Type 2 Diagnosed Today

[grovesy]

I read that strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are ok though? Or does it depend on the person?

Yes, I've got a BG monitor on order.

I personal can tolerate blueberries and raspberries, but can only tolerate about half a dozen strawberries.

 

[Utters]

I personal can tolerate blueberries and raspberries, but can only tolerate about half a dozen strawberries.

Ok, yes so very individual. Thank you.

 

[adrian1der]

So should I just be eating fruit for breakfast? Salads for lunch and meat and veg for tea? Chops and veg will be on the menu for tea tonight, but I was trying to avoid spuds due to their high carbs/sugar content. If I do have them, how many should I have ? Just one? On the veg side, I've seen that cabbage and broccoli are two of the best to have, but I'm guessing that most are OK.

Thanks,
David

Hi @Utters and welcome from me. You have had some great advice already so not a lot to add. On the menu side I cook exactly what I used to but have bigger portions of the tasty bits and leave out the dull and boring carb heavy bits. Last night I did a Chicken and Shiitake mushroom stir fry. The family had it with rice and I made myself some cauliflower rice seasoned with chilli flakes and sesame oil. My wife had the cauli rice in preference to boiled rice! Tonight I'm doing a chilli - I'll have a bowl of chilli (the tasty bit) while the family will have rice again.

I rarely eat breakfast (never have) but eggs and bacon is good or berries and full fat Greek yoghurt. Home made soup is great for lunch and omelettes are a great go to for using up anything left over in the fridge.

I started on slow release Metformin and only had mild symptoms which past after a while.

You probably have a mountain of questions - ask away!

 

[rebrascora]

What hasn't been mentioned yet and is important is that you are best to reduce your carb intake slowly. We are all very keen to jump on the band wagon and say this in your diet is high in carbs and so is that, but by cutting carbs too radically, you can bring your levels down too quickly and risk potential damage to the small blood vessels in the eyes particularly, so a slow and steady reduction is best. The suggestion to keep a food diary and quantify the high carb foods (so x slices of bread and y pieces of potato and weigh out your porridge oats, so you know how many grams you are eating) is a good one and aim for perhaps half your regular carb intake for a week or two and then maybe half it again depending upon how your levels are looking.

I would be surprised if your levels don't drop with a reduction in carbs. Even if you are Type 1, the onset tends to be slower in older adults (which is why it is often mistaken for Type 2) and will usually respond to changes in diet and sometimes Type 2 medication. Young people tend to get ill very quickly and go into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) hence the test for ketones but the attack on your insulin producing Beta cells is often less aggressive in more mature adults, so your pancreas will still be producing some insulin and a reduction in carb intake will take the strain off the remaining Beta cells and allow them to cope better with the steady trickle of glucose produced by the liver as well as the smaller portions of carbs you eat and you should still see a reduction in levels. That's not to say that you couldn't suddenly develop ketones and go into DKA but it is less likely.

As Jenny said, fat is now your friend as you reduce carbs. It provides calories/energy and it takes longer to digest so it keeps you feeling full for longer. It also slows the release of glucose from any carbs you eat with it, so eating cream with your strawberries/blueberries/raspberries/blackberries/gooseberries/black and redcurrants, rhubarb stewed with a little sweetener (think tangy fruits where a little gives you a big flavour punch) will slow the release of the glucose. If you treat yourself to a small banana occasionally, having it with cream will slow the effects on your levels. Cheese is our friend and eggs and quite a few of us have proper double cream in our morning coffee instead of milk, because it is lower carb than milk and keeps you feeling full and provides energy. Creamy Greek natural yoghurt is a regular item on the menu and works well for breakfast with berries and mixed seeds and maybe just a sprinkle of granola... look for the lowest carb varieties.... Learning to read nutritional information on food packaging is a key skill for us. You are looking for the total carb content and it will usually be in tiny writing on the back or side of the packaging. It will also say, of which sugars, but the total carbs are all you need to know. Take reading glasses when you go shopping because they really don't make this info easy to see!

 

[Nemesis]

Hi and welcome.

Can I just say that unless you have had specific C-peptide and GAD antibody tests, all you really have with an HbA1c of 98 is a diagnosis of diabetes rather than a specific Type 2 diagnosis. It is often assumed by medical professionals that you are Type 2 because you may be overweight or middle aged or have a family history of diabetes or have a poor diet but without the 2 tests mentioned above, it is just an assumption and it is still possible that you might actually be Type 1 or LADA (slow onset Type1) particularly if you don't fit the usual Type 2 profile. It happened to me 2 years ago at the age of 56 and took 4 months before I had those tests and was found to be Type1. Just something to bear in mind if your levels don't respond to treatment.
Can I ask, did you have a sudden onset of symptoms and have you lost or gained any weight recently?

