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Suky R

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Type 2
Good evening
Last Friday GP rang me to tell me I have type2 diabetes. It was daunting and scary, still getting my head around it and the changes I have to make suddenly.
 
Suky R said:
Good evening
Last Friday GP rang me to tell me I have type2 diabetes. It was daunting and scary, still getting my head around it and the changes I have to make suddenly.
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Welcome to the forum
First thing it is unwise to make sudden changes as that can give you problems with your eyes and nerves if blood glucose drops too quickly and what ever approach you take has to be enjoyable and sustainable.
Depending on what your HbA1C is that will indicate how much work you need to do. What dietary changes may be suitable may also depend on whether you have been prescribed any medication at this stage, if your HbA1C is not too high hopefully you will have been given a period of 3 months to make some lifestyle changes first.
Have a look at this link as it has some good explanation which you may not have had from your GP and some ideas for making dietary changes which you may find suitable.
Also have a read around the forum as many have been or are in your situation but do take note of whether people are Type 2 or some other type when taking on board their approach and the medications they may be on as it may not apply to you.
 
Good morning
Many thanks for the welcome
My blood test indicated point 49, I am of the understanding this is at the starting point if being diabetic.
I don't know how strict or what cuts to make at this stage, my downfall is potatoes in any form. I don't have a sweet tooth so can go without chocolate, biscuits and cakes
My blood pressure is on the good side, I exercise 4-5 times a week. I am over weight
 
Welcome to the forum @Suky R

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis :(

But it does sound like you are quite close to the borderline, so hopefully just a few relatively modest tweaks to your menu and portion sizes may work well.

Good to hear you are keeping active too, that will help enormously!

You might want to consider getting a BG meter to help you adjust your portions and sources of starchy carbohydrates to a level your body finds it easier to manage? Though you may find that just reducing portions a little is enough?
 
Suky R said:
Good morning
Many thanks for the welcome
My blood test indicated point 49, I am of the understanding this is at the starting point if being diabetic.
I don't know how strict or what cuts to make at this stage, my downfall is potatoes in any form. I don't have a sweet tooth so can go without chocolate, biscuits and cakes
My blood pressure is on the good side, I exercise 4-5 times a week. I am over weight
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With a HbA1c so low just a few changes should make a big difference.
Try swapping any high carb food for something lower maybe three or four times a week. That could be all it takes to get normal number, and there is the added advantage of lower weight too.
Usually the easiest targets are bread and potatoes, but high carb fruits such as bananas could be the 'healthy' option to get rid of.
I was using swede as a potato substitute, but there is also celeriac, courgette or cauliflower to try.
Fruit is usually restricted to berries with just very occasionally something a bit higher in carbs, but after a few years of normal numbers it seems I can cope once in a while.
 
Suky R said:
*Many thanks for your advice
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You mention potatoes in your post, I have found that although I like potatoes especially home grown ones, I have found that there are quite a few alternatives which I like just as much, butternut squash, celeriac, swede all make good options.
 
Leadinglights said:
You mention potatoes in your post, I have found that although I like potatoes especially home grown ones, I have found that there are quite a few alternatives which I like just as much, butternut squash, celeriac, swede all make good options.
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Thank you I'm getting my head around trying alternatives. Are sweet potatoes good for you
 
Suky R said:
Thank you I'm getting my head around trying alternatives. Are sweet potatoes good for you
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Sweet potatoes are very similar to actual potatoes in the amount of carbohydrate. However the carbs in potatoes can be very dependant on how they are cooked similarly sweet potatoes.
I found the book Carbs and Cals very helpful as it gives the carb values of various portions of a whole range of foods with pictures so makes it easy to compare, although I do find it irritating that they don't give per 100g but a portion size which is different for different foods but still vey useful. There is also an app but it is a paid subscription but there are other apps people use. Internet of shop web sites is a good sourse of info as well just look for total carbs for food X.
 
