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Newbie craving carbs!

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J

Jaybee2021

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi there. I was diagnosed with type 2 about 18mths ago. Had a house fire so the last year has been difficult. However moved back home since months ago and consulted a nutritionist to help me start managing my diabetes. I learnt so much and understand the whole carbs thing. I’ve noticed that I am doing well for a couple of months and then need an injection of carbs which lasts about 3wks and then I go back to healthier eating. I can’t understand this and struggle to keep my momentum. Is there anything that anyone could suggest please? I’d appreciate anything right now because I want to get this under control. Thank you. Jackie
 
Hi Jackie, when you are cutting carbs out do you mean bread, spuds, pasta and rice as well as the obviously sweet stuff? I found that when I stopped eating those foods I stopped being hungry and stopped craving them...and it was a serious craving previously.

Are you eating enough fat in your diet? We are encouraged (not by the NHS I hasten to add!) to eat more fats as that keeps you feeling fuller for longer. If you are doing low carb and low fat you'll get very hungry. Is it hunger rather than carb craving? If I feel hungry I grab a chunk of cheese or a small handful of nuts and it helps me to get to the next meal without carbing.

However, as you'll know, we're all different so hopefully there will be someone along soon who suffers from the same problem and has a solution.

Oh, and welcome to the forum 🙂
 
Hi Vonny, yes all of those carbs abs the sweet stuff too. You’ve made me think now that actually I need to have higher fat because this would fill me up more. I think I got into the habit of having a few too many sweet treats, something I need to stop but thank you because you’ve reminded me of having higher fats which I need to reintroduce. Thanks again!
 
Welcome to the forum @Jaybee2021

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and your ongoing wrestling with the ole carbs.

Do you check your BG levels at home? I just wonder whether there might be more of a mid-point between your ways of eating that you would find easier to stick to long-term than the ‘all or nothing’ approach?

Many members here find checking BG before and then again 2hrs after eating allows them to aim for a rise of 2-3mmol/L and tweak their carb levels accordingly (rather than just trying to avoid everything all the time).

Let us know how you get on 🙂
 
Hi everydayupsanddowns

Thank you for your message. Yes I can be very much all or nothing which isn’t good for me as it’s not sustainable.

I need do better to help myself but am struggling at the moment, I think this is due to loneliness in this pandemic. I will continue trying, and thank you.

Jackie
 
I’ve started carb counting which is helpful for sure and I’m willing to accept I need to make adjustments. Can I ask roughly how many carbs should I eat a day? I just need some sort of guide because I seem to have forgotten completely. Can anyone advise? I’d appreciate any thoughts at all.
 
The amount will vary depending on the individual @Jaybee2021 and what diet they’re following. Anything under 130g per day is considered low carb.

I’m presuming you’re not on any meds?
 
Hi Inka, I’m taking metformin lowest dose once a day but want to come off this. I’m currently on about 135g of carbs but wanted to reduce this to about 80g.
 
Hi @Jaybee2021 and welcome. If you're craving carbs every so often then going even lower carb may make this worse. You need a way of eating that you enjoy as then you are more likely to maintain things in the long run. Even if you get into remission you are only in remission not reversal so your dietary choices have to be long term.

If you are struggling with low carb there are alternatives. How about a Mediterranean style diet?
 
Hi Inka. I haven’t tested it recently. I July last year I sought the help of a nutritionist and she got me to test my blood sugar and I understood it all. She didn’t want me to keep doing it but instead wanted me her used to eating the right foods and not be obsessed with the numbers. I understand why she did this. I also haven’t had my bloods checked by my GP since being diagnosed 18mths ago. I need to do this but wanted to wait until I felt I’d got my carbs down to a decent and realistic level. What do you think about this?
 
adrian1der said:
Hi @Jaybee2021 and welcome. If you're craving carbs every so often then going even lower carb may make this worse. You need a way of eating that you enjoy as then you are more likely to maintain things in the long run. Even if you get into remission you are only in remission not reversal so your dietary choices have to be long term.

If you are struggling with low carb there are alternatives. How about a Mediterranean style diet?
Click to expand...
Hi adrian1der

My carb craving has been for naughty carbs like biscuits etc. This has been a life long struggle for me. Sometimes (like now) I am keen to improve my diet and do the right thing by eating good carbs ie wholemeal bread etc. I eat tons of veges, salad and good proteins but I’d like life long changes. When I saw the nutritionist last year I loved it and felt liberated but every few months I have a binge on sweet carbs which isn’t good for me. I’ve never found a way around this so my struggle continues. I wish I could control it for good and I will continue trying.
 
@Jaybee2021 If it was me, I’d have my blood tests when the GP resumed and when I felt it was ok to do so with regard to Covid.

If you’re looking for a long-term diet change, then the Mediterranean Diet is one I’d look at. There are also others like the Nutritarian Diet that allegedly help hunger/binging on sweet things. Have a look at a few and decide which one sounds like something you could stick to. Both of the ones I’ve mentioned could fit into a low carb way of eating.
 
Thank you so much for the replies. I will look into the different types of long term diets to follow. I really appreciate your input!
 
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