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Type 2 Difficulty getting a balance

Yes, the milk shake and rice milk may have been to blame. It is important you check the nutrition labels on everything you buy. Don't be fooled by low calorie, low fat, low or reduced anything. These manufacturers are very clever! If they take something out they usually add something else back, and this is often sugar. Read the labels and look for the total carbohydrate content per 100g. Don't be afraid of fat.

It is going to be very difficult for you as a vegan, and you need special dietary advice.

Your fasting figure needs to come down a bit, and this is often related to what you had the previous evening, although when we are fasting our livers tend to dump glucose in our bodies to make up for lack of food. (The Dawn Phenomonem) which can lead to higher morning readings. This is a natural event and not a lot can be done about it. Also be aware that strenuous exercise tends to raise sugar levels afterwards, although good for you in other ways and in the long run, so don't give up your run. Caffeine also affects some people. It is all trial and error, and a long, long learning curve. It's early days for you, so baby steps .....
 
cold ethyl said:
I think it might be the rice milk- check the carton but it seems to be loaded with carbs. May be better with an almond milk or soy milk as they are both much lower in carbs per 100g. Also check sugars on the slim fast shake- just because they are low cal doesn't make them low carb. I think it might be worth you trying to see a dietician given that your diet is already quite restrictive. They may have had experience of dealing with diabetic vegans before and might have useful tips/lists of good foods to share.
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You are making sense. Coffee with rice milk is 26 calories with light soya it is 6. I like the slim fast because of the minerals and vitss but only have half serving which is still 15 carbs. Back to drawing board. Thanks.
 
Are you getting mixed up between calories and carbs? It is the carbs you need to count for BS levels. Calories come into play if you need to lose weight. "Light" soya? You may be better looking at the full fat. Just a thought.
 
Ok.
Bluetit1802 said:
Are you getting mixed up between calories and carbs? It is the carbs you need to count for BS levels. Calories come into play if you need to lose weight. "Light" soya? You may be better looking at the full fat. Just a thought.
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Will go back to carb counting. What is the recommended intake.
 
There isn't a recommended intake, it is personal choice, but the lower the better.

Under 150g is OK to begin with. Many are on under 100g, many are under 80g and many are no more than 30g. However, you lose calories (energy) and nutrition by dropping, so have to make these up by increasing either/or fat and protein, and watching your fibre doesn't drop. Some people go cold turkey but suffer with "carb flu" for a week or two. I found it better to drop gradually to allow your body to get used to less carbs. One other thing, you must drink, drink and drink ..... water. Loads of it or you will dehydrate, and water flushes out the kidneys.
 
Great. I don't think I can go very low but will try gradual reduction. I am determined to do the best I can but I run and my work is physical. Just had 28g for lunch. So won't be under 30. thank you.


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I am no expert on exercise, but as far as I understand carbs and exercise for non-insulin type 2's aren't related. Plenty of folk on very low carbs exercise. There is an exercise and fitness forum on here, maybe you could direct your question there.
 
Thank
Bluetit1802 said:
I am no expert on exercise, but as far as I understand carbs and exercise for non-insulin type 2's aren't related. Plenty of folk on very low carbs exercise. There is an exercise and fitness forum on here, maybe you could direct your question there.
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Thank you.
 
Hi Figgywiggy,
You have already had lots of advice, its still early days so take it one day ay a time and don't beat yourself up if you don't get it right first time. We have been told for many many years to eat high carb and low fat, with so much of the media treating carbs and sugars as very different (Sugar is still a carbohydrate).

I am vegetarian, was vegan for many years. Pre- diagnosis I ate LOTS of fruit, often having fruit for breakfast and lunch, lots of starchy veg. Mostly homemade and what I thought was 'healthy' diet.

I have found it very difficult to get my head around eating full fat food, but they do taste good and are filling (avocados are now a staple - love making a chocolate mousse!)

There are lots of recipes on the forum, many can be adapted to vegan. There are also a number of books such as Rose Elliot low carb diet.

If you post on the low-carb forum your favourite meals than I am sure members will give you a low carb alternative.

One revelation to me was using cauliflower as substitute for mashed potatoes or rice.

Finally - everyone is different, we are complex organisms not robots. One member may be able to eat 200g carbs a day and not get a raised BG reading, others can eat bread and small portions of rice, may will say 'no way!'. You have to found out what is best for you, test, test, test

Good luck.
 
