-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Newly diagnosed today.
- Thread starter Nic1987
- Start date
- Status
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum.
That is how a lot of people feel but giving a bit of detail about your diagnosis and any particular questions you have at the moment will allow people to focus their comments.
Do you know what your HbA1C is, are you on any medication and have you been given any support by your GP.
In the meantime have a look at the Learning Zone (orange tab at the top) for lots of information.
Hi @Nic1987 and welcome to the forum.
Many of us felt that way when first diagnosed. Others like me just felt angry that my GP, the NHS and the government had (and continued) to tell me to eat precisely the type of food which gave me T2 diabetes in the first place.
By that I mean '5 a day' and 'lots of whole grains'.
The truth is that all carbohydrates turn into sugar (except for those that humans can't digest which are called fibre).
For many of us eating wholemeal bread is no different at all from eating white bread. And porridge for breakfast can be just as bad as cornflakes! Tropical fruit is very high in sugars - so not good for us, some like ne can't even eat apples or pears and fruit juice is like liquid sugar.
So I switched from over 10yrs of eating very low fat and high Carb to eating low carb with higher Protein and higher fat (to make up for the calories I used to get in the carbs I cut out). The difference in my Blood Glucose was immediate. My HbA1C obviously took longer to come down because it is an average over 3 months.
Many of us felt that way when first diagnosed. Others like me just felt angry that my GP, the NHS and the government had (and continued) to tell me to eat precisely the type of food which gave me T2 diabetes in the first place.
By that I mean '5 a day' and 'lots of whole grains'.
The truth is that all carbohydrates turn into sugar (except for those that humans can't digest which are called fibre).
For many of us eating wholemeal bread is no different at all from eating white bread. And porridge for breakfast can be just as bad as cornflakes! Tropical fruit is very high in sugars - so not good for us, some like ne can't even eat apples or pears and fruit juice is like liquid sugar.
So I switched from over 10yrs of eating very low fat and high Carb to eating low carb with higher Protein and higher fat (to make up for the calories I used to get in the carbs I cut out). The difference in my Blood Glucose was immediate. My HbA1C obviously took longer to come down because it is an average over 3 months.
Hi thanks. Just a shock. My hba1c is 77. Routine bloods picked it up. No symptoms at all. On other medications but not diabetic medications. got 3 months and then another blood test and maybe medication
Hi what did you eat for a low carb diet? Ive done slimming world so all the fruit n veg u can eat and now got to not have much fruit or smaller portions
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
This link might help you find a dietary regime which had been successful with the surgery that developed and implemented the program.
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome
I'm glad you have been given the opportunity to try and reduce your HbA1c without medication, as so many doctors just go straight in with pills. 77 is quite high, so hopefully by following a reduced carb diet you will get it down substantially. However, you are young so if you develop symptoms like lethargy, frequent urination, losing more weight than you would expect, or just feel unwell, do go back to your doctor.
I'm a former SW member and I know members here have adapted SW to fit in with carb reduction. I suggest you download an app which measures cals and carbs. There are free ones or some you pay a fee for. I got one as soon as I was diagnosed. It is suggested a Type 2 should aim for less than 130gm carbs a day. Some people are more sensitive to carbs than others - I experimented and settled for 90gm, but others go much lower. But it is very important not to go to drastic too quickly as it can affect your eyes. Cut down slowly over a period of weeks to your desired level.
As you say, you can eat lots of vegetables, but they should be mainly those from above ground, not root vegetables like potatoes or parsnips. My DN told me a portion size of fruit is 80gm and no more than 2 a day. The best fruit is berries so I get frozen blueberries and strawberries, as it is easy to measure a portion size. I was also told a portion size of potato was 2 new ones. Instead, I look for lots of substitutes, for example cauliflower which can be mashed or riced. I have roasted squash or sweet potato slices instead of chips, and puree swede and carrot instead of mash. You can also get carb free pasta alternatives. I used squash slices to make lasagne. I also make my own soups without thickeners, but add a can of beans like butter, cannellini or haricot beans to an 8 serving pot, then part puree to thicken. They add fibre.
