Diet struggles

[Diabetic2ForYou]

Hey y'all, so I have been a type two diabetic for twelve years. I'm a really picky eater. I mainly eat carbs. I know I shouldn't, but I do. I also found out the sugar free stuff i do eat still causes sugar spikes. I'm currently spiralling downwards with my foods. I eat some sugared foods a day. I do eat lettuce cucumber and some fruits. I don't really know what I'm asking, but if anybody has advice they can give, it would be much appreciated!

Many thanks

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

Could you try less carbs one day alternate days

 

[KennyA]

Hey y'all, so I have been a type two diabetic for twelve years. I'm a really picky eater. I mainly eat carbs. I know I shouldn't, but I do. I also found out the sugar free stuff i do eat still causes sugar spikes. I'm currently spiralling downwards with my foods. I eat some sugared foods a day. I do eat lettuce cucumber and some fruits. I don't really know what I'm asking, but if anybody has advice they can give, it would be much appreciated!

Many thanks

Hi and welcome back.

You seem to be fully aware that eating carbs, and the resulting elevated blood glucose, are the main problem in managing high blood glucose levels. You've got a choice to make. Either manage through carb reduction, or take the path of eating carbs and using increasing amounts and types of medication to control the resulting high BGs.

If you go on eating carbohydrates, you will probably continue to have elevated blood glucose indefinitely. If you want to avoid the physical and other problems that elevated blood glucose brings, you'll need to use medication as advised by your clincians to limit or reduce blood glucose.

Back in 2019, I chose to reduce carbs, to around 20g/day, and that worked for me without any medication. I eat meat, fish, dairy, green vegetables, some pulses less often. No bread, pasta, rice, fruit, cereals, sugars, potatoes etc. Normal BGs in four months and around 90lbs weight loss over the following four years.

I'm also fully aware that my approach might be impossible for some people, and that, even if followed, may not work for some people. But I can't really advise you in any other way, as that's the only experience I've had.

 

[lessci]

Give us some example of a days food/meals, and we can give you some advice on how to "tweak" them.

 

[helenb1979]

I was picky like you and over the last month I have discovered how much I love a salad. One day it will tuna salad another day chicken salad and sometimes I add a sneaky pizza. It never the same twice. Food can bring fun again

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

Give us some example of a days food/meals, and we can give you some advice on how to "tweak" them.

Hi, sorry for the late reply.

So i like baked potato's, spaghetti bolgonese, shepherds pie, I improvise with meals like combining things with pasta, I eat both white or wholewheat pasta. I eat bread, I have tried brown bread before but I'm not keen so i stick to white. I don't plan meals throughout the week. Unfortunately I do just getting through one day at a time!

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

I was picky like you and over the last month I have discovered how much I love a salad. One day it will tuna salad another day chicken salad and sometimes I add a sneaky pizza. It never the same twice. Food can bring fun again

Hi there, I do too love salads, but meat, i don't really like or eat unless it's spaghetti bolognese or shepards pie

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

Baked potato are ok just use smaller ones or if they are just bigger ones in the pack, then scoop out some of the potato once baked (less carbs)
add lots of veg with it
cheese although high fat isn;t a carb nor is egg (boiled or scrambled are best)
pretty much my lifetime diet

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

Peanut butter (not on the baked potato) is pretty harmless as are odd hand full of nuts

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

Peanut butter (not on the baked potato) is pretty harmless as are odd hand full of nuts

I don't like peanut butter or any kinds of nuts

 

[Resurgam]

@Diabetic2ForYou I don't eat potatoes, pasta, bread, - I avoid grains and starchy foods, very few legumes.
My menu is eggs, cheese, meat, fish, full fat yoghurt, I put cream in my coffee - a fair bit of salad and veges, but all low carb options.
I make curries using cauliflower instead of rice, bubble and squeak from swede - it all helps keep the carb count down. The testing after meals showed me that I simply can't eat carbs in any amount and have normal numbers.

 

[Pipp]

Hi, sorry for the late reply.

So i like baked potato's, spaghetti bolgonese, shepherds pie, I improvise with meals like combining things with pasta, I eat both white or wholewheat pasta. I eat bread, I have tried brown bread before but I'm not keen so i stick to white. I don't plan meals throughout the week. Unfortunately I do just getting through one day at a time!

Hi @Diabetic2ForYou

All the foods you list here are high carbohydrate foods. It is the carbohydrates that are a problem for many people with T2, because this sort of food will raise blood glucose levels and over time can cause the diabetic complications doctors often tell us about on diagnosis.

Many of the members here control their T2 by adopting a Low Carb Diet. Lots of us are able to gain non-diabetes blood glucose levels, and reduce the need for diabetes medications. Many are able to come off diabetes medications altogether.

Of course, there are some who prefer to eat whatever they choose, and /or follow the NHS recommended diet which often includes advice to eat wholemeal bread, brown rice and pasta, fruit. This can lead to the prediction often given to people with T2 on diagnosis. Many are told that they have a progressive condition that can’t be cured, but will be managed by increasing medications. It doesn’t have to be, as many members here can testify.
What was your HbA1c on diagnosis, and your most recent one? What medication are you on? Would you be prepared to consider changing your diet? If you are the members here can advise and give recommendations based on their own experience.

