New to Type 2

[terrymc]

Hello all I have been told today I am officially Type 2. Last year I was border line lost 2stone ate healthy and exercised, however I then fell off the chocolate wagon and have put all the weight and more back on. I went back to the same eating a few weeks ago but nothing is shifting. As the meal plans are vast and overwhelming can anyone tell me if the Mediterranean diet plan is worth a go? Thankyou

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum. This can happen to anyone but the important thing is that you are now doing something about it.
The problem with meal plans is that everybody's tastes are different and people's tolerance to carbs will vary. An understanding of the principals of controlling blood glucose levels will allow you to develop a dietary regime which suits you and which will be sustainable because you enjoy the meals.
The basic premise of reducing blood glucose levels is to reduce carbohydrate intake to a level that your body can cope with. Many people find that a low carbohydrate regime of less than 130g per day total carbs works for them in lowering blood glucose and losing weight.
You could make a new start by keeping a food diary, noting everything you eat and drink estimating how many grams of carb you are having so you can see how far you are from the suggested 130g max per day.
You might find this link helpful in finding a suitable meal plan.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

I would highly recommend getting a blood glucose monitor so you can test what meals and food you can tolerate. In expensive ones can be bought on line The GlucoNavil being one with the cheapest test strips. You only get a few strips in the kit so should buy more at the outset if that is something you decide to do.

 

[SB2015]

As @Leadinglights says it is the amount of carbs that we eat that impacts our glucose levels, as all of the carbs get converted to glucose once inside us. A record of the amounts of carbs you are eating at each meal alongside your glucose readings before and two hours after the meal, will give you a lot of information in order to make decisions about changes to your diet.

I was surprised by some ‘healthy’ foods really spiked my glucose levels. We are all different and need to find what works for each of us.

 

[Windy]

As the meal plans are vast and overwhelming can anyone tell me if the Mediterranean diet plan is worth a go?

I bought the book and the recipes look lovely. The only thing that stopped me from following it was that there weren't many vegetarian recipes in it and I'm a vegetarian. I've cooked a few meals from it, and they are tasty and filling.
You could give it a go for a week or two and see how you get on, my copy of the book I got second hand from Amazon for a few quid, so not too expensive. Diabetes UK have meal plans too.
I hope you find a diet that suits you, like you say, there's loads of choice.
Sarah

 

[nonethewiser]

Hello all I have been told today I am officially Type 2. Last year I was border line lost 2stone ate healthy and exercised, however I then fell off the chocolate wagon and have put all the weight and more back on. I went back to the same eating a few weeks ago but nothing is shifting. As the meal plans are vast and overwhelming can anyone tell me if the Mediterranean diet plan is worth a go? Thankyou

Wife was told she was borderline type 2 could have easily tipped over, being overweight due to ill health lack of activity at time went to slimming world & lost 5 stone in total, since then all bloods have been normal.

You could try SW or Med diet to shift weight to give yourself chance to reverse condition.

 

[Drummer]

@terrymc don't confuse weightloss and good control of diabetes.
Yes, some people lose the diabetes when they lose weight, but I suspect that they do not lose the genetic disposition to develop diabetes.
By controlling blood glucose on an everyday basis by eating a low carb diet, not only is it easy to maintain weightloss, the glucose control remains the normal state and the metabolism improves.
I used to take 200micrograms of Thyroxine every day, as my thyroid was pronounced dead, but after a few years of constant low carb eating, it has revived, and I am now down to 125 micrograms of Thyroxine and am due another check to see if it needs further reduction.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

I lost 11.5kg but I also totally changed my eating habits. I now stick to 50g of carbs a day and doubled my green leafy veg, good fats and good protein. I try to stick to 1000 calories a day because my metabolism is quite slow and I don't need any more energy. As such I'm keeping to my weight and controlling my blood sugar. I hope! I keep testing and BG is in normal levels now.

My target is to lose 15kg so will have another go at the newcastle shakes later in the summer.

 

[terrymc]

As @Leadinglights says it is the amount of carbs that we eat that impacts our glucose levels, as all of the carbs get converted to glucose once inside us. A record of the amounts of carbs you are eating at each meal alongside your glucose readings before and two hours after the meal, will give you a lot of information in order to make decisions about changes to your diet.

I was surprised by some ‘healthy’ foods really spiked my glucose levels. We are all different and need to find what works for each of us.

Thankyou so much. I will do that and record everything I think I was not focusing on the fact that what works for others may not work for me

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thankyou so much. I will do that and record everything I think I was not focusing on the fact that what works for others may not work for me

Welcome to the forum @terrymc

Yes diabetes can be frustratingly individual and fickle! So really it’s a matter of working out which approaches suit you best.

We have a few members who find a Mediterranean style diet really works well for them, and suits their tastebuds.

I guess it will all depend on the definition of what constitutes a Med diet in your case, and how your body reacts.

If you’d like to give it a go, you could try the DUK meal plan here:

Mediterranean meal plan

Mediterranean diets have been associated with reduced risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol which are risk factors for heart disease. A Mediterranean style diet can therefore provide a great option for people with diabetes, as it could help reduce the risk of certain diabetes...

www.diabetes.org.uk

I think it will depend on how your body reacts to wholegrains. Some members here find them trickier than others.

