Thanks Jo. Very useful. It sounds as though you really have it under control. I wasn't given too much advice other than a magazine to read however, the doctor suggested I enrol on an NHS diabetes education session which I have done. I'm surte this will help. Your list of suitable foods is very encouraging, plenty there that I enjoy.
Just to clarify further @Snappy21, this blood test of 6.5, does someone take your blood like from a vein in the crook of your arm and the result comes back to the doctor? ? You say it has been measured over the past 12 months ? How often?Must be my blood glucose level. It has been measured over the past 12 months but only now have I been diagnosed with T2. Level went up to 6.7 at the highest and is now 6.5
@Snappy21 the only things that I definitely wouldn’t eat on your list would be the bananas and pearl barley but the rest I would in moderation. However I know that I can eat them because I have tested for them and seen how they affected my BS. For example yesterday for lunch I had roast pork with 2 roast potatoes and roasted Veggies consisting of parsnip, carrot, sweet potato, butternut squash, red onion and courgette and after 2 hours my BS has only risen by 1.0. We are all different and have different tolerances to carbs etc but if you test you can see how foods affect your BS.Diagnosed with T2 about three weeks ago and struggling a bit with what I should or should not be eating. Can anyone advise if these are OK or NoNos please?
Swede
Celeriac
Parsnips
Other root vegetables (I know potatoes aren't that good but have been advised that new potatoes are best)
Pearl barley
Oranges
Apples
Bananas
Thanks in advance.
OK for me too, it is my standard substitute when the rest of the family have mashed or baked potato.Swede is fine for me. It’s up to the meter surely...
My HbA1c is 6.5 and the blood glucose level is 6.1 mmol/L. Been like this for about a year. HbA1c went up to 6.7 in August but last measured as 6.6 in November.Do you happen to know your HbA1c the average of blood glucose over the past 8-12 weeks that probably led to your diagnosis? Or is that what you mean by 6.5%?
Hi daisy1. Many thanks for your comprehensive response, very useful and much appreciated.@Snappy21
Hello Snappy and welcome to the ForumHere is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it both interesting and helpful.
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 235,000 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 carbohydrates
- 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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.
- 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
I love Celeriac mash making a Shephard's pie..I sprinkle some grated cheese on top and crisp it up in the oven. Real comfort foodI like roughly mashed celeriac (with lashings of butter and black pepper) to top a cottage pie. I wouldn't eat anything else from your list.
You need a meter to find out how foods impact you.
Husband prefers it to potato now.I love Celeriac mash making a Shephard's pie..I sprinkle some grated cheese on top and crisp it up in the oven. Real comfort food
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