Confused by GP comment on blood test

[bulkbiker]

Those things are all carbs???? OMG, what is there left to eat without getting scurvy?

Well you can just eat fresh meat with zero chance of scurvy but usually for a ketogenic diet green veg is fine (anything that grows above ground) avocado, any meat or fish, eggs, dairy including butter and cheese. All the stuff our grandparents thrived on before the idiotic dietary guidelines introduced fat phobia. Try to avoid seed oils as well so olive, avocado are ok but animal fats for cooking are better.

You'd do well to start looking at the full nutrition panel on the back of the packaging rather than the pointless and misleading traffic light stuff on the front

This is for a pink lady apple so you can see that it is 11.8% carbs or for 100g of apple 11.8g of carb which is more than I would eat in a day.

 

[Norfolkmell]

aw, sorry it didn't copy my route.

wasn't sure to put hug, for no joy OR like for the LCHf weight loss, decisions, decisions..

Hoping the weight loss helps stabilise the HBA1c, and you find some other benefits in future from this WOE.

best of luck.

Thank you! I'm sure once we finally move things will settle down again and hba1c will reduce, but I don't think I'll get such a good GP as I have now but I will finally not be surrounded by packing cases and once we've unpacked them all again normal service will be resumed!

I just feel that whoever I tell will be judgemental - perhaps justifiably so - but it would only make me feel worse about the situation so it's best to keep it to myself.

One thing I don't understand - I had a carb free meal last night: meatloaf made with lamb mince, onion and seasoning along with home-made coleslaw made with Chinese leaf, apple, onion and carrot with mayonnaise mix, followed by an apple. Test BG after 2 hours and it was over 10! I don't understand - what went wrong?

Health care professionals should have been trained in discrimination and shouldn't be judgemental. Just say that YOU want to get on top of YOUR health, you're new to it all and you want to be sure the equipment you are using works. It's not unreasonable.
For me if I'd eaten your meal last night it would be the onion, Apple and carrot raising my BG. Apple have around 14 g carbohydrates carrots 10, onion 9. I don't usually use onions but substitute for leeks as they have a better effect on my IBS and although leeks g for g are higher in carbs I use less.
However do not panic! The only way you can find out how food affects your BG is to eat record and test. Next time provided you enjoyed it have the meatloaf again but with perhaps cauliflower mash and see what happens. Try say cold chicken with the coleslaw. You won't get it right straight away unless you are lucky as food effects each of us differently.
When you get a high level after two hours test again at three and four hours and track how long it takes to come down, it might have come right down after 2.40 hours. Because you are going to be in control you have got to record everything to know what works and what doesn't. Put it down to experience and carry on! Diet doctor has the most amazing meatloaf recipe with a cream sauce it is delicious carbs per portion 6. We make it, slice it into four and freeze two and eat two it's even better defrosted and reheated.

 

[Lilylala]

To be honest why are we so highly strung up about numbers ? Because we are given a diagnosis , a so called label , a big red sign above our heads saying don't feed me sugar or carbs .We test our blood sugar , numbers...... Only what are we stressing about when we think we have eaten what is correct only for a machine to display otherwise ?. Life is too short to give yourself the shame , heartache , of numbers .Chill....... Relax...... Be proud of who you are ....... I am T2 diagnosed last April h1c was 116 given medication , diet advice was totally in shock , my husband was no support kept buying me sweets and cake and sugar drinks.Enough was enough i had to do something .Out went cakes , sweets sugar drinks this is all i stopped myself from having , no low carbs or diets .I today my blood is 7 am and 5 pm and my last h1c was 54 and the diabetic professor at the hospital said i had done extremely well.So it's not all about numbers , diets just small changes that can make a difference.We are not a label we are a family and if you are confused , concerned we are here to guide you and support ..... XXxx

 

[Resurgam]

Because it is all about the numbers?
I do not stress - I seem to lack the ability - but I do not chill or relax - constant vigilance!!
My husband is completely supportive, and I stick to under 40 gm of carbs a day - because I know that to get normal numbers I have to be cautious.
I had no support from the GP, no hospital specialist, no acknowledgement of my progress - the numbers were all I had, and I acted on what I saw, and succeeded.

 

[Norfolkmell]

We all go about getting to grips with our diagnosis in different ways as you can see by all the answers you are getting half hybrid, there is no right or wrong way but you do need to find out what food makes your BG go up. Being totally honest I have days when I just am not up to testing beyond fasting in the morning and before going to bed. And there are days when I'm in so much pain I don't even do that much. 90% of the time I am recording and testing and LCHF between 60 and 100 g carbohydrates. That's what works for me.

