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SingerGazelle

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Type 2
Hi. I’m looking for inspiration and advice please. I’m Type 2 diabetic and have been for a number of years. Desperately trying to get my sugar levels under control without success! I’m too old for the soup and shake diet unfortunately. Ideally I would like to follow a set diet to help me lose weight and lower my sugar levels. Hence joining the group. Your advice would be
much appreciated. I do take a low dose of Metformin. Thank you
 
SingerGazelle said:
Hi. I’m looking for inspiration and advice please. I’m Type 2 diabetic and have been for a number of years. Desperately trying to get my sugar levels under control without success! I’m too old for the soup and shake diet unfortunately. Ideally I would like to follow a set diet to help me lose weight and lower my sugar levels. Hence joining the group. Your advice would be
much appreciated. I do take a low dose of Metformin. Thank you
Click to expand...
I'm very sorry that I don't feel able to offer any specific advice, given that I'm Type 1. However, I couldn't resist asking if you really do have one of these?

1732222351837.png
 
SingerGazelle said:
Hi. I’m looking for inspiration and advice please. I’m Type 2 diabetic and have been for a number of years. Desperately trying to get my sugar levels under control without success! I’m too old for the soup and shake diet unfortunately. Ideally I would like to follow a set diet to help me lose weight and lower my sugar levels. Hence joining the group. Your advice would be
much appreciated. I do take a low dose of Metformin. Thank you
Click to expand...
If you are only taking metformin then a low carb approach is a suitable approach and is one many find successful in reducing blood glucose and losing weight if needed. This link is one such approach, there are several meal plans to suit various tastes which may give you some ideas for a way forward. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/. It is based an a suggested 130g carbs per day which is what is a good starting point when reducing carbs.
You could of course do your own soups and shakes plan by using products like SlimFast or similar from Tesco though you would not get the support of being on an official program.
Do you know what your HbA1C is so you know what your starting point is for assessing if the changes you make are being effective.
The other thing would be to do some strategic testing of your meals to see if you are eating more carbs than your body can tolerate so getting a home testing blood glucose monitor would help you to do that. Inexpensive ones can be bought on line GlucoNavii, EE2 and Contour Blue are ones with the cheaper test strips. Many find it is a valuable tool in giving them control over managing their condition.
Testing before eating and after 2 hours will guide you, you would aim at an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or no more than 8-8.5 mmol/l after 2 hours
 
As above you can do your own soup/shake diet, just try not to go too low, as you should really be monitored if on an ultra low cal diet, eg: 800-1200 cals. You may also want to discuss it with your HCP first.
I highly recommend Shake that Weight, that have a good variety of meal replacements, not just soups and shakes, they also have snack bars, porridge, and meals. The proper TDR (total diet replacement) meals are only around 200-220 cals each, but also have extra vitamins and nutrients, so are a better alternative than supermarket shakes, etc. Good luck with it, cheers
 
I just tried to do the low calorie diet, and my HbA1c went up, although I did lose some weight and size, but in the time since going back to my eating every 12 hours, I have lost quite a bit more weight - I also feel better and have more energy, so although the low calorie diet seems to comply with the accepted methods of weightloss, and that is supposed to lower HbA1c - it seems not to be a certainty.
I do have to stay very low carb to keep my numbers down, but I am perfectly content to have steak or other meats or fish with stirfry, salad or low carb veges or mushrooms.
 
Hi @SingerGazelle -- my dad had one of those as well.

Do you know what your last HbA1c result was and how much weight do you want to loose? As many on the forum know I like to start with the numbers and use them to work out how big a hill you have to climb. In the mean time start to read around the forum and checkout the learning zone to get some ideas on what approaches you might take. There will be a way forward that will suit you - you have just got to find it.
 
SingerGazelle said:
Hi. I did own a green one many years ago now. Them were the days lol
Click to expand...

Docb said:
Hi @SingerGazelle -- my dad had one of those as well.

Do you know what your last HbA1c result was and how much weight do you want to loose? As many on the forum know I like to start with the numbers and use them to work out how big a hill you have to climb. In the mean time start to read around the forum and checkout the learning zone to get some ideas on what approaches you might take. There will be a way forward that will suit you - you have just got to find it.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice. My last HbA1c was 60! I want to lose 4 stone. I joined last night so as need to explore the site thoroughly.
 
My late father gave me it when he upgraded to a Ford Fiesta . It was a beautiful car. Handbrake on the right. As you say the dashboard was stunning.
 
Leadinglights said:
If you are only taking metformin then a low carb approach is a suitable approach and is one many find successful in reducing blood glucose and losing weight if needed. This link is one such approach, there are several meal plans to suit various tastes which may give you some ideas for a way forward. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/. It is based an a suggested 130g carbs per day which is what is a good starting point when reducing carbs.
You could of course do your own soups and shakes plan by using products like SlimFast or similar from Tesco though you would not get the support of being on an official program.
Do you know what your HbA1C is so you know what your starting point is for assessing if the changes you make are being effective.
The other thing would be to do some strategic testing of your meals to see if you are eating more carbs than your body can tolerate so getting a home testing blood glucose monitor would help you to do that. Inexpensive ones can be bought on line GlucoNavii, EE2 and Contour Blue are ones with the cheaper test strips. Many find it is a valuable tool in giving them control over managing their condition.
Testing before eating and after 2 hours will guide you, you would aim at an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or no more than 8-8.5 mmol/l after 2 hours
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice.
 
pjgtech said:
As above you can do your own soup/shake diet, just try not to go too low, as you should really be monitored if on an ultra low cal diet, eg: 800-1200 cals. You may also want to discuss it with your HCP first.
I highly recommend Shake that Weight, that have a good variety of meal replacements, not just soups and shakes, they also have snack bars, porridge, and meals. The proper TDR (total diet replacement) meals are only around 200-220 cals each, but also have extra vitamins and nutrients, so are a better alternative than supermarket shakes, etc. Good luck with it, cheers
Click to expand...
Thank you. I do have a soup maker so no excuses. I will look into what you suggest. I’m seeing the nurse on Tuesday so will go from there.
 
Welcome to the forum @SingerGazelle

If you think a very low calorie / weight-loss approach isn’t a good fit for you, then many folks on the forum have had great success by developing a personalised diet with reduced portions of carbohydrates, and finding low-carb swaps with things like cauli ‘rice’ and using celeriac or swede instead of potato.

Good luck finding a system that suits you.
 
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