longer for the body to "burn" it, compared to a carby breakfast.

Alter Ego - your lunch would shoot my BG up to about 15mmol/l personally. Particularly beware of "low fat" products such as the Go Ahead range since when they remove the fat, they pad it out with extra carbs and of course its carbs that raise your BG. Plus the body manufactures cholesterol (triglicerides) from carbs so if you are reducing your fat intake to combat high cholesterol it can be pretty self-defeating.
 
Oh! I adore Burgen Soya and Linseed bread - but it has waaaaay to many carbs per slice - certainly more than 11g and plays havoc with my bs! Oh...to have a slice now with dripping lurpak...slurp....dribble...
 
I've always understood that Burgen Soya and Linseed has 11g carb per slice. Where did you get the info that it has waay more Daisy?
 
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