 

[Member496333]

Life is too short...

It will be if we don't take these numbers seriously. Take it from someone who has witnessed first hand what they are capable of doing to the human body if left unchecked.

Everyone is entitled to their own views, of course, but personally I don't think it's particularly responsible to encourage diabetics to downplay the seriousness of these so-called 'numbers'. But then I'm looking through the lens of someone who has personally experienced the damage they can do, so I don't expect everyone to take it quite so seriously.

 

[lucylocket61]

I just feel that whoever I tell will be judgemental - perhaps justifiably so - but it would only make me feel worse about the situation so it's best to keep it to myself.

One thing I don't understand - I had a carb free meal last night: meatloaf made with lamb mince, onion and seasoning along with home-made coleslaw made with Chinese leaf, apple, onion and carrot with mayonnaise mix, followed by an apple. Test BG after 2 hours and it was over 10! I don't understand - what went wrong?

What was your number before the meal? That is equally important.

 

[Halfhybrid]

Well you can just eat fresh meat with zero chance of scurvy but usually for a ketogenic diet green veg is fine (anything that grows above ground) avocado, any meat or fish, eggs, dairy including butter and cheese. All the stuff our grandparents thrived on before the idiotic dietary guidelines introduced fat phobia. Try to avoid seed oils as well so olive, avocado are ok but animal fats for cooking are better.

You'd do well to start looking at the full nutrition panel on the back of the packaging rather than the pointless and misleading traffic light stuff on the front

View attachment 36723

This is for a pink lady apple so you can see that it is 11.8% carbs or for 100g of apple 11.8g of carb which is more than I would eat in a day.

I am horrified to discover that all these food items are full of carbs. I was eating up to 5 apples a day until recently and actually felt quite good for it. I've never had any symptoms of diabetes and would never have known if it had not been for the HBCA1 result.

If healthy foodstuffs like apparently innocent fruit and veg is packed full of carbs, apart from meat and fish, I don't even know which fruit and veg I can eat now. What about Christmas? The idea of not being able to eat any Christmas fare is profoundly depressing.

 

[Member496333]

I am horrified to discover that all these food items are full of carbs. I was eating up to 5 apples a day until recently and actually felt quite good for it. I've never had any symptoms of diabetes and would never have known if it had not been for the HBCA1 result.

If healthy foodstuffs like apparently innocent fruit and veg is packed full of carbs, apart from meat and fish, I don't even know which fruit and veg I can eat now. What about Christmas? The idea of not being able to eat any Christmas fare is profoundly depressing.

Overground vegetables and leafy greens are mostly fine if you want them. Root vegetables are likely to be more problematic in terms of glucose.

 

[Norfolkmell]

It just takes a bit more planning, whatever meat you are having should be ok, Brussels with butter and bacon bits are wonderful, cauliflower broccoli and greens ok. Stuffing try to avoid bread based ones but high meat content sausage meat should be ok. We usually have rack of lamb with a reduced red wine, a few red currants and cream all whizzed up and you can either call it sauce or gravy, Michael has roasties I have cauliflower mash with cheese, the aforementioned Brussels. Never liked mince pies but ordinary Christmas pudding is a struggle however my friend usually makes us a special one with almond flour, butter and chopped Apple and orange, eggs no sugar lots of spices and it's wonderful but she won't give me the actual recipe! Served with cream after that I don't want anything else for hours.

 

[Halfhybrid]

It just takes a bit more planning, whatever meat you are having should be ok, Brussels with butter and bacon bits are wonderful, cauliflower broccoli and greens ok. Stuffing try to avoid bread based ones but high meat content sausage meat should be ok. We usually have rack of lamb with a reduced red wine, a few red currants and cream all whizzed up and you can either call it sauce or gravy, Michael has roasties I have cauliflower mash with cheese, the aforementioned Brussels. Never liked mince pies but ordinary Christmas pudding is a struggle however my friend usually makes us a special one with almond flour, butter and chopped Apple and orange, eggs no sugar lots of spices and it's wonderful but she won't give me the actual recipe! Served with cream after that I don't want anything else for hours.

Are you allowed to have, say, one day of blowout, eat what you want in whatever quantity, as long as you are sensible on other days?

 

[Norfolkmell]

Are you allowed to have, say, one day of blowout, eat what you want in whatever quantity, as long as you are sensible on other days?

