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Dare I mention the word carb??????

  • Thread starter Thread starter oh_dear_me
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oh_dear_me said:
I probably wont hear from anyone now as you're all so good! But thank you in advance.
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I was away when you first posted and it must have scrolled off the bottom before I read it.

I'm hoping that I'm not alone in saying that I'm not always so good and it's because I'm human. I'm fortunate not to be tempted by cakes/biscuits/puddings, never have been, I've always preferred savoury foods.

I think I was also lucky because I cut out processed foods as far back as 1989, three months of WW frozen meals had helped me gain 3 stones, caused by the salt content if the hospital dietician is to be believed.

So when I started low carb, recommended by a nutritional therapist (a proper one), and OK'd by my GP (although skeptical), I just cut out bread/pasta/rice/potato and the only thing I miss is bread. You can't have poached eggs without toast, or bacon for that matter.

I tend to keep down to about 40gms of carb per day and it's just as well I love vegetables, I probably have 10 different vegetables a day. Peppers, onions, courgettes, leaks, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms (not exactly a veg), French beans, cabbage . . . . . . OK, nine.

My little cheats (bread, rice with curry - blue moons only) were never an issue, my HbA1c were always OK. More problematic these days, especially as I use a FS Libre. It shows me when I've sinned, almost immediately.
 
I have been T2 for 15+ years, and only learned about lchf about 18 months ago. Until then my rule was keep the portion size down, and actually I didn't do too badly. My diet is much better now though, my glucose levels are much lower (hba1c 36) and I have more energy. However I still allow myself an occasional dessert (very small portion). I keep an eye on my glucose levels and I don't go overboard.
I'm looking forward to mince pies - my own home made very small ones!
 
Getting your average blood sugar down is quite easy if you eat a low carb diet. The danger is getting regular blood sugar spikes. These tend to be the cause of heart disease, strokes and Alzheimer’s. Most people with type 2 had high blood sugars for some time before they diagnosed, so a lot of damage may already be done to the body. I am 64 now and life expectancy for type 2 diabetics suggests that I may only live another 10 years unless I take very good care. That means low blood sugars and as few spikes as possible.

Personally, I don’t feel the urge to eat high carb food. It is highly addictive, as much as hard drugs like cocaine. That type 2 guy on the BBC Panorama Program “Diabetes the Hidden Killer” who used to binge eat all his kids chocolate every day is a good example of being a slave to carb addiction. He ended up having bariatric surgery as the only way to cure his compulsion. Other people only wake up to the consequences of carb addition when they start to go blind or have crippling neuropathy.

I have a couple of squares of Lindt 90% chocolate occasionally. My other treat is strawberries with a little cream. If you eat something which pushes your glucose to over 10, then you need to avoid it in future. I still need to lose another 4 Kg, so treats need to be minimised.
 
conniecar said:
Well I’m glad I’ve seen this. I’ve been trying to do low-ish carbs for about a month, and at first it seemed a bit of ‘look at me, I’m healthy’ buzz. I’ve been type 1 for 43 years and have some neuropathy in my feet, so have become a bit carb/ blood sugar obsessed to help. All great initially. Was flashing my meter at my husband screeching ‘look!! 7.0 it’s bloody working this diet!’ I haven’t lost weight oddly, but was feeling good, still do. But supermarkets have become a flash point, culminating in me having a mega tantrum in the Co-Op today as my snack of choice wasn’t there ( hard boiled eggs ) so there was nothing for me ( it was one of those ‘oh don’t mind me, I’m only starving but you go ahead and enjoy YOUR food.’ ) if I’m hungry, but not hypo I’m miserable, and it’s making me focus more on my diabetes because I feel like I’m 7 again, and my Mum is weighing all of my food. I’ve always jauntily advocated that we can eat everything in moderation, and offset it with insulin. Now I’ve become a carb nerd I’ve added porridge, jacket potatoes and egg to the list of spikey foods! Yes I’m not drawn to sweets or crisps anymore, and can be creative but my meals are either salad based, corgetti spaghetti ( like eating the inside of a golf ball ) or that horrible frog spawn that’s cauliflower rice. I AM MISERABLE TOO !!!! Thank you for making me realise it. Tomorrow it’s back to moderation, no Joan of Arc face and when I see the consultant on Wednesday I’ll ask him to eat shredded butternut squash and say it’s nice. Happy Christmas ️
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I can sooooo understand the "tantrum" bit! That was me the other day when all my lot stopped at a sweet little tea room and ordered tea and cake! I sat there with a face on me that just oozed fed-up-ness! I drank my tea while longing for that Victoria sponge! Do you know what.... I will have a bit of Victoria sponge next time because this has to be a way of eating that I personally can stick to for the whole of my life.
So I have come to a conclusion (with all the help from you wonderful lot of here) that I will do what works for me....just me as we are all so different.
I will continue to cut out the really bad stuff that spikes me like bread, pasta, rice, fruit juice, cereals and sweet stuff but if I just really fancy something now and then I'll have it. I'm pretty good at sticking to things most of the time but, I'm no longer going to say never to certain things... because that makes me miserable and then I obsess with that Victoria sponge :arghh:
I hate coconut and almond flour and it doesn't agree with my tummy! The same for cauliflower mash...gosh I felt so ill after that one! So it's all about finding a balance that you can stick to forever. I admire the really low carb people so much and I wish that was me but not eating meat means that's even trickier to achieve. However I did leave one facebook low carb group because it was just too much for me to deal with.
I've asked for another hb1ac test and will review things diet wise when I get the results. My day to day blood sugar readings haven't changed the whole time I've been really low carbing so I personally am a bit mystified about it all right now. Anyway I shall carry on my own little battle with this rotten diabetes and continue to read this forum for valuable advice. Thank you all so much for such great support :happy:
 
