NHS Digital app Library

Countryman61

Newbie
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3
Hi New to this forum. I recently was diagnosed with prediabetes and my GP said I should look at the NHS Apps Library as there are companies who offer diets etc for prediabetes. My goodness - some of them are expensive. I just had a look. I kind of like the look of the Sugarmedown diet plan at £8.60 a month. SO I begin next week . Really impressed and God bless the NHS - that my levels are borderline and it's been caught before it gets too bad. I will let you know how I get on. Anyone else used these apps? I can't be doing with the whole meetings etc.
 

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
15,811
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
Hi Countryman61 and welcome. I’m Type 2 and on diagnosis I was offered a Weightwatchers Type course but declined as I didn’t like the whole meeting thing either.
I’ve never tried the apps you refer to. I went low carb with the Low Carb Program promoted by this website, it was free when I enrolled, but I quickly went DIY, there’s so much free low carb info on tinternet. Here’s some of my favourite websites!
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/recipes
https://www.ditchthecarbs.com/recipes/
https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/
Let us know how you get on with your Sugarmedown app, I sincerely hope the carbs are reduced aswell as sugar as carbs turn to sugar when you digest them.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi and welcome,

There is no need to waste money buying apps as there are other free websites that help. I like https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/60-seconds and the food lists https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/foods#foodlist and https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/foods#foodtoavoid

It isn't just sugar you have to cut down on. All carbohydrates converts to sugar (glucose) once eaten, so it is necessary to be very careful how many carbs we eat, including wholemeal varieties. Do be careful with the recipes on the app you have bought.

Tagging @daisy1 for her very useful post for all newcomers. Meanwhile, have a good read round and ask as many questions as you like.
 
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Countryman61

Newbie
Messages
3
Hi
Wow - what a great forum . I had a call from the Sugarmedown lady. Yeah she says it's a low carb diet so we shall see. The app tells me when I have eaten too much added sugar - this should be fun ! My test result was 6.8 which is sort of high but changeable . My BMI is 36 ...mostly due to pub food rather than beer. I will have a look at all thosue links. Thanks
Tagging in @bulkbiker @Bluetit1802 @Rachox ...

Community - what everyone should know:
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I've never paid for any apps for diet just cut out anything starchy. Keep my own data on a spreadsheet (but I'm like that).
Added sugar isn't really the problem its more the carb content of your food. Although added sugar is bad everything carby we eat gets converted to sugar once ingested so its far better to cut out bread, pasta, rice, root veg, fruit and replace with far nicer things like meat, fish, bacon, eggs, butter, green veg (if you like).cream, cheese, avocado, olives.. these will keep you feeling full and not deprived so are a great replacement food. Will probably help you shed a few kilos too (yes I know its completely counterintuitive but eating fat in the absence of carbs helps most to slim down) without the hunger of "dieting".. its almost like magic.
Have a read around.. check out the low carb recipes on www.dietdoctor.com give it a couple of months and you'll be posting in the success stories area of the forum.
 

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
15,811
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
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I just had a look at the Sugarmedown info in the App Store it does very much concentrate on added sugar but I’m pleased to see carbohydrate in the nutritional analysis. What level does the lady on the phone consider ‘low carb’, do you know? As one man’s or woman’s, low is another one’s medium or high!
 

Countryman61

Newbie
Messages
3
I just had a look at the Sugarmedown info in the App Store it does very much concentrate on added sugar but I’m pleased to see carbohydrate in the nutritional analysis. What level does the lady on the phone consider ‘low carb’, do you know? As one man’s or woman’s, low is another one’s medium or high!

I just had a look at the Sugarmedown info in the App Store it does very much concentrate on added sugar but I’m pleased to see carbohydrate in the nutritional analysis. What level does the lady on the phone consider ‘low carb’, do you know? As one man’s or woman’s, low is another one’s medium or high!

Tagging in @bulkbiker @Bluetit1802 who are online, to say hello. (Forgot @Rachox ... She's about too.)

Hi
My guess is that if the GP recommends and it's on the NHS system then they must have been tried and tested. I will post next weekend and let you all know.
 

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
15,811
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
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Hi
My guess is that if the GP recommends and it's on the NHS system then they must have been tried and tested. I will post next weekend and let you all know.


Maybe or maybe not! ;)
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Diet only
Tagging in @bulkbiker @Bluetit1802 who are online, to say hello. (Forgot @Rachox ... She's about too.)

Hi
My guess is that if the GP recommends and it's on the NHS system then they must have been tried and tested. I will post next weekend and let you all know.
After a while you'll probably come to the realisation that the NHS is neither all knowing nor a whole lot of good when T2 diabetes comes into the mix.. we know from fairly bitter experience....
 

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
@Countryman61 - There are man, many on this site who have managed to reverse their diabetes, without spending money on diet plans.

If, however, you feel you need a structured approach, with a coach or feedback, than you could do worse to look at this site's Low Carb Program. That is a subscription service, but a one-off, lifetime membership for £30. It is also available on prescription, on the NHS. Not all GPs realise that last little gem,...... yet.

The low carb program can be found here: https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/ It also caters for vegetarians, vegans, gluten free and other specialist diets.

If you go to the link I posted above and scroll down, you will find there are two options. Essentials is totally free, forever once you have signed up, and offers a shed load of help, but not the full package. Premium is the full, comprehensive package, for the one-off fee.

If you want to hear about some of the Program stats, you could watch the following YouTube video. It's about a year old now, so the numbers are just bigger:

 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Countryman61
Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 235,000 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 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. Most of these are 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.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Tagging in @bulkbiker @Bluetit1802 who are online, to say hello. (Forgot @Rachox ... She's about too.)

Hi
My guess is that if the GP recommends and it's on the NHS system then they must have been tried and tested. I will post next weekend and let you all know.

Oh dear! You have a lot to learn I"m afraid!!! You were actually lucky your doctor recommended that app. The usual NHS dietary guidance is the Eatwell Plate, which is high in carbs and low in fat - not at all suitable for type 2 diabetics, but it is shoved down our throats when we are first diagnosed. You will pick up on this as you read round the forum.