 

[terrymc]

Welcome to the forum. This can happen to anyone but the important thing is that you are now doing something about it.
The problem with meal plans is that everybody's tastes are different and people's tolerance to carbs will vary. An understanding of the principals of controlling blood glucose levels will allow you to develop a dietary regime which suits you and which will be sustainable because you enjoy the meals.
The basic premise of reducing blood glucose levels is to reduce carbohydrate intake to a level that your body can cope with. Many people find that a low carbohydrate regime of less than 130g per day total carbs works for them in lowering blood glucose and losing weight.
You could make a new start by keeping a food diary, noting everything you eat and drink estimating how many grams of carb you are having so you can see how far you are from the suggested 130g max per day.
You might find this link helpful in finding a suitable meal plan.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

I would highly recommend getting a blood glucose monitor so you can test what meals and food you can tolerate. In expensive ones can be bought on line The GlucoNavil being one with the cheapest test strips. You only get a few strips in the kit so should buy more at the outset if that is something you decide to do.

Thankyou so much. I have just had my monitor delivered so can start using that. Your advice is brilliant I really appreciate it

 

[terrymc]

I bought the book and the recipes look lovely. The only thing that stopped me from following it was that there weren't many vegetarian recipes in it and I'm a vegetarian. I've cooked a few meals from it, and they are tasty and filling.
You could give it a go for a week or two and see how you get on, my copy of the book I got second hand from Amazon for a few quid, so not too expensive. Diabetes UK have meal plans too.
I hope you find a diet that suits you, like you say, there's loads of choice.
Sarah

Thankyou I will have a look at it

 

[terrymc]

Welcome to the forum @terrymc

Yes diabetes can be frustratingly individual and fickle! So really it’s a matter of working out which approaches suit you best.

We have a few members who find a Mediterranean style diet really works well for them, and suits their tastebuds.

I guess it will all depend on the definition of what constitutes a Med diet in your case, and how your body reacts.

If you’d like to give it a go, you could try the DUK meal plan here:

Mediterranean meal plan

Mediterranean diets have been associated with reduced risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol which are risk factors for heart disease. A Mediterranean style diet can therefore provide a great option for people with diabetes, as it could help reduce the risk of certain diabetes...

www.diabetes.org.uk

I think it will depend on how your body reacts to wholegrains. Some members here find them trickier than others.

Thankyou so much for providing this link. I didn’t realise it was so individual, until now.

 

[terrymc]

Wife was told she was borderline type 2 could have easily tipped over, being overweight due to ill health lack of activity at time went to slimming world & lost 5 stone in total, since then all bloods have been normal.

You could try SW or Med diet to shift weight to give yourself chance to reverse condition.

Thankyou. I tried slimming world and couldn’t get my head round it. I may have another look. Well done to your wife, that’s fantastic

 

[terrymc]

I lost 11.5kg but I also totally changed my eating habits. I now stick to 50g of carbs a day and doubled my green leafy veg, good fats and good protein. I try to stick to 1000 calories a day because my metabolism is quite slow and I don't need any more energy. As such I'm keeping to my weight and controlling my blood sugar. I hope! I keep testing and BG is in normal levels now.

My target is to lose 15kg so will have another go at the newcastle shakes later in the summer.

Well done. I wasn’t sure how much carbs is normal, my metabolism is also slow So I will keep this in mind. Good luck your not far off 15kg

 

[terrymc]

Welcome to the forum @terrymc

Yes diabetes can be frustratingly individual and fickle! So really it’s a matter of working out which approaches suit you best.

We have a few members who find a Mediterranean style diet really works well for them, and suits their tastebuds.

I guess it will all depend on the definition of what constitutes a Med diet in your case, and how your body reacts.

If you’d like to give it a go, you could try the DUK meal plan here:

Mediterranean meal plan

Mediterranean diets have been associated with reduced risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol which are risk factors for heart disease. A Mediterranean style diet can therefore provide a great option for people with diabetes, as it could help reduce the risk of certain diabetes...

www.diabetes.org.uk

I think it will depend on how your body reacts to wholegrains. Some members here find them trickier than others.

Thankyou for the link.

 

[terrymc]

@terrymc don't confuse weightloss and good control of diabetes.
Yes, some people lose the diabetes when they lose weight, but I suspect that they do not lose the genetic disposition to develop diabetes.
By controlling blood glucose on an everyday basis by eating a low carb diet, not only is it easy to maintain weightloss, the glucose control remains the normal state and the metabolism improves.
I used to take 200micrograms of Thyroxine every day, as my thyroid was pronounced dead, but after a few years of constant low carb eating, it has revived, and I am now down to 125 micrograms of Thyroxine and am due another check to see if it needs further reduction.

That is great. Thanks for that advice I was focusing a bit on the weight loss. This helps

 

[Leadinglights]

Well done. I wasn’t sure how much carbs is normal, my metabolism is also slow So I will keep this in mind. Good luck your not far off 15kg

The suggestion for low carb is less than 130g per day but as you see many people do need or choose to go lower, somewhere between 50 and 100g is where many settle on of the are going low carb.

 

[terrymc]

The suggestion for low carb is less than 130g per day but as you see many people do need or choose to go lower, somewhere between 50 and 100g is where many settle on of the are going low carb.

Thankyou again

 

[nonethewiser]

Thankyou. I tried slimming world and couldn’t get my head round it. I may have another look. Well done to your wife, that’s fantastic

Second time lucky perhaps, far as can gather diet is easy enough to follow. Thanks will pass your congratulations on to wife.

 

[terrymc]

Second time lucky perhaps, far as can gather diet is easy enough to follow. Thanks will pass your congratulations on to wife.

Thankyou.