oh_dear_me said:
I can sooooo understand the "tantrum" bit! That was me the other day when all my lot stopped at a sweet little tea room and ordered tea and cake! I sat there with a face on me that just oozed fed-up-ness! I drank my tea while longing for that Victoria sponge! Do you know what.... I will have a bit of Victoria sponge next time because this has to be a way of eating that I personally can stick to for the whole of my life.
So I have come to a conclusion (with all the help from you wonderful lot of here) that I will do what works for me....just me as we are all so different.
I will continue to cut out the really bad stuff that spikes me like bread, pasta, rice, fruit juice, cereals and sweet stuff but if I just really fancy something now and then I'll have it. I'm pretty good at sticking to things most of the time but, I'm no longer going to say never to certain things... because that makes me miserable and then I obsess with that Victoria sponge :arghh:
I hate coconut and almond flour and it doesn't agree with my tummy! The same for cauliflower mash...gosh I felt so ill after that one! So it's all about finding a balance that you can stick to forever. I admire the really low carb people so much and I wish that was me but not eating meat means that's even trickier to achieve. However I did leave one facebook low carb group because it was just too much for me to deal with.
I've asked for another hb1ac test and will review things diet wise when I get the results. My day to day blood sugar readings haven't changed the whole time I've been really low carbing so I personally am a bit mystified about it all right now. Anyway I shall carry on my own little battle with this rotten diabetes and continue to read this forum for valuable advice. Thank you all so much for such great support :happy:
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Thanks :) I’m still low carbing but feel happier knowing it won’t rule me, as it was making me feel physically better but psychologically worse at the same time! Today I’ve 3 rice cakes for lunch, egg, salad, olives and lots of greens. The only extra is a little Philadelphia with some breadsticks for my break, and that’s made me feel more like I’m not obsessing. I’m not craving anything and like you sweets were never my thing. I love nice bread, but not what it does to me so it’s about balance I think. Slimming World was dreadful for me as it was pasta, potatoes, rice and Muller Light yoghurts - which never felt sustainable. This feels better ( I’m veggie too ) and I might even have a piece of 5g low carb bread with my poached egg, but never in the morning ! That wrecks everything it would seem. Good luck to everyone on a very personal journey, there’s no one size fits all. I feel more in control and less vulnerable when I speak to ‘health professionals’ when they say that horrible phrase ‘how controlled are you?’Oh that should have gone out along with bri-nylon flares x
 
I think it depends on the individual and on how they react to different foods. I don't use the word 'cheat' as I love what I eat and I know it is making me look and feel great and is keeping my blood glucose at very normal levels. When I have eaten more carbs, usually in social situations, like bread, ice cream or a little dessert, I am usually shocked by how my bg shoots up. I realise low carbing makes this more likely. If someone could tell us at what level and for how long bg has to be higher, to start damaging us I would perhaps be more relaxed. But as that doesn't seem possible and it probably varies between individuals and perhaps even between type 1 and type 2, I remain cautious and consistently low carb. We should all do what suits us best and if eating more carbs sometimes works for you, then you should do it and not worry about what others do or think!
 
smw99 said:
I think it depends on the individual and on how they react to different foods. I don't use the word 'cheat' as I love what I eat and I know it is making me look and feel great and is keeping my blood glucose at very normal levels. When I have eaten more carbs, usually in social situations, like bread, ice cream or a little dessert, I am usually shocked by how my bg shoots up. I realise low carbing makes this more likely. If someone could tell us at what level and for how long bg has to be higher, to start damaging us I would perhaps be more relaxed. But as that doesn't seem possible and it probably varies between individuals and perhaps even between type 1 and type 2, I remain cautious and consistently low carb. We should all do what suits us best and if eating more carbs sometimes works for you, then you should do it and not worry about what others do or think!
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I also wish they could give us some indication on how long bg has to be higher, to start damaging us. I tried to ask my GP this several months ago (when I say my GP he's the 4th one I've had in the last year and now he's left the surgery too....sigh) and he just said "Oh 11 isn't bad" and "you might just need a little bit of insulin to control things" and then followed up with "I'll get the diabetic team to call you"...I've never heard from them. So I shall take control myself and order that new hba1c test myself and review it. I know spikes aren't good and will try my hardest to avoid them but gosh it's hard sometimes.
 