I can't answer that for you, I wouldn't go mad and completely off plan myself as after 3 and a half years I know I don't like what eating too much carbs does to me and my digestive system. It's not worth the fleeting pleasure for the sure to follow unpleasantness or the high numbers. Other members will make other decisions. You will find the nearer it gets to Christmas the more discussions appear on here of ideas and tweaks and recipes.
But you are the one in control of what you eat, you'll be further into your new normal by then and if your are testing and recording what happens to your BG when you eat certain things you'll have more understanding of what's best for you.
Our first Christmas post diagnosis Micheal was so worried that we had a practice Christmas lunch on a Wednesday in early November, his reasoning was that the GP surgery would be open and A&E wouldn't have such a long wait if anything when wrong. Because we'd thought about a lot our practice run highlighted that my biggest problem was the five bird roast which included a bread based stuffing and orange and cherry glaze. After much thought Michael realised that it was a heck of a lot of work especially when I would pick out the chicken and just eat that. So we came up with the rack of lamb that we both enjoy and we've tweaked the veggies and sauce in the following years. It works for us and he gets a duck breast for Boxing Day. But I can't say what would work for you or anyone else, sorry.

 

[HSSS]

The problem with a binge day is the spikes caused still contribute towards damage and for me and many others it sets off the cravings anew so you never get over the withdrawal stage and that’s not the best time to be having.

Honestly it sounds awful from where you’re stood but most of us in here will swear blind it gets easier and becomes normal after a while. Just a different normal. Do lots of reading, google recipes by searching a food or recipe you like and add low carb or keto to the search. It’ll give you lots of alternative ways to make it and he same sites will have lots of other ideas.

obviously it doesn’t suit everyone but it does for an awful lot of those who try it, especially with the support and help you can get in theses forums. What have you got to lose by giving it a real good go and seeing how it works for you?

 

[bulkbiker]

I am horrified to discover that all these food items are full of carbs. I was eating up to 5 apples a day until recently and actually felt quite good for it. I've never had any symptoms of diabetes and would never have known if it had not been for the HBCA1 result.

If healthy foodstuffs like apparently innocent fruit and veg is packed full of carbs, apart from meat and fish, I don't even know which fruit and veg I can eat now. What about Christmas? The idea of not being able to eat any Christmas fare is profoundly depressing.

Have a look around www.dietdoctor.com huge amount of free content and some great visual carb counts.

 

[Norfolkmell]

Diet doctor is always coming up with new ideas, there's a brownie recipe on there I want to try. Michael looks and comes up with very spicy things he wants to try but can't because of my pepper allergy, well he can try them if I'm not in the house and he scrubs everything he's used and then doesn't come near for 24 hours+ afterwards.
Half hybrid what does your usual Christmas dinner entail? Perhaps if you post it we can all have a look and a think. Is it a huge family do?

 

[Norfolkmell]

The problem with a binge day is the spikes caused still contribute towards damage and for me and many others it sets off the cravings anew so you never get over the withdrawal stage and that’s not the best time to be having.

Honestly it sounds awful from where you’re stood but most of us in here will swear blind it gets easier and becomes normal after a while. Just a different normal. Do lots of reading, google recipes by searching a food or recipe you like and add low carb or keto to the search. It’ll give you lots of alternative ways to make it and he same sites will have lots of other ideas.

obviously it doesn’t suit everyone but it does for an awful lot of those who try it, especially with the support and help you can get in theses forums. What have you got to lose by giving it a real good go and seeing how it works for you?

It really does get easier in time, but funnily enough it does take time, but everyone here got diagnosed at some stage and changed what they did and will always be able to help or suggest something.

 

[Halfhybrid]

Diet doctor is always coming up with new ideas, there's a brownie recipe on there I want to try. Michael looks and comes up with very spicy things he wants to try but can't because of my pepper allergy, well he can try them if I'm not in the house and he scrubs everything he's used and then doesn't come near for 24 hours+ afterwards.
Half hybrid what does your usual Christmas dinner entail? Perhaps if you post it we can all have a look and a think. Is it a huge family do?

Well, it's a bit of a three day business. We have a big dinner on Christmas Eve (European heritage) which is non-meat but not at all low carbs. There are two soups; one is dried mushroom based and the other is clear beetroot borscht. Then are several fish dishes which are fine but in addition, there are boiled pierogi (translated as dumplings but actually they are more like pasta made of flour, egg and water) filled with either sauerkraut or cheese and potato. And the finale is a fruit salad of dried and reconstituted prunes, apples, pears and apricots.

