Newly Diagnised.

[Drummer]

The task your doctor has set you might be quite difficult to achieve - I would advise not trying to find substitute baked goods for a while, just keep to the basics of any meat, fish, seafood, eggs and cheese with low carb veges and a few berries, with cream and full fat yoghurt - and taking a walk every day helps.
Watch out for things which are low sugar but are still high in starch - it is all carbohydrate and all ends up in your bloodstream.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi everyone.
I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes six days ago. I had a reading of 83 and my Doctor has given me two months to get my sugar down to 50. If I can not achieve this I will be going on medication. That’s the last thing I want. I have been trying extremely hard and managing okay. I have always had a very sweet tooth and at the age of 58 I’m finding it very hard to go cold turkey I would appreciate it if anyone could give me any ideas of things I could eat. I have made a decision to cut out all sweet and treats to help reduce this number. I managed to find many savoury foods I can eat but Initially finding this hard.

Wow - 2 months isn't very long. It seems kind of weird: those numbers are your "HbA1c" and it's used to get an approximate view of what your average blood glucose has been over the past 8-12 weeks. So normally it's done at 3 month intervals after a new diagnosis.

Whatever - getting BG down from your levels to something much better controlled in a few months is certainly doable. But I wouldn't be too stressed about getting things sorted very very quickly.

First, the usual T2 med, Metformin, isn't such a big deal. Some people get gastro side-effects, but most people don't and if they do, the effects usually pass pretty quickly. Like many others, I took it for a while, until I didn't need to, with zero problems.

Second, "it's a marathon not a sprint". You want to make lifestyle changes sustainable and healthy for the long term. That involves some work and research on what's needed for you, as an individual. Everybody's different!

Third, there can be disadvantages to very fast BG reductions. Eg: if you have diabetes-related problems (retinopathy) they can be temporarily worsened if you change BG levels too quickly. It's usually not a big deal, and it usually passes, but just another little thing suggesting that a measured approach to things.

Anyway - best of luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[Deb RR]

hey no problem. I’ve found this place a great help. Even though I’m only really into my second month of living with this condition, I’ve made the decision that’s it’s part of me, but it doesn’t define me as a person.

and eating low carb really is surprising. For years I’ve struggled with my weight, but since making the switch I’ve lost two stone in as many months, as well as getting my blood glucose to more manageable levels.

p.s. have the conversation with your doctor about getting a glucose meter. If they won’t give you one (mine wouldn’t) buy one for yourself if you can afford it. It’s been really encouraging seeing my levels come under control as I modify what I eat. It’s much better being able to see and measure, as to just hope what you’re doing is having an effect.

when you’re ready to ask questions ask them here, people are so helpful and will point you in the right direction.

good luck on your journey. You’re not treading the path alone.

That’s amazing to lose 2 stone in 2 months. This forum definitely give you hope that everything is achievable.yes we are now living with this condition and I understand this is not about a diet it’s got to be a way of life.good to know I am not alone.
Thanks for the wise words.

 

[Deb RR]

Wow - 2 months isn't very long. It seems kind of weird: those numbers are your "HbA1c" and it's used to get an approximate view of what your average blood glucose has been over the past 8-12 weeks. So normally it's done at 3 month intervals after a new diagnosis.

Whatever - getting BG down from your levels to something much better controlled in a few months is certainly doable. But I wouldn't be too stressed about getting things sorted very very quickly.

First, the usual T2 med, Metformin, isn't such a big deal. Some people get gastro side-effects, but most people don't and if they do, the effects usually pass pretty quickly. Like many others, I took it for a while, until I didn't need to, with zero problems.

Second, "it's a marathon not a sprint". You want to make lifestyle changes sustainable and healthy for the long term. That involves some work and research on what's needed for you, as an individual. Everybody's different!

Third, there can be disadvantages to very fast BG reductions. Eg: if you have diabetes-related problems (retinopathy) they can be temporarily worsened if you change BG levels too quickly. It's usually not a big deal, and it usually passes, but just another little thing suggesting that a measured approach to things.

Anyway - best of luck and let us know how you get on.

Hi Eddy.
Thank you for the kind words of support. You are right I shouldn’t be getting stressed. I am worried about not being able to reduce the figure enough to not have to take tablets but I’m working as hard as I can. I have spent a lot of time researching and google is a real blessing. All intake is being written so I don5 lose track of what I have eaten.

