Tim, ney diagnosed 121 sugar count.

[Kaylz]

Talking about the dog, we had left the wrapped Christmas presents under the tree and went out to pick my daughters up at the station and when we got back the dog was just starting on the second box of liqueur chocs, talk about a silly, chuckley dog. That was before anyone realised that chocolate let alone the alcohol was bad for dogs.

We've always known how toxic chocolate is to dogs so you can imagine our horror to come home and find she'd eaten a bar of toblrone that someone had hidden behind the sofa! That was one of many bet bills! (she didn't eat other things etc but suffered issues with her weight so was there every month for steroid injections etc) xx

 

[Tim1]

What actual drugs are you taking though?
Some of them encourage the pancreas to kick out more insulin so if you reduce carbohydrate consumption too much, your blood glucose could drop into 'hypo' territory pdq which isn't recommended nor is it pleasant. Just tell us!

Hi I have been prescribed metformin. I believe this acts on cells to allow them to use the insulin produced to respire the glucose from carbohydrates. Since I have reduced the sugar intake I am feeling better, better energy levels, drinking normal amounts if fluids and doing lots of reading about diet! Any advice gratefully received!
Tim

 

[Tim1]

The problem with the GI index is that it is an average of how different foods release their glucose and as with everything biological, there is variation, so there are some people who will find that low GI works really well for them because the carbs release their glucose slowly as expected, but there will be a minority who find their digestive systems break even Low GI foods down very quickly. Like @Drummer I find that the glucose from many low GI foods like porridge, wholemeal bread and legumes hit my blood stream quicker and harder than anticipated, so testing can be really helpful if you opt for low GI.
I think it may also help to understand that 3 teaspoons of sugar is 15g carbs but those carbs will hit your blood stream pretty quickly if they are in a cup of coffee.
A medium slice of wholemeal bread contains 15g carbs but will maybe take another 15-30mins to start hitting the blood stream. If you add a bowl of porridge as well, say 50g dry porridge oats made into porridge, even just with water, that's another 30g carbs going into the system which is a total of 45g carbs when previously it was just a cup of sweet coffee with 15g, so breakfast is now 200% more carbs by switching from a sweet coffee to porridge and a sandwich. Yes it may hit the blood stream slightly slower but it might not be a good strategy for the OP, especially at a time of day when many people are more insulin resistant and therefore BG levels may take longer to come down.

I therefore do think that testing might be a good strategy for the OP in this situation, to ensure that their choices are helpful to their BG levels rather than detrimental.

I know it is a pretty radical thought but sticking with just a coffee for breakfast and perhaps just having 1.5 or 2 sugars in it instead of 3 might be a significantly better option BG wise than replacing it with porridge and a sandwich......
...... Just saying 😱 😳

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do not feel that I have a clear view on the carbohydrates. I have focused on what for me are small portions, no obvious sugar, low gi and generally reduced calorie intake aiming for weight loss to support recovery.
Thanks Tim

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do not feel that I have a clear view on the carbohydrates. I have focused on what for me are small portions, no obvious sugar, low gi and generally reduced calorie intake aiming for weight loss to support recovery.
Thanks Tim

That is fair enough. I just wanted you to understand that your change of breakfast routine might be detrimental rather than beneficial. I am not advocating that you continue drinking coffee with sugar, but just breaking the situation down into facts and figures to show that eating a "healthy" diet may not always give you the outcome you expect. And if you enjoyed your previous regime of a sweet coffee and run rather than food for breakfast, that could possibly still work for you.

One of the great things about testing before and after meals to see the effect of the food we ate on our BG levels is that sometimes we find that things we enjoyed but expected to be bad are less of a problem than things we expect to be good, but perhaps don't enjoy so much. We are all different and our bodies will respond individually. Being able to measure the effect and see it in figures can be hugely beneficial both in tailoring your diet to your individual body's responses to food but also motivational.

 

[grovesy]

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do not feel that I have a clear view on the carbohydrates. I have focused on what for me are small portions, no obvious sugar, low gi and generally reduced calorie intake aiming for weight loss to support recovery.
Thanks Tim

You have to do what works for you. Can maintain.

 

[trophywench]

Well exactly - tailor it to what your body needs and can cope with!

I can get over the fact that porridge looks rather like wallpaper paste reasonably well, especially since I've never seen it served in a 2 gallon bucket wherever I've been - but the taste - aaarrgghh. Never!

 

[Leadinglights]

Well exactly - tailor it to what your body needs and can cope with!

I can get over the fact that porridge looks rather like wallpaper paste reasonably well, especially since I've never seen it served in a 2 gallon bucket wherever I've been - but the taste - aaarrgghh. Never!

I think there are a number of aspect to food which can affect how palatable it is, for some it is texture, for me I can't bear prawns or Okra because of the texture but others it is the flavour, like you with the porridge.

 

[Tim1]

There are plenty of coloured things you can have, broccilli, peppers of all colours, courgettes, aubergine, tomatoes and carrots in moderation, red cabbage as well as eggs, fish, meat and cheese.
Another good book for recipes is The diabetes weight loss cookbook by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi and the Keto kitchen. I bought Tom Kerrigde's Dopamine Diet but find a lot of the recipes seem quite high carb for my chosen carbs per day regime (60g per day), but may suit some.

Just got your recommended text. Cauliflower rice....what next.

 

[Tim1]

I started with an HbA1C of 50mmol/mol so it never occurred to me that reducing carbs significantly (to 60g per day) immediately would be a problem but in hindsight (no pun intended) perhaps more gradual would have been better as I have some vision issues. Not sure quite what, as yet as I haven't been brave enough to go to the optician but now I have had my 1st Jab I will be more confident to go.
I think maybe the suggestion was not to have the porridge and toast at the same time but one or the other would be Ok as a gradual option.

Just had first jab. Now choosing between porridge and toast!

 

[Drummer]

Just got your recommended text. Cauliflower rice....what next.

Well - in my kitchen chopped cauliflower comes just before pouring on the curry.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do not feel that I have a clear view on the carbohydrates. I have focused on what for me are small portions, no obvious sugar, low gi and generally reduced calorie intake aiming for weight loss to support recovery.
Thanks Tim

I think your post has sunk beneath the waves here.
There are many random posts, that aren't really helping.

 

[Inka]

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do not feel that I have a clear view on the carbohydrates. I have focused on what for me are small portions, no obvious sugar, low gi and generally reduced calorie intake aiming for weight loss to support recovery.
Thanks Tim

That sounds a good start @Tim1 See how that goes. It’s better to bring blood sugar down gradually. There are a number of diabetes diets that include moderate amounts of carbohydrate.

 

[Drummer]

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do not feel that I have a clear view on the carbohydrates. I have focused on what for me are small portions, no obvious sugar, low gi and generally reduced calorie intake aiming for weight loss to support recovery.
Thanks Tim

If you send me a personal message I can let you have a list of the low carb options from the vege counters, if that is any use.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do not feel that I have a clear view on the carbohydrates. I have focused on what for me are small portions, no obvious sugar, low gi and generally reduced calorie intake aiming for weight loss to support recovery.
Thanks Tim

Hi Tim1,

Carbs can be a bit confusing but we've got some info on the site that you may find useful https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/carbohydrates-and-diabetes. There's no one size fits all and it's very much dependent on how the foods react with your BS levels so keep testing and tracking!