The other thing I want to mention is that Metformin will have a minimal impact on your BG (Blood Glucose) levels. It is the go to drug for Type 2 treatment because it is cheap and relatively safe but it doesn't have a great impact on levels. By far the most powerful means of lowering your BG levels (short of injecting insulin) is to reduce your carbohydrate intake. That is not just sugar and sweet stuff but also starchy carbs like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and breakfast cereals. Even "healthy" food like fruit and porridge are high in carbs and will raise your BG levels to some extent and are best rationed to a small portion. Not saying you should avoid all those foods but do reduce portion size and with fruit, it is best to keep the exotic fruits like bananas and pineapple and mango etc as an occasional treat and opt for a handful of berries (which are the lowest carb fruits and pack a nutritional and flavourful punch, so a little goes a long way).

Do make sure to take the Metformin with food to minimize digestive upset as it is not unaffectionately known as "Metfartin" for nothing and wind is sometimes the least of your worries with it. 😳 I took it mid meal but still had the odd bout of nasty colic pain and urgent need for the loo, usually at the least convenient times!!

Don't suppose you have been supplied with a BG meter and test strips by your GP? Most Health Care Professionals advise against Type 2 diabetics testing their own blood unless they are on particularly strong medication which can make their BG go too low, but here on the forum we advocate the use of a meter to tailor your diet to what your body can tolerate. By testing before and then 2 hours after each meal, you will see how that meal affected your levels and be able to reduce portion size or avoid foods which cause your levels to spike too high. BG meters are relatively cheap to buy @approx £15 for the two we recommend for self funding here on the forum (the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Healthcare Tee2.... both available online) It is the ongoing purchase of test strips for them which tots up the costs and these have some of the cheapest test strips @£8 for a pot of 50 whereas some meters have test strips which are 2x or even 3x that price.

Anyway, sorry to bombard you with so much information in a first post but hope it is of some help and if you have any questions, then feel free to ask.

Found this really interesting thank-you, I have recently been told I am Type 2 Diabetic - but all I have had is a HbA1c test.
I am overweight but didn't have symptoms that I was aware of until recently when I gained a lot of weight - I believe through stress eating following my father's death early last year. Dealing with Probate/Return of Estate Information and the Post Office losing the Will did little to help my stress levels and then of course getting 3 hours sleep a night because I was waking up thinking I must deal with things and not waste time sleeping on top probably also didn't help.
Hoping I can turn things around and looks like this forum could be a great help.

 

[ColinUK]

For me it’s raspberries, blackberries and strawberries which are ok in moderation.

That said I can have the very occasional peach or nectarine without any issues if I’ve been controlled with my BG for a while.

 

[Utters]

Hi @Utters and welcome from me. You have had some great advice already so not a lot to add. On the menu side I cook exactly what I used to but have bigger portions of the tasty bits and leave out the dull and boring carb heavy bits. Last night I did a Chicken and Shiitake mushroom stir fry. The family had it with rice and I made myself some cauliflower rice seasoned with chilli flakes and sesame oil. My wife had the cauli rice in preference to boiled rice! Tonight I'm doing a chilli - I'll have a bowl of chilli (the tasty bit) while the family will have rice again.

I rarely eat breakfast (never have) but eggs and bacon is good or berries and full fat Greek yoghurt. Home made soup is great for lunch and omelettes are a great go to for using up anything left over in the fridge.

I started on slow release Metformin and only had mild symptoms which past after a while.

You probably have a mountain of questions - ask away!

Hi Adrian, thank you. Your meals sound great - I'll have to look into the cauliflower rice as a substitute. So low fat beef is ok to use in a chilli? Again, it probably depends on what my body can tolerate.

I had bought low fat greek yoghurt, but I was surprised to see how much sugar was in it per 1/4 tube - 7g!

Thanks again,
David.

 

[Utters]

What hasn't been mentioned yet and is important is that you are best to reduce your carb intake slowly. We are all very keen to jump on the band wagon and say this in your diet is high in carbs and so is that, but by cutting carbs too radically, you can bring your levels down too quickly and risk potential damage to the small blood vessels in the eyes particularly, so a slow and steady reduction is best. The suggestion to keep a food diary and quantify the high carb foods (so x slices of bread and y pieces of potato and weigh out your porridge oats, so you know how many grams you are eating) is a good one and aim for perhaps half your regular carb intake for a week or two and then maybe half it again depending upon how your levels are looking.

