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Dare I mention the word carb??????

  • Thread starter Thread starter oh_dear_me
  • Start Date Start Date
Hello oh-dear-me
You said a couple of telling things in your posts, your BMI is good and that your HbA1c has fallen since April - well done.
You've had replies from some of the most knowledgeable members and reassuring that must be too!
It appears to be coming more widely accepted for everyone that reducing carbs is beneficial.
One thing as far as I understand it is that T2 people go on low or very low carb for various reasons. To lose weight, stabilize blood sugars, potentially ween yourself off medications (or stay off them) and be generally healthier.
Well, you don't appear to have a weight problem, you're HbA1c is down (but I don't know to where) and you're obviously making every effort of the general health front. Meds is something to discuss with your health team but it seems to me time to try and introduce some cautious 'fun' back into your diet? Good luck.
 
I have no idea how many carbs I am eating. Certainly my consumption is restricted as like you I avoid the usual bread pasta and rice but I do not consider myself a low carber. I will have some fruit for instance or the occasional small quantity of rice or potatoes. As long as I test OK I am not worried about adhering to specific diets. We should all be free to follow what works for us.
 
pavlosn said:
I have no idea how many carbs I am eating. Certainly my consumption is restricted as like you I avoid the usual bread pasta and rice but I do not consider myself a low carber. I will have some fruit for instance or the occasional small quantity of rice or potatoes. As long as I test OK I am not worried about adhering to specific diets. We should all be free to follow what works for us.
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I totally agree that if, as you say, you test OK it would be absurd to go in for more severe carb restrictions. However, if all you have to go on is your HbA1c tests, you don't really know if your bg is steady or if it is going up and down in a harmful way through the day, which could still come out at an OK average. Personally, I would prefer to do some post prandial testing at home just to see. If it came out well, no need to continue.
 
I don't cheat, I make decisions based on what's available and what's happened to me so far. I had an FEB (big breakfast) on holiday recently and enjoyed it and I won't have another for at least six months. I eat teaspoonfuls of some of the interesting-looking carby things Mrs DeeJay is having in restaurants. I scan menus beforehand, often online, or go for the cafe with the simple fry-up or omelette option. If there's no double cream for coffee I may have milk. It's only one cup.
When I cook, everything defaults to low carb. I'll occasionally use a few lentils or chickpeas, for example, but never a banana in a curry or apricots in a tagine. I eat onions and tomatoes in bulk with plenty of fat to spread the sugar load. In the kitchen I'm in control.
Another thing I've decided recently is to grow everything I can on my allotment next year whether I eat it or not. I work my allotment for the joy of growing fruit and veg (and flowers), not for medical reasons. I've already painted a "help yourself" sign ready to put out on a basket by the front gate.
 
Interesting thread, and here's my take. I've decided to restrict carbs, but I don't count them. I've severely cut down on beer, and watch out for carbs in other things. I don't have potatoes, bread pasta or rice. and reject ready made stuff where they have added sugar. I really don't feel that I want to given how much difference it has made to my blood sugar, weight and general feeling of well being.

Am I some kind of health fiend? No not ever. I'm not any kind of obsessive about it. But then again personally I don't feel it's a cheat but then again because I'm eating stuff I like that I used to believe was bad for me, I'm really happy to eat cheese and steak rather than toast and spuds. I understand many people get told 'it will be fine to have something this once' but have never experienced that. Maybe that's because people who know me understand what I'd say in response.

I'm a bit passionate about what it's done for me, and am surprised sometimes how some friends and family really get it and even understand the theory, when I share my experience.
 
oh_dear_me said:
Oh wow so many wonderful replies! Thank you so so much! I will have a good read through them all :)
I know I can do this but you're all right...have to find my own way....and not get too hung up about the journey along the way. I think I've tried to be so "good" that it's starting to have the opposite effect on me and I am constantly thinking of going off the rails so to speak!
Right onwards and upwards as they say! And thank you for the recipes too! Xx
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Well I’m glad I’ve seen this. I’ve been trying to do low-ish carbs for about a month, and at first it seemed a bit of ‘look at me, I’m healthy’ buzz. I’ve been type 1 for 43 years and have some neuropathy in my feet, so have become a bit carb/ blood sugar obsessed to help. All great initially. Was flashing my meter at my husband screeching ‘look!! 7.0 it’s bloody working this diet!’ I haven’t lost weight oddly, but was feeling good, still do. But supermarkets have become a flash point, culminating in me having a mega tantrum in the Co-Op today as my snack of choice wasn’t there ( hard boiled eggs ) so there was nothing for me ( it was one of those ‘oh don’t mind me, I’m only starving but you go ahead and enjoy YOUR food.’ ) if I’m hungry, but not hypo I’m miserable, and it’s making me focus more on my diabetes because I feel like I’m 7 again, and my Mum is weighing all of my food. I’ve always jauntily advocated that we can eat everything in moderation, and offset it with insulin. Now I’ve become a carb nerd I’ve added porridge, jacket potatoes and egg to the list of spikey foods! Yes I’m not drawn to sweets or crisps anymore, and can be creative but my meals are either salad based, corgetti spaghetti ( like eating the inside of a golf ball ) or that horrible frog spawn that’s cauliflower rice. I AM MISERABLE TOO !!!! Thank you for making me realise it. Tomorrow it’s back to moderation, no Joan of Arc face and when I see the consultant on Wednesday I’ll ask him to eat shredded butternut squash and say it’s nice. Happy Christmas ️
 
Resurgam said:
An 'emergency' snack is a bag of salad and cooked chicken or an easily opened tin of tuna - or perhaps a pack of cream cheese and celery sticks there are lots of options if you take a wander along the shelves.
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I did indulge in a Dairylea thing with breadsticks. I coped and I’ve updated my carb knowledge from 1976 now luckily. I feel like I’ve noticed what suits me now, but being constantly reminded isn’t healthy. I’ve stopped wondering if I like something, and am more worried about finding my glasses to check the carbs.
 
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