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- Thread starter Floydpink
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Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
It is easiest, and most effective, to use a blood glucose meter and adjust the amount of carbs per day and the food choices you make according to the results you see.
There are meters which are cheap to use - I use Spirit Healthcare's Tee 2+ - so it is not too expensive to do comprehensive testing at first - soon it will become clear how you need to eat to get normal numbers so you only need to test when you eat a new food.
There are meters which are cheap to use - I use Spirit Healthcare's Tee 2+ - so it is not too expensive to do comprehensive testing at first - soon it will become clear how you need to eat to get normal numbers so you only need to test when you eat a new food.
Hi @Floydpink and welcome to the forum.
Yes, testing of your own (we are all different) body's reaction to the carbohydrates in our food, is the key step toward getting Type 2 diabetes. It's the carbohydrates we eat (all of then except for fiber) which convert to glucose and if more than we can handle cause our Type 2 Diabetes. And when I say all I mean all - even so called healthy ones like fruits and whole grains - even oats. Fortunately (for Type 2's, Fats have no effect on Blood Glucose (and don't even make us fat like carbohydrates do, and Protein has only a small delayed effect on Blood Glucose. Out of the 3 macro nutrients (Carbs, Proteins and Fats) the only one we can live without is carbohydrates.
Step 1: As a Type 2 your GP is extremely unlikely to provide a Blood Glucose Meter and test strips on prescription. Those on Insulin or glic do get them because those medications can cause dangerous ultra low Blood Glucos esituations called 'hypos'. So get yourself a BG meter.
These are the most popular ones in both the 2 main UK based Diabetes Forums:
SD Gluco Navii
Spirit Healthcare TEE2
They are similar prices and the test strips cost around £8 per pot of 50. Since you will be testing most meals initially, you will almost certainly need 3 pots (150 test strips) to start with.
Step 2. Test just before each meal and then 2hrs after 1st bite. The increase from the meal (at that point) should be less than 2.0 mmol. Also if possible the after meal readings should be no more than 8.0mmol. Don't concern yourself with readings at other times.
Step 3. Adjust your portion sizes of the higher carbohydrate food items based upon the BG spikes you see in your testing. Or make substitutions to lower carbohydrate foods.
Cereals are carbohydrates, so make a poor choice for breakfast. Eggs (without bread/toast) have only minute traces, the same with hard cheeses, meat or fish. Of all the fruits, berries have lower/lowest carbohydrates and tropical fruits (banana, mango, pineapple, grape, orange) have the highest. Thus almost all of us are OK with a handful of berries with some full fat greek style yogurt either as a breakfast or as a desert, you might try adding some seeds to that .
Yes, testing of your own (we are all different) body's reaction to the carbohydrates in our food, is the key step toward getting Type 2 diabetes. It's the carbohydrates we eat (all of then except for fiber) which convert to glucose and if more than we can handle cause our Type 2 Diabetes. And when I say all I mean all - even so called healthy ones like fruits and whole grains - even oats. Fortunately (for Type 2's, Fats have no effect on Blood Glucose (and don't even make us fat like carbohydrates do, and Protein has only a small delayed effect on Blood Glucose. Out of the 3 macro nutrients (Carbs, Proteins and Fats) the only one we can live without is carbohydrates.
Step 1: As a Type 2 your GP is extremely unlikely to provide a Blood Glucose Meter and test strips on prescription. Those on Insulin or glic do get them because those medications can cause dangerous ultra low Blood Glucos esituations called 'hypos'. So get yourself a BG meter.
These are the most popular ones in both the 2 main UK based Diabetes Forums:
SD Gluco Navii
Spirit Healthcare TEE2
They are similar prices and the test strips cost around £8 per pot of 50. Since you will be testing most meals initially, you will almost certainly need 3 pots (150 test strips) to start with.
Step 2. Test just before each meal and then 2hrs after 1st bite. The increase from the meal (at that point) should be less than 2.0 mmol. Also if possible the after meal readings should be no more than 8.0mmol. Don't concern yourself with readings at other times.
Step 3. Adjust your portion sizes of the higher carbohydrate food items based upon the BG spikes you see in your testing. Or make substitutions to lower carbohydrate foods.
