New type 2

[MollyIrish]

Hi new type 2 finding it a struggle with knowing what to eat as in am I eating enough or am I still eating too much then there’s all these hidden sugars fats and salt in some food or how many grams of sugar fats and salt am I allowed or is it completely zero I have a headache with it all .

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum.
As you are new to all this I suggest you have a look at the Learning Zone orange tab at the top for a better understanding.
If you can tell us what your HbA1C is that has given you your diagnosis and have you been given any medication as that will influence any advise.
From what you say it sounds as if you may be having a lot of prepared foods as that is where the 'hidden' sugars etc are.
Many people find that by cooking meals from fresh ingredients they have the control about what goes into it.
As far a your diabetes is concerned it is all carbohydrates you need to be watchful of as they convert to glucose. How much carbs people can tolerate is very individual and will depend on where you are on the diabetic scale and what medications you may be taking and if you need to lose weight.
There are different approaches to managing blood glucose levels but it is important to find a regime which suits you and is sustainable.

 

[cameron]

Hi @MollyIrish, welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It's normal to feel a little overwhelmed at the beginning, but you will eventually get the hang of things.

What kind of meals were you eating before diagnosis? Did your nurse/doctor suggest any meals plans and give you some targets (e.g. weight loss, HbA1c level)? Are you using a blood meter to check your sugar levels?

I recommend reading through the Diabetes UK website to help you adjust your diet. Here are some pages you might useful: What can I eat? and Cooking at home. Also please feel free to ask questions on the forum, people here are friendly and willing to help. 🙂

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @MollyIrish and welcome to the forum.
Being a Type 2 diabetic doesn't have any bearing on how much salt you eat, or how much fat you eat (except that you were probably not eating enough fat before diagnosis). Carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are what raise your Blood Glucose. Refined starches tend to raise it more even than sugars, because for example table sugar is half glucose and half fructose while a starch is like lots of glucose 'holding hands', as soon as it meets your saliva in your mouth is starts breaking down into glucose.

Just look at the back of packets to see the total carbohydrates , or carbohydrates per 100gm if only using part of the packet. Be aware that what is considered 'healthy' for healthy people is often not good for Type 2 diabetics. This can include porridge or oats for breakfast as well as wholemeal bread, fruit juice (which is like liquid sugar) and most tropical fruits.
Only you can find out how much you are allowed because we are all different with different genes and biomes, so we all tend to react to the same carbohydrates slightly differently. Some can eat apples and carrots and some (like me) can't.
The best way to find out what is right for you is to use a Blood Glucose meter to test your food. Test just before eating and then 2hrs after first bite - if the rise in blood Glucose is more than 2.0 mmol then it's likely that you ate more carbs than your body can properly handle or possibly just the wrong carbs i.e. ones your body reacts to the most.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi MollyIrish, welcome to the forum.

Just popping by to say that it's totally normal to feel overwhelmed when first diagnosed. It can be a huge blow especially when trying to work out what this means for you moving forwards.

You’ve had some great advice above and I know it’s overwhelming to begin with but things will become clearer with time and we’re here to help.

Essentially, reducing carbs and sugars would be helpful as well as regular exercise. You can find out more about both on the pages below and if there's anything we can do to help or if you have any questions big or small, feel free to ask.

Checking your blood sugar levels​

Knowing your blood sugar levels helps you manage your diabetes and reduces your risk of having serious complications – now and in the future. What are blood sugar levels? Your blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose levels, are a measurement that show how much glucose you have in your...
www.diabetes.org.uk

I have type 2 diabetes – what can I eat?​

If you've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one of the first things you might be worried about is food. You’re likely to be faced with what seems like an endless list of new tasks. Medical appointments, taking medication, stopping smoking, being more active and eating a healthy...
www.diabetes.org.uk