I am a T2 and have been on insulin for over 10 years. I take Levemir 56 morning and 58 evenings and Novorapid before each meal. Just reduced to 32 units before breakfast (was 36 units 2 weeks ago), 32 units before lunch (was 36 units 2 weeks ago) and 42 units before evening meal.
I have always buried my head in the sand where my diabetes is concerned, so much so, that it has destroyed my eye sight and I am registered partially sighted. Also I need to loose approximately 4 to 5 stone in weight. Thankfully, I have finally woken up and decided I need to address my long term uncontrolled sugar levels and loose some weight.
So to do this I have been trying to follow a Save My Life Programme healthy living and eating programme, and also doing their exercise classes twice a week (cardio and resistance work). Basically no or very little wheat, no gluten, low carbs, no processed foods, no dairy, and only good fats e.g. coconut oil, almond butter. I can have 1 slice of gluten free bread a day if desired. Also I now use Coconut Milk.
I really believe in the principles of the diet but I am having so many problems with my sugar levels. I must say that I have never had so many good readings, but unfortunately I am getting lots and lots of near hypos (sugar lows), sometimes twice a day (2.7 etc). Also I was so hoping that my weight loss would be really good, like many of the other obese or morbidly obese people on the programme, but alas although I started to make subtle changes to my diet in the first week prior to starting, my first weigh in a week after starting showed I had only lost 1 lb. I was mortified. I had gone so much through my first week, loads of sugar lows and feeling the awful effects for hours after these, that I am so demoralised and depressed I don't know how to go forward.
I understand that I need carbs that are released slowly to keep my sugar levels on an even keel, and I am trying to each apples, pears, and usually with breakfast I have a banana and some raisins. The other thing is that this diet recommends eating every two and a half hours, so a snack mid morning and mid afternoon. It just seems that no matter what I do regarding these snacks I still am having the sugar lows. Basically, an example day of food for me is:
Breakfast: Quinoa with apples and raisins or Shredded wheat (one and a half) with a banana.
Snack mid morning: Almond or Brazil Nuts and Raisins and sometimes a Naked or 9Nine Bar or a 9Nine Bar or Naked Bar on its own.
Lunch. Chopped up Cucumber, Celary, Toms, Onion, Peppers with Tinned with in Olive Oil, or Chicken Breast. Occasionally I will add a small amount of brown pasta or brown rice, and was going to start adding Quinoa instead of the rice/pasta.
Snacek mid afternoon: Apple and Brazil Nuts and Almonds, or/and Naked or 9Nine Bar
Evening meal: Salmon, with vegetables or Chicken with vegetables or either of these with chopped up salad. I usually follow this with some fruit e.g. Apple, Pear etc.
Yesterday in the evening I had chicken woked in Coconut Oil with Stir Fry (no added sauces), all just cooked in coconut oil. It was yummy but my sugar levels plummeted to 2.7.
I am trying to get referred to my community diabetic nurses but I still have to try and get into the doctors to try and get a referral. I did see the diabetic nurse specialist at the hospital but she told me as my diabetic care was not under the hospital she really shouldn't be seeing me. It is taking so long to try and get any help.
Is there any help or advice that people can give me as to what foods to add to stop the lows, bearing in mind I am trying to loose weight, and am getting very paranoid about what I am eating. I am also wondering if the amount of insulin I am taking need to be reduced, and although I have reduced the Novorapid by 4 units I am frighted to reduce it any more.
Please, any help would be so grateful, I am now so depressed about this all .. it has taken me years to get to this point and want to get things under control I don't want to give up.
Thank you.
Christine
I have always buried my head in the sand where my diabetes is concerned, so much so, that it has destroyed my eye sight and I am registered partially sighted. Also I need to loose approximately 4 to 5 stone in weight. Thankfully, I have finally woken up and decided I need to address my long term uncontrolled sugar levels and loose some weight.
So to do this I have been trying to follow a Save My Life Programme healthy living and eating programme, and also doing their exercise classes twice a week (cardio and resistance work). Basically no or very little wheat, no gluten, low carbs, no processed foods, no dairy, and only good fats e.g. coconut oil, almond butter. I can have 1 slice of gluten free bread a day if desired. Also I now use Coconut Milk.
I really believe in the principles of the diet but I am having so many problems with my sugar levels. I must say that I have never had so many good readings, but unfortunately I am getting lots and lots of near hypos (sugar lows), sometimes twice a day (2.7 etc). Also I was so hoping that my weight loss would be really good, like many of the other obese or morbidly obese people on the programme, but alas although I started to make subtle changes to my diet in the first week prior to starting, my first weigh in a week after starting showed I had only lost 1 lb. I was mortified. I had gone so much through my first week, loads of sugar lows and feeling the awful effects for hours after these, that I am so demoralised and depressed I don't know how to go forward.
I understand that I need carbs that are released slowly to keep my sugar levels on an even keel, and I am trying to each apples, pears, and usually with breakfast I have a banana and some raisins. The other thing is that this diet recommends eating every two and a half hours, so a snack mid morning and mid afternoon. It just seems that no matter what I do regarding these snacks I still am having the sugar lows. Basically, an example day of food for me is:
Breakfast: Quinoa with apples and raisins or Shredded wheat (one and a half) with a banana.
Snack mid morning: Almond or Brazil Nuts and Raisins and sometimes a Naked or 9Nine Bar or a 9Nine Bar or Naked Bar on its own.
Lunch. Chopped up Cucumber, Celary, Toms, Onion, Peppers with Tinned with in Olive Oil, or Chicken Breast. Occasionally I will add a small amount of brown pasta or brown rice, and was going to start adding Quinoa instead of the rice/pasta.
Snacek mid afternoon: Apple and Brazil Nuts and Almonds, or/and Naked or 9Nine Bar
Evening meal: Salmon, with vegetables or Chicken with vegetables or either of these with chopped up salad. I usually follow this with some fruit e.g. Apple, Pear etc.
Yesterday in the evening I had chicken woked in Coconut Oil with Stir Fry (no added sauces), all just cooked in coconut oil. It was yummy but my sugar levels plummeted to 2.7.
I am trying to get referred to my community diabetic nurses but I still have to try and get into the doctors to try and get a referral. I did see the diabetic nurse specialist at the hospital but she told me as my diabetic care was not under the hospital she really shouldn't be seeing me. It is taking so long to try and get any help.
Is there any help or advice that people can give me as to what foods to add to stop the lows, bearing in mind I am trying to loose weight, and am getting very paranoid about what I am eating. I am also wondering if the amount of insulin I am taking need to be reduced, and although I have reduced the Novorapid by 4 units I am frighted to reduce it any more.
Please, any help would be so grateful, I am now so depressed about this all .. it has taken me years to get to this point and want to get things under control I don't want to give up.
Thank you.
Christine
stay positive though....