 

[Deb RR]

The task your doctor has set you might be quite difficult to achieve - I would advise not trying to find substitute baked goods for a while, just keep to the basics of any meat, fish, seafood, eggs and cheese with low carb veges and a few berries, with cream and full fat yoghurt - and taking a walk every day helps.
Watch out for things which are low sugar but are still high in starch - it is all carbohydrate and all ends up in your bloodstream.

Hi Drummer. I am really glad I found this forum As I now realise that goods can be achievable after I’ve reached a healthy blood level.i have taken up walking the dog every evening and promised myself I will do this every day and I am also looking into swimming.
This is all such a huge learning curve, it seems very daunting but I am grateful for this forum. Any advice happily received. I am still confused about carbohydrates but I know this will take time.
Thanks again.

 

[Deb RR]

Hello @Deb RR. and we are so pleased that you have found the forum.
As you can see from the amazing response that you have already got, there is a great deal of help and experience available here.

Many of us find that a reduced carb diet, usually combined with more exercise is a good solution.
But there is no 'one-size-fits-all' and you need to find out what works best for you, and what are the main foods that do and don't 'spike' your blood sugar levels.

Some people like to do this by doing daily measuring with self-testing meter. If you want to know more about this, take a look at
https://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html - SD Gluco Navii is one of the cheaper meter options,

very best wishes for great success in achieving the goal set by your doctor.

Thank you for your kind words. I am really chuffed the response I have had and it’s great to know that we are all there for each other. I have not been given a meter as my Dr has so they are no longer needed. I feel short changed by that.
I am working hard to find my way and totally believe in myself and feeling very proud that I have lost 2lb in seven days.
I have had a lifetime of eating biscuits cake and sweets but have been very lucky with my weight. I only weigh 10 stone and a diagnosis like this has been a real shock. The thought of eating healthily has filled me with hope that I will be able to trim down and lose a bit of weight. with the help of this forum I know I can adapt my eating habits and have healthy lifestyle.

 

[Deb RR]

Hi and Welcome @Deb RR - you have been given plentiful advice, they're great on here aren't they. I would just like to say when i started with this new low carb lifestyle, i craved a chocolate bar/biscuit to distraction!, BUT i started making sugar free jelly instead. You can buy at any supermarket. It comes in twin pack (about £1) and one half of the pack makes me 5 ramekin size portions. I dip into them when i want something sweet. (I dont eat them often, as they contain aspartame, and it gets a bad rap). Another thing i did at first, was get myself a bar of Boots low sugar whole nut & a pack of their wafers (and would have a line of that when i felt the need, (dont eat too much though or it gives you bloated tummy and ...other effects!! LOL 😳 .....At Xmas i was given Holland and Barrett's Diablo ('oreo' lookalike) biscuits, they were pretty good - Nil sugar but still got the pesky carbs! - but maybe these things could get you over a hump ? I had a bite of my hubby's kit-kat a month ago and thought OMG this is disgustingly sweet - ive never looked back. 😎

Hi

Hi and Welcome @Deb RR - you have been given plentiful advice, they're great on here aren't they. I would just like to say when i started with this new low carb lifestyle, i craved a chocolate bar/biscuit to distraction!, BUT i started making sugar free jelly instead. You can buy at any supermarket. It comes in twin pack (about £1) and one half of the pack makes me 5 ramekin size portions. I dip into them when i want something sweet. (I dont eat them often, as they contain aspartame, and it gets a bad rap). Another thing i did at first, was get myself a bar of Boots low sugar whole nut & a pack of their wafers (and would have a line of that when i felt the need, (dont eat too much though or it gives you bloated tummy and ...other effects!! LOL 😳 .....At Xmas i was given Holland and Barrett's Diablo ('oreo' lookalike) biscuits, they were pretty good - Nil sugar but still got the pesky carbs! - but maybe these things could get you over a hump ? I had a bite of my hubby's kit-kat a month ago and thought OMG this is disgustingly sweet - ive never looked back. 😎

Hi Tee G
I am chuffed at the amount of help and advice I’ve been given in such a short time. It’s amazing to know there are people out there willing to help and guide me in the right direction.Like you I am now just craving chocolate and anything sweet but understand the need to get Bloodsugars down in the next two months and I’m working hard to achieve that. I believe I can do it because that’s in my hands and not going on that is very important to me.

