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Type 2 Food prison.

Alan9009

Alan9009

Well-Known Member
Messages
49
As a type 2 of nearly 2 1/2 years I feel I am incredibly restricted as to what I can eat now. To the point where I am in a type of food prison, not to be confused with prison food (far better than what I'm eating at the moment, so I imagine).

My questions are:

A)

Should I be eating a 'relatively normal', but restricted carb. diet? (My medications are increasing and I am on 3 different diabetic medications now. The medication isn't really keeping my blood glucose levels stable. I believe I currently have 'bad diabetes management').

OR:

B)

Should I return to my GP and discuss different medication? with the hope that I can introduce some 'normality' back into my everyday diet/life.

I'm assuming that my pancreas is no longer able to cope with carbohydrates and will cope less and less as time goes by. It may seem that there is an obvious answer to the above, but I know nothing about the diabetes medication that is out there. I also feel that I should/could be getting a better quality of life and want to achieve this-if possible.
 
Hi Alan,

I've been following a low carbohydrate diet for my Type 1 diabetes since 2014 and find that food satisfies me a lot more nowadays. My personal opinion is that it is by far the best way to manage blood sugars.

That does mean cutting out a lot of different foods, but there's still plenty that's available (I love cheese, eggs, bacon, chicken, smoked salmon, some burgers and sausages, avocado, peppers, spinach, celeriac and more). However, my tastes will quite obviously be different from yours.

The important thing is to search for the 'holy grail' of sustenance: Food that a) keeps you healthy and b) you enjoy eating. You could research things yourself (what blogs can you find from other people avoiding carbohydrate?) or seek outside help; I also wanted to broaden my food options, so I went to see a nutritionist last month. I paid for this privately as I had a pretty good idea of what NHS nutritionists would advise. Before I booked, I e-mailed the nutritionist and explained what I wanted: to achieve a healthy relationship with food, with the top priority being to manage my blood sugar levels through a low carbohydrate diet.

I knew I'd found the right person after I spelled out that low carbohydrate was non-negotiable and she was not just fine with this but agreed with me. I've felt a lot healthier for the past few weeks since seeing her and am enjoying my food, which is essential for keeping things up.

Regardless, I hope that you can find what you're looking for, and I wish you great health and an enjoyable diet for the future!
 
Alan9009 said:
I'm assuming that my pancreas is no longer able to cope with carbohydrates and will cope less and less as time goes by
Click to expand...
Your body hasn't been able to deal with high levels of carbs since you first became diabetic so if you've still continued eating relatively high carb then it's no surprise that your levels aren't stable and/or within good range
 
3 medications is a lot for it not to be working so just in case I always like to warn people that you could be a type 1 instead of a type 2. 40% of type 1's are misdiagnosed as type 2's, sometimes for years, I was. One of the reasons for that is as a LADA/type 1 you make some insulin for a while until you finally don't. So medications, diet change can help at first until you no longer are making enough insulin to keep your blood sugars in control.

The only way to know is to get a C-peptide test which measures how much insulin you make, low or low normal is a sign of type 1, high or high normal is a sign of type 2. And an antibody test. Positive is a sign of type 1. There are a few rare cases where a type 1 will test negative on an antibody test but make no insulin.

So if things don't seem quite right, you could be a type 1 and not a type 2. Keep it in mind, just in case.
 
Wayward Blood said:
Hi Alan,

I've been following a low carbohydrate diet for my Type 1 diabetes since 2014 and find that food satisfies me a lot more nowadays. My personal opinion is that it is by far the best way to manage blood sugars.

That does mean cutting out a lot of different foods, but there's still plenty that's available (I love cheese, eggs, bacon, chicken, smoked salmon, some burgers and sausages, avocado, peppers, spinach, celeriac and more). However, my tastes will quite obviously be different from yours.

The important thing is to search for the 'holy grail' of sustenance: Food that a) keeps you healthy and b) you enjoy eating. You could research things yourself (what blogs can you find from other people avoiding carbohydrate?) or seek outside help; I also wanted to broaden my food options, so I went to see a nutritionist last month. I paid for this privately as I had a pretty good idea of what NHS nutritionists would advise. Before I booked, I e-mailed the nutritionist and explained what I wanted: to achieve a healthy relationship with food, with the top priority being to manage my blood sugar levels through a low carbohydrate diet.