Best wishes
I'm glad you have been given the opportunity to try and reduce your HbA1c without medication, as so many doctors just go straight in with pills. 77 is quite high, so hopefully by following a reduced carb diet you will get it down substantially. However, you are young so if you develop symptoms like lethargy, frequent urination, losing more weight than you would expect, or just feel unwell, do go back to your doctor.
I'm a former SW member and I know members here have adapted SW to fit in with carb reduction. I suggest you download an app which measures cals and carbs. There are free ones or some you pay a fee for. I got one as soon as I was diagnosed. It is suggested a Type 2 should aim for less than 130gm carbs a day. Some people are more sensitive to carbs than others - I experimented and settled for 90gm, but others go much lower. But it is very important not to go to drastic too quickly as it can affect your eyes. Cut down slowly over a period of weeks to your desired level.
As you say, you can eat lots of vegetables, but they should be mainly those from above ground, not root vegetables like potatoes or parsnips. My DN told me a portion size of fruit is 80gm and no more than 2 a day. The best fruit is berries so I get frozen blueberries and strawberries, as it is easy to measure a portion size. I was also told a portion size of potato was 2 new ones. Instead, I look for lots of substitutes, for example cauliflower which can be mashed or riced. I have roasted squash or sweet potato slices instead of chips, and puree swede and carrot instead of mash. You can also get carb free pasta alternatives. I used squash slices to make lasagne. I also make my own soups without thickeners, but add a can of beans like butter, cannellini or haricot beans to an 8 serving pot, then part puree to thicken. They add fibre.
Best wishes
Windy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @Nic1987 diagnosis can be overwhelming, and a shock too. I didn't have any symptoms and mine was picked up at a health check at the surgery.
I got my HbA1c down from 80 at diagnosis in October, to 42 when I had my review in February. I went on a big diet (16kg loss) and cleared all the tempting food out the house so that I wasn't so easily lead astray.
I can recommend making a food diary of what sort of things you eat at the moment, and then make a plan of where you want to be, ie I was 100kg and want to be in the healthy BMI range. I don't have a set target that I will be Xkg by a particular date, but it's something I'm aiming for.
I can recommend the Blood Sugar Diet book, and the Caldesi diabetes weight loss book, or stick with slimming world if that works for you (I've not done SW). Also ask at your surgery if they have any support with weight loss, or can refer you to a weight loss programme if there's one in your area.
It gets easier, I know it's all a bit raw at first, but you can do it, Sarah
I got my HbA1c down from 80 at diagnosis in October, to 42 when I had my review in February. I went on a big diet (16kg loss) and cleared all the tempting food out the house so that I wasn't so easily lead astray.
I can recommend making a food diary of what sort of things you eat at the moment, and then make a plan of where you want to be, ie I was 100kg and want to be in the healthy BMI range. I don't have a set target that I will be Xkg by a particular date, but it's something I'm aiming for.
I can recommend the Blood Sugar Diet book, and the Caldesi diabetes weight loss book, or stick with slimming world if that works for you (I've not done SW). Also ask at your surgery if they have any support with weight loss, or can refer you to a weight loss programme if there's one in your area.
It gets easier, I know it's all a bit raw at first, but you can do it, Sarah
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Nic1987
Be kind to yourself. Being diagnosed with diabetes can be overwhelming and scary - especially if it has come on suddenly out of the blue with no forewarning.
Some people liken it to a form of grieving, with all the unruly, jumbled emotions that can involve including anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and ultimately, acceptance.
Feel free to offload here. We understand what it’s like, and will do what we can to help you make sense of this new chapter. Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.
Many new members find it can be really helpful to keep a brutally honest food diary for a week or two. Note down everything you eat and drink, along with a reasonable estimate of the total carbohydrate content in yoir meals and snacks - it doesn’t have to be gram-perfect, the nearest 5-10g is fine. It might sound like a bit of a faff, and will involve weighing portions, squinting at the fine print on packaging, and possibly looking up things on the internet, but it will give you a really good idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu. Once you can see which meals or snacks are your ‘big hitters’, and where carbs might be unexpectedly lurking, the process might also suggest some likely candidates for swaps, portion reductions, or using lower carb alternatives (eg celeriac or swede mash, or cauli ‘rice’).