I have never eaten so much jelly and I have had a packet every single day and have enjoyed it. I will be going to boots today and will have a look for the wafers and the chocolate. The Diablo also is worth a try. Thank you for that. It’s amazing that people have like you tried a small amount of chocolate and have found it far too sweet. I am hoping like you I will eventually try chocolate and also find that so sweet to enjoy. ‘Here’s hoping’
I bet you never thought you would say I thought of chocolate was ‘disgusting’.
I am feeling inspired.
Thank you

 

[Deb RR]

Hi - It's not my real name, just how I'm known on the web. At home I'm Catwoman because I have - you've guessed it - cats!
I've found full fat Greek yogurt great instead of double cream - I never did like that. I've also done away totally with biscuits, cakes, sweets etc, as I have the willpower of a gnat - if it's in the house I eat it! I stick to the 3 meals, and just have a little fruit and yogurt as a daily sweet treat. I'd rather have my calories and carbs with my meals. I make a lot of veggie soup as I can control what goes in it - I make my own chicken stock when I pot roast a chicken, then poach loads of veggies in it. I then add back some of the chicken to up the protein content. I prefer it thin and chunky, but to thicken it you can blitz half the veggies with no added carbs or cals.

You have done very well if you no longer eat biscuits, cakes and sweets. Was that hard to achieve? I have been out and brought some healthier snacks rather than normal crisps I have been buying baked crisps and snacks and they help but I still want something sweet. I believe I have the will power and will not have anything I shouldn’t whilst trying to adjustI Blood sugars.
I too am having three healthy meals a day. I have never had a cooked breakfast but I am enjoying scrambled egg on occasion and other days oats. This is all working for me because I feel full longer. I have been making soup too and enjoy the healthy aspect of all that veg.
Thanks again and keep in touch.

 

[Deb RR]

This is my Facebook page where I put recipes and pictures and now and then a general post about how things are going.

Here's one of the pictures and the post that went with it for you to see the sort of thing I post.

https://www.facebook.com/MeTacklingDiabetes
View attachment 13218
"This is a picture of the ingredients I consider basic necessities.

Hiding in the back there is a big bag of psyllium husk. I use that in low carb cakes and bread. It keeps the structure in the finished product once it has risen from the presence of baking powder or sodium bicarb and/or fluffy beaten eggs.
I use chia seeds mainly when I make jam/jelly.
I didn't have room to include my huge container of extra virgin olive oil, nor my tin of ghee.
I use coconut oil as a replacement for lard and if I'm frying asian cuisine and I use it when I make chocolate fudge and cakes and sweet pastry.
I use ghee for frying savoury foods like fried eggs and curries and I use olive oil for mediterranean dishes and salads.
I use butter in cakes and when I make lemon curd and bread and scones and pizza and I add it to vegetables to increase the fat content in meals."


This is the link to my version of the recipe for 90 second microwave bread. Once you learn how to make this you can add sweetener to it and use unsalted butter and then it works perfectly as a sponge cake when paired with whipped cream and chia seed jam (also on my page) - total time to make a sponge cake from ingredients to the finished article including making the jam from frozen berries - takes about fifteen minutes. If you whip the cream by hand using a balloon whisk it counts as exercise!!!

https://www.facebook.com/MeTackling...5892421109126/135891674442534/?type=3&theater

Hi not at all worried.
Thank you for welcoming me to your Facebook page. I have had a look through it and I feel it is really encouraging that after the two months I can enjoy the occasional cake biscuit or treat.
I feel really happy and confident that I can achieve my Bloodsugars to a healthy level. Thank you all on this forum.
I have found I am drinking a lot more and I am enjoying a glass of milk with lunch every day.
I will look at your Facebook page again and it’s good to know that people are sharing recipes.
Thank you once again.

This is my Facebook page where I put recipes and pictures and now and then a general post about how things are going.

Here's one of the pictures and the post that went with it for you to see the sort of thing I post.

https://www.facebook.com/MeTacklingDiabetes
View attachment 13218
"This is a picture of the ingredients I consider basic necessities.

Hiding in the back there is a big bag of psyllium husk. I use that in low carb cakes and bread. It keeps the structure in the finished product once it has risen from the presence of baking powder or sodium bicarb and/or fluffy beaten eggs.
I use chia seeds mainly when I make jam/jelly.
I didn't have room to include my huge container of extra virgin olive oil, nor my tin of ghee.
I use coconut oil as a replacement for lard and if I'm frying asian cuisine and I use it when I make chocolate fudge and cakes and sweet pastry.
I use ghee for frying savoury foods like fried eggs and curries and I use olive oil for mediterranean dishes and salads.
I use butter in cakes and when I make lemon curd and bread and scones and pizza and I add it to vegetables to increase the fat content in meals."


