I'm a 68 years old woman and for the past year have been a prediabetic (47?) Great genetic history. Father type 1 and mother type 2. I'm 5ft 9 and weigh 9st 2. Walk/jog 40-45k per week. Lot of hills! Don't eat sugary foods, pasta, rice, red meat,processed foods of any type. Diet fish, nuts, seeds, low carb fruits and plants. Don't drink alcohol. I've been the recipient of the usual advice - exercise more, lose weight, give up this food or that.It doesn't apply. So I am at a total loss as to what to do. It seems to me I'm fighting my genetic history, a battle I'm likely to lose some time or another. Over this past week, I've tried to really drop my carbs and then can't exercise because I'm weak, sweat profusely and pretty much feel like passing out. What can I do?
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UTTERLY FED UP....
- Thread starter Maupin
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trophywench
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
May I enquire what carbs you usually consume (cos you don't seem to have any of the usual candidates) and have dropped?
Chris Hobson
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Everyone is different but my own experience has been that doing lots of exercise and keeping the weight off means that I can have a reasonably normal diet. I don't eat anything really sugary and sweet but I do consume a moderate amount of carbohydrates. The amount of exercise that you are doing appears to be similar to mine so my approach could possibly work for you. The best thing to do I think, is to try different stuff and then go with what works for you. This forum is a great source of information and ideas.
Leadinglights
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If you are having so few carbs then you need to be having plenty of protein and healthy fats to provide the energy you are not having in the carbs.
Hi Jenny
Yes I know... hence being fed up and at a loss as to what to do. Best if I give you an example of a typical day's eating this week:
Breakfast - Greek yogurt, home made granola ( no sugar/sweetener) and blueberries
Mid morning - hand full of walnuts
Lunch - Sardines and a green salad dressed with an olive oil and lemon dressing.
Mid afternoon - Apple
Dinner - Salmon, green beans, small carrots and 3 new potatoes.
I drink lots of skimmed milk (have osteoporosis) and 3 litres water each day.
I've had high cholesterol for some years but with the help of some plant sterols and no alcohol managed to bring that down to 4.8.
I should've said in my initial reply that before this week's modifications - I'd have had a slice of sourdough with lunch (not everyday.) & the salad would've have contained some pulses and sweetcorn. Mid afternoon a couple of crackers with an olive based spread.
Thanks Carole
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I think you're spot on. I'm so fixated on carbs and sorting this that all thoughts of a balanced diet has gone out of the window. Diabetes is a pig of a disease and I lost my father to it early in my life so I've been hell bent on trying to swerve it so this has come as a bit of a shock to me. I appreciate that a diagnosis of diabetes in 2022 is very different to one in the 1940s. Thanks Carole
Thanks Chris
Thats exactly what I want - the reasonably normal diet. And to continue to exercise at the same level as I do now. So it will be a matter of trial and error until I get it right. Many thanks Carole
Taffyboyslim
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I think you are a star and are doing brill xx
That's really kind of you. Carole
trophywench
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well as I thought before I even asked you - you just aren't eating enough carbs to get very much joy out of reducing what you do eat ..... only thing I'd suggest is to test your BG yourself before/after at least some meals, so if anything in your normal diet does cause an untoward/unexpected increase in BG you can specifically target reducing or eliminating that?
Lucy
I drink a litre each day on the advice of my osteporosis consultant. So that's 50g of carbs daily just like that. I've been doing this since mid 2019 (when the osteo was diagnosed.) I've been advised not to take the calcium in tablet form (it can cause heart problems?) Another example of supposedly doing the right thing with possible negative health implications.
I am just so glad I've joined this forum..... this may sound stupid but I'd totally ignored what I was drinking... I'll need to do some research on calcium supplements and see if they are quite as bad as Ive been told. I'd much rather eat more food that drink milk. Thanks a mill. Carole
Jenny
Yes, life /eating ( I usually love my food) was getting a tad joyless. The prospect of eating like that for the forseeable was pretty depressing. Nor can I afford to lose any weight. Otherwise my energy levels drop like a stone. I will do what you suggest. I don't do this currently. But it would be interesting. I have my suspicions about some foods so let's see if I'm right. Thanks for your help.It is really appreciated. Carole
Chris Hobson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Almond milk has calcium in it. I don't know how it compares with cows milk but it has hardly any carbs as long as you get the unsweetened kind.
