New here new to diabetes

[Helenp479]

Hi I am new here and new to diabetes my name is Helen and I have found out yesterday that I am type 2 diabetes, I live with my husband who is going to help me diet so that I am not having to watch him eat stuff that I can't have.
I am hoping that I will get loads of helpful info on here to help guide me through what I need to do.

Helen

 

[jalapino]

welcome Helen lots of friendly folks on here.
Ask any and all questions on your mind :0)

 

[Northerner]

Hi Helen, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad you found us so quickly - there are lots of friendly, experienced and knowledgeable people here who will help you to understand what it all entails, and what you need to do to help get things under control. The good news is that, once you have learned how to control your blood sugars well you will probably feel happier and healthier than you may have done for some time!

I would suggest reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter for starters. You should also get a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, which will guide you through these early days, and is highly recommended by many of our members.

Are you on any medication for your diabetes, or are you going to control it with diet and exercise? How did you come to be diagnosed? I would hope that if your husband wants to support you in your diet then he will eat the same things as you, and not taunt you with things that wouldn't be good for your blood sugar levels! Once again, the good news is that a diet that is healthy for people with diabetes is a diet that is healthy for everyone, so by following YOUR example, he should end up a whole lot healthier himself! 🙂

Ideally, for good diabetes control, you want to be careful not to consume to mant carbohydrates, so for things like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta etc. try to substitute portions with other vegetables. You don't have to restrict carbs entirely, but keep them in moderation. Ideally, you should test your blood sugar levels before and after eating in order to assess the impact of the meal on your levels. People can have different tolerances for the same thing, so it's essential to find out how things affect you personally. Start a food diary so you can build up a good picture of your diet - note down the amount of carbs in everything you eat and drink.

There are some good general rules you can follow. Particularly suited to good blood sugar control is a diet that releases its energy slowly and steadily, so it has less impact on you. The GI/GL diet is such a diet and The GL Diet for Dummies is a good introduction.

There are links to other good resources in our Useful links thread, so have a browse. Remember, no question is considered 'silly', so if it is bothering you - ask! 🙂

 

[pav]

Hi Helen, there's lots of help and support on here. 🙂 🙂

 

[Helenp479]

Hi Helen, there's lots of help and support on here. 🙂 🙂

Thank you everyone for making me welcome and I will def look up the links that you have given me. Part of my problem is that I am so tired I am struggling to get my head around things, I know the tiredness should ease once I start to get it under control but until then I am finding taking things in so hard and having to get up for work every day at the moment is very hard for me.
I hopefully will be able to get some rest when I go on holiday in 5 weeks time it is a worry for me though as I don't see the diabetic nurse for the first time until 13th Sept and I go away 6th Oct so not much time before I go away.
My husband is great and said that he will fully support me as he needs to lose some weight so at least that will be easier for me but he won't have to be as strict as me.
Part of my problem is because of a bowel and bladder problem that I have I cannot eat much green veg or cauliflower and with fruit I can't eat any fruit that is acidic so it does limit me I also have to be careful with lettuce. This is going to be the hardest part for me finding things that fill me up that won't make me ill.

Hopefully I will work my way through this and lose plenty of weight doing it as I do want to get my weight down and get my diabetes under control asap.

Helen

 

[LeeLee]

Hi Helen, welcome. If you need hints and tips re: weight loss with D, come and join us in the Weight Loss threads. 🙂

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum Helenp479 🙂

It's helpful that your husband is willing to support you and it is annoying that yes the non-diabetic can have a few things that (initially at least) are a complete no-no for you. I have to admit that if my wife buy's herself a chocolate cake I'll snaffle a single forkfull in front of her 😛

My wife has actually ended up loosing more weight then I did using some of the same techniques as I did. She has IBS so has to be equally careful about what she eats.

Remember from a diabetes point of view, it's the carbohydrates and the saturated fat's that are generally the issue. Unsaturated fat's are not necessarily a problem and can be helpful.

