Peanut butter.

[Theo]

Just wondering if peanut butter is ok for pre diabetes. In moderation of course. I have read good things about it so thought I’d try asking the many experts on the forum as I’ve learnt such a lot of useful information on here. I’m getting used to my low carb diet and sticking to well under 130 grams per day.
Also one more thing if by early evening when I am well under my 130 target and I’m feeling peckish am I ok to have a couple of weetabix to fill up or shredded wheat. Or are they too carbi for early evening. Thanks

 

[Merluza]

You need to be careful as it is very oily, don't worry too much about the carbs, although they're not to be ignored, but look at the calories.

 

[rebrascora]

Crunchy peanut butter is a staple on my shopping list for my low carb diet. I have a spoonful with half a square of dark 70% chocolate. You have to be careful to check the label for no added sugar and ideally just 100% peanuts. Yes, it is high in calories but many of us doing low carb don't look or worry about calories, just carbs.
Personally I would not have cereal on an evening if I was hungry or anytime for that matter. There are plenty of low carb options for snacks if you are hungry. What I find is that once I start eating things like that, the cravings start and I want more and sticking to low carb becomes difficult. If I avoid carb rich foods, I don't crave them and I find low carb relatively easy.
We are all different though, so what works for one person may not work for another and vice versa.

Do you test before and after meals to see how you respond to them? If so, try your bowl of cereal and see what it does to your levels and if it impacts your waking levels too.

 

[helli]

You need to be careful as it is very oily

What is wrong with the oil in peanut butter?

 

[Merluza]

As long as you don't binge they are fine, even good for you. I've had periods when I've started eating nuts as a relatively low carb snack and before I knew it I was overdoing it and started putting on weight, that's why you need to be cautious.

 

[Merluza]

What is wrong with the oil in peanut butter?

Check the calories.

 

[helli]

Check the calories

OK, so nothing that is different for people with diabetes then.

 

[Theo]

In reply to rebrascora no I don’t test as only found out in January after routine blood test for other things. Was very shocked as not too overweight and very active so I’m really trying to do all I can. My reading was 46 which meant nothing to me but my surgery didn’t seem too concerned and don’t want another blood test until next January. I’m really sticking to under130 grams per day although that is advice picked up on this forum not from diabetic nurse and lost over half a stone. So I’m planning to wait another couple of months then request a blood test as I want to know how I’m doing. it’s very confusing as I’m told weetabix , porridge and my nurse said even Bran flakes are ok, but that’s all. No other. I do weigh everything and write down carb content so as to stick to my allowance. I may have got the wrong peanut butter as mine is crunchy with 97% peanuts palm oil sugar and sea salt. Oh well I only weigh out 20 grams which says 2.6 carbs might have to half it.

 

[harbottle]

I tend to have a tablespoon of peanut butter. It's highly calorific, but full of good fats, fibre and protein.
Carb content can actually be fairly high if you have a lot, though, but you generally don't need too much. (I like it mixed up with yoghurt and berries, or with crushed banana and egg to make pancakes.)

 

[Theo]

Sounds good so 20 grams sounds the same as you as I measured it. Never thought of mixing it with plain yogurt as that would be ok. Especially the plain Greek one as it’s like eating a lemon it’s just too sour for me. I’ll try it just every other day. Thanks

 

[Leadinglights]

Sounds good so 20 grams sounds the same as you as I measured it. Never thought of mixing it with plain yogurt as that would be ok. Especially the plain Greek one as it’s like eating a lemon it’s just too sour for me. I’ll try it just every other day. Thanks

The full fat Greek yoghurt is nothing like the fat free acidic yoghurt, so you may prefer that. Otherwise Kvarg deserts or High protein yoghurt are low carb/low fat and very creamy and filling. Arla or Brooklea (ALDI) are in various flavours.
I use peanut butter to make a satay sauce for stirfry by adding soy sauce and some chilli and a dollop of yoghurt.