I would be surprised if your levels don't drop with a reduction in carbs. Even if you are Type 1, the onset tends to be slower in older adults (which is why it is often mistaken for Type 2) and will usually respond to changes in diet and sometimes Type 2 medication. Young people tend to get ill very quickly and go into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) hence the test for ketones but the attack on your insulin producing Beta cells is often less aggressive in more mature adults, so your pancreas will still be producing some insulin and a reduction in carb intake will take the strain off the remaining Beta cells and allow them to cope better with the steady trickle of glucose produced by the liver as well as the smaller portions of carbs you eat and you should still see a reduction in levels. That's not to say that you couldn't suddenly develop ketones and go into DKA but it is less likely.

As Jenny said, fat is now your friend as you reduce carbs. It provides calories/energy and it takes longer to digest so it keeps you feeling full for longer. It also slows the release of glucose from any carbs you eat with it, so eating cream with your strawberries/blueberries/raspberries/blackberries/gooseberries/black and redcurrants, rhubarb stewed with a little sweetener (think tangy fruits where a little gives you a big flavour punch) will slow the release of the glucose. If you treat yourself to a small banana occasionally, having it with cream will slow the effects on your levels. Cheese is our friend and eggs and quite a few of us have proper double cream in our morning coffee instead of milk, because it is lower carb than milk and keeps you feeling full and provides energy. Creamy Greek natural yoghurt is a regular item on the menu and works well for breakfast with berries and mixed seeds and maybe just a sprinkle of granola... look for the lowest carb varieties.... Learning to read nutritional information on food packaging is a key skill for us. You are looking for the total carb content and it will usually be in tiny writing on the back or side of the packaging. It will also say, of which sugars, but the total carbs are all you need to know. Take reading glasses when you go shopping because they really don't make this info easy to see!

Hi Barbara, thanks so much for this, it's really informative! It gives me plenty to think about.

 

[Utters]

For me it’s raspberries, blackberries and strawberries which are ok in moderation.

That said I can have the very occasional peach or nectarine without any issues if I’ve been controlled with my BG for a while.

I'm happy enough to eat the berries, so I reckon that I'll stick with them for now . . . until perhaps, I find out that they're not happy with me.

 

[adrian1der]

The problem with low fat food is that they are generally higher in carbs than the full fat version

How to make cauliflower rice

Pulse cauliflower in a food processor to make cauliflower rice. This easy side dish is much lower GI than regular rice and ready in just 10 minutes

www.bbcgoodfood.com

will tell you all about cauli rice

 

[Utters]

Found this really interesting thank-you, I have recently been told I am Type 2 Diabetic - but all I have had is a HbA1c test.
I am overweight but didn't have symptoms that I was aware of until recently when I gained a lot of weight - I believe through stress eating following my father's death early last year. Dealing with Probate/Return of Estate Information and the Post Office losing the Will did little to help my stress levels and then of course getting 3 hours sleep a night because I was waking up thinking I must deal with things and not waste time sleeping on top probably also didn't help.
Hoping I can turn things around and looks like this forum could be a great help.

Hi Nemesis, sorry to hear what you have been going through. As you say, it's really interesting and everyone on here have so helpful - a blessing to those of us who are new to the condition. I'll definitely be looking into the GAD antibody tests, etc. in relation to Latent-onset Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) as I already have one autoimmune condition in having alopecia.

 

[Utters]

The problem with low fat food is that they are generally higher in carbs than the full fat version

How to make cauliflower rice

Pulse cauliflower in a food processor to make cauliflower rice. This easy side dish is much lower GI than regular rice and ready in just 10 minutes

www.bbcgoodfood.com

will tell you all about cauli rice

Yes, I'm starting to see that now. That's great! Thanks for the link.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi Adrian, thank you. Your meals sound great - I'll have to look into the cauliflower rice as a substitute. So low fat beef is ok to use in a chilli? Again, it probably depends on what my body can tolerate.

I had bought low fat greek yoghurt, but I was surprised to see how much sugar was in it per 1/4 tube - 7g!

Thanks again,
David.

You will generally find that low fat versions have more carbohydrate so the full fat are a better option, it is not the fat you should be too worried about but the carbs. Many people avoid the low fat products like the plague other if theycan't tolerate because of conditions not related to their diabetes. No real need to have low fat meat unless that is what you prefer. But if you are cutting carbs than having higher fat will help you to not feel hungry. Good advice to reduce carbs slowly as I dropped my carbs to 60g per day immediately and have had some vision issues.