Gosh you’re right! Who else is perfect every second of every day and feels terrible guilt when it goes awry? The diabetes team are so busy, and most days I’m ok. But those days when nothing works properly are hugely depressing! I like low carb, but now we are eating different meals as I can’t tolerate my husband’s jacket potato cravings. I cope by being strictly low carb at work, then relax a bit at night. It’s all juggling though. I had lovely broccoli soup on Saturday in a cafe so guessed it’d be quite low. An hour later I was 14.8 and cursing either cornflour or potato? Who knows,without looking like a nerd and asking for a breakdown of ingredients?
 
oh_dear_me said:
I drank my tea while longing for that Victoria sponge! Do you know what.... I will have a bit of Victoria sponge next time because this has to be a way of eating that I personally can stick to for the whole of my life.
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I am so pleased to have met another Victoria Sponge craver! :)
I cannot pass a bakery shop window without looking for one and drooling, and afternoon tea shops can be a nightmare when one is on display on the counter. It is only with Victoria Sponge. Other cakes and fancies do nothing for me, and I have absolutely no idea why it should be because never in my life have I been a massive cake eater or had a particularly sweet tooth.
I did give in on one occasion and had a piece with extra clotted cream to spoon over the top. Just in the interest of science of course. My word, it was delicious, although I haven't repeated the experiment! (That doesn't mean to say I won't in the future.) :)
 
I’m very heartened by your replies, I really am. It’s. Lonely old world having a hidden problem that most people don’t get. My mother in law is always peeved when I don’t want a cake, but I’d prefer to have a bag of Salt and Vinegar Disco’s when I’m on the way home :) We are all different, all have breaking points and days of ‘I can’t do this and why should I’ but all have to get back on the avoid problems. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, x
 
Dare I say the word profiterole ?

They are my absolute Achilles heel. I find them irresistible - and cannot for the life of me work out why.
 
conniecar said:
I did indulge in a Dairylea thing with breadsticks. I coped and I’ve updated my carb knowledge from 1976 now luckily. I feel like I’ve noticed what suits me now, but being constantly reminded isn’t healthy. I’ve stopped wondering if I like something, and am more worried about finding my glasses to check the carbs.
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Now I would not have even gone into that part of the shop - but I am so old time low carb - I was doing it even before I found Dr Atkins - out of necessity as I put on weight so easily on a 'normal' diet. I can eat the Lidl protein rolls, several times a week now.
 
Brunneria said:
Dare I say the word profiterole ?

They are my absolute Achilles heel. I find them irresistible - and cannot for the life of me work out why.
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Ok, that word has me drooling uncontrollably over the keyboard. Most of it is cream, right??? :angelic: ;) Not a great fan of sweet things but those and NT caff goodies have a siren call....I am going to go mad on Christmas Day (out to lunch at swanky hotel) but be good before and afterwards. @conniecar - I can sympathise with the tantrums!
 
Sue192 said:
Ok, that word has me drooling uncontrollably over the keyboard. Most of it is cream, right??? :angelic: ;) Not a great fan of sweet things but those and NT caff goodies have a siren call....I am going to go mad on Christmas Day (out to lunch at swanky hotel) but be good before and afterwards. @conniecar - I can sympathise with the tantrums!
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Yup.
Cream and chocolate sauce, with a footlingly insignificant (cough) amount of choux pastry.

My only consolation is that the idea of a profiterole is so much nicer than an actual profiterole ever turns out to be - so I am invariably disappointed.

Yet still, I never learn not to order the dratted things.
 
Ah you see profiteroles are ok...I'm sure they're ok :happy: because they are mostly cream and air! I know I'm right ;)
 
You are. My Mum always said I was allowed them because choice pastry is better in my early days of 1976 :) she also said I could have vanilla pods, not so nice. My home made cakes weren’t that popular at school
 
I’m off to make a Quorn chilli. Mediterranean cauliflower rice, one of those tins of mixed beans with the spicy tomato rinsed off ( it’s loaded with sugar ) loads of veg and some Quorn mince. Lovely. I can low carb, just feel better knowing if I fall off the wagon I can get straight back on without anyone noticing. My CoOp tantrum has told me that too many restrictions make for a miserable woman! X
 
I am definitely not obsessed with low carb and I do often have piece of cake or treat. You know the saying a little bit of what you fancy does u no harm.
 
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