Adrift!

as little carbs as possible will give you good results, so cheese and meats etc.....

you will need to get a blood meter in order to observe what certain carbs do to you and how much you can tolerate..

You’ll probably have been or will be told something along the lines of all things in moderation, reduce sugar and fat, eat lots of fruit and veg. This advice has led to diabetes t2 being seen as progress and leading to more and more medication for the last few generations. Plenty of official sources still say this. However more and more are waking up to the reality and science that carbs or more specifically lowering carbs is the answer. It is NHS, ADA and NICE endorsed so safe.

Can I suggest you take a good look at LCHF ie low carb, higher fat (than recommended for the last few decades) methods of eating.

It’s how an awful lot of us get our blood sugar levels under control and for some even eliminate medications and achieve remission and also reduce or improve complications.

It is often the easiest and most sustainable form of weight loss for a type 2 if you need that. Other conditions often improve including but not limited to blood pressure, joint pain, inflammation, PCOS, and despite the dire warnings of the last few decades it improves cholesterol for most, yes improves cholesterol.

Some jump right on it, others edge their toes in a bit at a time.

Try clicking these links for more detailed explanations that are well worth readings. These is a lot here so go at your own pace.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.26870/


https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html for info including low carb made simple


And https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/success-stories-and-testimonials.43/ to show it really works and for motivation

also https://www.dietdoctor.com/ for more food ideas and general info of carb content of foods. Excellent site and first port of call for many getting their head round low carb.


Lots of other websites for recipes out there too. Just use the term low carb or keto with whatever you fancy. Be aware the the USA count carbs differently so be aware if you look at their counting, recipes or products. They include fibre in their count we don’t. So if it’s USA stuff deduct the fibre to get our figures. (Fibre isn’t generally digested thus doesn’t get counted)


Also it’s very important to be able to check for yourself what’s happening so you can make the necessary adjustments day to day and meal by meal rather than wait 3, 6 or even 12 months and then have no idea what had what effect. It also helps keep an eye out that any meds are working appropriately not too much or too little. Getting a blood glucose meter is the only way to do this (no matter what contradictory advice you may have heard - it’s usually budget based rather than anything more scientific). Test before a meal and 2hrs later hoping for a rise of 2mmol or less. More and the carbs eaten were too many! Please ask if you want any guidance on this.


IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE ON DIABETIC MEDS (other than metformin): if you lower your carbs then any glucose lowering meds or insulin increasing meds may need to be adjusted accordingly to make sure you aren’t taking more than your new diet requires. It can cause a hypo if you have more gliclazide or insulin etc than your new carb intake requires. (This is not a concern for metformin on its own). Keep a very close eye on your numbers and do this with your dr’s knowledge so they can reduce medication accordingly. Please don’t be put off by an ill informed out dated rubbishing of low carb diets or being told you should eat carbs to match meds, it should be the other way around. Low carb is endorsed by the NHS and the ADA as an effective method of control, even if the practice staff don’t realise that yet.

Best advice is to get a blood glucose meter, they are pretty cheap and start a process of logging what you eat and testing. Its the best way to understand what you can eat and what causes you significant rises in blood glucose. Everyone is different and it depends on your level of insulin resistance and how much you produce.


What was your HBA1C number on diagnosis if you know it?


Basically, things containing igh levels of carberhydrate is bad, generally in order of:


Difficult to process and most likely to need cutting:

Sugar (The worst) (So cakes, sweets, chocolate, biscuits etc

Simple carbs: Bread, pasta, rice, etc..

Fruits: Tropical fruits/Fruit juices


Medium and may need cutting:

Whole wheat of the bread etc

Whole grains (Bulgar wheat)

Fruits – Applies/pears/orange


Low and only need cutting if your sensitive or going for a specific diet:

Beans/Lentils

Non starchy root veg


Very low and likely ok

Meat, Fish, Eggs, Cheese, “above ground veg – salads – leafy greens, cauliflower etc


Some one will be along talking about the KETO High Fat Low Carb diet that is good at reducing blood sugar levels but is very restrictive. My advice would be to get a blood glucose monitor and do some testing, then make a choice over which strategy you want to use based on some of the advise you will find on the forum.

