Newly diagnosed looking for advice

[EllieM]

They also do noodles substitute and spaghetti made from the same stuff.

I am a big fan of courgetti spaghetti - spiralise courgettes, sprinkle a bit of salt and leave them in a colander to drain for 10 minutes, fry in olive oil for a couple of minutes. Looks like pasta and has very similar texture, taste great.

 

[becca59]

I am a big fan of courgetti spaghetti - spiralise courgettes, sprinkle a bit of salt and leave them in a colander to drain for 10 minutes, fry in olive oil for a couple of minutes. Looks like pasta and has very similar texture, taste great.

I too am a big fan of courgetti I have it with things like omelette. No longer do the salt thing though. Just spiralise and go.
At the beginning of my lower carb journey (Type 1 trying for better control) I dismissed cauliflower rice/courgetti. However would not thank you for potatoes now, and mix courgetti and pre cooked and reheated wholewheat spaghetti half and half. My absolute favourite is cauliflower mash with Parmesan. Goes with everything. Buy two fresh ones a week.
My point is don’t dismiss anything. @T2 Woman give it a go.

 

[finzi1966]

I really like cauliflower mash, as long as it’s got tons of cream and butter and garlic and Parmesan in it.

I know it sounds odd but I also have spiralised turnips. They come out very well because they’re a bit more robust than courgettes, are white of course so look just like spaghetti. Boil for about 2 mins (or stir fry). They are basically like spaghetti or ramen but with a slightly peppery taste.

 

[KennyA]

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed diabetic (I presume type 2 although nobody has actually said it yet) just before Christmas after an HBA1C test result of 101. I have long suspected I might be, due to having all the classic symptoms of diabetes so I asked to be tested when at my GP for a possibly related ongoing infection (still ongoing) which I’m told may resolve itself once I get my blood sugars under control. I’m 54 years old and overweight having had a very high carb and sugary diet previously. My GP started me on Metformin 2 x 500mg tablets daily with breakfast and dinner which I have just built up to gradually. I think they are causing major gastric issues but I have bowel issues usually anyway as I have bile salt malabsorption and IBS, so I’m trying to stick with the meds in the hope they will help in some way. Doc did say I can abandon them if I truly cannot tolerate. I’ve taken a lot of advice on board from extremely helpful posts and answers on here and I guess I’m just eager to find out more before I have an appointment with the practice nurse at the doctor in a few days time. Will this just be a general weight, bp, cholesterol testing appointment? Do I actually get referred to a specialist diabetes nurse/clinic? Or is this just a substitute for that due to NHS cuts? Will they advise me on how many carbs I can eat per day based on BMI etc and the HBA1C result and what my numbers post meal should be? or do I just have to guess at this myself until I get my own glucose meter? I have read up on low carb suggestions on the forums here and at the moment (after reading one persons experience here) I’ve been trying to stick to less than 180 carbs per day to start. I have cut out all “free” sugars (massive misnomer!) No cakes, biscuits, sweets, fruit juice etc which have made me feel quite hungry despite upping fats and protein. At the moment I am still having 2 weetabix (recommended on here as the least bad carb cereal) for breakfast with semi skilled milk and sweetener, usually eggs and 2 slices of whole grain toast spread with Benecol for lunch with protein either Steak/Chicken/Fish and veg/salad for dinner. Sweetener in tea with semi skimmed milk about 3 times daily and an occasional sugar free jelly or 5 carb yoghurt as dessert or snack. My indulgence has been 2 Rich tea biscuits of an evening around 12 carbs. So far I have managed to be under every day to varying degrees depending on how hungry I’ve been. Is this way too much carbs? I’ve started with this on the guess that I will have to reduce once I start testing, but I didn’t want to kill myself in the first weeks and lose motivation straight away. A friend diagnosed a year or two ago is heading for a bad outcome after going totally off the rails. I had spoken to him hoping for some hints and tips and he couldn’t give me any as he had given up and was carrying on with his old eating habits. I want to get a meter asap and have looked at recommendations here but was waiting till my appointment with the nurse to see if they also had any input for me. Apologies for the long and rambling post but I’d be most grateful if anyone can comment with how many carbs they are having daily and how much they can tolerate to stay within their limits so I can see if I’m in the majority or minority. I know I won’t get the full picture till I start testing. Just want to know if I’m heading in the right direction or I’m way off. Thanking you all so much in advance for any help you can offer me. I was hoping I could at least fit some carbs into my diet after hearing about someone sticking to within 45-60 carbs per meal.

Welcome to the forum. You need to get and use a meter, which will tell you which foods do what to your blood glucose levels. On how many carbs? personally I am on around 20g carbs/day and after two years have reduced my BGs to 36-38, lowered my total cholesterol (not that that means much, everything else in range) and lost >20kg,

Best of luck.