This is the link to my version of the recipe for 90 second microwave bread. Once you learn how to make this you can add sweetener to it and use unsalted butter and then it works perfectly as a sponge cake when paired with whipped cream and chia seed jam (also on my page) - total time to make a sponge cake from ingredients to the finished article including making the jam from frozen berries - takes about fifteen minutes. If you whip the cream by hand using a balloon whisk it counts as exercise!!!

https://www.facebook.com/MeTackling...5892421109126/135891674442534/?type=3&theater

 

[Toucan]

Well done @Deb RR
You sound very motivated, and off to a good start - but be patient it can take a while to change the habits of a life time.
I can assure you that it will be absolutely worth it.
At a 'mature' age I now feel more energetic, healthier, less stressed and have more 'Zest' for life than I had for many years.
Please keep posting and let us know how it goes, and as you can see there is plenty of help available.

 

[Deb RR]

Well done @Deb RR
You sound very motivated, and off to a good start - but be patient it can take a while to change the habits of a life time.
I can assure you that it will be absolutely worth it.
At a 'mature' age I now feel more energetic, healthier, less stressed and have more 'Zest' for life than I had for many years.
Please keep posting and let us know how it goes, and as you can see there is plenty of help available.

Thank you.
The habits of a lifetime will be hard to break but achievable. Where I have found this inner strength from I do not know but I am glad it has actually arrived.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Drummer]

Watch out for products which say 'no added sugar' or even sugar free - they can still be loaded with starches, which are just as much carbohydrate.
Look on the back of packets or the side, to find the full nutritional info - the traffic light system is of little use as carbohydrates are not considered a problem - sugar yes, but starches no. Lots of things green for sugar content would be red for carbohydrate, if it was part of the system.
I find that I can eat small amounts - like one square, of the 85 percent cocoa chocolate available year round in Lidl, but this year I spotted the 95 percent version available only in the run up to Christmas and bought a stock of it - I still have quite a lot left so might get into the summer before it is all gone.
My reaction to Metformin and Atorvastatin was enough to ensure that I never find myself tempted to eat high carb for very long - these days I know that I can eat more carbs, but then I see the result on the scales next morning and then I wonder if it really was worth the consequences.

 

[Martin9]

Just saying Hello, you got enough advice, don’t forget tolook after yourself while adopting the new diet, have laughs, have fun, diabetes T2 shouldnt stop you from enjoying life x

 

[Deb RR]

Just saying Hello, you got enough advice, don’t forget tolook after yourself while adopting the new diet, have laughs, have fun, diabetes T2 shouldnt stop you from enjoying life x

Thank youMartin9
Those are all important things to bear in mind.
I am trying not to get too bogged down with all this. Feeling positive fir the future.

 

[Deb RR]

Watch out for products which say 'no added sugar' or even sugar free - they can still be loaded with starches, which are just as much carbohydrate.
Look on the back of packets or the side, to find the full nutritional info - the traffic light system is of little use as carbohydrates are not considered a problem - sugar yes, but starches no. Lots of things green for sugar content would be red for carbohydrate, if it was part of the system.
I find that I can eat small amounts - like one square, of the 85 percent cocoa chocolate available year round in Lidl, but this year I spotted the 95 percent version available only in the run up to Christmas and bought a stock of it - I still have quite a lot left so might get into the summer before it is all gone.
My reaction to Metformin and Atorvastatin was enough to ensure that I never find myself tempted to eat high carb for very long - these days I know that I can eat more carbs, but then I see the result on the scales next morning and then I wonder if it really was worth the consequences.

Thank you Drummer
I will look out for the chocolate in Lidl. Thank you for the advice and help.
I have found the people on this forum very friendly and helpful.

 

[Drummer]

Adding milk might not be a good idea - it contains lactose - a sugar. I drink coffee with cream.

 

[silentsquirrel]

I still have milk in tea and some coffees (cream occasionally), but a glass of milk would be a very occasional treat, not every day, and only a small glass.

200ml (which is not that much) is about 9.5g to 10g of carbs.

Don't worry, it's a very steep learning curve, and you will get there!