 

[Helenp479]

Welcome to the forum Helenp479 🙂

It's helpful that your husband is willing to support you and it is annoying that yes the non-diabetic can have a few things that (initially at least) are a complete no-no for you. I have to admit that if my wife buy's herself a chocolate cake I'll snaffle a single forkfull in front of her 😛

My wife has actually ended up loosing more weight then I did using some of the same techniques as I did. She has IBS so has to be equally careful about what she eats.

Remember from a diabetes point of view, it's the carbohydrates and the saturated fat's that are generally the issue. Unsaturated fat's are not necessarily a problem and can be helpful.

Thank you LeeLee I think I will be on that section a lot I have just purchased the book mentioned as well so should get that on Monday it looks really good and I think it will help me a lot.

Mark, I have diviculitus so it is a step up from IBS which I had for years so you will know what I mean about the green veg and some others I did weight watchers diet years ago and lost loads of weight but then I put it back on again over the years and went back to weight watchers, I became very ill and ended up seeing a consultant and he told me not to follow weight watchers as it did rely on filling up with veg which I love but this was what was making me ill. I have a lot to learn about carbohydrates and saturated fats etc I just cannot take anything in but I will hopefully get the hang of it once I have seen the diabetic nurse and also read this book I have on order.

Helen

 

[LeeLee]

Hi Helen, it was Slimming World that helped me to lose 6 stone, and yes it does recommend lots of fruit and veg - but the diet plans are flexible enough to allow for all but the most restrictive regimes. For example, dairy products that are both fat- and sugar-free are completely unrestricted on all SW plans. I eat 3 pots of yogurt most days!

 

[Helenp479]

Hi Helen, it was Slimming World that helped me to lose 6 stone, and yes it does recommend lots of fruit and veg - but the diet plans are flexible enough to allow for all but the most restrictive regimes. For example, dairy products that are both fat- and sugar-free are completely unrestricted on all SW plans. I eat 3 pots of yogurt most days!

Can I ask what make of yogurt you buy they totally confuse me if I buy low fat they have more sugar and morrisons and asda keep changing the yogurts they stock, I haven't tried SW before I might have a look online and see what it entails

 

[Mark T]

Can I ask what make of yogurt you buy they totally confuse me if I buy low fat they have more sugar and morrisons and asda keep changing the yogurts they stock, I haven't tried SW before I might have a look online and see what it entails

Do you have a blood glucose meter?

Generally I have yogurt in the morning as a cereal has in the past sent my levels stratospheric. Through my meter I found that as long as I keep my carb intake below around 10g Carb I was generally ok.

I use Danone Activia pouring yogurt which is 9.9g Carb per 100g (but I don't have 100g of it) usually mixed with some kind of nut. The Activia also works OK for my wife's IBS. The nuts would send her running tho 😱

 

[Helenp479]

Do you have a blood glucose meter?

Generally I have yogurt in the morning as a cereal has in the past sent my levels stratospheric. Through my meter I found that as long as I keep my carb intake below around 10g Carb I was generally ok.

I use Danone Activia pouring yogurt which is 9.9g Carb per 100g (but I don't have 100g of it) usually mixed with some kind of nut. The Activia also works OK for my wife's IBS. The nuts would send her running tho 😱

I will have to try that one as I know both asda and morrisons stock DANONE activia don't know about the nuts might try some peaches or something though thank you for you help

 

[LeeLee]

I go for Mullerlight, Weightwatchers, Activia 0% and Shape Delights. As Mark says, you do need to watch the ingredients - almost all labelled Low Fat are full of sugar.

For unsweetened/unflavoured, try Total 0% Greek, and Lake District Cheese Company Quark. Add your own sweetener and flavour (e.g. a bit of jam or vanilla essence). The quark is a great replacement for double cream, but it MUST be that brand - the others are nowhere near as good. Available in Tesco.