New to here and new to Diabetes

[PDaveAngel]

This feels weird coming here for help and feel a bit nervous.
A bit like coming out, admitting to the world you have diabetes.
Learning new phrases...
Blood sugar?
Body Mass Index?
I am on a sudden restrictive diet and exercise everyday
Is this right for me to do?

 

[Drummer]

Blood glucose is the more accurate term - it is what the meters measure.
Body mass index is a way to quantify the weight carried - but it is not all that significant, as the amount of muscle throws the result way out of line to be useful.
If you are a type 2 starting to take control using diet then your diet might seem restrictive, particularly if you follow rules about what you can and cannot eat. The easiest course seems to be to reduce high carb foods, as that seems to be the easiest way to reduce the fat in the body and the glucose in the blood to normal levels.

 

[Leadinglights]

A sudden restrictive diet is sometimes not the best thing as if your blood glucose reduces too quickly then some people do get some vision issues.
The best way is to start by making an honest food diary of everything you eat and drink (as in prediagnosis) and estimate how much carbohydrate you were having, info can be found on packets or the internet by searching for TOTAL carbohydrate which will usually be in g/100g so you would need to work out for the portion you have had. It is then suggested that you reduce the amount by one third for a couple of weeks, then another third for a few weeks.
Reducing your intake of high carb foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, cereals and fruits like bananas and tropical fruit as well as cakes and biscuits and snacks like crisps.
It might sound as if there is nothing that you can eat but basing your meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full fat dairy and fruits like berries as well as vegetables and salads you can have tasty filling meals.
Many people find that low carbohydrate normal fat (not low fat) dietary regime is a sustainable way that will lower their blood glucose levels.
A bit of information about your diagnosis, what is your HbA1C and are you on any medication will help people tailor any suggestions.
Have a look at the Learning Zone (orange tab at the top) and work your way through the info for Type 2, then please come back with any questions you have.

 

[Vonny]

Hi @PDaveAngel , good advice from @Leadinglights because when I was diagnosed I just stopped eating all bread, rice, spuds and pasta. I was very lucky in that my eyesight doesn't seem to have been affected because it wasn't until I joined this forum that I discovered the danger.

Having said that, I found it much easier to cope with noting down all carbs on a daily basis and monitoring my blood glucose so I could discover what I could and couldn't eat. Being a dreadfully lazy person, I found it simpler not to try and work out the carb content and just eat things which I knew were very low carb. I bought the Carbs and Cals pocket book so it was easy to check how many carbs I was eating in my broccoli, beans and peas, and for milk in my coffee.

If you are feeling as though life will never be the same again, you're probably right, but it will be a life for the better. I was entirely devastated to be diagnosed and imagined a dreary life without pie and chips! Bizarrely, having given up those foods I no longer crave them and am probably healthier than I've been for a couple of decades.

Exercise is great for Type 2s. If I allow myself a treat (which I sometimes do these days) I always have it before one of my daily walks. Best of luck with your diet and exercise and I hope you get the same benefits from the support on this forum that I have.

 

[grovesy]

When I was first diagnosed I adopted a strict way of eating that I could not maintain long term. It is best to view this as a marathon not a sprint.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @PDaveAngel

Shall we all sit in a circle? “My name is Mike, and I have diabetes…”

How long have you been diagnosed?

It can be quite a shock, and really knock the wind out of your sails.

But try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.

It’s great that you have joined the forum. Comparing notes with others facing the same frustrations, challenges and struggles day by day, and sharing experiences can really help. And having the ‘hive mind’ of the forum to ask for ideas, strategies or simply encouragement can help you feel less isolated and better supported. 🙂

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy.

Let us know how you get on, and keep asking questions!