• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

confused & worried

1

19hertz

Newbie
Messages
3
Hi all

I'm new to this forum but was diagnosed about 2 years ago.

However, I still feel like I'm newly diagnosed. I read stuff on the net and have been to diabetic info thing. All the stuff I hear is so conflicting. I'm worried cos I just found out my diabetes is progressing and my doc says I will go from tablets to insulin injections pretty soon. This has really scared me.

I have read that I am supposed to stick to natural products such as butter and avoid margarine. Then I read the opposite. Then I read coconut oil is the best oil but if its not virgin coconut oil then its bad.

I have also been told to eat potatoes, rice, pasta, bread - then I read that they are bad.

I do all my own cooking and really need to know what I should eat and avoid. I make simple recipes - I'm not really one for elaborate recipes.

I have discovered xylitol and (banned product in UK removed) and use them both.

But I really want to know some hard facts. Does anyone have any ideas, recipes etc.

Nice to meet you all.

19hertz.
 
19hetz
Each diabetic has to find his/her own road.
Your meter is your friend. Keep a food diary and log your blood glucose readings. You'll find what suits you that way. I personally would always prefer natural foods to imitations which came from a chemistry lab. I don't touch margarine, but since I eat very little[almost no] bread, I use little butter.
However, I know that fats have no effect on diabetes control. I don't like the taste of coconut oil, so don't use it.
I find a simple fresh natural diet suits me. Loads of veggies, some fruit and meat, fish, eggs, cheese etc. I eat some kind of sald daily. Today I'm having a home made green bean salad for lunch.
Hana
 
Thanks Hanadr.

Is there a place on this forum where I can learn what i need to do to check my readings. Not How to use the blood tester but when and how often.

I'll certainly take your advice and will not buy bread any more.

Thanks again.

19hertz

PS - do you know if sweet potatoes are better than regular ones?
And is there any kind of pasta that is good for diabetics.
 
Have a read of the information here which is usually posted for new members.......it tells you when to test etc. You could also add a 1 htr test if you need to check out any possible spikes. Dependent on the actual food you consume will decide when you will reach your highest level.
Fat's affect the absorption so can delay the 'peak' much later hence sometimes a 3 - 4 hr test may be advisable until you see what is happening. The so called 'Pizza effect.'

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.

As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!
If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Ken/Sue
Click to expand...
 
19Hz
Sweet potatoes do have less available carbohydrate than ordinary ones and there is a pasta called Dreamfields which is based on Inulin , rather than starch. Both these foods suit some peopl and not others. like me for instance, I can't deal with Dreamfields pasta without spikes.
As to when you should test: Over a period of a few days, Test before eaing and the an hour and 2 hours after. The hour usually gives you the highest spike and if you've go it right, your BG should return to near your baseline after 2 hours. That's timed from commencing your meal.
If you want to try Dreamfields pasta[which tastes nice], Check their website for suppliers. It can be a bit hard to find. It is available at the 2 good low carb suppliers on-line. Avidlite and Low Carb Megastore.
 
Back
Top