advice please

Hi Jo,

I'm afraid I may not have an answer you want to hear. The reason the oats, toast and sandwich spike your blood so high is because of the carbs, and most if not all high-carb foods will do the same. The best way to prevent these spikes is to reduce the amount of carbs you eat - and in particular, cut out things like bread. You don't have to be low carb per se, but I would certainly say "lower and better" carbs.

For lunch I'd suggest salads rather than sandwiches. Still include plenty of meat (or whatever else you'd have in your sandwich - cheese or whatever) and use a nice oil-based dressing.

Breakfast is a bit more tricky, because most traditional breakfasts are so carb-laden. A cooked breakfast is an obvious answer, or even just some eggs, except for your issues around cooking food. You could try less conventional breakfasts. There's nothing wrong with eating veg and meat for breakfast, or a salad, or leftovers from the night before's dinner; it seems a little weird at first but quickly becomes "normal". Alternatively, you could go for full-fat natural yoghurt with nuts and a small serving of berries.

Sorry that I seem to be pushing you towards low-carb when you stated a preference not to go that route, but I'm afraid the fact is that it's the carbs which are spiking your blood and reducing the carbs is the best way of stopping that happening. You don't have to cut them out by all means, but reducing the amounts will certainly help immensely.

Hope that helps a little.

Cheers,
Nick.

Hi Jo, I find I have most problems with BG control at breakfast and have settled for half a grapefruit which has only about 6 or 7g of carbs and so doesn't give me big spikes, you could get your mum to cut a grapefruit in half every other day and the half that is not eaten can be kept wrapped in clingfilm in the fridge.
If you are on statins you should not eat grapefruit

As far as sandwiches go you could try changing the bread you use to a low GI bread such as Burgen which has 11.9g per slice which is much lower than the 17 or 18g in a white loaf and because it is low GI it is digested slower so your bg levels wont be affected so sharply.

Good luck

If my memory serves me correct rice pudding is a big no go. If your on about puddings why not try a small banana cut up and then make a small amount of custard (birds custard powder with no added sugar) and made with skimmed milk.

Bread wise pitta bread works for me but dont forget its also the size (amount) of food you are eating as well as the food type you need to think about.

D

Birds custard .

Nutrition
nutrient per 100g (as packed)
Energy kCal 339 kCal
Energy kJ 1,442 kJ
Protein 0.4 g
Carbohydrate 84.2 g
Fat Trace
Fibre Trace
Sodium 0.4 g
Salt Equivalent 0.9 g

Small banana 23 carbs.

Jo, diabetics with good numbers reduce the amount of carbohydrate they eat. There isn't any other way to do it, other than injecting insulin to cover carbs.

I think there is a chance you have been prescribed medication for your mental health problems that have made you gain weight. None of this will help you manage your diabetes.

If your blood sugar is running high and fluctuating a lot you will probably be feeling fatigued and lethargic, especially in the afternoon and evening. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time and are struggling with such unpleasant mental health issues, this will affect your motivation. But I think you might find bringing your blood sugar under control helps with that.

I suggest you take a trip to your local library or a big bookshop and take a look at low glyceamic index and low carb cookery books. You could also google low carb and low GI recipies. Look at the pictures, I'm sure you will find something you like the look of

Jocat
I shop at Lidl, which is excellent value and quality. They have super cold meats and cheeses. Any of these make a great breakfast on a slice of crispbread. My favourite crispbread is Finn Crisp Original
This has the most satisfying crunch and is small so 1 slice is about 4 carbs.
the difficulty is in eating only 1 slice. It's moe-ish!! 8)
Go for loads of topping, So I often have a slice of meat WITH a slice of cheese. German breakfast style

Jocat

Cold meat and/or cheese and/or hard-boiled egg at breakfast goes down a whole lot better if you put a spoonful of something on top, for instance Tesco's prawn deli (other makes seem to have some tomato substance in which is lethal for me at least) or Tesco's cheese and chive dip (don't have too much at once with this one). It sort of makes breakfast bearable and doesn't involve cooking, knives or feeling like puking it up when it's too dry compared to lovely lovely cereals! Have an experiment.

I do agree about rabbit food. I wasn't into it either and only eat a little at one time even now. But I sure feel a heck of a lot better taking control of my blood sugar.

