Hi everyone, I have recently been seen by the Diabetic Nurse at my surgery as I am prediabetic. I also have ME and coeliac disease so finding it all a bit overwhelming at present. I am hoping that by joining the forum I can get some advice please. I know that I am slightly overweight but due to my ME I cannot exercise. Therefore I need to lose weight through diet but feeling overwhelmed as being a coeliac means a lot of my day to day food is different. Looking forward to joining in. 🙂.
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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Newbie from Cornwall
- Thread starter Linda5
- Start date
Hi there, and a very warm welcome to the forum @Linda5 !
It’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed - trying to manage prediabetes alongside ME and coeliac disease is a lot for anyone, and you’re certainly not alone in that. You’ve taken a really positive first step by joining the forum - there’s a lot of support and friendly advice here, and I hope you'll find it helpful and encouraging.
Since exercise is tricky with ME, focusing on small, sustainable changes to your diet can really make a difference. A lower-carb, coeliac-friendly way of eating is possible, and there are others here doing just that. Some foods that might work well for both could be:
- Naturally gluten-free, lower-carb veg like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, courgette, peppers, and mushrooms
- Protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, or lentils (if tolerated)
- Gluten-free whole foods like quinoa or buckwheat in small amounts, if you include some carbs
- Dairy (if tolerated) like Greek yoghurt (a favourite of many of our users for breakfast) or cheese
- Healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, or nuts/seeds (if texture or energy is a concern, nut butters can be easier)
It’s often about finding your own balance - foods that are kind to your blood sugars and your energy levels. If you're not keeping one already, a food and glucose diary can sometimes help spot patterns gently over time.
I'm really glad you’ve joined us and am looking forward to seeing you around. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or share how things are going
P.S. I'm not sure if you've checked the DUK website, but we do have some recipes here, where you can select to look at gluten-free options too.
It’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed - trying to manage prediabetes alongside ME and coeliac disease is a lot for anyone, and you’re certainly not alone in that. You’ve taken a really positive first step by joining the forum - there’s a lot of support and friendly advice here, and I hope you'll find it helpful and encouraging.
Since exercise is tricky with ME, focusing on small, sustainable changes to your diet can really make a difference. A lower-carb, coeliac-friendly way of eating is possible, and there are others here doing just that. Some foods that might work well for both could be:
- Naturally gluten-free, lower-carb veg like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, courgette, peppers, and mushrooms
- Protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, or lentils (if tolerated)
- Gluten-free whole foods like quinoa or buckwheat in small amounts, if you include some carbs
- Dairy (if tolerated) like Greek yoghurt (a favourite of many of our users for breakfast) or cheese
- Healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, or nuts/seeds (if texture or energy is a concern, nut butters can be easier)
It’s often about finding your own balance - foods that are kind to your blood sugars and your energy levels. If you're not keeping one already, a food and glucose diary can sometimes help spot patterns gently over time.
I'm really glad you’ve joined us and am looking forward to seeing you around. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or share how things are going
P.S. I'm not sure if you've checked the DUK website, but we do have some recipes here, where you can select to look at gluten-free options too.
Ian Robinson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hello mate
If it makes you feel any better I was pre diabetic for 15 years.
I have a job exercising as I had a stroke
If it makes you feel any better I was pre diabetic for 15 years.
I have a job exercising as I had a stroke
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I don't think you are alone in having to contend with multiple conditions so finding the right way of improving you blood glucose and losing that weight will need to be a compromise.
A few substitutions may well be sufficient.
Choosing gluten free is not necessarily incompatible with reducing your carbohydrate intake.
A few substitutions may well be sufficient.
Choosing gluten free is not necessarily incompatible with reducing your carbohydrate intake.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Linda5
Sorry to hear you’ve added risk of diabetes to the collection of conditions you are living with.
Hopefully you’ll be able to find some fairly modest tweaks and changes to your diet, that sit happily alongside your other conditions, and help to steer your BG levels away from a diagnosis with T2.
Keep asking away with questions as they arise.
Sorry to hear you’ve added risk of diabetes to the collection of conditions you are living with.
Hopefully you’ll be able to find some fairly modest tweaks and changes to your diet, that sit happily alongside your other conditions, and help to steer your BG levels away from a diagnosis with T2.
Keep asking away with questions as they arise.
Kernow-Debra
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
Hi, yes I am very limited by my ME. I had to give up cooking and baking etc a few years ago now. My husband does the main cooking but also has limitations, so sometimes we have to rely on quick, easy meals. I am hoping that if I can encourage him to prepare simple, low fat, carb, sugar meals that will help but sometimes it's just not possible. I would love to hear your ideas please.
Kernow-Debra
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
If your husband is up for it, I suggest a bag of panda flour. It’s very easy to make delicious wraps, bread rolls. Pastry and more. And cakes/scones of course.
All freeze well. I make a batch, put them in the freezer and take out as I need. Very handy.