Leadinglights said:
Sweet potatoes are very similar to actual potatoes in the amount of carbohydrate. However the carbs in potatoes can be very dependant on how they are cooked similarly sweet potatoes.
I found the book Carbs and Cals very helpful as it gives the carb values of various portions of a whole range of foods with pictures so makes it easy to compare, although I do find it irritating that they don't give per 100g but a portion size which is different for different foods but still vey useful. There is also an app but it is a paid subscription but there are other apps people use. Internet of shop web sites is a good sourse of info as well just look for total carbs for food X.
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Thank you, it's confusing whether you can eat potatoes, I was thinking of switching to sweet potato but not sure now
I normally boil them then put in the oven to brown them
 
Suky R said:
Thank you, it's confusing whether you can eat potatoes, I was thinking of switching to sweet potato but not sure now
I normally boil them then put in the oven to brown them
Click to expand...
I think the only was you know if your tolerate certain foods especially if those are high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta. bread is by testing before you eat and after 2 hours where you would be looking for an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or once levels come down no more than 8-8.5mmol/l after 2 hours. Home testing blood glucose monitors can be bought on line and those with the cheaper test strips are the GlucoNavii or TEE 2. Many find that testing gives them the knowledge both to decide what they would be best avoiding or conversely what they can eat perfectly happily. Win Win really.
 
Leadinglights said:
I think the only was you know if your tolerate certain foods especially if those are high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta. bread is by testing before you eat and after 2 hours where you would be looking for an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or once levels come down no more than 8-8.5mmol/l after 2 hours. Home testing blood glucose monitors can be bought on line and those with the cheaper test strips are the GlucoNavii or TEE 2. Many find that testing gives them the knowledge both to decide what they would be best avoiding or conversely what they can eat perfectly happily. Win Win really.
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Many thanks for your advice, appreciated
 
Suky R said:
Thank you, it's confusing whether you can eat potatoes, I was thinking of switching to sweet potato but not sure now
I normally boil them then put in the oven to brown them
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Potatoes are one of the foods many type 2s avoid as they are found to spike blood glucose.
 
Suky R said:
Thank you, going to find this difficult. Need to change my mind set will take time.
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Just don't look back - the things I find I can eat are not a disappointment.
I use mashed swede to make a variation on bubble and squeak to eat with bacon and eggs - renamed bubble and squeal. I cook the whole swede, cut into cubes, in a pressure cooker as it is much quicker that way and saves energy as well as time. Leftovers can be kept in the fridge, covered over, but never last more than a day as it is quite tasty. I just had berries in jelly - with cream, for lunch as I forgot breakfast today. I use frozen berries and add extra gelatine to the packet of sugar free jelly then the fruit doesn't turn to mush as it defrosts.
 
Drummer said:
Just don't look back - the things I find I can eat are not a disappointment.
I use mashed swede to make a variation on bubble and squeak to eat with bacon and eggs - renamed bubble and squeal. I cook the whole swede, cut into cubes, in a pressure cooker as it is much quicker that way and saves energy as well as time. Leftovers can be kept in the fridge, covered over, but never last more than a day as it is quite tasty. I just had berries in jelly - with cream, for lunch as I forgot breakfast today. I use frozen berries and add extra gelatine to the packet of sugar free jelly then the fruit doesn't turn to mush as it defrosts.
Click to expand...
Oh thank you that does sound good, I will try that
 
Morning
I feel bit down had a few bad days
Thursday was my daughter's graduation, I had breakfast then lunch like normal, it was a really long day we got home 830pm and we're tiered and hungry, ordered take away to celebrate I had little kebab meat with salad and some chips.
On Friday we had a day planned out idea was to have lunch then go, my home delivery for shopping got cancelled for today so had no food for lunch, I ended up having a chicken wrap and baked crisps for lunch. Dinner was normal at home no carbs. However in the evening my daughter who graduated wanted desert to celebrate her graduation and it was her birthday few weeks ago and we didn't do anything together, I didn't have the heart to say no. I had a strawberry sundae.
I know this was a one off as I rarely eat out or have takeaway.
I'm only two weeyin from my diagnosis of type 2
With my blood result 59.
I am worried I have messed up
 
Don't worry - you won't have! - only if it becomes your daily normal diet rather than an occasional treat!

The main thing is - did you enjoy it? Hope you did.
 
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