As you say you don't want to low carb but haven't tried it, how about a one-week experiment promising yourself that you'll try something different if you're not happy with it? It's not set in concrete that you have to keep on. But at least that way you'd have a choice based on experience. Adding some more in afterwards would feel good and also still be lower than now. Sort of trick yourself??

Good luck anyway. Keep us posted. I always feel less alone when I read how others are managing in their different ways.
DG

I have been thinking about this all afternoon. Starchy carbohydrate is very addictive :?

I wonder if you may also be experiencing carb cravings - these cravings are driven by fluctuating blood sugars. If you are experiencing hunger within an hour or so of eating a substantial meal and waaaaaay before your next meal is reasonably due, that is a carb craving. I used to get his all the time before I cut the carbs. it is really dificult to cope with :? And you will never get to grips with it without making changes to your diet.

If you and your mum work together to support each other you might both get some benefit from giving it a weeks trial, like dragongirl suggests?

Jo, your mental health problems trump your diabetes, I think :? The weight will add to your insulin resistance, but you can still address your blood sugar issues even if you don't lose weight. Honest! Are you getting any talking therapies as well as the medication?

Whatever happens with the meds you need to reduce the amount of carbohydrate you eat. Any reduction in your numbers will help. Go and look up some low carb or low GI foods, look at pictures and find some inspiration. Try to find less starchy alternatives to the things you eat now.

Hi Jo,

Just stick with it - you'll get there! The fact that your mother is doing so well should give you a lot of strength. Getting your blood glucose levels in control really is worth doing!

Best wishes - John

About the custard...
Custard powder is only used as 1 tsp / pint....

so 85% of a teaspoon isn't really that many carbs.

Jo... I can bet that your mother didn't 'pop' into good control.
She had her bad times, just like everyone else.

Crispbreads are about 3 /4 g each.... really nice with some ham / cheese pickle etc,
You can do it.

At hte start, all information is good. You will have bad days, but, they are not bad days. They are days where you foound out what didn't work.
Which is just as important as finding out what did.

jocat44 said:

Hi Spiral
I have been undergoing various talking therapies since my mental health problems became deadly (not exagerating) in 2004. I see a psychotherapist at the day hospital weekly, my CPN/care coordinator fortnightly, I also get support from a local project when I need to.
I am going to look at lowering my carbs. My GP and my CPN feel one of my psych meds combined with the strong family history may have led to me developing diabetes. It is too unsafe for me to stop the psych med though.
I do find it frustrating though my mum is doing really well, has lost a lot of weight, her bg has improved and stabilised and then there's me! I am glad for her but it just feels like another thing I am bad at. It's all getting me down at the mo
Thanks
Jo

Click to expand...

Jo, I do understand mental health problems and I know how deadly they can be :? :cry: That is why they trump the diabetes. I'm glad you are getting some talking therpaies as well as the meds. Those psychriatric medications are horrible, but sometimes the alternatives may be even worse I hope they are monitoring your health and looking at the doseage regularly. There is a lot of support for you here too

You have been given some really good advice on this thread. Whatever you can do to get your numbers down will help. Ask as many questions as you like

Celtic.Piskie said:

About the custard...
Custard powder is only used as 1 tsp / pint....

so 85% of a teaspoon isn't really that many carbs.

Crispbreads are about 3 /4 g each.... really nice with some ham / cheese pickle etc,

Click to expand...

Err....... :? My your Custard must be pretty runny ? My tin says that you use 2 1/2 TABLESPOONS (tbsp) of powder with sugar to taste to make 1 pint of custard ?? Not a teaspoon !!

Actually, CP it doesn't work that way...when Custard Powder (84g carbs per 100g) is used and you make up a pint of the stuff using semi-skimmed milk, the actual carb value of a pint is 64g. So, if like me you have a 1/4 pint say, then that is an extra 16g carbs on whatever pudding you are having ? Quite a lot actually. You do need to take it into account ? Mind you, I have been known to sink half a pint of the stuff till I realised just how many carbs that was. :shock:
(Source: Co-op Custard Powder)

Rye Crispbread is actually 6g carbs
Wheat Crispbread is 7g carbs
Starch reduced Crispbread is 3g carbs. (Sourceocket Calorie Counter-Carolyn Humphries)
I agree they are nice but the carb values fluctuate as you can see.