 

[Theo]

Where do you get the Kvarg deserts from as all the yogurts I look at seem to have sugar in them even the sugar free ones. Are Arla and brooklea both in Aldi. Plus low sugar. I’ll give them a try as they would make a dessert

 

[Leadinglights]

Where do you get the Kvarg deserts from as all the yogurts I look at seem to have sugar in them even the sugar free ones. Are Arla and brooklea both in Aldi. Plus low sugar. I’ll give them a try as they would make a dessert

The Kvarg deserts are usually found in ASDA, Tesco. Brooklea are ALDI
Look at the carbs not just the sugar. There will be some 'sugar' from the lactose as it is a dairy product but it is the carbs you need to consider.
It is ones with added fruit which will be much higher or ones like fruit corners so you are better with the others and add your own fruit like strawberries, raspberries or blackberries.

 

[harbottle]

Sounds good so 20 grams sounds the same as you as I measured it. Never thought of mixing it with plain yogurt as that would be ok. Especially the plain Greek one as it’s like eating a lemon it’s just too sour for me. I’ll try it just every other day. Thanks

I use full fat Fage Greek yogurt that isn’t sour. I add lemon juice and zest.

 

[Drummer]

I have never eaten peanut butter - just the smell puts me off, but I'd recommend checking the ingredients and some brands add all sorts of random oils or things which are not peanuts.
Breakfast cereals are really high in carbs - I'd advice checking your blood glucose levels after a 'snack' so high in starches.

 

[Theo]

So why does the diabetic website say porridge is ok as are weetabix.
So many different theories. Suppose testing is only way.

 

[Theo]

I thought as long as you kept under 130 grams of carbs a day it didn’t matter where they came from. As surly better than cakes, biscuits etc.

 

[Nayshiftin]

I thought as long as you kept under 130 grams of carbs a day it didn’t matter where they came from. As surly better than cakes, biscuits etc.

I get you 100%. However every person is different.
You are not overweight but have diabetes .near pre diabetic but still good to try and stop getting higher HbA1c levels in diabetes. I think 42 -48 is pre diabetic but others will say more.
Lowering carbs is a great way of reducing sugar as carbs convert in the body to
sugar.
So being good like you are. Some people take medication that lower blood sugar and porridge and weetabix are slow releasers of sugar. But its like saying you can have a treat on a diet for someone a piece of chocolate would be a nice treat especially 70% or above but norm chocolate for some is needed in a hypo. Or like me I react quickly so need 80% . and small amounts.
So hence we test our blood sugars . For example I take my
blood sugar on an accu chek machine Say its 7 then if i ate two squares that naybe 10 two hours after eating . So next time i tried id only have one and maybe be okay. Weetabix at night would not be ideal as id get thirsty and my sugar goes up 4 with that. However my cousin it cones down quickly. She is okay with it.
Have a look at maybe making muffins low carb ones to have aside or i bought liow carb cookies for times when i got too hungry. Maybe try cheese as this is low carb and fills you up.
Im not preaching as I am useless at low carb but it is easier the more you do it. lots of recipes on the Freshwell site. too. There are lots of cookbooks but if you don’t test you will not know what foods are good for you.
We all exercise, have different metabolisms, different intolerances to sugar. Some have more insulin working than others. We are all unique. Good luck

 

[Leadinglights]

You are only at the prediabetes stage and how near to the top of that range will indicate how much you need to be careful of your carb intake. Yes the guidance suggests no more than 130g but some people do need to go lower but I tend to regard it more as what can be tolerated in one meal rather than the day as a whole.
So looking at it meal by meal and testing what you can tolerate will give you a guide as to the amount of carbs you should aim at.
Everybody is different in how well they tolerate carbs and even what the carbs come from, I have seen mention that some people tolerate 20g carbs from bread but not rice or pasta and for others it will be the reverse.
Part of the reason that people who are Type 2 diet only avoid high carb foods like breakfast cereals is they often don't cope with high carb foods in the morning so go for something with protein and healthy fats instead. A common breakfast is full fat Greek yoghurt with berries and then for some crunch a scattering i.e very small amount of a lower carb cereal like granola or all bran or seeds and nuts or of course eggs in any guise. This can also prevent people feeling hungry well before lunch which can often happen with a high carb breakfast.
I personally have around 70g carbs per day divided 15-20g for breakfast and lunch, 25g for dinner and the rest drinks, I tend- not to have snacks.
But you have to find what suits you.

 

[Theo]

Sorry to keep asking but where can I buy low carb cookies or which ones are classed as low carb. Plus where can I find recipe for low carb muffins. Thought all cookies were high carb.