Hi there I decided to join this forum so I can gain more knowledge about diabetes. My husband was diagnosed this month with Type 2 Diabetes so we are now trying to get started with this new lifestyle change. Even though I do not have diabetes I would like to join him in eating healthy and find out more about the various meals to prepare in order to maintain his blood sugar level.
Solange
- Thread starter Solric
- Start Date
Jo_the_boat
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 784
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Good for you. There's a lady called Daisy who'll probably be along before long who'll post some very informative info.
Best of luck to your hubby (and you). There's masses of help here.
(What's Solange got to do with anything - or am I being thick?)
Best of luck to your hubby (and you). There's masses of help here.
(What's Solange got to do with anything - or am I being thick?)
Deanoh
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 116
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Diabetes ;)
Welcome to the forum!
You'll get a lot of help on here, check out the food section, many people post meals, recipes etc. for you to use
Can I also get the basic information for newly diagnosed persons. I wanted to know if there is certain types of snacks to munch on between meals.
Grateful
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,398
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Welcome!
Is your husband taking any diabetes drugs? Was he given the results of a blood test called the HbA1c?
(Guys, I presume Solange is her name! Common name in France, where I grew up.)
Following up on @Jo_the_boat and officially tagging @daisy1 who will provide useful information for newcomers.
Is your husband taking any diabetes drugs? Was he given the results of a blood test called the HbA1c?
(Guys, I presume Solange is her name! Common name in France, where I grew up.)
Following up on @Jo_the_boat and officially tagging @daisy1 who will provide useful information for newcomers.
Grateful
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,398
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Some of us have successfully "reversed" our Type 2 diabetes (T2D) by adopting a "low carbohydrate" diet. By "reversed" I mean that our blood glucose (BG) levels are "non-diabetic." We still have the disease, but if we keep those BG levels low, we have a much better chance of avoiding the complications of the disease. I am one of those people (see signature below).
This "low-carb" option is not for everyone. In particular, those taking certain kinds of diabetes drugs should do it only with medical advice. In particular, if your husband is interested in this diet option, he should ask his doctor about the Glimepiride he is taking. This is a "sulfonylurea" drug and should only be combined with a low-carb diet with medical advice.
You probably know this already, but it worth remembering that "carbohydrates" is much more than just "sugar" and includes a lot of common foods, including for instance bread, rice, pasta, potatos.... Here are some useful links:
Explaining the HbA1c blood test: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html.
Explaining the various low-carb options: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/low-carb-diabetes-diet.html.
Getting food information and recipes: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb.
Concerning low-carb snacks between meals, my favorites are, or have been: nuts; low-carb crackers with cheese; and olives.
It is worth knowing that the "low-carb diet" is viewed with suspicion by much of the medical community. So, it is possible that your husband will get "pushback" from his doctors if he decides to try it out.
This forum is a great place for support and finding out about people's experience with diabetes.
This "low-carb" option is not for everyone. In particular, those taking certain kinds of diabetes drugs should do it only with medical advice. In particular, if your husband is interested in this diet option, he should ask his doctor about the Glimepiride he is taking. This is a "sulfonylurea" drug and should only be combined with a low-carb diet with medical advice.
You probably know this already, but it worth remembering that "carbohydrates" is much more than just "sugar" and includes a lot of common foods, including for instance bread, rice, pasta, potatos.... Here are some useful links:
Explaining the HbA1c blood test: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html.
Explaining the various low-carb options: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/low-carb-diabetes-diet.html.
Getting food information and recipes: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb.
Concerning low-carb snacks between meals, my favorites are, or have been: nuts; low-carb crackers with cheese; and olives.
It is worth knowing that the "low-carb diet" is viewed with suspicion by much of the medical community. So, it is possible that your husband will get "pushback" from his doctors if he decides to try it out.
This forum is a great place for support and finding out about people's experience with diabetes.
Today is BG was 139 before breakfast then he tested a few minutes after breakfast got a reading of 193. Then before lunch was 85 and he complained about shaking a bit.
Grateful
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,398
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
We cannot give medical advice here. If he is otherwise fit (i.e. "shaking a bit" is unusual) then, if I were in his place, I would assume it might be an effect of the Glimepiride and I would make sure to consult my doctor.
I hope that people with personal experience of that drug (or other sulfonylureas) will come along and provide better insights than I can.
I hope that people with personal experience of that drug (or other sulfonylureas) will come along and provide better insights than I can.
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
@Solric
Hello Solange and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions if you need to 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 276,000 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:
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 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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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.
Hello Solange and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions if you need to 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 276,000 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
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 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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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.
- 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.
Jo_the_boat
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 784
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Thank you@Solric
Hello Solange and welcome to the Forum
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 276,000 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 carbohydrates
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ 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 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
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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.
- 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.