 

[Rachox]

I read it was contraindicated too, but my doctor seems to have ignored this despite telling me on the telephone that she was going to put me on the slow release ones because of my bile salt malabsorption. I’m going to continue to cut down my carbs and up the fats and see if I can tolerate the extra gastric problems it’s giving me, but will ask my practice nurse to query it with her.

I had chronic diarrhoea caused by bile salt malabsorption for years after I had my gall bladder out in 2000, I took Questran for most of that time, although it never reliably worked. I went low carb as soon as I was diagnosed T2 in 2017 and very quickly I became constipated! So I have had to up my fibre intake whilst keeping low carb. I’d be interested to hear how going LC helps you in that department too?

 

[Lakeslover]

I get lower carb wraps from sainsburys in the free from section. they are called Bfree. 4g carbs per wrap and £3 per pack if 4.

there is also an online company called lo dough which make an even lower calorie wrap, more expensive but good as a pizza base. They make a low carb vanilla sponge mix which with some different flavourings can make lots of different cakes and muffins.

I find cauli rice is ok with chilli, but I don’t bother with curry. I found a low carb naan bread recipe which is nice instead. For me morrisons frozen sachets taste the best, and they are individual portions which is helpful.

 

[Widgets]

I loathe cauliflower rice - I've tried a couple of brands - so now I just have cauliflower or broccoli in place of the rice or pasta that the menfolk have.

Last night I made sausage, mashed potatoes, veg and gravy - they had mashed potato I had extra cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage. Mainly when cooking for all of us I add green/above ground veggies and have those instead of the pasta/rice/potatoes that they have.

 

[Alexandra100]

very quickly I became constipated! So I have had to up my fibre intake whilst keeping low carb.

I used to find psyllium husk helped a lot with my chronic low carb constipation, but I have trouble finding acceptable ways to consume it, so for the moment I have given up on psyllium. I did notice the difference for the worse. Now I have started taking one T collagen powder daily in the hope of strengthening my bones. (Recently diagnosed with osteopoenia.) To my surprise and delight, that has made a big improvement to my constipation. At present, I add one T collagen powder to my linseed fritter mix. However I see no reason it could not be added to chia pudding or lc muesli.

 

[Alexandra100]

I loathe cauliflower rice - I've tried a couple of brands - so now I just have cauliflower or broccoli in place of the rice or pasta that the menfolk have.

I believe the smaller a food is chopped or ground, the faster it will raise bg. So sprigs of cauliflower are slightly more diabetes friendly than cauliflower rice. Like @Widgets I like the taste of them better too.

 

[Rachox]

I used to find psyllium husk helped a lot with my chronic low carb constipation, but I have trouble finding acceptable ways to consume it, so for the moment I have given up on psyllium. I did notice the difference for the worse. Now I have started taking one T collagen powder daily in the hope of strengthening my bones. (Recently diagnosed with osteopoenia.) To my surprise and delight, that has made a big improvement to my constipation. At present, I add one T collagen powder to my linseed fritter mix. However I see no reason it could not be added to chia pudding or lc muesli.

I agree about psyllium, I add 1/2 a tablespoon to my low carb coconut porridge every day, where the recipe only calls for a pinch. Luckily it doesn’t affect the taste or consistency. I also add a teaspoon of inulin powder to my afternoon coffee.

Anyway, back on topic, I use courgette as a sub for pasta for bolognese, I used to spiralised it but found it a faff, so I just slice and fry it these days.

 

[T2 Woman]

I had chronic diarrhoea caused by bile salt malabsorption for years after I had my gall bladder out in 2000, I took Questran for most of that time, although it never reliably worked. I went low carb as soon as I was diagnosed T2 in 2017 and very quickly I became constipated! So I have had to up my fibre intake whilst keeping low carb. I’d be interested to hear how going LC helps you in that department too?

I had my gall bladder removed after gallstones 31 years ago and have had bile salt malabsorption diahorroea ever since. I used to take Questran too which was pretty unreliable but now take cholestagel tablets as a substitute when global supply issues hit Questran. Neither are great for me so it’s just something I have to live with. Now doing lower carbs I am varying between constipation and the usual deluges, so when I reduce carbs a lot more I hope it doesn’t get worse. I am eating lots of veg, so hopefully!

 

[T2 Woman]

Hi @T2 Woman , welcome to the forum and well done for taking the bull by the horns! You are certainly heading in the right direction.
Take it slowly at first but many on here go a lot lower with their carb intake. For example your two Weetabix at 26 gm carb is about my total for the day! For breakfast I have some berries and Creme Fraiche and a cup of coffee with milk and that sets me up until lunch time. Also be aware that bread of any colour are carby and will push up your BGs. Your meter will be your friend in finding out what you can eat, but don't worry too much at first, it's a Marathon not a sprint. Just keep up your determination and you will get there.

