Pasta confusion

[Dave W]

Recipes in the free magazine I get from my local Coop have delicious pasta recipes which are shown as low in sugars, saturates and salt, and count as 2 of my five a day. That's fine, BUT, having decided to reduce carbs I find the pasta quantities used confusing. They suggest 150grams of dried pasta for a meal for 2 people. Something is telling me that is too much, but I am now in a muddle over the carb content of cooked and uncooked pasta of the same weight. Since Christmas I have been reducing the amount I use in the recipes to 100grams dried pasta, with the other half having a larger serving than me. (btw I don't have a monitor as yet, but not sure if that is relevant lol)

Cooked pasta has approx 50% less carbs for an equal weight than dry pasta. This is logical as the additional weight due to cooking is made up from water.
Doing a very rough calculation on the 150g dried pasta, this equates to about 27.9g/150g carbs boiled pasta per serving which, for me at least, is pretty high.

 

[Drummer]

I can't eat pasta - I can't eat any grain without my BG going up and I feel dreadful as well - no food is worth that.

 

[kentish maid]

Cooked pasta has approx 50% less carbs for an equal weight than dry pasta. This is logical as the additional weight due to cooking is made up from water.
Doing a very rough calculation on the 150g dried pasta, this equates to about 27.9g/150g carbs boiled pasta per serving which, for me at least, is pretty high.
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Thank you for posting this Dave, certainly helps clarify things

 

[Dave W]

Thank you for posting this Dave, certainly helps clarify things

What you really ought to do, if you can, is to test before and after eating pasta. We all react differently, though pasta is very high in carbs and I would guess that it pushes up most folk's BG level even if reheated.

 

[kentish maid]

What you really ought to do, if you can, is to test before and after eating pasta. We all react differently, though pasta is very high in carbs and I would guess that it pushes up most folk's BG level even if reheated.

None of the health professionals I have seen have mentioned anything about monitoring, but having read the posts on here over the last few days I realise I should invest in a monitor.

 

[Dave W]

None of the health professionals I have seen have mentioned anything about monitoring, but having read the posts on here over the last few days I realise I should invest in a monitor.

If you don't test then you don't have a clue about how what you eat influences your blood glucose levels.BG levels are an Input (foods)-BG function.
It might be worth you looking at Diabetes (dot co)(dot uk) as you'll find there a massive user base and advice about BG monitoring devices.

 

[kentish maid]

If you don't test then you don't have a clue about how what you eat influences your blood glucose levels.BG levels are an Input (foods)-BG function.
It might be worth you looking at Diabetes (dot co)(dot uk) as you'll find there a massive user base and advice about BG monitoring devices.

Thank you

 

[kentish maid]

If you don't test then you don't have a clue about how what you eat influences your blood glucose levels.BG levels are an Input (foods)-BG function.
It might be worth you looking at Diabetes (dot co)(dot uk) as you'll find there a massive user base and advice about BG monitoring devices.

btw I am not on medication, and had been led to believe I only need monitor if I was

 

[Dave W]

So, you’ve been diagnosed as T2D and not prescribed medication which is good. But how have you been advised to manage the condition? You can either manage it or let it manage you, and the best way to learn how to manage it is by learning how what you eat and your lifestyle affects your blood sugar level.
Have a look at the link I suggested.

 

[Drummer]

Not testing is like being shown how to drive in a car which has no working speedometer and being told - oh if you get points on your licence then you are driving too fast.

 

[kentish maid]

So, you’ve been diagnosed as T2D and not prescribed medication which is good. But how have you been advised to manage the condition? You can either manage it or let it manage you, and the best way to learn how to manage it is by learning how what you eat and your lifestyle affects your blood sugar level.
Have a look at the link I suggested.

My HbA1c was 48 in September last year, GP implied if I lost a stone I would 'reverse' the diabetes. Have seen diabetic nurse twice, and been on a Derek course. Since September I have lost 12kgs, now weighing 75kgs with a BMI of 25. Have stopped eating cakes, crisps, puddings and also what my son calls 'double carbing' (eating garlic bread with pasta dishes and having bread with dishes which already have potato or rice in them). Ditched ready meals almost entirely and now cook from scratch. Have always enjoyed veg and salad so am eating more of those but have to be careful with fruit as I have other digestion problems. Also doubled the length of my afternoon walk with the dog so I got more exercise. Diabetic nurse says my HbA1c will be checked again at my annual review in October, and didn't check it in January when I saw her. To be honest I felt deflated, as she said Diabetes could not be reversed, you just went into remission, and appeared unimpressed by my weight loss. Came away not really knowing if what I had been doing had helped or not. Her only real advice on eating was to swap my Jordans Country Crisp for Weetabix (which I can't tolereate due to IBS), only eat baby bananas and to not walk around bare foot !!! (which I usually do from April - September) Sorry if I have gone on a bit. btw have read the link, found it very helpful, thank you

 

[Sally W]

Have just got his Clever Guts and 8 Week Blood Sugar books, looking forward to picking up some hints

The really interesting bit of clever gut book is where the doctor has microbiome testing and finds out croissants didn’t affect her BS levels. I’m definitely testing done once it’s available in UK

 

[Sally W]

