I have just been diagnosed type2 diabetes, I have to do the diet have not got a clue as to the amount of sugar I should be having in my food if any at all can I have sweetener?
Just been diagnosed type 2
- Thread starter Dickyt
- Start Date
Hi. Daisy should be along shortly with lots of info and links for diet etc. In general try to keep any added sugar in foods or drink to a minimum as it is turned to glucose. Sugar is just another carb so also keep your carbs sensibly low and low-GI and high fibre. If you can get a glucose meter you will be able to measure your blood sugar and find out what foods affect you most and by how much. Many of us would say 'eat to you meter'
daisy1
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Hi Dickyt and welcome to the forum 
Here is the basic information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask all the questions you need to and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 30,000 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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.
Here is the basic information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask all the questions you need to and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 30,000 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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.
Thankyou for your reply,does that mean I have to find food with virtually no carbs at all like salads it's hard to find foods like that or you have to pay a fortune
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Also. When choosing sweeteners, use stevia products. I.e , truvia for sprinkling. And photo of ones for hot drinks. Other types are really bad for you, canderel make these but their normal one is bad, sweetex too, Hope this helps. brown rice and pasta is surprisingly really nice, barley is a good alternative too.
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Squire Fulwood
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- Type of diabetes
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You don't have to get special foods. Try not to eat sugar and especially don't have sugary drinks. Then reduce any portions you have containing flour, potato or rice. There is no need to cut them out entirely.
The only real difficulty is that most of us find bread a no-no. There are plenty of other things you can have instead.
The only real difficulty is that most of us find bread a no-no. There are plenty of other things you can have instead.
Squire Fulwood
Expert
- Messages
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- Type of diabetes
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Sapper71 said:
Yes, if it comes from a shop don't eat it. If you make it yourself add 1.5 ounces of lard to the mix to lower the GI and the odd slice should not bother you.
Anyway, it works for me.
Squire Fulwood
Expert
- Messages
- 6,107
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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Sapper71 said:
I can eat dumplings too with a stew providing they are added about one hour or so before eating. If you go for seconds the next day the suet has leached out and the numbers hit the roof.
Walking for excercise very important not just to loose weight but helps with insulin production
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mickey121
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Burgen bread is good for you slow release carbs available in most supermarkets tastes pretty good too
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mickey121
Well-Known Member
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Sweetex is sucralose= bad
Canderel is aspartame = very very bad
Google them. Aspartame is the same as MSG.
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Canderel is aspartame = very very bad
Google them. Aspartame is the same as MSG.
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Tweetypie
Well-Known Member
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- Spiders, control freaks, untidiness, ignorance.
I agree, Burgen soya and linseed is a great alternative. I get it from ASDA 2 loaves for £2.30. It is our staple loaf now, great with peanut butter! I also heard rye bread is good, but have yet to discover a good one..........
Sarah they have both can cause cancer, also other side affects and illness. Your better with stevia. Even before I discovered I was diabetic, we never bought food or drinks with them in, google to get clearer picture.
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Hi. I buy a 'low-GI' loaf of bread from my local baker. It uses flour available nationally. BTW, views on the well-known artificial sweeteners vary. I have them all! You could spend a life-time searching the web for endless debates on the subject. I'd rather have a small level of sweetener than suffer harm from diabetes. Yes, you can have no sweetener or try one of the supposedly safer ones.
