Newly diagnosed diabetes...

[DammitLarri]

Hi all

As you can guess from the header, I've recently been diagnosed with T2. It was found through a blood test after mentioning to my GP that I was always tired and had an increase in the volume of migraines I get. I had no other "typical" symptoms. That said, I am over weight and there's quite a family history (a mix of T1 & T2).

I'm taking this very seriously and monitoring my BG as per instructions from the GP. What an mine field! I genuinely have no idea where to start in terms of nutrition, other than reducing sugar and carb intakes. So far, any type of bread spikes my BG. I appreciate that one size doesn't fit all but would appreciate any advice/suggestions.

Thanks for ready!
Larri

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @DammitLarri and welcome to the forum.
Your are already doing well be testing your food.
All grains (even whole grains) are still mainly carbs and so are best cut down or avoided as are fruit juices and tropical fruit.
The easiest way to start is by getting a Type 2 Diabetes healthy breakfast:
Which unless you need to eat to take medication is either no breakfast at all (to give your body a longer rest from insulin), or to eat a zero carb breakfast such as eggs and/or meat , fish, cheese. So the old fashioned breakfasts like kippers or full English (minus bread, potato & beaked beans). I started by having boiled eggs for breakfast but progressed to not eating breakfast since I was no longer hungry before midday.

 

[DammitLarri]

Hi @DammitLarri and welcome to the forum.
Your are already doing well be testing your food.
All grains (even whole grains) are still mainly carbs and so are best cut down or avoided as are fruit juices and tropical fruit.
The easiest way to start is by getting a Type 2 Diabetes healthy breakfast:
Which unless you need to eat to take medication is either no breakfast at all (to give your body a longer rest from insulin), or to eat a zero carb breakfast such as eggs and/or meat , fish, cheese. So the old fashioned breakfasts like kippers or full English (minus bread, potato & beaked beans). I started by having boiled eggs for breakfast but progressed to not eating breakfast since I was no longer hungry before midday.

Thank you! Eggs are my friend I have found. Salmon has also been a good option for me. I never considered not eating breakfast. My bg was high this morning but came down nicely by lunch time.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @DammitLarri

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it sound like you’ve made a very positive start!

If your headaches might have been exacerbated by dehydration, then that along with fatigue / tiredness are 2 fairly common symptoms of diabetes.

Were you told the result of your HbA1c? This will be a number at or above 48mmol/mol. Understanding your starting point can help you get a feel for the likely extent of changes you may need to make, and how difficult your metabolism has been finding things recently.

Great to hear that your GP has supplied strips and guidance for checking around meals - they sound like a keeper! Are you checking before meals and 2hrs after?

 

[DammitLarri]

Welcome to the forum @DammitLarri

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it sound like you’ve made a very positive start!

If your headaches might have been exacerbated by dehydration, then that along with fatigue / tiredness are 2 fairly common symptoms of diabetes.

Were you told the result of your HbA1c? This will be a number at or above 48mmol/mol. Understanding your starting point can help you get a feel for the likely extent of changes you may need to make, and how difficult your metabolism has been finding things recently.

Great to hear that your GP has supplied strips and guidance for checking around meals - they sound like a keeper! Are you checking before meals and 2hrs after?

Thank you! I never associated it with diabetes if I'm completely honest. I initially put it down to stress. My HbA1c was 53. GP reassured me that it wasn't the worse it could be but it was enough to get it in to check (Mum has a stroke as a result of hers going undiagnosed).

I have been checking before and 2 hours after. It's been eye opening on what spikes the BG. Pizza pushed it to 10mmol! Fish, veg and eggs have so far been the only "safe foods".

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you! I never associated it with diabetes if I'm completely honest. I initially put it down to stress. My HbA1c was 53. GP reassured me that it wasn't the worse it could be but it was enough to get it in to check (Mum has a stroke as a result of hers going undiagnosed).

I have been checking before and 2 hours after. It's been eye opening on what spikes the BG. Pizza pushed it to 10mmol! Fish, veg and eggs have so far been the only "safe foods".

This link may give you some ideas for all the lovely low carb foods and meals you can have, there are some do's and don'ts and some menu ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Many Type 2 wouldn't go near a conventional pizza but some make pizza using something called fathead dough.

 

[DammitLarri]

This link may give you some ideas for all the lovely low carb foods and meals you can have, there are some do's and don'ts and some menu ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Many Type 2 wouldn't go near a conventional pizza but some make pizza using something called fathead dough.

I was being stupidly optimistic with the pizza Thank you for the link. I'll have a good read

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

My HbA1c was 53. GP reassured me that it wasn't the worse it could be but it was enough to get it in to check

That’s certainly in the diabetes zone (which starts at 48mmol/mol), but suggests that some relatively modest changes to your menu, along with losing any extra weight you might be carrying could make a big difference 🙂

 

[DammitLarri]

That’s certainly in the diabetes zone (which starts at 48mmol/mol), but suggests that some relatively modest changes to your menu, along with losing any extra weight you might be carrying could make a big difference 🙂

Had a good day with foods (finally). Woke up with 7mmol, spiked to 9 a few hours later despite not having breakfast yet! BG hasn't risen above 6.9 all day.

 

[Drummer]

Had a good day with foods (finally). Woke up with 7mmol, spiked to 9 a few hours later despite not having breakfast yet! BG hasn't risen above 6.9 all day.

I found that eating a meal with a small amount of carbs for breakfast stopped my BG rising, and I could then go all day and eat 12 hours later without feeling anxious or hungry.
I have about 10 gm of carbs with my first meal, and up to 30 with my second.

 

[DammitLarri]

I found that eating a meal with a small amount of carbs for breakfast stopped my BG rising, and I could then go all day and eat 12 hours later without feeling anxious or hungry.
I have about 10 gm of carbs with my first meal, and up to 30 with my second.

I'm going to try that. I'm up at 5 a.m. and out the door by 6:30 so usually have breakfast when I get to work.

 

[DammitLarri]

Bit of an update: I've managed to cut all unnecessary sugars i.e. in my tea, chocolate etc. I've also worked out that no bread, pasta, rice etc. Is my friend! I've cut them out. Hoping to try fathead bread though.

I've also been following a low carb/high protein diet and tips from all the wonderful people on here. In the space of a few weeks, I've felt better, less tired, more energy and weight is starting to drop off.