On Christmas Day, we would have a breakfast of the dumplings again (fried) along with gammon and the beetroot soup. After that is baked cheesecake and some little light pastries made of flour, egg yolk cream and vodka. Then we would have a traditional Christmas dinner later with the usual turkey, roast potatoes, sprouts etc and Christmas pudding.

Boxing Day would be a similar breakfast to Christmas Day and then later, a roast beef dinner.

We don't eat chocolates at Christmas and the Christmas cake is usually not eaten till well after Christmas as there is so much other food on offer. There is alcohol though.

 

[Norfolkmell]

Well, it's a bit of a three day business. We have a big dinner on Christmas Eve (European heritage) which is non-meat but not at all low carbs. There are two soups; one is dried mushroom based and the other is clear beetroot borscht. Then are several fish dishes which are fine but in addition, there are boiled pierogi (translated as dumplings but actually they are more like pasta made of flour, egg and water) filled with either sauerkraut or cheese and potato. And the finale is a fruit salad of dried and reconstituted prunes, apples, pears and apricots.

On Christmas Day, we would have a breakfast of the dumplings again (fried) along with gammon and the beetroot soup. After that is baked cheesecake and some little light pastries made of flour, egg yolk cream and vodka. Then we would have a traditional Christmas dinner later with the usual turkey, roast potatoes, sprouts etc and Christmas pudding.

Boxing Day would be a similar breakfast to Christmas Day and then later, a roast beef dinner.

We don't eat chocolates at Christmas and the Christmas cake is usually not eaten till well after Christmas as there is so much other food on offer. There is alcohol though.

That's a lot of food! Although to be truthful when I can remember huge Christmas meals with all my aunts cooking huge turkeys and hams when every imaginable type of potato dish, Brussels, carrots and green beans. Huge Christmas pudding with brandy stance, brandy butter and custard. Three of the aunties were already diabetic but the ate as much as anyone else except me. I was an incredibly fussy eater and wouldn't eat meat or eggs and most fish plus with my pepper allergy my food had to be cooked separately, I remember lots of little cheese and potatoes pies with a bit of tomato on top. It came in a little red pyrex bowl that was always washed up first and put away from everything else.
Have you told your family that you are going to be eating more healthily? Unless you decide to totally binge you might manage with much smaller portions than you would normally have, perhaps even a smaller plate? I would hope that your family will respect your decision to eat healthily and in the weeks before then if you decide to go with LCHF you should be able to tell them how much weight you have lost and then not eating as much as you usually do won't seem out of place. Do however take you BG before and afterwards and record it along with what you ate. It's not going to be easy but if it's too early to tell them about the diabetes go the healthier eating route. Can't advise on the alcohol as we no longer have any but again the heathy eating might cover it.
I can only suggest ideas that I might try if I was in your situation. I will definitely be around on Boxing Day if you want some support, probably most of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day too, hopefully we will be in Cromer by then and still unpacking. I hope I've given you some ideas, most likely other members will have better ones but it's going to take a lot of will power and commitment from you. X

 

[Halfhybrid]

It's official (again) then. I had my follow up blood test yesterday and my online account with the surgery shows that the level is 52. That's down one from the level two weeks ago, perhaps due to the new eating regime I started on hearing the news but it's still diabetes isn't it. Going through the same emotions all over again. Hope can be a false friend sometimes.

 

[Norfolkmell]

It's official (again) then. I had my follow up blood test yesterday and my online account with the surgery shows that the level is 52. That's down one from the level two weeks ago, perhaps due to the new eating regime I started on hearing the news but it's still diabetes isn't it. Going through the same emotions all over again. Hope can be a false friend sometimes.

Yes it's another official result but it's gone down in only two? weeks of your new regime so imagine when you have it redone in 12 weeks time you could be down at least 6 points, another 12 weeks it could be down to 40 and 9 months on it could be 34. By the time you have your first retest in 12 weeks you will be so comfortable with your new your new way of eating and all your new clothes because the old ones will be far too big you'll be wondering why you stressed so much. You can start looking forward to the new you now it will be a completely different happier, healthier you. You could look at this as a second chance, just imagine if you had never be told or tested, carried on your old ways and then become seriously ill, grab this chance with both hands and 'boldly go' into your new life. We will still be here supporting you whenever you need it and you will find in time you will be supporting other scared newbies and be able to help them on their journeys.
Hope hasn't left you you number is down and you are on your way to a healthier you. There might be hiccups but we will be here, sometimes with our own hiccups and the answers and support will be here for you.