My HbA1c was 48 in September last year, GP implied if I lost a stone I would 'reverse' the diabetes. Have seen diabetic nurse twice, and been on a Derek course. Since September I have lost 12kgs, now weighing 75kgs with a BMI of 25. Have stopped eating cakes, crisps, puddings and also what my son calls 'double carbing' (eating garlic bread with pasta dishes and having bread with dishes which already have potato or rice in them). Ditched ready meals almost entirely and now cook from scratch. Have always enjoyed veg and salad so am eating more of those but have to be careful with fruit as I have other digestion problems. Also doubled the length of my afternoon walk with the dog so I got more exercise. Diabetic nurse says my HbA1c will be checked again at my annual review in October, and didn't check it in January when I saw her. To be honest I felt deflated, as she said Diabetes could not be reversed, you just went into remission, and appeared unimpressed by my weight loss. Came away not really knowing if what I had been doing had helped or not. Her only real advice on eating was to swap my Jordans Country Crisp for Weetabix (which I can't tolereate due to IBS), only eat baby bananas and to not walk around bare foot !!! (which I usually do from April - September) Sorry if I have gone on a bit. btw have read the link, found it very helpful, thank you

Firstly well done for your impressive results. Be proud of yourself. Your nurse sounds just like mine. All she said to me was eat low-fat and don’t have 8 pieces of toast or 4 jacket potatoes at once! I think they need re-education.

 

[kentish maid]

Firstly well done for your impressive results. Be proud of yourself. Your nurse sounds just like mine. All she said to me was eat low-fat and don’t have 8 pieces of toast or 4 jacket potatoes at once! I think they need re-education.

Thank you 🙂
I think you are right, some of the nurses are not very well informed.
One strange thing I found was that a month after I was diagnosed I went to my grandson's 6th birthday, and felt it would be rude not to have cake, took one mouthful and found it far too sweet !!! Having eaten really luscious cupcakes previously, and gone back for more, I was surprised how quickly my tastes had changed

 

[aseret]

You test just before eating and again 2 hours later. if there is a MASSIVE difference (and i think the guide says more than 2 but sometimes mine goes up by as much as 5 or 6 - I used to panic but i am more pragmatic about it now) then you know that something in that meal was not suitable and you cut it out.

The weight loss is brilliant - do you feel better for it???? - and it DOES help.

I have 'adapted' the Atkins and formed a sort of hybrid between Atkins and 16 hour fasting, (I dont eat before 11am and i never eat after 7pm), this works well for me, but it is not for everyone. I too have upped my exercise - not started running marathons or anything, but walk more briskly with my dogs (they look a bit thinner too actually) and do a fitness class a couple of times a week. I am gradually introducing 'slow release' carbs back into my diet but with caution.

Its a bit 'trial and error' and the attitude of the medical team is not helpful because it appears that the bulk of their advice revolves around Low Fat, Low Calorie diets (which incidentally is what probably got me overweight in the first place). It sounds as though you are doing really really well. Don't let 'them' get you down. sorry, i have gone on and on. Nous sommes tous magnifiques!

 

[aseret]

Sorry, that last post seemed to cut off the first part of my reply.......

 

[kentish maid]

You test just before eating and again 2 hours later. if there is a MASSIVE difference (and i think the guide says more than 2 but sometimes mine goes up by as much as 5 or 6 - I used to panic but i am more pragmatic about it now) then you know that something in that meal was not suitable and you cut it out.

The weight loss is brilliant - do you feel better for it???? - and it DOES help.

I have 'adapted' the Atkins and formed a sort of hybrid between Atkins and 16 hour fasting, (I dont eat before 11am and i never eat after 7pm), this works well for me, but it is not for everyone. I too have upped my exercise - not started running marathons or anything, but walk more briskly with my dogs (they look a bit thinner too actually) and do a fitness class a couple of times a week. I am gradually introducing 'slow release' carbs back into my diet but with caution.

Its a bit 'trial and error' and the attitude of the medical team is not helpful because it appears that the bulk of their advice revolves around Low Fat, Low Calorie diets (which incidentally is what probably got me overweight in the first place). It sounds as though you are doing really really well. Don't let 'them' get you down. sorry, i have gone on and on. Nous sommes tous magnifiques!

Thank you, or should I say Merci beaucoup 🙂. Yes I do feel better, and now when I get on the scales with the dog to weigh her our combined weights are less than I used to weigh lol. She has lost weight too.

 

[Blodwen]

Recipes in the free magazine I get from my local Coop have delicious pasta recipes which are shown as low in sugars, saturates and salt, and count as 2 of my five a day. That's fine, BUT, having decided to reduce carbs I find the pasta quantities used confusing. They suggest 150grams of dried pasta for a meal for 2 people. Something is telling me that is too much, but I am now in a muddle over the carb content of cooked and uncooked pasta of the same weight. Since Christmas I have been reducing the amount I use in the recipes to 100grams dried pasta, with the other half having a larger serving than me. (btw I don't have a monitor as yet, but not sure if that is relevant lol)

Hi if you are looking for a monitor have you looked at careens spirit healthcare. They will send you a monitor if you ask them and they are very economical I find them very helpful. I only know about them beacause I was given one by the specialist nurse. Having a monitor does help you understand the effect of lifestyle on your blood sugars

Good luck

 

[grovesy]

Hi if you are looking for a monitor have you looked at careens spirit healthcare. They will send you a monitor if you ask them and they are very economical I find them very helpful. I only know about them beacause I was given one by the specialist nurse. Having a monitor does help you understand the effect of lifestyle on your blood sugars

Good luck

Yes but what is the cost of the strips, many companies give free monitors but to self fund the strips can still be expensive. This how they make money.

 

[kentish maid]

Hi if you are looking for a monitor have you looked at careens spirit healthcare. They will send you a monitor if you ask them and they are very economical I find them very helpful. I only know about them beacause I was given one by the specialist nurse. Having a monitor does help you understand the effect of lifestyle on your blood sugars

Good luck

I will certainly look into that, thank you