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Welcome to the forum @MMupfiga

Glad you have found us 🙂

How long have you been at risk of diabetes? Is it something you found out about some time ago? or is it quite recent?

Do you have anyone with T2 diabetes in your close family?
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Welcome to the forum @MMupfiga

Glad you have found us 🙂

How long have you been at risk of diabetes? Is it something you found out about some time ago? or is it quite recent?

Do you have anyone with T2 diabetes in your close family?
Click to expand...
Thank you. I found out I’m at risk of diabetes last week. My mum has T2 diabetes and she uses insulin injections. Hopefully my story will be different if l do a few lifestyle changes.
 
Hi and welcome from me too.

Great that things have been caught early for you and you are motivated to make some changes. Do you have a particular plan of action in mind?
The two main approaches are...
A low carb way of eating for the rest of your life. This involves cutting down not just on sugar but also portion size of starchy carbs like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and breakfast cereals and basing meals on mostly protein and vegetables.
or
A short term very low calorie (usually 800calories per day) diet for 8-12 weeks to burn off visceral fat around the liver and pancreas and hopefully enable them to function efficiently again, which should enable the resumption of a normal diet provided that the weight/fat loss is maintained, but for some of us, that can be easier said than done.

For me, changing my diet for life and following a low carb higher fat way of eating has been the easier and for me healthier option as several other health issues like migraines and gut health have improved as well as now having much more control over my disordered eating (less cravings) and it doesn't mean that I can't have tasty enjoyable food, it is just different to how I used to eat, which was basing meals on bread and potatoes.... and eating far too much sugar, sweets and chocolate. 🙄 I still have chocolate but no more dairy milk or snickers or cadbury's cream eggs. I now have the odd square of 70% dark chocolate with a spoon of peanut butter and that is satisfying enough.

Anyway, I just wanted to wish you luck and feel free to ask any questions you have here on the forum. It is a goldmine of knowledge and practical experience as well as friendly support. Hope you find it as helpful as it has been to me since diagnosis.
 
MMupfiga said:
Thank you. I found out I’m at risk of diabetes last week. My mum has T2 diabetes and she uses insulin injections. Hopefully my story will be different if l do a few lifestyle changes.
Click to expand...
Hopefully you will be able to avoid being in that position by making some changes now. Ideas have changed in how much diet can play a part in reducing the risk of moving to being in the diabetic zone and reducing blood glucose if you are Type 2.
The management of your situation will be different to your mother as she is taking insulin so you need to look at what will be suitable for you.
Many do find that a low carbohydrate approach is successful in reducing blood glucose and losing weight if you need to. This link might help you with some ideas for modifying your diet, https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Depending on how close to the top of the prediabetes zone you may only need some modest changes, cutting out cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks and reducing portions of high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread and cutting out higher carb snacks and looking at what alcoholic drinks you may have, beer cider and swapping to lower carb ones.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome from me too.

Great that things have been caught early for you and you are motivated to make some changes. Do you have a particular plan of action in mind?
The two main approaches are...
A low carb way of eating for the rest of your life. This involves cutting down not just on sugar but also portion size of starchy carbs like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and breakfast cereals and basing meals on mostly protein and vegetables.
or
A short term very low calorie (usually 800calories per day) diet for 8-12 weeks to burn off visceral fat around the liver and pancreas and hopefully enable them to function efficiently again, which should enable the resumption of a normal diet provided that the weight/fat loss is maintained, but for some of us, that can be easier said than done.

For me, changing my diet for life and following a low carb higher fat way of eating has been the easier and for me healthier option as several other health issues like migraines and gut health have improved as well as now having much more control over my disordered eating (less cravings) and it doesn't mean that I can't have tasty enjoyable food, it is just different to how I used to eat, which was basing meals on bread and potatoes.... and eating far too much sugar, sweets and chocolate. 🙄 I still have chocolate but no more dairy milk or snickers or cadbury's cream eggs. I now have the odd square of 70% dark chocolate with a spoon of peanut butter and that is satisfying enough.

Anyway, I just wanted to wish you luck and feel free to ask any questions you have here on the forum. It is a goldmine of knowledge and practical experience as well as friendly support. Hope you find it as helpful as it has been to me since diagnosis.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. So far I am going for a lifestyle change. I have cut down on chocolates and crisps as well as white bread; potatoes etc. I have started having reasonable portions of brown rice and sweet potatoes if I feel like having carbs. Otherwise I have been having lots roasted vegetables and salads with my dinner. Still early days but l am already feeling better. Thank you for sharing your journey and tips. I will definitely consider dark chocolate when I am craving for chocolate.
 
Do be aware that whilst brown rice and sweet potatoes have a bit more fibre than their white alternatives, they contain almost the same amount of carbs, so reducing the portion size is still important, but it sounds like you are off to a good start.
 
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