I knew I'd found the right person after I spelled out that low carbohydrate was non-negotiable and she was not just fine with this but agreed with me. I've felt a lot healthier for the past few weeks since seeing her and am enjoying my food, which is essential for keeping things up.

Regardless, I hope that you can find what you're looking for, and I wish you great health and an enjoyable diet for the future!
Click to expand...

Hi Wayward Blood,

Thanks for your suggestions/input, I will bear them in mind. Our food tastes aren't so different and I'm impressed that you are being so proactive with a low-carb approach to your diet. I thought that as a type 1 your food choices could be less restricted because you could counteract carb intake with your melds? Please don't be offended if I'm wrong there, I'm not very knowledgable about type 1's and am only beginning to get to grips with type 2.

Alan.
 
kaylz91 said:
Your body hasn't been able to deal with high levels of carbs since you first became diabetic so if you've still continued eating relatively high carb then it's no surprise that your levels aren't stable and/or within good range
Click to expand...

Hi Kaylz91,

My carb intake is low and this is what's concerning me. Also my food choices are falling away pretty quick, as in things I could eat I no longer can because the way in which they spike my BG levels.

Alan.
 
Alan9009 said:
Hi Kaylz91,

My carb intake is low and this is what's concerning me. Also my food choices are falling away pretty quick, as in things I could eat I no longer can because the way in which they spike my BG levels.

Alan.
Click to expand...
Then @Marie 2 's points become even more relevant. Ask your GP for a c-peptide test. If you are a misdiagnosed T1/LADA (and most of them get an initial T2 diagnosis) then your issue is not carb intolerance but lack of insulin. A LADA diagnosis, while it would condemn you to insulin injections, would also free you to eat a more traditional diet, as long as you count its carbs,

Good luck.
 
Alan9009 said:
Hi Kaylz91,

My carb intake is low and this is what's concerning me. Also my food choices are falling away pretty quick, as in things I could eat I no longer can because the way in which they spike my BG levels.

Alan.
Click to expand...

How low is low?

Can you give examples of meals you'd eat in a typical day and any snacks you'd consume?

Really helps to know.
 
I've eaten a low carbohydrate full fat diet for over six years, and it's very much closer to how I originally ate and far more varied than the high carb diet I ended up with for many years pre T2 diagnosis due to no longer being "in charge" of shopping and cooking for that time. I'm not currently on any diabetic meds, and I'm now far healthier eating this way.

But I'd agree if you are having issues eating a restricted low carb diet, you ought to see your GP regarding possible mis--diagnosis. Low carb foods shouldn't normally be seriously spiking you. so what exactly are you eating in the way of carbs???
 
Marie 2 said:
3 medications is a lot for it not to be working so just in case I always like to warn people that you could be a type 1 instead of a type 2. 40% of type 1's are misdiagnosed as type 2's, sometimes for years, I was. One of the reasons for that is as a LADA/type 1 you make some insulin for a while until you finally don't. So medications, diet change can help at first until you no longer are making enough insulin to keep your blood sugars in control.

The only way to know is to get a C-peptide test which measures how much insulin you make, low or low normal is a sign of type 1, high or high normal is a sign of type 2. And an antibody test. Positive is a sign of type 1. There are a few rare cases where a type 1 will test negative on an antibody test but make no insulin.

So if things don't seem quite right, you could be a type 1 and not a type 2. Keep it in mind, just in case.
Click to expand...

Hi Marie,

I had a c-peptide test done and it came back low at 396, but that was deemed acceptable/normal by my GP. I then had my Gliclazide raised three fold (which made virtually or no difference to my daily BG readings) and my next c-peptide reading was 1240. So I’m assuming my pancreas can still produce insulin? This does confuse me somewhat, does this mean given the additional medication that I am definitely type 2? Should I ask for an antibody test? I have a nephew who has relatively recently been diagnosed as a type 1. This is rather a complex question and I don’t expect you to know/have the answer.

Alan.
 