Good luck and keep asking away with any questions 🙂
Be kind to yourself. Being diagnosed with diabetes can be overwhelming and scary - especially if it has come on suddenly out of the blue with no forewarning.
Some people liken it to a form of grieving, with all the unruly, jumbled emotions that can involve including anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and ultimately, acceptance.
Feel free to offload here. We understand what it’s like, and will do what we can to help you make sense of this new chapter. Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.
Many new members find it can be really helpful to keep a brutally honest food diary for a week or two. Note down everything you eat and drink, along with a reasonable estimate of the total carbohydrate content in yoir meals and snacks - it doesn’t have to be gram-perfect, the nearest 5-10g is fine. It might sound like a bit of a faff, and will involve weighing portions, squinting at the fine print on packaging, and possibly looking up things on the internet, but it will give you a really good idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu. Once you can see which meals or snacks are your ‘big hitters’, and where carbs might be unexpectedly lurking, the process might also suggest some likely candidates for swaps, portion reductions, or using lower carb alternatives (eg celeriac or swede mash, or cauli ‘rice’).
Good luck and keep asking away with any questions 🙂
harbottle
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Mine was 83 in September 2021, 36 in December at the next blood test. I used the Caldesi 30 minute recipe book mentioned by Windy - some are quite high in fat, though, which might be why my cholesterol has gone up - but they are generally pretty delicious and quick to make. I highly recommend their books. Some of their other books have recipes that are a bit more involved and complex. I make the brown bread and use it to have chicken batches for lunch.
I also make chicken curries using recipes from 'the spicery' (and have them with cauliflower rice. Curries are mainly made using tomato and onion.
Breakfast is usually berries and yoghurt, although I do occasionally make a mushroom omelette or banana pancakes with peanut butter.
I make batches of cauliflower 'pilau' rice and did make a chile from the diabetes.org website that was nice.
I air fry celeriac to make chips, and also make large batches of vegetable soup.
I went from 13.5 stone to 10.5 stone using these books and also doing a daily 30 minute walk (VO2 max has been going up according to my watch, from very low levels last years - this has started happening in the last month.)
I haven't experimented with carb-y foods to see what I 'can take' but have found that a small amount of potato doesn't cause me any issues.
Today's office lunch is Turkey, radishes, celery, tomatoes, cucumber and a dijon mustard dressing (From Caldesi books) with a few small chunks of cheese. (Low fat cheese).
When I was diagnosed I just got on with losing weight and changing the diet - I did it very quickly, which is not recommended, but I (Luckily) had no side effects and two months later started to feel normal again.
I also make chicken curries using recipes from 'the spicery' (and have them with cauliflower rice. Curries are mainly made using tomato and onion.
Breakfast is usually berries and yoghurt, although I do occasionally make a mushroom omelette or banana pancakes with peanut butter.
I make batches of cauliflower 'pilau' rice and did make a chile from the diabetes.org website that was nice.
I air fry celeriac to make chips, and also make large batches of vegetable soup.
I went from 13.5 stone to 10.5 stone using these books and also doing a daily 30 minute walk (VO2 max has been going up according to my watch, from very low levels last years - this has started happening in the last month.)
I haven't experimented with carb-y foods to see what I 'can take' but have found that a small amount of potato doesn't cause me any issues.
Today's office lunch is Turkey, radishes, celery, tomatoes, cucumber and a dijon mustard dressing (From Caldesi books) with a few small chunks of cheese. (Low fat cheese).
When I was diagnosed I just got on with losing weight and changing the diet - I did it very quickly, which is not recommended, but I (Luckily) had no side effects and two months later started to feel normal again.
Hi, I'm still eating Low Carb. It's a 'way of eating' not a calorie restricted diet.
I eat meat, fish, eggs, full fat dairy, oily fruit like olives and avocados, low carb fruit such as berries (raspberries, strawberries and blackberries are better than blueberries), Low carb veg like cauliflower, broccoli, courgette, aubergine, celery, celeriac, green beans and leafy greens. But many other find such things as peas, bean, tomatoes, onions are also OK for them.
- Status