@Maupin given you already eat a lowish carb diet and exercise regularly, has Type 1 been considered? With your father's history, it is a possibility.
Don't be put off by the myth that Type 1 is only diagnosed in children - more than half of the people with Type 1 in the UK were diagnosed over the age of 20. I believe the eldest often quoted was 91. So you're a Spring Chicken in comparison
Don't be put off by the myth that Type 1 is only diagnosed in children - more than half of the people with Type 1 in the UK were diagnosed over the age of 20. I believe the eldest often quoted was 91. So you're a Spring Chicken in comparison
Jenny105
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
We are all different it seems.Try the phone line here. I found it helpful. And somewhere theres a meal planner on site
A pal is similar to U. 74, ex dentist never had sugars, 8 stone region, under 5 ft. BUT Little exercise. She came up pre diabetic. Feels fed up. . Feeling faint. once fainted before lunch. She doesnt have brekkie !! Im 71, 5 ft , weight dropped suddenly from 10st to 7st 10. Hearing dog to be exercised off lead x 1 hr a day. See my signature for my test results.
I cut my carbs drastically @ first - no hypos. But I do have 3 meals a day Plenty of protein @ each, fats (lo Sat fat), varied veg (not too many carby ones but some), plenty of salad, and Alpro no sugar .Berries, Jordans no sugar, Eggs. My joy is Liv Life bread 3.9 carb a slice. 3-4 slices a time. And deliciously Ella choc nut sqs and Nomo choc. Morrisons and Waitrose Choc Ices in the heat
I use the PC to research my shopping/nutritional values. My test results have enabled me to dabble with normal food again after a year of hard graft
A pal is similar to U. 74, ex dentist never had sugars, 8 stone region, under 5 ft. BUT Little exercise. She came up pre diabetic. Feels fed up. . Feeling faint. once fainted before lunch. She doesnt have brekkie !! Im 71, 5 ft , weight dropped suddenly from 10st to 7st 10. Hearing dog to be exercised off lead x 1 hr a day. See my signature for my test results.
I cut my carbs drastically @ first - no hypos. But I do have 3 meals a day Plenty of protein @ each, fats (lo Sat fat), varied veg (not too many carby ones but some), plenty of salad, and Alpro no sugar .Berries, Jordans no sugar, Eggs. My joy is Liv Life bread 3.9 carb a slice. 3-4 slices a time. And deliciously Ella choc nut sqs and Nomo choc. Morrisons and Waitrose Choc Ices in the heat
I use the PC to research my shopping/nutritional values. My test results have enabled me to dabble with normal food again after a year of hard graft
Rob Oldfield
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Carole,
Not sure if you're already aware, but the Royal Osteoporosis Society have a free number to call (and staffed by people who know what they're talking about). Worth giving them a call?
Royal Osteoporosis Society - Better Bone Health for Everybody
We are the UK’s only national charity dedicated to bone health and osteoporosis. We work to improve the bone health of the nation and support everyone with osteoporosis to live well through our support services and advice.
theros.org.uk
Hi Helli
No one has mentioned it. And I'm surprised that they haven't. I read a bit about late onset T1 yesterday... I sort of fit better into this category ( as I understand it ) rather than T2. I mentioned in an earlier post about trying to swerve diabetes all my adult life given what happened to my father. So puddings, cakes, sweets, chocolate, pasta, pizzas and the like have never been a feature in my diet (long suffering OH) and Ive always exercised - like always and hard. Hence this pre-diabetic stuff was met with utter disbelief on my part.... Carole
Hi RobHi Carole,
Not sure if you're already aware, but the Royal Osteoporosis Society have a free number to call (and staffed by people who know what they're talking about). Worth giving them a call?
Royal Osteoporosis Society - Better Bone Health for Everybody
We are the UK’s only national charity dedicated to bone health and osteoporosis. We work to improve the bone health of the nation and support everyone with osteoporosis to live well through our support services and advice.theros.org.uk
Everyone is out this afternoon. So I will give them a call..... thanks for the steer. Carole
Update - so I called and I'm ditching the milk and getting some supplements. !!!!!! Consultants!!!!! Carole
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That's exactly what I used to put in my smoothies prior to the 2019 osteo diagnosis. I wonder. Thanks again. Carole
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