Newish pre-diabetic. Help me understand. How many carbs a day can you have and how/which figure/where do you get figures???

[manji]

I tried drinking something at a Starbucks. It was the vilest liquid I ever found in a cup, but it was sold as coffee.
Never again.

Only drink expresso now, no milk, no sugar but a Starbucks or a Costa made me feel ill , this was a while ago.

 

[Aitchelle]

Morning. Thank you again for sharing and caring. Regarding my plant based food comment (giving up) - i realise I wasn't clear, I meant knocking on the head the pre made and pre packed burgers, sausages etc that are in the Ultra Processed Foods. Group. Just got to understand the difference as packaging can be so misleading. I couldn't manage without my veggies, fruit, chickpeas etc. But must try harder with not eating so much bread, whether lower carb or not. I just love toast, sandwiches, wraps etc.

I'll definitely look at the plant based theorists that have been suggested, such as Dr Mosley and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (currently doing the rounds promoting his new, expensive book). Armed with all the info shared by you informed, caring Forum posters I have tools in my bag to move forward. I certainly trust your views and knowledge over some things I've read independently. And you have made clearer so many things.

I will look into the Collins and Calorie and Carb books as I think will help me count carbs - NOW I've had you lovelies explain much better than I think the NHS Healthier Lifestyle Group I'm attending has for me. Group (started with about 40 people, has dropped to half that now) lasted 80 mins. 20mins weighing and taking peoples waist measurements. Rest time is mainly slides and saying what is written on them. Any time for questions seem rushed as always finish on or before time. Group leader now left. New one started last week but cancelled night before, in fairness to not being well. Our next group in 2 weeks time after about 6 weeks from last.session. It's an outside agency running group and annoyingly costing tax payers £1200 for each attendee. As half class not seemingly returning that is up to £24,00.00 wasted (you all sign-up beforehand saying u will attend whole 9 month course) and it is ££ that could be better spent with better training too. I've learnt things obviously but hand on heart I've learnt more through this Forum and grateful to those taking time to answer questions and contribute to this post. I'm still learning and your advice and suggestions are still so welcomed. Apologies I've gone off the rails a bit, but huge thank you once again.

My experience of the NHS Preventing Diabetes Programme is the same as yours. I am about six months into it now, started with 20 attendees and has decreased at every meeting, the last session had five attendees and one slept through the whole session. The group leader arrives late, takes ages to set up for the "Death by Powerpoint" presentation and then leaves early, that is assuming that the leader has turned up at all. It is very much centred on losing weight which is not helpful for me as I have a BMI that is just in the healthy range, it promotes the Eatwell Plate and encourages brown carbs. One coach told the group that although they were promoting the Eatwell Plate as part of the programme it isn't really designed for people who are at risk of diabetes.... That caused a lot of confusion.
I have learnt more from this forum and the Freshwell Low Carb programme. I have purchased a glucose meter and finger prick test before meals and two hours afterwards, that has been very helpful as I have been able to identify "problem" foods and can them make changes as required.

 

[Lucyr]

Like you say... you never can tell.

Can i ask forum (another) random question please... when out at say Starbucks or other coffee shops - what is sensible coffee to order that is better eg.
carb/protein etc ? Also what milk is better. Fresh and plant based.

Thank you, yet again, for any responses

Small white americano with whole milk is my standard order

 

[Lucyr]

Costa have a table of nutritional information for all their drinks on their website, you may need a magnifying glass to read it though. A flat white no sugar is 8.7g carb for example.

Try using an app like carbs and cals or nutracheck. The free version of either of those will let you look up carbs.

 

[Bluebell22]

Thanks everyone for coffee and milk advice. Unfortunately I'm still a bit confused and unsure if or what milk is better (or worse!).

Seems I'm not the only one who is having concerns about the NHS Preventing Diabetes/Healthy Living programme. Aitchelle reflects a lot of my related experiences about this course. I agree there does seem a focus on weight and waist loss. I relate to "Death by Power Point". The leader reads out what's on overhead, speeding up as it gets nearer to the time group ends. Given a booklet, which isn't very big or informative and asks reader to fill in things like "what can you do to make changes" which no one reads or checks. No time given to question or answer time . Feels very rushed and group leader packing up quickly and often out before everyone has gone. I just hope the new leader we haven't met yet (who cancelled recent group, as unwell) is better.

Can anyone advise please... reflecting on the post about taking blood glucose readings (when they were seeing what effect drinking cappuccino was on BG). I am pre diabetic. What would be considered an okay BG reading? Is there better times to check? Eg before breakfast or in-between eating, after eating? Apologies for so many questions but every response on this forum has helped and every response has helped me think of something else

Thank you forum posters/responses. You have all been amazingly helpful.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks everyone for coffee and milk advice. Unfortunately I'm still a bit confused and unsure if or what milk is better (or worse!).

Seems I'm not the only one who is having concerns about the NHS Preventing Diabetes/Healthy Living programme. Aitchelle reflects a lot of my related experiences about this course. I agree there does seem a focus on weight and waist loss. I relate to "Death by Power Point". The leader reads out what's on overhead, speeding up as it gets nearer to the time group ends. Given a booklet, which isn't very big or informative and asks reader to fill in things like "what can you do to make changes" which no one reads or checks. No time given to question or answer time . Feels very rushed and group leader packing up quickly and often out before everyone has gone. I just hope the new leader we haven't met yet (who cancelled recent group, as unwell) is better.

Can anyone advise please... reflecting on the post about taking blood glucose readings (when they were seeing what effect drinking cappuccino was on BG). I am pre diabetic. What would be considered an okay BG reading? Is there better times to check? Eg before breakfast or in-between eating, after eating? Apologies for so many questions but every response on this forum has helped and every response has helped me think of something else

Thank you forum posters/responses. You have all been amazingly helpful.

You can easily look up various milks for the carbs but cow's milk there is no difference between whole, semi, skimmed in carbs at 7g per 150ml, unsweetened soya milk is much less at 1g carb per 150ml. Oat milk by comparison is quite high at 11g carb depending on brand.
The amount you would normally have in a cup of tea or coffee it wouldn't be too significant so choose what you prefer.

As far as testing is concerned then it a sensible regime would be first thing in the morning to check progress day to day, week to week etc, before meals and 2 hours post meal to check the effect of the meal when you would expect 4-7 mmol/l before meals and fasting/morning and no more than a 2-3mmol increase due to the meal or no more than 8mmol/l after 2 hours. Also if you feel unwell.