Can I eat these?

[Redshank]

Celeriac (second on your list) is only 2.2g of carbohydrate per 100g so is fine for most people. It is also very versatile.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

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.

You know, when I had to change the way I ate, I discovered a whole bunch of foods I hadn't actually tried before. I'm not much of a kitchen princess, but I do thoroughly enjoy my meals. I hope the same will be true for you.

 

[kitedoc]

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

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?
And ..Do you own a glucose meter where you prick near the end of your finger, apply a drop of blood to a plastic strip inserted in the machine and the meter shows a reading?

 

[derry60]

Out of all on that list, many on here will eat Celeriac, which is celery root. I eat Celeriac and it does not spike my BGL's at all. It works out at 2.3 carbs per 100 gram. Cauliflower is 3.0 carbs and 2.3 sugars per 100 gram, Celeriac is 1.8 sugar per 100 gram, so I do not know why some on here will not eat it. When roasted it tastes like parsnip.

 

[Resurgam]

Celeriac should be OK - it is not - botanically - a root, I think which is why it is a good choice.
It can be unclear what is being referred to if you don't differentiate between a Hba1c test result and a blood glucose level. There are different units which might be used for the Hba1c result which adds to the possible confusion.

 

[Daphne917]

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.

@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.

 

[daisy1]

@Snappy21
Hello Snappy and welcome to the Forum Here 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 carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your 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

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

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.
  

 

[xfieldok]

I 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.

 

[Major Buckmaster]

Swede is fine for me. It’s up to the meter surely...

 

[Mr_Pot]

Swede is fine for me. It’s up to the meter surely...

OK for me too, it is my standard substitute when the rest of the family have mashed or baked potato.

 

[Snappy21]

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%?

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.

 

[Snappy21]

@Snappy21
Hello Snappy and welcome to the Forum Here 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 carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your 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

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

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.
  

Hi daisy1. Many thanks for your comprehensive response, very useful and much appreciated.

 

[Snappy21]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I will invest in a meter and create diet to follow.

 

[derry60]

I 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.

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

 

[xfieldok]

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

Husband prefers it to potato now.