Can you eat anything with type 2 diabetes
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lucylocket61
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Not if you want to keep your, feet, kidneys and eyes in good working order! 
Well I don't think the eating (prior to diagnosis) gives you type 2 diabetes but once you have it, it's like asking 'Can I eat peanuts with a nut allergy'.
DavidGrahamJones
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The simple answer is No. As diabetics we are glucose intolerant so that means keeping all the carbs down.
NewTD2
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Hmmm...the answer is a resounding NO.
The pancreas of Type 2 Diabetics is functioning about 50% or less.
The pancreas of Type 2 Diabetics is functioning about 50% or less.
miahara
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Eat what you like, but what you like may not like you. Eat what likes you and you'll stay healthier longer.
Stay tuned and you'll get some very good and detailed advice soon!
In essence the answer is NO.
Stay tuned and you'll get some very good and detailed advice soon!
In essence the answer is NO.
bulkbiker
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I guess you can but the question is should you eat anything with Type 2 and there the answer would come back as there are definitely things you should avoid. Mainly starchy carbohydrates (or rather foods containing these things). Your nurse or GP may well tell you something different to what you learn here but a lot of us have found that we are effectively carbohydrate intolerant with Type 2 so avoid as many as we can (usually with rather good results).
I'll tag in @daisy1 for the amazing intro to this miraculous way of eating and wish you all the best and welcome.
I'll tag in @daisy1 for the amazing intro to this miraculous way of eating and wish you all the best and welcome.
Guzzler
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I think that the choices are as follows:
Managed by diet.
Managed by diet and with the aid of drugs.
Managed by diet with the aid of insulin.
Unmanaged.
Unmanaged Type 2 Diabetes brings the consequences mentioned in comments above.
Diet is sometimes thought by people to mean only a weight loss excercise or a restricted regime that is short term but when we say diet we mean a change in lifestyle. There are types of food we must avoid or limit so as to improve our health.
Carbohydrates have to be limited to some degree and as we are all different then that degree can differ too.
Managed by diet.
Managed by diet and with the aid of drugs.
Managed by diet with the aid of insulin.
Unmanaged.
Unmanaged Type 2 Diabetes brings the consequences mentioned in comments above.
Diet is sometimes thought by people to mean only a weight loss excercise or a restricted regime that is short term but when we say diet we mean a change in lifestyle. There are types of food we must avoid or limit so as to improve our health.
Carbohydrates have to be limited to some degree and as we are all different then that degree can differ too.
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daisy1
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@Neets69
Hello Neets69 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 like and someone will 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:
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. Most of these are free.
Hello Neets69 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 like and someone will 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
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. 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.
DavidGrahamJones
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I've had three c-pep tests in three years which have shown that my pancreas is producing insulin in the normal range. The three insulin resistance tests that I've had, also self funded, have shown how my insulin resistance has changed, improving from first to second and deteriorating between the second and third.
bulkbiker
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You have to put it into context. You can have whatever you like. You just might not be able to have as much as you like. Bust your meal time carb limit too often and you'll pay the price. For instance, I restrict my carb intake to 20g per meal or 30g if it is low GI. No problem if I stay under this level. So if I like jelly beans I just won't be eating very many of them and will not be able to have half a spud at the same time.
By the way, my imposed carb limit is based on my individual circumstances found by eating, testing and recording. It is higher than some people on this board and possibly lower than others. You'll need to use a meter and find your happy level.
Glenn
By the way, my imposed carb limit is based on my individual circumstances found by eating, testing and recording. It is higher than some people on this board and possibly lower than others. You'll need to use a meter and find your happy level.
Glenn
alf_Josiah
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Very good question.
For me no, but my medication makes my body chemistry different to people who are suffering with all types of diabetes.
Guzzler
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Aye, it is more about insulin resistance in some cases rather than insulin production per se.
I read the OP differently to the rest of you. I read it as 'Is there anything at all I can eat as a T2?' Just shows how different we all are lol.
So here's my reply, yes you can eat anything low carb. Have a look at this thread for ideas.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/a-few-asking-for-low-carb-food-lists.96321/
Jaylee's suggestion of testing is a good idea too.
So here's my reply, yes you can eat anything low carb. Have a look at this thread for ideas.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/a-few-asking-for-low-carb-food-lists.96321/
Jaylee's suggestion of testing is a good idea too.
I have just finished a "xpert" course for t2d. Shw said we can eat anything we like. But she also said test once a month, that we need to take metformin with food because it works directly on the food we eat and we can have up to 260 grms carbs a day. So I don't really believe she knows what she is talking about. It was really very depressing.
So my answer is you can eat whatever you like, if you believe the current nhs advice. If you think the nhs has got it wrong then restrict carbs because that is the only way a t2d will keep eyesight and health.
So my answer is you can eat whatever you like, if you believe the current nhs advice. If you think the nhs has got it wrong then restrict carbs because that is the only way a t2d will keep eyesight and health.