Thank
Scimama said:
Hi Figgywiggy,
You have already had lots of advice, its still early days so take it one day ay a time and don't beat yourself up if you don't get it right first time. We have been told for many many years to eat high carb and low fat, with so much of the media treating carbs and sugars as very different (Sugar is still a carbohydrate).

I am vegetarian, was vegan for many years. Pre- diagnosis I ate LOTS of fruit, often having fruit for breakfast and lunch, lots of starchy veg. Mostly homemade and what I thought was 'healthy' diet.

I have found it very difficult to get my head around eating full fat food, but they do taste good and are filling (avocados are now a staple - love making a chocolate mousse!)

There are lots of recipes on the forum, many can be adapted to vegan. There are also a number of books such as Rose Elliot low carb diet.

If you post on the low-carb forum your favourite meals than I am sure members will give you a low carb alternative.

One revelation to me was using cauliflower as substitute for mashed potatoes or rice.

Finally - everyone is different, we are complex organisms not robots. One member may be able to eat 200g carbs a day and not get a raised BG reading, others can eat bread and small portions of rice, may will say 'no way!'. You have to found out what is best for you, test, test, test

Good luck.
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Thank you Being on this forum is the best thing that has happened to me since I was diagnosed. Am working my way through it and am testing and finding out what makes a difference. I am so grateful for the advice.
 
Must tell u that I have just done a test 1 hour after main meal and it was 8.3. This is down to all the info and support I have had off this site. I am very pleased with this and know I can adjust a little bit down as well. Thanks.


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Well done Figgy. However, I suggest you test at 2 hours after meals rather than just at 1 hour. That will give you more information than just at 1 hour. Many people don't even bother to test at 1 hour. You also need to test before you eat so you can see what the actual rise is. The higher you start, the higher your peak will be.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Well done Figgy. However, I suggest you test at 2 hours after meals rather than just at 1 hour. That will give you more information than just at 1 hour. Many people don't even bother to test at 1 hour. You also need to test before you eat so you can see what the actual rise is. The higher you start, the higher your peak will be.
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Ok. THanks. Will test again in a bit. Hopefully it will have gone down.
 
Hi My two hour test was down to 7.1 so went to bed pleased. This morning 7.9 not so pleased. Have had porridge this morning to try and get to 10.30 without having a low. Work is physical. I might sound obsessive but have review in 6 weeks and would like to come off 1 tablet if not the two. If you have advice let me have it please.


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That's not being obsessive Figgy. That is taking control of your own health, and is the only way to do it providing you learn from your testing. You will find that once you get your levels down to where you want them by using the results to amend your diet you won't want or need to test so much. It takes a while but you will get there. Set yourself a target that is attainable for fasting, before meals and 2 hours after meals, many also do a "going to bed" test. Then lower this target as soon as you reach it. Write everything down including drinks and amounts of food. Some people use apps to do this. I use an Excel sheet. Keep an eye on the averages over each 7 days. Well done so far.
 
figgywiggy said:
Hi My two hour test was down to 7.1 so went to bed pleased. This morning 7.9 not so pleased. Have had porridge this morning to try and get to 10.30 without having a low. Work is physical. I might sound obsessive but have review in 6 weeks and would like to come off 1 tablet if not the two. If you have advice let me have it please.
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I've just come in on this thread, you are doing very well. don't fear low carb and energy for work, google: ketogenic running
don't be in a rush to get off metformin if that's the med you're referring too
 
Once a
Bluetit1802 said:
That's not being obsessive Figgy. That is taking control of your own health, and is the only way to do it providing you learn from your testing. You will find that once you get your levels down to where you want them by using the results to amend your diet you won't want or need to test so much. It takes a while but you will get there. Set yourself a target that is attainable for fasting, before meals and 2 hours after meals, many also do a "going to bed" test. Then lower this target as soon as you reach it. Write everything down including drinks and amounts of food. Some people use apps to do this. I use an Excel sheet. Keep an eye on the averages over each 7 days. Well done so far.
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Again thank you. I am taking your advice and things are beginning to make sense but I expect some glitches as I experiment.
 
Hi everyone. Last night two hours after meal 7.1. This morning I ran three miles empty waited an hour before testing and it was 6.7. I was disappointed. Have now eaten which will push it up even more. I would like to get to 4 something on empty. Is this realistic


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