Just Joined - Diagnosed with T2

[GoneWithTheDogs]

Hello from the States.
I've been teetering on the edge of T2 for months, but it finally reached the magic number on September 10th (6.6% based on 6.5% threshold). I had a doctor's visit yesterday and she gave me a blood testing kit, and script for 500mg metFormin per day.

This morning I did not take the metFormin yet because I wanted a control value first. My blood test before eating was 129 mg/l. I had a smoothie after the test containing probiotic (made with kefer), 1 cup of berries, 1 banana, and tablespoon of chia seeds, and a tablespoon of flax seed. After 2 hours, I took another test with a value of 162 mg/l.

I think my biggest challenge will be with diet. I have always been thin and never really cared about my diet. I started drinking smoothies last January to help with cholesterol. I have made it my breakfast since then. I've been 20 pounds overweight for the past several years (I'm 6 ft tall 190 pounds). Usually at lunch, I'll just eat a almond crunch granola bar. when you have teenage boys, there usually isn't any leftovers. I stay away from processed foods and might eat out once or twice a week. My doctor told me that my diet is balanced and I need to get it balanced. Does anyone have a link or any suggestions on setting up a balanced diet?

All the best everyone here trying to deal with diabetes!

 

[logindetails]

@GoneWithTheDogs - welcome to the forum. I suspect that someone will be along with some good diet advice shortly, in the meantime check here.

 

[jack412]

the metformin takes 3 weeks to work, they normally start you off with 500 and build it up over a few weeks
what you did with your smoothe is exactly what you should do...eat to your meter...you found out that you can't have too much fruit, most try to keep under 150 @ 2hr
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
normal glucose levels
Fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L)
One hour after meals under 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/L)
Two hours after meals under 120 mg/dl (6.6 mmol/L)

bread pasta potato etc are other carbs that will cause you trouble, you will need to replace the lost carb energy with healthy fats/oils, increasing protein isnt a good idea

http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf it’s a long page and a video

do you know what you blood test numbers were for your trig/hdl/ldl cholesterol etc

 

[GoneWithTheDogs]

the metformin takes 3 weeks to work, they normally start you off with 500 and build it up over a few weeks
what you did with your smoothe is exactly what you should do...eat to your meter...you found out that you can't have too much fruit, most try to keep under 150 @ 2hr
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
normal glucose levels
Fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L)
One hour after meals under 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/L)
Two hours after meals under 120 mg/dl (6.6 mmol/L)

bread pasta potato etc are other carbs that will cause you trouble, you will need to replace the lost carb energy with healthy fats/oils, increasing protein isnt a good idea

http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf it’s a long page and a video

do you know what you blood test numbers were for your trig/hdl/ldl cholesterol etc

Thanks for the replies and info. Here is the data from my last test.

Cholesterol, Total0 - 199 mg/dL221
Triglycerides0 - 150 mg/dL188
HDL Cholesterol40 - 60 mg/dL42
LDL Calculated<100 mg/dL141
VLDL CHOLESTEROL CALCULATEDNot Established mg/dL38

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hello and welcome to the forum

With best wishes RRB

 

[Andy12345]

hi, welcome

 

[Brunneria]

Hi and welcome.

The good news is that, with a few tweaks, you can keep smoothies on the menu.

They just have to be green smoothies. Have a look at the link in my signature, it has some brilliant recipes for green smoothies, all with much less impact on blood glucose than fruit smoothies (without the green).

 

[Yorksman]

Hello from the States.
I've been teetering on the edge of T2 for months, but it finally reached the magic number on September 10th (6.6% based on 6.5% threshold). I had a doctor's visit yesterday and she gave me a blood testing kit, and script for 500mg metFormin per day.

Metformin is a bit steep. I was much higher and managed to bring it down without meds. Did you not get any advice on foods when you were 6.5? My guess is that if you stuck to low GI foods you'd be back below in a very short period of time.

Testing is the best way to learn about foods and how they affect you. Obviously avoid all the sugary foods but also things like white bread, white rice and mashed potato. Complex carbohydrates, brown rice, pearl barley, wholewheat pasta and smaller portions, say 65% portions, should start to get your levels down. Look for low GI foods.

 

[GoneWithTheDogs]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and advice!

My doctor is supposed to be one of the best in the area, but some of the things she has done the past few years has me wondering. when I had high cholesterol a couple years ago, she had me on stats. She kept increasing it to where I was taking 2 different pills at a time. On my next blood test, my cholesterol was down, but my liver enzymes were way up. She had me stop taking pills for cholesterol and I managed to drop it down on my own by change in diet. I think with the support of this great group I can beat diabetes too...or at least keep it down without meds. I plan on taking the meds, but I will change my diet also. The only down side is that I won't know if the diet is working on its own. maybe after my next blood test on March 1st, 2015, if all is good, I'll talk with my GP about just trying diet.

Thanks again...and Brunneria? it looks like I'll be going green!

 

[jack412]

you will find that the LCHF will lower your trig and raise your HDL with your trig under 130 or even better 90, there is very little sdLDL and you won't have a fatty liver

cutting carbs back isn't the easiest thing to do for me
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm For me, the more carbs we eat the more carbs we want. they don’t give up easy.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm

http://www.lowcarbdietitian.com/blog/carbohydrate-restriction-an-option-for-diabetes-management

blood testing
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

food counting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

American diabetic association ( http://www.professional.diabetes.org/)
http://www.professional.diabetes.org/admin/UserFiles/0 - Sean/dc132042 FINAL.pdf

Evidence is inconclusive for an ideal amount of total fat intake for people with diabetes;
therefore, goals should be individualized; fat quality appears to be far more important than quantity.
In people with type 2 diabetes, a Mediterranean-style, MUFA-rich eating pattern may benefit
glycemic control and CVD risk factors and can therefore be recommended as an effective alternative to a lower-fat, higher-carbohydrate eating pattern.