I’ll give a link to the website, there are lots of recipes on there, start with the Panda protein wraps. Very simple to make.
The Panda Pantry Co.
Home of our low carb, gluten free Panda Flour® & Panda Flour® Baking Mixes.
pandapantry.co
Brilliant - thank you so much.If your husband is up for it, I suggest a bag of panda flour. It’s very easy to make delicious wraps, bread rolls. Pastry and more. And cakes/scones of course.
All freeze well. I make a batch, put them in the freezer and take out as I need. Very handy.
I’ll give a link to the website, there are lots of recipes on there, start with the Panda protein wraps. Very simple to make.
The Panda Pantry Co.
Home of our low carb, gluten free Panda Flour® & Panda Flour® Baking Mixes.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You could look for some of the Weight Watchers or Slimming World ready meals that aren't rice, pasta or potato based and have with salads or lots veg, frozen can be just as good as fresh and don't need much preparation.
Salads, cooked meat, cheese, tinned fish, anything with eggs are low carb and easy prep.
saffron15
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
When I was diagnosed with diabetes I had a bmi of 32 it's now 26. I don't have to contend with a gluten free diet but a cafe in the village where I live [ East of England]has loads of gluten free products as one of the owners is coeliac. I live on my own and buy " ready meals" to supplement my other food. At this time of year it is a joy as so much is available. At the moment I eat crab once a week. The local Cromer crab are quite small. I assume you and your husband can share a larger Cornish crab. I'm taking iron tablets at the moment, I hope short term so I had crab salad yesterday including tomato cucumber radishes new carrots salad leaves and pumpkin seeds. I bought 4 new potatoes and will have two with salad and two with scrambled egg. I also have some trout fillets. If I'm just catering for me I do the fish and veg in the microwave. I love sea trout and that works well poached. Hake is another of my favourites. My favourite breakfast is full fat Greek Yoghurt with berries plus nuts or seeds. I have been using the local strawberries ( used some in the salad too)
As an alternative i like mushroom omlette. I'm going into the city tomorrow for a language class and due to low iron am going to a steak restaurant £10 steak plus £4 per side. I'll probably have seasonal greens and a salad.
Earlier in the week I made a Greek salad - are olives OK for you and had it with hummus and some chicken peas.
I've given up pasta but have bought an alternative from Holland and Barrett based on edamame. I assume it is gluten free and would be tasty with tomato and sardines.
I don't know if you have an M and S nearby i assume there is one in Truro and maybe Falmouth. They do some meals heavy on protein and most low carb. I like chicken katsu curry. I also buy a finely cut and lightly smoked salmon with pepper and lemon. Finally I sometimes buy a pouch with baby beetroot which I have as a snack or in salad or as an extra veg warmed with a dollop of yoghurt.
Don't panic. I lost weight between 100 to 120 gms of carbs. Good fats and extra protein if you are where you want to be will keep the weight on.
If your husband is happy in the kitchen a fry up is something you could both enjoy. Meat plus mushrooms and tomatoes.
It's useful to have hard boiled eggs in the fridge as a snack, quick breakfast or add to a salad. As I didn't want to use the stove last time I did a batch I did them in the airfryer.
My favourite veg is Swiss chard but I'm lucky that as my area is rural I can buy it easily.
If what you fancy is sweet or high carb just watch the portion size and don't have it too often. I occasionally have a chocolate éclair. In shops carbs are on the bottom under nutrition.
As an alternative i like mushroom omlette. I'm going into the city tomorrow for a language class and due to low iron am going to a steak restaurant £10 steak plus £4 per side. I'll probably have seasonal greens and a salad.
Earlier in the week I made a Greek salad - are olives OK for you and had it with hummus and some chicken peas.
I've given up pasta but have bought an alternative from Holland and Barrett based on edamame. I assume it is gluten free and would be tasty with tomato and sardines.
I don't know if you have an M and S nearby i assume there is one in Truro and maybe Falmouth. They do some meals heavy on protein and most low carb. I like chicken katsu curry. I also buy a finely cut and lightly smoked salmon with pepper and lemon. Finally I sometimes buy a pouch with baby beetroot which I have as a snack or in salad or as an extra veg warmed with a dollop of yoghurt.
Don't panic. I lost weight between 100 to 120 gms of carbs. Good fats and extra protein if you are where you want to be will keep the weight on.
If your husband is happy in the kitchen a fry up is something you could both enjoy. Meat plus mushrooms and tomatoes.
It's useful to have hard boiled eggs in the fridge as a snack, quick breakfast or add to a salad. As I didn't want to use the stove last time I did a batch I did them in the airfryer.
My favourite veg is Swiss chard but I'm lucky that as my area is rural I can buy it easily.
If what you fancy is sweet or high carb just watch the portion size and don't have it too often. I occasionally have a chocolate éclair. In shops carbs are on the bottom under nutrition.