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Are There Cooking Classes for Type 2 Diabetics?

M

melbella

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi i have just joined this site, I have type 2, the doctors keep trying to put me on medication which i refuse to take, i know that if i loose weight, eat healthy and exercise i can bring it into remission, because i have done this before.

I have been enrolled in the freestyle Libre 2 system, through the university of London, so i am learning a lot about what spikes my blood sugars. I found out that if i leave not eating for more than 4 hours, my blood sugars go so dangerously low ( this explains why i am so tired, i have also had one episode of where i passed out and have others where i feel like i am going to pass out. I have also found out when i eat ****, how it spikes my MM0l/L. For instance i had prawn crackers the other night, it spiked my mmol to 12.9 (not good) i was following my level when i eat crackers (not good either) you know things are not healthy, but until you see the evidence it brings it into perspective. I have been doing a more Mediterranean diet, but because i am on my own i struggle to cook for just 1 person, so tend to stick to fish and roasted veg, which can get boring. I think also because i have cut down on the carbs, its not sustaining my sugar levels. Is there single people out there that have easy recipe ideas for single people with diabetes? do you know if there are any diabetes cooking classes in the UK i can enroll in?
 
Hi @melbella and welcome to the forum. I don’t know of any cookery classes for type 2s in my area, maybe there is elsewhere in the country? However there are many recipes on line. I usually type “low carb” followed by what I’d like to cook into Google. There’s also several threads where members post what they eat each day. Such as this one here:

What have you eaten today? (Low carb forum)

Share what you've eaten today with the rest of the DCUK community and maybe steal a few ideas for yourself! Please remember that this is the 'Low Carb Diet Forum' and that this thread isn't for low carb debates :)
www.diabetes.co.uk www.diabetes.co.uk
 
I cook just for myself even though there are 2 more in our household (all with different dietary needs) if you google a website called Diet Doctor they have low carb menu plans with recipes that you can tailor just for one, I don’t use them much now but the plans have breakfast, lunch, dinner and you can substitute meals for others, you make a double portion for your evening meal and have that next day for your lunch so you’re only cooking once a day and you get great variety- I think if I’m recalling it correctly you can also generate a shopping list.

You can subscribe but you don’t have to there’s loads of free plans and info
 
Hi and welcome to the forum @melbella. I agree with all the above comments.
What caught my eye was your low sugar episodes after not eating for several hours.

If You don’t mind me asking, how low did you go? And did you have something carby in the preceding 4 hours? You passed out, what did your medical team say about you low blood sugars? What did you do to fix the low, or did your blood sugars rise without intervention?
In general CGM’s can be less accurate outside the ‘normal’ blood glucose range. Most of us, if we go low, cross check the CGM reading against a finger prick blood test. Often the CGM can show us going low, but in fact we are okay. For example, the CGM maybe reading 3.5 but a fingerpick will show us at 4.5. The finger prick is the reading to go with.

Outside of the CGM readings, there are a number of reasons we can go low.
A reactive low - sometimes the pancreas can over produce insulin following a carby meal. This causes your blood sugars to temporarily drop. It’s called a reactive low. Usually your liver will intervene and bring your blood sugars back up.

Blood sugar lowering meds or if you are on insulin therapy can sometimes cause low blood sugar episodes, but I see you are diet only.

Alcohol, especially drinks with sugary mixers can cause lows.

There is also a condition called Reactive Hyperglycaemia whereby the pancreas secretes too much insulin called an insulin overshoot. It is a distinct condition. With RH your blood sugars can get dangerously low. I’m going to tag @Lamont D who has this condition. He is very knowledgeable.

I’m not suggesting you have this condition, as it’s not common, but with none medication lows it’s a consideration. These are just general observations. Itoocan go very low. I have never passed out as I intervene. I am also low blood sugar sensitive and I will wake up if this happens to me at night. I imagine your diabetes medical team are aware of your lows. Wishing you well, Mel.
 
Hi @melbella welcome to our forum.
I too go along with the recommendations.
Thanks to @Melgar I won't have too much to ask.
My condition (RH) is a condition that reacts to certain foods, that will cause low blood glucose levels. (Below 3.5mmols)
If you have recorded these lows, and your doctor has not followed up on it, then I would ask again.
Is it right you only go low when you don't eat?
I would add, that what ever your diagnosis could be, if you are having lows, you need a referral to an endocrinologist, to get the necessary tests.
I was misdiagnosed with T2, and getting a referral because my GP couldn't fathom, why I was going into hypoglycaemia, on no meds, and not T1.
Best wishes.
 
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