Marie 2 said:
3 medications is a lot for it not to be working so just in case I always like to warn people that you could be a type 1 instead of a type 2. 40% of type 1's are misdiagnosed as type 2's, sometimes for years, I was. One of the reasons for that is as a LADA/type 1 you make some insulin for a while until you finally don't. So medications, diet change can help at first until you no longer are making enough insulin to keep your blood sugars in control.

The only way to know is to get a C-peptide test which measures how much insulin you make, low or low normal is a sign of type 1, high or high normal is a sign of type 2. And an antibody test. Positive is a sign of type 1. There are a few rare cases where a type 1 will test negative on an antibody test but make no insulin.

So if things don't seem quite right, you could be a type 1 and not a type 2. Keep it in mind, just in case.
Click to expand...

Just a note of caution.

A while back I had an IR test (private) which showed low normal insulin and raised fasting BG and concluded that I had some insulin resistance (IR).

However I am usually in ketosis, and monitoring with Freestyle Libre shows an extended dawn phenomenon (DP) which clears after noon and I seem to have a much better insulin response in the afternoon.

I don't think that I am T1/LADA because a honeymoon period of 12 years + is not usually a sign.

So low insulin production may be a hint but it isn't IMHO definitive.
 
bulkbiker said:
Depends also on what you consider to be "normal diet" of course..
I think we need some examples of what you are in fact eating.
Click to expand...

Hi Bulk biker,

I am eating a low carb diet of vegetables and meat/protein. I noticed that even eggs were beginning to push my readings up, which I hadn’t experienced before. Given that my medication has been raised significantly, it’s having less effect.

Alan.
 
Alan9009 said:
Hi Marie,

I had a c-peptide test done and it came back low at 396, but that was deemed acceptable/normal by my GP. I then had my Gliclazide raised three fold (which made virtually or no difference to my daily BG readings) and my next c-peptide reading was 1240. So I’m assuming my pancreas can still produce insulin? This does confuse me somewhat, does this mean given the additional medication that I am definitely type 2? Should I ask for an antibody test? I have a nephew who has relatively recently been diagnosed as a type 1. This is rather a complex question and I don’t expect you to know/have the answer.

Alan.
Click to expand...

If you have massively increased your insulin production but this is not reducing your BG significantly then this points to IR as a possible cause.

We do need to know what you eat each day, including snacks and drinks, before we can guess further.
It would also be very useful to know other things like height, weight, age, level of exercise.
All these thinks can help build a picture of you as a person and help us in our understanding.
 
xfieldok said:
What are you eating in a typical day, perhaps we can suggest stuff you can add in?
Click to expand...

Hi xfieldok,

I am on a low carb diet. I did post it the other day under ‘Erratic, but rising blood glucose levels’ heading. You gave some helpful suggestions to me then, thanks.

Alan.
 
Alan9009 said:
Hi Bulk biker,

I am eating a low carb diet of vegetables and meat/protein. I noticed that even eggs were beginning to push my readings up, which I hadn’t experienced before. Given that my medication has been raised significantly, it’s having less effect.

Alan.
Click to expand...
In that case I'd be pushing strongly for more testing.. c-peptide and if possible fasting insulin (although that's unlikely on the NHS). 3 meds low carb and worsening blood sugar figures isn't a good combination.
Only other thing might be some fasting? And a couple of weeks of carnivore to see if that has any impact?
 
I felt the same while I was still dabbling in carbs and/or seeking alternatives. Then I did a prison break by eating the exact opposite of everything I'd ever been told. Now I am completely fulfilled and never feel in the least bit deprived.
 
Alan9009 said:
Hi Wayward Blood,

Thanks for your suggestions/input, I will bear them in mind. Our food tastes aren't so different and I'm impressed that you are being so proactive with a low-carb approach to your diet. I thought that as a type 1 your food choices could be less restricted because you could counteract carb intake with your melds? Please don't be offended if I'm wrong there, I'm not very knowledgable about type 1's and am only beginning to get to grips with type 2.

Alan.
Click to expand...

No problem at all, there’s a lot to learn! The official guidance is that you can eat normally and match your insulin requirements with injections as a type 1. After decades of ambulances and feeling awful I looked for a better way and found it in low carbohydrate. It works for type 2 as well .
 
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