Butter for toast (wholemeal) 2 slices per day. As I said in my original post, I was told by the diabetic nurse that just by cutting out high sugar content I should be able to get down to a mark that would save me from having to go on Metformin. So I wondered about apples and how highly they ranked in the sugar ratings. I'm kind of trying to vary things but have cut out all biscuits and chocolate but didn't eat too much of them anyway, it was more crisps and crisp-like snacks. I also suffer from inflammatory bowel disease which means I can't just eat any of the things that may be diabetic friendly either.
Wholemeal toast is even carbier than an apple, alas. Carbs are inflammatory by nature, so cutting those back can actually improve your IBD. My IBS (I know, different condition) is virtuallly non-existent now. That's one of the first things I found out when I quit bread, most of it turned to concrete in my gut, which was always red and angry. Without it, I was a lot less painful, practically overnight. I know eating to your meter isn't an option for you, but you can calculate carb content of your meals. Try to aim for a set amount a day or less than that number, if you can't test around meals. But really, bread, most fruit, potatoes, cereals, rice, pasta, corn etc, really are items, wholemeal/brown or otherwise, to avoid for several health reasons. (High blood sugars do cause damage to heart and veins as well!!!) And what do you class as diabetes friendly? Because items sold as such often contain artificial sugars which would wreak havoc on your guts (certainly turned mine into a very bloody mess), but *true* diabetic friendly foods should cause no problems as they usually lack inflammatory components. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs...? Full fat greek yoghurt, hard cheeses, should all be fine. Above ground, leafy green veggies should be okay, though spinach might be problematic for you, salads should probably be alright, broccoli and cauliflower too. Pulses can be problematic, both for the gut and blood sugars.
I know it's a puzzle. The way I eat currently needs to cater to, to a certain extent, issues with cow dairy (there's only so much I can get away with), chronic migraines, hypothyreoidism, kidney stones, obesity, permeable bowel, anxiety, depression, irritable bowel, reumatism and diabetes. (My non-alcoholic fatty liver went away with my way of eating years ago). So I know having to figure out a balancing act when it comes to food is a lot of trial and error, it takes a lot of time, and it's far from easy. But it can be done, and life can get better. Don't expect to find what works for you overnight, especially when there are multiple conditions to consider. But there are ways to figure it out. Even without a meter. Have hope; it can get better.