- Messages
- 20
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi all,
I've been prediabetic for a year, and thanks to this forum, switched to LCHF soon after diagnosis. However, I also have ME, which means I can't exercise. Part way through the year my GP said I was not diabetic, and didn't need to cut out everything. I stupidly let things like cereal and ice cream sneak back into my diet, and consequently my HbA1c, which just on diet change alone had dropped to 47, went back up to 50, tipping me into the diabetic range. This was despite otherwise sticking to LCHF.
Since diagnosis I have gone back to LCHF, rigorously testing, and avoiding foods that spike my BG. Today I saw the Diabetic Nurse for the first time, and she said a number of things that confused me:
'It's normal to have spikes in BG after eating, and I wouldn't worry unless it was over 13'.
I understood NICE guidelines were 8.5 after meals, and that spikes were dangerous.
'We don't advise self testing because it's invasive and anyway it's your HbA1c result that matters. Really the only time worth testing is first thing in the morning'
Huh???
'You need a balanced diet with 5 portions of fruit & veg a day. A portion of fruit would be a pear, an apple, a handful of grapes...' I was so shocked I queried that one. Pears, grapes, aren't they full of sugar? I was told I didn't need to cut them out.
'You can eat ready meals, just look for the low sugar, low fat ones'
But, I said, they're still high in carbohydrates. That didn't seem to matter. But I should be careful about eating too much fat.
I came out feeling as if I'd been given totally backward advice, albeit by a very nice Nurse. How does one know what advice to follow?
Thank you for any insights, my head is reeling.
I've been prediabetic for a year, and thanks to this forum, switched to LCHF soon after diagnosis. However, I also have ME, which means I can't exercise. Part way through the year my GP said I was not diabetic, and didn't need to cut out everything. I stupidly let things like cereal and ice cream sneak back into my diet, and consequently my HbA1c, which just on diet change alone had dropped to 47, went back up to 50, tipping me into the diabetic range. This was despite otherwise sticking to LCHF.
Since diagnosis I have gone back to LCHF, rigorously testing, and avoiding foods that spike my BG. Today I saw the Diabetic Nurse for the first time, and she said a number of things that confused me:
'It's normal to have spikes in BG after eating, and I wouldn't worry unless it was over 13'.
I understood NICE guidelines were 8.5 after meals, and that spikes were dangerous.
'We don't advise self testing because it's invasive and anyway it's your HbA1c result that matters. Really the only time worth testing is first thing in the morning'
Huh???
'You need a balanced diet with 5 portions of fruit & veg a day. A portion of fruit would be a pear, an apple, a handful of grapes...' I was so shocked I queried that one. Pears, grapes, aren't they full of sugar? I was told I didn't need to cut them out.
'You can eat ready meals, just look for the low sugar, low fat ones'
But, I said, they're still high in carbohydrates. That didn't seem to matter. But I should be careful about eating too much fat.
I came out feeling as if I'd been given totally backward advice, albeit by a very nice Nurse. How does one know what advice to follow?
Thank you for any insights, my head is reeling.