Hi Rustypin. I skipped breakfast today and went straight for lunch so I could get rid of those weetabix carbs. I only ate them as a “must have breakfast” thing. I’m not that fussed on them and they certainly don’t fill me up. I just can’t face having heavy fat breakfasts early in the morning. Leaves me a bit more for later. Otherwise I’ll do the yoghurt thing. Taking on board everyone’s advice and counting my calories now too that I will start reducing if I don’t start shifting some weight with the low carb option. Thanks so much for your input. It’s all helping me a lot!

 

[Outlier]

For those who tend to get constipated, an alternative is vitamin C powder taken in a glass of water. Just use a tip of a teaspoonful to start with (it has a pleasant lemony taste) as what happens is your body takes what it needs and excretes the rest. If you take too much, it can be spectacular! But once you know your dose,there's no problem at all.

 

[T2 Woman]

I was diagnosed just before Christmas with a hba1c of 98. At my appointment the nurse asked me my weight and took my blood pressure. She explained I would be referred to check my eyes and my feet/legs. I was also given a tee2+ blood glucose monitor which she gave me the choice of whether I wanted to use one or not. She touched on nutrition and I was referred to the DESMOND programme and the NHS digital weight management programme. I was advised that my next blood test would be March.

Hi Poursomesugaronme1682. Cool name! Sounds like you are a pretty similar profile to me. My Christmas day and Boxing day were certainly very restrained! Sounds like you are lucky and got some decent advice. I hope to get the same and really want a meter and test strips on prescription but if not I’ll be buying one as soon as I get back from my appointment. Seems from the advice on here it’s the only way to get proper control of it. I am upset to be going through it. It is major change for me, but I needed a shock and this certainly gave me it. Apart from the sugar reduction my other goal is a good weight loss so I’m gonna give it my best shot. How are you feeling about it all? Do you have much weight to lose? I don’t even know how much I weigh. I’m too scared to get on the scales so this appointment no doubt will be truly shocking for me. The kick up the behind I need. I wear size 18 jeans and am bigger on top as I have big boobs but I carry a lot of the worst visceral fat around my middle which is the worst kind so hoping to shift that. Hoping for New Year, new me!

 

[Antje77]

I just can’t face having heavy fat breakfasts early in the morning. Leaves me a bit more for later. Otherwise I’ll do the yoghurt thing.

I think you might like to have a read around this thread as well, and chip in too, it's where we share our foods with a bit of chat on the side: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/what-have-you-eaten-today.75781/page-2384

 

[johnme]

Protein is a great appetite suppressant, so a couple of boiled eggs for breakfast (whenever you have it) will make you feel much better than Weetabix or similar, once you acclimatise, and leave your blood glucose untouched. I've taken to avocados in the morning too - no effect on blood glucose and carrying plenty of fibre. And I recently discovered milk in my tea has a shocking effect on the blood glucose. So I make coffee with full cream, which has almost none.
Good luck with it.

 

[Alexandra100]

I recently discovered milk in my tea has a shocking effect on the blood glucose. So I make coffee with full cream

Yes, having very much enjoyed cream in my coffee in my careless youth, I conscientiously gave up the cream in my "health" conscious maturity. Re-discovering real coffee with real double cream and without guilt has been one of the consolations of my current low carb diet. I also put double cream in my tea. Nowadays this is unusual, but in Victorian novels the upper classes always offered guests cream in their tea. I imagine they pitied the poorer folk who could only afford milk.

 

[Resurgam]

Yes, having very much enjoyed cream in my coffee in my careless youth, I conscientiously gave up the cream in my "health" conscious maturity. Re-discovering real coffee with real double cream and without guilt has been one of the consolations of my current low carb diet. I also put double cream in my tea. Nowadays this is unusual, but in Victorian novels the upper classes always offered guests cream in their tea. I imagine they pitied the poorer folk who could only afford milk.

One of my great grandmothers worked as a housemaid and one of her tasks was to take the cream off the milk - it was poured into a cream pan and left overnight, and then deliver the skimmed milk to the kitchen and put the cream in the larder. The skimmed milk was used to make bread and puddings for the servants.

 

[johnme]

Yes, having very much enjoyed cream in my coffee in my careless youth, I conscientiously gave up the cream in my "health" conscious maturity. Re-discovering real coffee with real double cream and without guilt has been one of the consolations of my current low carb diet. I also put double cream in my tea. Nowadays this is unusual, but in Victorian novels the upper classes always offered guests cream in their tea. I imagine they pitied the poorer folk who could only afford milk.

I went the other way - black tea. But I love it in the coffee. Good luck

 

[Alexandra100]

For those who tend to get constipated, an alternative is vitamin C powder taken in a glass of water

@Outlier Thanks for the tip! I already like vitamin C powder better than tablets, as one gets only the vitamin one wants without being forced to swallow unwelcome bulking agents. Since starting to watch my carbs, I read labels and I am shocked and frustrated to see how much maize starch, dextrose (not to mention colouring) etc are forced on me in vitamin/mineral pills and even prescription meds. One little pill might seem trivial, but in my case it is 4 meds twice daily, probably for the rest of my life.