Cereals are carbohydrates, so make a poor choice for breakfast. Eggs (without bread/toast) have only minute traces, the same with hard cheeses, meat or fish. Of all the fruits, berries have lower/lowest carbohydrates and tropical fruits (banana, mango, pineapple, grape, orange) have the highest. Thus almost all of us are OK with a handful of berries with some full fat greek style yogurt either as a breakfast or as a desert, you might try adding some seeds to that .
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
The recommended amount varies for the individual so there’s no one answer to that question. A good place to start is to make a food diary of what you’re eating now then see places where you can improve things, or where you can spot problems. If you’re able to add up the carbs you’ve been eating in an average day, then that will give you a figure to reduce by half, a third, two-thirds, whatever you choose, depending on your circumstances.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome
Would you like to tell us a bit about how you came to be diagnosed and any other information like your HbA1c if you know it (usually a number of 48 or more) and what if any medication you have been prescribed for your diabetes.
As others have said, the amount of carbohydrate your body can tolerate is highly individual with diabetes and any medication you have been prescribed will alsi have a bearing on dietary advice, so more info from yourself would be helpful, but starting a food diary is a good first step and don't forget to include drinks as well as food.
Most people find that buying a basic Blood Glucose (BG) meter kit (approx £15) and test strips (approx £8 for a pot of 50 if you buy a Gluco Navii or Spirit Healthcare Tee2 meter) is a very worthwhile investment and will show you not only how many carbs you, as an individual, can tolerate. but also help you to stay on track with your new dietary changes. Nothing like seeing your levels sky rocket after eating a carb heavy meal or snack to help curb your craving next time, but also starting to see numbers dropping and starting to get into the normal range to help to motivate you to stay on track. Leaving it 3 or 6 months before you are tested at the GP surgery to see how you are getting on isn't exactly inspirational, especially if, after that time, you find the changes you have made haven't been successful. Testing meal by meal gives you almost instant feedback and therefore helps you to tailor your diet to your tastes and body's ability to deal with carbs.
Would you like to tell us a bit about how you came to be diagnosed and any other information like your HbA1c if you know it (usually a number of 48 or more) and what if any medication you have been prescribed for your diabetes.
As others have said, the amount of carbohydrate your body can tolerate is highly individual with diabetes and any medication you have been prescribed will alsi have a bearing on dietary advice, so more info from yourself would be helpful, but starting a food diary is a good first step and don't forget to include drinks as well as food.
Most people find that buying a basic Blood Glucose (BG) meter kit (approx £15) and test strips (approx £8 for a pot of 50 if you buy a Gluco Navii or Spirit Healthcare Tee2 meter) is a very worthwhile investment and will show you not only how many carbs you, as an individual, can tolerate. but also help you to stay on track with your new dietary changes. Nothing like seeing your levels sky rocket after eating a carb heavy meal or snack to help curb your craving next time, but also starting to see numbers dropping and starting to get into the normal range to help to motivate you to stay on track. Leaving it 3 or 6 months before you are tested at the GP surgery to see how you are getting on isn't exactly inspirational, especially if, after that time, you find the changes you have made haven't been successful. Testing meal by meal gives you almost instant feedback and therefore helps you to tailor your diet to your tastes and body's ability to deal with carbs.
Bronco Billy
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Hi @Floydpink, welcome to the forum.
There is no straight answer to your question, I’m afraid. The amount of carbs you need each day will depend on your day to day activities and how your body reacts to carbs. Carbs are an important part of a healthy diet, but reducing them (rather than eliminating them completely) can often help. Trial and error is the best way, but if you get a book about the glycemic index (G.I.), you will find it useful as it explains how certain foods affect blood glucose. It is definitely worth having a caht with your dietician.
There is no straight answer to your question, I’m afraid. The amount of carbs you need each day will depend on your day to day activities and how your body reacts to carbs. Carbs are an important part of a healthy diet, but reducing them (rather than eliminating them completely) can often help. Trial and error is the best way, but if you get a book about the glycemic index (G.I.), you will find it useful as it explains how certain foods affect blood glucose. It is definitely worth having a caht with your dietician.
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