Hello - I was diagnosed with type 2 in December and immediately lost my appetitie and shed about a stone which was great - I'm afraid it's gradually crept back up, although I have significantly cut down on my sugar consumption but clearly not enough. I am a veggie. I have probably read too much and now am utterly confused - hi or low carbs, is there such a thing as a low sugar, low fat, gelatine free yoghurt? I saw my doctor last week and once again asked to be referred to a dietician only to be told that was simply not possible - I am appalled that the one thing I can do try to manage this condition is unsupported by my medical practice. I've looked for a private dietician and the closest one is about 60 miles away. I work full time and am reluctant to take more time off. I thought I'd found some good advice with Patrick Holford but I've been reading that he's just a money-grapping pill seller. Any advice would be really appreciated - thanks
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veggie diet advice?
- Thread starter Banshee
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Hello Banshee, welcome.
Unfortunately, it's not just sugar that's the problem for us diabetics. All carbohydrates are quickly converted to glucose - cereal can be converted faster than pure sucrose. The pancreas churns out insulin to enable the body to use it as fuel, but us T2s either don't produce enough of it, and/or can't effectively use what we do make (insulin resistance). Losing weight and exercise both reduce insulin resistance, thus making you better at processing carbs without your blood sugar shooting up.
I can't offer much help with low-carb vegetarian foods, but no doubt someone will be along soon to offer advice.
Re: the yogurt question, I don't know of any flavoured ones that don't contain gelatin, but Total 0% Greek yogurt with granulated sweetener and fresh fruit stirred in is lovely and gelatin-free. So is Lake District Cheese Company plain quark (available in Tesco). Both these products contain only milk and cultures, and have a lovely creamy texture.
Unfortunately, it's not just sugar that's the problem for us diabetics. All carbohydrates are quickly converted to glucose - cereal can be converted faster than pure sucrose. The pancreas churns out insulin to enable the body to use it as fuel, but us T2s either don't produce enough of it, and/or can't effectively use what we do make (insulin resistance). Losing weight and exercise both reduce insulin resistance, thus making you better at processing carbs without your blood sugar shooting up.
I can't offer much help with low-carb vegetarian foods, but no doubt someone will be along soon to offer advice.
Re: the yogurt question, I don't know of any flavoured ones that don't contain gelatin, but Total 0% Greek yogurt with granulated sweetener and fresh fruit stirred in is lovely and gelatin-free. So is Lake District Cheese Company plain quark (available in Tesco). Both these products contain only milk and cultures, and have a lovely creamy texture.
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum, Banshee.
Re yogurt - just checked what I have in my fridge, which is Sainsburys Basics low fat natural yogurt, 1.5% fat and 7.0% sugar, which says it's just yogurt with nothing added and doesn't mention gelatine, so I assume it's OK for vegetarians. I find that a 500g pot lasts me about 6 days of breakfasts, with a small amount of muesli, or currently, strawberries from garden. Not low sugar, but a portion of say 100g (less than recommended portion size of 125g, 1/4 pot) would contain 7g sugar. Very cheap at 55p for 500g.
Sadly, low fat products often have added sugar and / or sweeteners, although i nthis case, it's only sugars from milk, not added sugars.
Lake District Quark is lovely, bu I only buy it when it's reduced at end of sell by period - last pot was lemon flavoured and delicious 🙂
Re yogurt - just checked what I have in my fridge, which is Sainsburys Basics low fat natural yogurt, 1.5% fat and 7.0% sugar, which says it's just yogurt with nothing added and doesn't mention gelatine, so I assume it's OK for vegetarians. I find that a 500g pot lasts me about 6 days of breakfasts, with a small amount of muesli, or currently, strawberries from garden. Not low sugar, but a portion of say 100g (less than recommended portion size of 125g, 1/4 pot) would contain 7g sugar. Very cheap at 55p for 500g.
Sadly, low fat products often have added sugar and / or sweeteners, although i nthis case, it's only sugars from milk, not added sugars.
Lake District Quark is lovely, bu I only buy it when it's reduced at end of sell by period - last pot was lemon flavoured and delicious 🙂
Thanks for this advice - I think I'm getting very frustrated at the lack of services to offer advice. I had a scoot around this website yesterday and came across a really useful open letter from Maggie Davey which advocates trying lots of different foods and then testing to work out what can be eaten and when - I think I'm going to discuss this with my doctor to see if he can recommend a testing device and then I need to man up a bit and take control. Fingers crossed I can eat some pasta, fruit and a bit of choc - have to live a bit!
Just a thought Banshee, my own weight loss was achieved with the help/support of Slimming World.
They do a Green plan, which is basically unlimited fruit, vegetables, eggs, fat-free yogurt, pulses, quorn, pasta, rice, potatoes with measured portions of other foods such as bread and cereals. With a few tweaks, such as keeping the high-carb elements to a minimum, it would work for a diabetic vegetarian.
The cost was ?5 a week, and in my view it was money well spent. Now that I'm at Target, I can keep going to the group for free - provided I stay within 3 lbs either side of target. I will probably reset my target a bit lower in the autumn and pay again until I reach that. For the time being, I'm getting used to being 6 stone lighter.
They do a Green plan, which is basically unlimited fruit, vegetables, eggs, fat-free yogurt, pulses, quorn, pasta, rice, potatoes with measured portions of other foods such as bread and cereals. With a few tweaks, such as keeping the high-carb elements to a minimum, it would work for a diabetic vegetarian.
The cost was ?5 a week, and in my view it was money well spent. Now that I'm at Target, I can keep going to the group for free - provided I stay within 3 lbs either side of target. I will probably reset my target a bit lower in the autumn and pay again until I reach that. For the time being, I'm getting used to being 6 stone lighter.
What a fabulous achievement Lee - 6 stone is incredible - you must be so proud. I think that's a really good idea - I'll get through summer and then go in September with a target for Christmas - I just have to get used to not treating myself with chocolate but if I shed a bit of weight there's always new clothes to look forward to - many thanks!
food
Hi Banshee
some time ago I put a bean recipe on the site
in a nut shell
get
2 onions
a can of each type of bean from the supermarket
and a couple of cans of chopped tomatoes ( I use this as a base for a lot of meals)
fry onions add drained beans cook for 10 minutes -- add tomatoes
I use a varity of herbs and spices at the onion stage (chilli -- bolognaise - stew -- salad) depending on what I want to eat (I poach eggs to make curried eggs)--- i also make my own bread using a high grain flour --- the exercise helps work my hands
Hi Banshee
some time ago I put a bean recipe on the site
in a nut shell
get
2 onions
a can of each type of bean from the supermarket
and a couple of cans of chopped tomatoes ( I use this as a base for a lot of meals)
fry onions add drained beans cook for 10 minutes -- add tomatoes
I use a varity of herbs and spices at the onion stage (chilli -- bolognaise - stew -- salad) depending on what I want to eat (I poach eggs to make curried eggs)--- i also make my own bread using a high grain flour --- the exercise helps work my hands
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