 

[trophywench]

Far as I know, there is not any recommended amount of carbs to eat for people with diabetes. I've been adult for rather a long time by now - I have never ever in my whole life eaten 2-300g of carb in a single day. I'd have died of morbid obesity long before now if I had shovelled c 3 x as much carb as I've ever eaten - either before diagnosis or since - down my neck!

I admit I am 5' 3" and worked in an office between leaving school and retirement - but rarely eat much more than 100g if that.

I don't need more - I've never been in danger of fading away! In truth - the question each of us with diabetes MUST answer for themselves if they want to live long & prosper - is how many g of carb can MY body cope with now?

And we discover this my testing our BG and weighing our food until we find the answers.

 

[Utters]

Far as I know, there is not any recommended amount of carbs to eat for people with diabetes. I've been adult for rather a long time by now - I have never ever in my whole life eaten 2-300g of carb in a single day. I'd have died of morbid obesity long before now if I had shovelled c 3 x as much carb as I've ever eaten - either before diagnosis or since - down my neck!

I admit I am 5' 3" and worked in an office between leaving school and retirement - but rarely eat much more than 100g if that.

I don't need more - I've never been in danger of fading away! In truth - the question each of us with diabetes MUST answer for themselves if they want to live long & prosper - is how many g of carb can MY body cope with now?

And we discover this my testing our BG and
eighing our food until we find the answers.

I've always, until now, packed in the carbs. Mainly because I enjoy(ed) training for and running marathons, etc. Something I'm going to have to figure out going forward.

 

[trophywench]

Steve Redgrave didn't find it easy - but there again he had a LOT more help with his Type 2 (and everything else healthwise) than most are ever able to access.

 

[Utters]

Steve Redgrave didn't find it easy - but there again he had a LOT more help with his Type 2 (and everything else healthwise) than most are ever able to access.

I bet that it was a huge challenge for him. He did a great job too. To be honest, I've never found it easy, even when I wasn't diabetic. Short runs from now on.

 

[TinaD]

Hi Utters. You will get a lot of support on here from the long standing members - I did when diagnosed last summer. You may find it useful to have a book which helps you calculate carbohydrates....Many people recommend "Carbs and Cals (ISBN 978-19082611-5-1). I use it and have found it helpful. The BG monitor is really helpful in finding which carbs cause your BG to reach for the sky. I am following a ketogenic diet (20gms of carb a day - sounds terrifying but bacon and eggs/steak and salad/chicken in creamy garlic sauce/tandoori etc takes the sting out of no toast/spuds/pasta/pizza etc) and as a result now have normal BG on every day that I do not cheat - and a normal HbA1c. Some lucky so and sos on here can eat lots more carbohydrate and get equally good results - we are all individuals and respond differently.

You might try searching for Prof Tim Noakes - he found his running improved on the LCHF diet after his diagnosis with Type2.

 

[Utters]

Hi Utters. You will get a lot of support on here from the long standing members - I did when diagnosed last summer. You may find it useful to have a book which helps you calculate carbohydrates....Many people recommend "Carbs and Cals (ISBN 978-19082611-5-1). I use it and have found it helpful. The BG monitor is really helpful in finding which carbs cause your BG to reach for the sky. I am following a ketogenic diet (20gms of carb a day - sounds terrifying but bacon and eggs/steak and salad/chicken in creamy garlic sauce/tandoori etc takes the sting out of no toast/spuds/pasta/pizza etc) and as a result now have normal BG on every day that I do not cheat - and a normal HbA1c. Some lucky so and sos on here can eat lots more carbohydrate and get equally good results - we are all individuals and respond differently.

You might try searching for Prof Tim Noakes - he found his running improved on the LCHF diet after his diagnosis with Type2.

Hi Tina, thank you for the Carb and Cals book recommendation. That will come in very handy.

Bacon, eggs, steak . . . now you're talking my language 🙂 That's great that you've managed to get your BG levels and HbA1c to normal using the ketogenic diet.

I'll have a look into to LCHF diet - thank you. It sounds interesting. I have had little bit of a look into managed running along side diabetes now and not surprisingly it's mainly about keeping your sugars stable and keeping hydrated.

 

[grovesy]

Hi Tina, thank you for the Carb and Cals book recommendation. That will come in very handy.

Bacon, eggs, steak . . . now you're talking my language 🙂 That's great that you've managed to get your BG levels and HbA1c to normal using the ketogenic diet.

I'll have a look into to LCHF diet - thank you. It sounds interesting. I have had little bit of a look into managed running along side diabetes now and not surprisingly it's mainly about keeping your sugars stable and keeping hydrated.

There is an app too!