Hi newly diagnosed T2

Suzanne6

Member
Messages
5
Evening, I'm newly diagnosed T2 and trying to get my head around everything this intails. Trying to do a low carb high fat diet and using an app to track my food but have noticed that some of you are talking about eating as little as 50g carbs. This app says I should be eating 184g carbs. Am I using a bad app or is it just that my weight is dictating the carbs?? I should say that I've had gestational diabetes in all 6 pregnancies but I'm out of depth here. My doctor also doesn't seem to concerned because he's making me wait 3 weeks before he'll see again, is this normal or should I be chasing him?

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kevbee

Member
Messages
6
Evening, I'm newly diagnosed T2 and trying to get my head around everything this intails. Trying to do a low carb high fat diet and using an app to track my food but have noticed that some of you are talking about eating as little as 50g carbs. This app says I should be eating 184g carbs. Am I using a bad app or is it just that my weight is dictating the carbs?? I should say that I've had gestational diabetes in all 6 pregnancies but I'm out of depth here. My doctor also doesn't seem to concerned because he's making me wait 3 weeks before he'll see again, is this normal or should I be chasing him?

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184g carbs is way too high. A true low carb diet should aim to be between 20 and 50 grams a day. Use an app like My Fitness Pal which will guide you if you input your meals throughout the day. The aim is to get into a keto state where the body uses its own fat stores as the primary source of energy. Remember fat is your friend. And that eating fat does not make you fat. Eating sugar does.
 
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Jaylee

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Evening, I'm newly diagnosed T2 and trying to get my head around everything this intails. Trying to do a low carb high fat diet and using an app to track my food but have noticed that some of you are talking about eating as little as 50g carbs. This app says I should be eating 184g carbs. Am I using a bad app or is it just that my weight is dictating the carbs?? I should say that I've had gestational diabetes in all 6 pregnancies but I'm out of depth here. My doctor also doesn't seem to concerned because he's making me wait 3 weeks before he'll see again, is this normal or should I be chasing him?

Sent from my SM-N910F using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app

Hi @Suzanne6 ,

Welcome to the forum..

Great to see you here!

What medication for your diabetes are you prescribed? (If any.)
 

Liam1955

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Hello @Suzanne6 and Welcome to the Forum :).
 
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DeryckS

Member
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6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Pump
Evening, I'm newly diagnosed T2 and trying to get my head around everything this intails. Trying to do a low carb high fat diet and using an app to track my food but have noticed that some of you are talking about eating as little as 50g carbs. This app says I should be eating 184g carbs. Am I using a bad app or is it just that my weight is dictating the carbs?? I should say that I've had gestational diabetes in all 6 pregnancies but I'm out of depth here. My doctor also doesn't seem to concerned because he's making me wait 3 weeks before he'll see again, is this normal or should I be chasing him?

Sent from my SM-N910F using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
I found that I just had to keep making a pest of myself with my GP, I'm not sure about the 20-50g of carbs it seems low, I'm keeping to 120g, but also keeping my calories down. If your worried book an appointment with the doctor sooner.
 
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Resurgam

Expert
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Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
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Diet only
All my adult life I was told that eating low carb was wrong - but I put on weight so quickly eating carbs - when I wanted to lose weight I had to stay below 80 gm of carbs a day, and that was with exercise. The idea that carbs are healthy just doesn't work for me, and now that I am older and diabetic I have to keep my carbs even lower, though more exercise would help. When first diagnosed I used my meter to track how foods changed my BG and found that all the same foods which prevented me losing weight also raised my BG levels, and that staying below 8 mmol/l after meals seemed to be effective in changing my metabolism.
My doctors don't seem to be interested in anything but persuading me to take tablets - my diabetes seems to be down to me to sort out, but I do seem to have managed that OK - at least so far.
Some foods do seem to have more impact on my BG that others, legumes, for instance seem to raise my BG more than the carb content would suggest, so I ned to keep to small servings of peas and green beans and avoid anything else.
 
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LittleGreyCat

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Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
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Diet drinks - the artificial sweeteners taste vile.
Having to forswear foods I have loved all my life.
Trying to find low carb meals when eating out.
Evening, I'm newly diagnosed T2 and trying to get my head around everything this intails. Trying to do a low carb high fat diet and using an app to track my food but have noticed that some of you are talking about eating as little as 50g carbs. This app says I should be eating 184g carbs. Am I using a bad app or is it just that my weight is dictating the carbs?? I should say that I've had gestational diabetes in all 6 pregnancies but I'm out of depth here. My doctor also doesn't seem to concerned because he's making me wait 3 weeks before he'll see again, is this normal or should I be chasing him?

Sent from my SM-N910F using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app

Welcome.

It would help if you told us which App you are using.
@daisy1 for the newbie information.

You have to beware of nutritional information; a diet that is good for a non-diabetic may not be good for a diabetic. If you are diabetic you have a problem processing carbohydrates (sugar is just one of the carbohydrates). So it makes sense to limit your carbohydrate intake.

LCHF is exactly what it says on the tin. Low Carbohydrate. 50 grams of carbs is probably about right. 20 grams may be necessary to get you into fat burning mode (ketosis) initially. Everyone is different, though.

184 grams is way too high to be anywhere near LCHF.
 
