Newbie

[JulieH123]

Hi, I'm Julie
Recently diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Really don't know where to start regards what's good to eat and what's not. Any help would be appreciated. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

 

[richardmillar11]

Hi Julie and welcome
You've made the right move. It can be very overwhelming and hard to come to terms with. When were you diagnosed? Do you know the result of your Hba1c?

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @JulieH123 and welcome to the forum. All carbohydrates such as starches like grains, flour, potato as well as sugars like in tropical fruit turn into glucose when you eat them (some even do it inside the mouth). That is why when you chew a cream cracker in your mouth for a while without swallowing, after a while you notice a sweet taste.

So the what not to eat is simple: cut down on carbs. For example eggs for breakfast (no toast) is much better for a T2 than is oat porridge!
But for most people there is no need to cut calories even if you want to lose weight. Low Crab for the majority of people gets them back to a 'normal' weight, in fact some ask about how to gain weight when on a low carb way of eating.

As for what to eat: Base meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full-fat dairy (low fat tends to contain more carbs), nuts, berries (the lowest carb fruits), seeds, olives, avocado, tofu (especially if vegetarian or vegan), leafy green veg, and most above ground veg (because some below ground veg such as potato, sweet potato, parsnip, carrot are higher or even very high in carbs).

 

[JulieH123]

Hi Julie and welcome
You've made the right move. It can be very overwhelming and hard to come to terms with. When were you diagnosed? Do you know the result of your Hba1c?

I was diagnosed approx 6-7 months ago, been in denial since then, but have decided I need to get to grips with it. Not sure what hba1c means but I had a blood test last week and the nurse said it came back as 49, an improvement on 53 which it was last time.

 

[JulieH123]

Thank you for your reply. Some useful information there.

Hi @JulieH123 and welcome to the forum. All carbohydrates such as starches like grains, flour, potato as well as sugars like in tropical fruit turn into glucose when you eat them (some even do it inside the mouth). That is why when you chew a cream cracker in your mouth for a while without swallowing, after a while you notice a sweet taste.

So the what not to eat is simple: cut down on carbs. For example eggs for breakfast (no toast) is much better for a T2 than is oat porridge!
But for most people there is no need to cut calories even if you want to lose weight. Low Crab for the majority of people gets them back to a 'normal' weight, in fact some ask about how to gain weight when on a low carb way of eating.

As for what to eat: Base meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full-fat dairy (low fat tends to contain more carbs), nuts, berries (the lowest carb fruits), seeds, olives, avocado, tofu (especially if vegetarian or vegan), leafy green veg, and most above ground veg (because some below ground veg such as potato, sweet potato, parsnip, carrot are higher or even very high in carbs).

 

[andyp64]

I found it much too complex when I was diagnosed 3 months ago.
Some simple starting tips:-
1, cut down on or out obvious sugary things from your diet - 'full' fizzy drinks, chocolate, ice cream, sugar in tea/coffee, fruit juice.
2, Get a blood glucose tester - either from your GP or any good chemists - and start testing. With experience, you'll start to see what foods affect you more than others.
3, Limit or remove alcohol from your day.
4, Move a bit more - even if it just going for a 10 minute walk each day.
If you do just these four steps, you'll be making a significant in-road to your high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is probably for life so you've got time to refine your diet and lifestyle - walk before you can run!
Try the Learning Zone videos on this site for a gentle start to getting to know your new 'companion'.
Good luck!

 

[Windy]

I was diagnosed approx 6-7 months ago, been in denial since then, but have decided I need to get to grips with it. Not sure what hba1c means but I had a blood test last week and the nurse said it came back as 49, an improvement on 53 which it was last time.

HbA1c is glycated haemoglobin, so that's bits of glucose molecules, stuck onto the haemoglobin that carries the oxygen round your body in your blood, like a little crab with the oxygen and glucose in it's claws. Diabetic people have too much glucose in the crab's claws. HbA1c is the last three months worth of glucose levels.
The cut off to be diagnosed as diabetic is 48 or over, so if you take on board the excellent advice above, you might be able to get into the non-diabetic range. You've done really well to get it down from 53, well done for tackling it so far.
Best wishes, Sarah

 

[JulieH123]

Thank you for your reply. I'll keep all this in mind

 

[JulieH123]

Thank you Sarah

HbA1c is glycated haemoglobin, so that's bits of glucose molecules, stuck onto the haemoglobin that carries the oxygen round your body in your blood, like a little crab with the oxygen and glucose in it's claws. Diabetic people have too much glucose in the crab's claws. HbA1c is the last three months worth of glucose levels.
The cut off to be diagnosed as diabetic is 48 or over, so if you take on board the excellent advice above, you might be able to get into the non-diabetic range. You've done really well to get it down from 53, well done for tackling it so far.
Best wishes, Sarah

 

[Leadinglights]

If you need to buy a monitor yourself as most GP don't prescribe for T2 then ones with the cheapest test strips are GlucoNavil or TEE2 available on line. Probably cheaper on strips than ones from pharmacies.
You are just over the threshold so some modest changes in reduction in portion size of high carb foods and cutting out the cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks, even fruit juice.
Get into the habit of looking at TOTAL carb value of foods, google search, back of packets, quite a few carb apps available as well, that will help you make better food choices.

 

[JulieH123]

Thank you Sarah

HbA1c is glycated haemoglobin, so that's bits of glucose molecules, stuck onto the haemoglobin that carries the oxygen round your body in your blood, like a little crab with the oxygen and glucose in it's claws. Diabetic people have too much glucose in the crab's claws. HbA1c is the last three months worth of glucose levels.
The cut off to be diagnosed as diabetic is 48 or over, so if you take on board the excellent advice above, you might be able to get into the non-diabetic range. You've done really well to get it down from 53, well done for tackling it so far.
Best wishes, Sarah

If you need to buy a monitor yourself as most GP don't prescribe for T2 then ones with the cheapest test strips are GlucoNavil or TEE2 available on line. Probably cheaper on strips than ones from pharmacies.
You are just over the threshold so some modest changes in reduction in portion size of high carb foods and cutting out the cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks, even fruit juice.
Get into the habit of looking at TOTAL carb value of foods, google search, back of packets, quite a few carb apps available as well, that will help you make better food choices.

Thank you.