Probably Type 2 - Devastated

[SuperCat]

Hi there
I am also a newbie but 3-4 weeks in and although I have found some of the adjustments hard I am getting there and have changed to a low (not NO) carb diet. I am eating between 110-130g daily. I am still discovering new ways to do things. I have been feeling slightly nauseous from the metformin at times but bearable, and also hungry a lot of the time. The last couple of days I bulked out a couple of meals with two giant mushrooms (fried) which were not only delicious but filling. I am learning to trust that I don't need as many carbs as I think. Porridge swapped for half a slice rye bread and two eggs for breakfast. Lots of salad and veg and I have had no rice, white pasta, white bread, crisps, or other delights! I have had on occasion about 10 lentil pasta tubes with a meal and they have been okay. I am getting through mountains of veg, fruit and natural yoghurt, not to mention the nuts. Cooking and food prep has required considerable more effort than usual and a more expensive shopping bill but totally worth it as I genuinely feel better. Every day I plan what I am going to eat including snacks so I am not suddenly left hungry with no plan! I too have had some personal stress in my life which usually means grabbing the maltesers or crisps but I have resisted and instead been online to plan some new clothes for when I have reached my weight target!! This forum has been invaluable with the advice offered (-:

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi there
I am also a newbie but 3-4 weeks in and although I have found some of the adjustments hard I am getting there and have changed to a low (not NO) carb diet. I am eating between 110-130g daily. I am still discovering new ways to do things. I have been feeling slightly nauseous from the metformin at times but bearable, and also hungry a lot of the time. The last couple of days I bulked out a couple of meals with two giant mushrooms (fried) which were not only delicious but filling. I am learning to trust that I don't need as many carbs as I think. Porridge swapped for half a slice rye bread and two eggs for breakfast. Lots of salad and veg and I have had no rice, white pasta, white bread, crisps, or other delights! I have had on occasion about 10 lentil pasta tubes with a meal and they have been okay. I am getting through mountains of veg, fruit and natural yoghurt, not to mention the nuts. Cooking and food prep has required considerable more effort than usual and a more expensive shopping bill but totally worth it as I genuinely feel better. Every day I plan what I am going to eat including snacks so I am not suddenly left hungry with no plan! I too have had some personal stress in my life which usually means grabbing the maltesers or crisps but I have resisted and instead been online to plan some new clothes for when I have reached my weight target!! This forum has been invaluable with the advice offered (-:

Brilliant you have made some good changes, a couple of suggestions, try black bean or edamame bean pasta or noodles as they are much lower carb than wheat or even the pea or lentil pasta. You could try the high protein yoghurts or Kvarg deserts as the are low carb and low fat or sugarfree jelly with some added berries with cream as a desert. Also soups are good options as a few veg can make a huge pot of soup. courgette and brie or stilton, broccoli and stilton, butternut squash and red pepper, leek, celery and pea are my favourites and pretty cheap.
I found my shopping bill went down as what would previously made 4 portions now made 6 so some for the freezer for home made ready meals.

 

[Tac0caT]

Update: Hba1c result from yesterday was 37! Over the moon with that result!

Yesterday there was a "Bake-Off" at work after my test and I was a little bit naughty, there were some low sugar brownies which I had 3 small pieces off, and a savoury scone with clotted cream. BG held up quite well yesterday to be honest, was 5.4 before bed and woke up at 7.3 - now back to eating as I should be in prep for the next one!

 

[saffron15]

Wow that is fantastic. I was 69 at end of June and 64 end of
July and wasn't given a choice whether to avoid meds which started mid August. However it wasn't till I joined the forum in August that I had a better idea of what works. My last test end of September was 51 so going in the right direction. I bet your whole family are now healthier too.

 

[silver minion]

Update: Hba1c result from yesterday was 37! Over the moon with that result!

Yesterday there was a "Bake-Off" at work after my test and I was a little bit naughty, there were some low sugar brownies which I had 3 small pieces off, and a savoury scone with clotted cream. BG held up quite well yesterday to be honest, was 5.4 before bed and woke up at 7.3 - now back to eating as I should be in prep for the next one!

Brilliant result. I am so pleased for you. Looks like your little treat didn't mess with your BG. From all the reading of posts on the forum I think an occasional treat is fine providing we don't slide back into old high carb eating habits. I think the current target from my DN is HbA1c of 50 at next review before Christmas. If I can get to your figure I will be ecstatic.

 

[New2BoatLife]

Hi and welcome. Feeling shocked and scared after your diagnosis is totally normal, and what most people go through. As Inka says, 80 mmol/mol is not horribly high and you can look on this as an opportunity to become a healthier dad and husband.
There's lots of stuff posted online, but this Forum is really the best place to seek advice and learn - between us we have centuries of experience. The initial suggestion for newly diagnosed Type 2 is to look at lifestyle changes. Please have a look at the Learning Zone on this Forum as it will give you all the information you probably didn't take in when you were diagnosed. I suggest one module a day, starting with food and then exercise. For you, dealing with the mental aspects will probably be very helpful as well.
Reading your food diary, I see you follow a very typical modern day diet, with lots of high carb foods. It is suggested that you should aim for less than 130gm carbs per day. This does not mean NO carbs, and the reduction should be done slowly so as not to affect your eyes. So you will be best advised to get your wife on board to help you make adjustments to your meals. It will probably benefit her, and educate your children as well. The items to reduce are bread, potato, rice, pasta, cereals, some fruits, processed foods, and of course cakes, biscuits, sweets, pastries. Smaller portions, bulked up with vegetables and protein.
I've run through your quoted meal items through my app, to give you an idea of your daily carb intake. Getting an app was the first thing I did on diagnosis and is great for portion control and keeping me on the straight and narrow. You will be surprised at how high some of the items are. (Shame they taste good)

Costa Coffee Vanilla Latte - from 17gm carbs for a small with skimmed milk, to 34gm for a large with full fat milk

Sausage roll (Greggs) - 24gm carbs
Cornish Pasty - 52gm carbs

Tesco Chicken salad sandwich - 45.7gm carbs
Tesco tuna sweetcorn salad - 51gm carbs

12" pepperoni pizza - 1/8 slice 17.7gm carbs, or 71.3gm for half the pizza
Homemade lasagne - from 40.8gm carbs for a 340gm serving to 62.5gm for a 520gm serving.
2 pieces battered chicken - around 12gm carbs

This is before you take into account your drinks, vegetables, fruit, puddings, snacks.

You might like to consider having some breakfast at home - for example Greek yogurt with berries, rather than stop for a latte and pastry. Then taking in a packed lunch like a salad with boiled eggs, tuna, chicken, or a thermos of home made soup. You or your wife could make batches of healthy home made foods. I use a slow cooker and freeze portions. These are just suggestions.

Some people follow lowcarbfreshwell.com/resources/meal-planners/ which would certainly give you plenty of ideas. It is said this is a marathon not a sprint, and to take it slowly so your body adapts. Have you considered swimming? I go to the pool twice a week. But exercise can be as simple as doing more walking, joining in more with the children and their games.

You are not alone, so please ask any questions you may have, as we have all probably asked them.

Hello, what app are you using please? Thank you.

 

[Felinia]

Hello, what app are you using please? Thank you.

I use NutraCheck which is UK based. I recently paid just under £30 for a year's subscription. There is also MyFitnesPal which is USA based but free. There are others.