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daisy1

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@Suzanne6

Hello Suzanne and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. In particular, have a look at the Low Carb Program which should help you. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 250,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

Goonergal

Master
Retired Moderator
Messages
13,466
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Welcome @Suzanne6

You're in the right place for a lot of good advice and support. On the carbs question how low you go is best dictated by using a blood glucose meter to test immediately before eating and two hours after. You're looking for a rise of no more than 2 mmols. Any more and the carb content of the meal needs adjusting. I'm tagging @AM1874 who has some useful information about meters. Some people can eat more carbs than others - personally I've dropped down to 20g or less as my body doesn't cope well with carbs, but other type 2s are eating a fair amount more than that.

If you're on any medication other than Metformin you should take advice about managing carb reduction when using meds that impact on insulin production- there are many knowledgable people here who can help (I am unmedicated so have no experience of this).

You might also want to look at the low carb programme on this website and also the diet doctor website for meal ideas.
 
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AM1874

Well-Known Member
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1,383
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Type 2
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Diet only
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Not much
Hi @Suzanne16 .. and welcome
You have certainly made a good move coming here. Since joining this forum, the folks here have given me so much info, advice and support that I am now much more confident about the journey ahead. So ask your questions and be assured that you will receive the answers that you need. It can all seem uphill to start with but, in my experience, it gets easier .. very quickly.

There is a lot of conflicting and sometimes confusing information around .. but the key point to take on board is that managing and controlling your diabetes (or pre-diabetes) through exercise, diet and testing your blood glucose seems to be the best way forward for many people. For me, committing to an LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) lifestyle and testing 3-5 times a day seems to be working and you'll find that there is a wealth of info, relevant advice and positive support about LCHF on the forum ..

I see that @ daisy1 has already been in touch with you and I suggest that you read up on the valuable information that she has sent you. I agree with what other folk have said above about low carbs .. and I think that you might also find the discussion on the Low Carb Diet forum helpful .. together with the following Diet Doctor websites, which will give you all the info that you need about carb levels and about what and what not to eat ...
Low Carb Intro and Information and Low Carbs in 60 Seconds

Unless you are prescribed a test meter and strips by your Doc (unlikely), it is a priority that you get yourself one and, for this, the following websites might help:
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/
for the SD Codefree meter, which costs £12.98 or:
http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-blood-glucose-meter/
who distribute the TEE 2 meter, which is free.
I have both which I alternate for comparative purposes and I have never found any significant difference between them.

The costs of testing comes down to the ongoing charges for test strips and lancets. Make sure that you tick the appropriate box on the on-line order form and you won't pay VAT on your meter or strips.
For the SD Codefree, the strips are £7.69 for a pack of 50 and there are discount codes available for bulk purchases:
5 packs x 50 use code: 264086 .. cost is £29.49
10 packs x 50 use code: 975833 .. cost is £58.98
For the TEE 2, the strips are £7.75 for a pack of 50 .. but there are no discount codes currently available

I'm testing 3-5 times a day which works out at around £10 to £12 per month for either of the two packages above but, more importantly, I now know what my BG levels are .. and I can now manage them

Hope this helps
 
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Suzanne6

Member
Messages
5
Hi @Suzanne6 ,

Welcome to the forum..

Great to see you here!

What medication for your diabetes are you prescribed? (If any.)

Hi I was put straight onto Metformin 1 tablet for 1 week then onto 2 but I was concerned about going onto the 2 so I'm still taking the one. Apart from my diagnosis I've seen and spoken to no one else.
Sorry it's taken me a while to respond but I couldn't work out where to see the replies . Got it now x
 

Suzanne6

Member
Messages
5
Welcome.

It would help if you told us which App you are using.
@daisy1 for the newbie information.

You have to beware of nutritional information; a diet that is good for a non-diabetic may not be good for a diabetic. If you are diabetic you have a problem processing carbohydrates (sugar is just one of the carbohydrates). So it makes sense to limit your carbohydrate intake.

LCHF is exactly what it says on the tin. Low Carbohydrate. 50 grams of carbs is probably about right. 20 grams may be necessary to get you into fat burning mode (ketosis) initially. Everyone is different, though.

184 grams is way too high to be anywhere near LCHF.

Hi the app I'm currently using is carbs and cals. I get to set my weight and things and with each weight loss it goes down as long as I remember to change the weight.
Thanks for your reply x
 

Jaylee

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
18,214
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi I was put straight onto Metformin 1 tablet for 1 week then onto 2 but I was concerned about going onto the 2 so I'm still taking the one. Apart from my diagnosis I've seen and spoken to no one else.
Sorry it's taken me a while to respond but I couldn't work out where to see the replies . Got it now x

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Knowing what meds you take helps with the right response from folk prescribed same or similar..

Thread reply alerts should show up green in the little flag, top right next to the "envelope" (which is for PMs.)
You might also get a notifacation by email? Just click the link in the message,which will open your browser & bring you to the thread.. But you will need to log in to reply..

Hope this helps? :)
 
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Rachox

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Retired Moderator
Messages
15,810
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I reversed my Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
Welcome! I'm four months from diagnosis. Once I was over the initial shock, I saw it as the proverbial kick up the bum to get healthier. I was started on Metformin and tolerate it well now after a bit of stomach upset in the early days. I wasn't advised to eat low carb, but stumbled on this forum by chance and took up a low carb life style initially I kept to under 100g carbs/day, but after a few weeks I dropped to between 50-70/day. I also started self monitoring. As you increase the Metformin you may find like I did that it reduces your appetite. To date I've lost three and a half stone and got my HbA1c down significantly, all due to the advise I got here.

I'm sure you'll do it too!