Clemm said:

Hi. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last week and started on
Metformin.
I'm really unsure about what I can and can't eat... there's so much info on the diabetes site I'm just getting lost in there! I've been referred to an education course but what do I eat in the meantime?? Help!!

Click to expand...

Hi Clemm
Yes, it can be quite overwhelming but you have come to the right place. Many folks find here https://www.dietdoctor.com/new-member/keto-intro/3t/simplify specifically the basic section. There is also the low carb programme https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/. Meat, eggs, fish, cheese, leafy green vegetables are all fine. Potatoes, pasta, rice, bread aren't. Just some ideas to get you started without starving. Read the labels and aim for less than 5% carb max if at all possible. Ideally test bg before eating and at 2 hrs after. look for a rise of less than 2 - 2 hrs after first bite.

You CAN eat whatever you want, but there are implications, so you need to figure out what is best for you. I will also say it seems that we are at a time in our understanding of T2, where there's an orthodoxy, and the orthodoxy is being upset by a new wave of research and understanding. So what you SHOULD do IMO comes down to how badly you want to turn this around through nutrition, and how willing you are to put your trust in the new wave of research and the experiences of others who have been successful, rather than in the established protocols put forth by the medical establishment.

So my suggestions would be to eat as low carb as your are comfortable with, along with eating healthy fats without reservation. Test your blood sugars as you go so you can see for yourself what works and what doesn't. The latest research suggests T2 can be reversed, not simply managed through nutrition.

Good luck. I hope you are successful.

I would eat a high quality species appropriate protein (meat, fish, shell fish, eggs) and low carb vegetables / salads (without the dressing). This will get you to at least 90% of where you could want to head to, whilst you learn the ropes.

To start off cutting out the starchy things we are supposed to eat because they are considered healthy should make a big difference. Anything with grain including sweetcorn, potatoes too, and that will probably be enough of a shock for starters, though perhaps leaving out fruit would help if you are inclined to eat several pieces a day.
Add extra veges such as courgette cauliflower or broccoli, if you are concerned about the lack of sugary fruits, then tomatoes are fruits as is cucumber - and courgette too for that matter. Stems such as celery celeriac radish beetroot, swede and turnip are good, and leaves such as used in salads, though roasted cabbage slices are tasty. There's always mushrooms.
Most people can tolerate frozen berries with cream or full fat yoghurt or crème fraiche, and sugar free jelly makes it look more festive.

Hello and welcome

You've already been given some great advice so just welcome. It is totally usual to feel overwhelmed at first and yes there are some things to learn but the great news is that you've found a great place got learn what you need. The people here are awesome.

You will learn what you need and you will feel less confused and overwhelmed.

Welcome

Hi and welcome @Clemm
Some of the above links may save you a bit of time researching these pages. Sorry but here's another one for you . This is just one provider of glucose monitors- I'm sure your local B**ts will have them too.
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

I have no connection with this company but I use the products.
Testing is the key to knowing what sends up your sugars. If you have porridge and you spike, have less next time, test again then decide if it's for you. This will build up a picture of what is good or not so good.
@sno0opy and @ianpsspurs have ready-made food lists for you.
Post again please with your progress or with more questions. We're with you!

Clemm said:

I discussed blood glucose monitoring with mr GP but apparently it's not advocated in type 2 on Metformin.

Click to expand...

Then I'm afraid I'd consider your GP to be an idiot.

What they really meant to say was "we won't provide you with a meter or strips".

I'd very seriously consider self funding, if you can afford it, as some of the information you'll get about which foods to eat and which to avoid to lower your blood sugar will be incredibly useful.