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

@Diabetic2ForYou I don't eat potatoes, pasta, bread, - I avoid grains and starchy foods, very few legumes.
My menu is eggs, cheese, meat, fish, full fat yoghurt, I put cream in my coffee - a fair bit of salad and veges, but all low carb options.
I make curries using cauliflower instead of rice, bubble and squeak from swede - it all helps keep the carb count down. The testing after meals showed me that I simply can't eat carbs in any amount and have normal numbers.

My diet mainly consists of whar you don't eat, lol.

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

Hi @Diabetic2ForYou

All the foods you list here are high carbohydrate foods. It is the carbohydrates that are a problem for many people with T2, because this sort of food will raise blood glucose levels and over time can cause the diabetic complications doctors often tell us about on diagnosis.

Many of the members here control their T2 by adopting a Low Carb Diet. Lots of us are able to gain non-diabetes blood glucose levels, and reduce the need for diabetes medications. Many are able to come off diabetes medications altogether.

Of course, there are some who prefer to eat whatever they choose, and /or follow the NHS recommended diet which often includes advice to eat wholemeal bread, brown rice and pasta, fruit. This can lead to the prediction often given to people with T2 on diagnosis. Many are told that they have a progressive condition that can’t be cured, but will be managed by increasing medications. It doesn’t have to be, as many members here can testify.
What was your HbA1c on diagnosis, and your most recent one? What medication are you on? Would you be prepared to consider changing your diet? If you are the members here can advise and give recommendations based on their own experience.

Hi, when i was first diagnosed, they mainly called and said your sugars are in the high teens, you need to come hospital ASAP, so i did. I do eat brown pasta, sometimes white. I don't eat rice. I eat bread things, a lot of pasta or potato, every now and then I have a bit of mash or sausage or a pizza! I'm on Metformin, 500mg, four a day, two in the morning, two after my last meal

 

[Pipp]

Hi, when i was first diagnosed, they mainly called and said your sugars are in the high teens, you need to come hospital ASAP, so i did. I do eat brown pasta, sometimes white. I don't eat rice. I eat bread things, a lot of pasta or potato, every now and then I have a bit of mash or sausage or a pizza! I'm on Metformin, 500mg, four a day, two in the morning, two after my last meal

OK, so you were diagnosed T2 at age 14 years. (You are 26 years old now.) At 14 years of age that must have been very worrying for your parents / significant adult carers.
You eat a lot of high carb foods?
You are only on Metformin after 12 years?
What was HbA1c on diagnosis, and most recent?
Do you want to change your diet to improve blood glucose levels?
Or *are you satisfied to continue as you are?

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to understand what it is you are looking for, here.
* edit typo

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

OK, so you were diagnosed T2 at age 14 years. (You are 26 years old now.) At 14 years of age that must have been very worrying for your parents / significant adult carers.
You eat a lot of high carb foods?
You are only on Metformin after 12 years?
What was HbA1c on diagnosis, and most recent?
Do you want to change your diet to improve blood glucose levels?
Or our you satisfied to continue as you are?

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to understand what it is you are looking for, here.

No, it's fine, I'm grateful of the help! I was put on Metformin just after my diagnosis, as a baby I wasn't putting on weight so I had to go on a high sugar diet, so i had a lot of soda/fizzy drinks, I ate a lot of rubbish as a kid, chocolate, candy/sweets, when i had dinners, I had plate sized portions, sometimes I went back for more. I used to have bags of chips/crisps after one another, I used to eat whole pizzas to myself. I have cut down a LOT since then. But my portions still fill the plate. Sometimes I eat it all, sometimes I don't. Since Christmas I do eat more sugared things, I'm trying not to, but Since finances are tight I just eat what's there despite the sugar intake. I do only eat a bit of sugared food a day. Last year I started the year as ten stone two pounds. From June to Christmas I did do very well and get down to nine stone four pounds. However, because of how I've been with my foods, I have put the weight on, so I'm now at nine stone seven, but I am more active now with my walking.

When i was diagnosed, I can't remember what my HbA1c was. And they don't tell me the results. I phoned up, they barely went into detail, said everything was good, my cholesterol was a tiny bit high but that was it!

 

[Lakeslover]

You should be able together access to your test results on the nhs app. Ask your surgery what you need to do to get that.

Have you ever used a CGM, like a libre? You can look on the website and see if you can get their free trial https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/getting-started/sampling.html

That would give you 15 days worth of info on how your diet is affecting your blood sugar.

 

[Antje77]

When i was diagnosed, I can't remember what my HbA1c was. And they don't tell me the results. I phoned up, they barely went into detail, said everything was good, my cholesterol was a tiny bit high but that was it!

If your numbers are good on metformin only with your current diet, are you sure you have diabetes?
You can get online access to your lab results in the UK.

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

You should be able together access to your test results on the nhs app. Ask your surgery what you need to do to get that.

Have you ever used a CGM, like a libre? You can look on the website and see if you can get their free trial https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/getting-started/sampling.html

That would give you 15 days worth of info on how your diet is affecting your blood sugar.

Hi, i can't get onto the app due to not having ID, but i do use this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mysugr.android.companion

It does give the option to see the average blood sugar after twenty one days, but i don't always test. I do try to test three or more times a day depending on if I feel unwell. The nurse has said before I don't have to constantly test but I like to

 

[Diabetic2ForYou]

If your numbers are good on metformin only with your current diet, are you sure you have diabetes?
You can get online access to your lab results in the UK.

Hi, sorry for the confusion, so my avergae blood sugar should be between four and seven, but mine goes higher than seven, it goes as high as ten! I need ID to get access to my results, but i don't have ID!