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Gluten free diet.

M

Mothman

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Raw tomatoes and arrogant people.
Hi all,

i am newly diagnosed [July 2011] with type 2 but have been on a gluten free diet since August having both researched it on the net and experienced problems in the past eating wheat [bread].

Initially my HbA1c level was 7.5 but after 3 months of the diet, today was advised its now 6.5. Other than that, my lifestyle has remained the same although in the last week or so have been trying to reduce my carb intake but have been continueing with my w/end alcohol intake.

Its been hard but i have managed to adhere to the diet 99% and am now not finding it too difficult.

If the problem gets worse for me, at least i know that i can go further with the diet [carb reduction] but for the moment continue as i used to. My Doctor hadnt heard of a gluten free diet helping diabetics before and is really impressed with me.

I am going to continue the diet UFN as at least i can have a drink or 2 at w/ends and i need to do this to relax as ime in a caring situation with my mum.

Andy
 
I'm wheat intollerant and don't eat wheat products, mostly I don't replace them with gluten free products (I'm allergic to the price of these goods :lol: ) so don't eat the carbs that would be contained in such foods as sandwiches.

I do have a lower HbA1c now but I don't know if that is to do with cutting out the wheat, taking gliclazide or supplementing with vitamin D.
 
Hi,

dont need to supplement with Vit D as ime outside all day, every day and sandwiches are not the one and only source of gluten. Its in almost everything that has 'thickeners' so you need to be aware of every ingredient contained in the food that you eat. That only takes good eyesight or glasses.
As for being 'allergic' to prices, well, what price is worth good health? I for one would happily pay a little bit more to remain healthy, a lot do for organic foods so i dont think your argument holds well.

So far, no meducations for me, just a gluten free diet. My doctor is very pleased.

Andy
 
I refuse to pay £2.00 for a small loaf of bread when I don't need to eat the carbs. I can eat oats so that's where I get any grain carbs from in my breakfast. I know about all the other things that have wheat in such as stock cubes, pasta (don't eat that because I don't like it) and fillers in burgers and sausages, the list is endless and you have to watch the labels. It is possible to buy things without wheat in them without it costing the earth.

I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, so that's why I take supplements. It has been proven that there is a link between Vitamin D deficiency and high blood sugar levels.

It is a complete nightmare being a Type 2 diabetic and unable to eat wheat, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

As I said before, my blood sugar levels have gone down, it is probably a combination of all three reasons I mentioned before.

Good luck on you, as is mentioned many times on this forum, we are all different as to what works for us.
 
If I could just add something to this...

Not only are we all different to what works for us but we are obviously all in different financial situations.

It is all well and good saying "what price health" but if the money isn't there to help make the necessary adjustments then life can be more than a bit difficult.
 
Mothman said:
Hi,

dont need to supplement with Vit D as ime outside all day,

Andy
Click to expand...
Being in the sun is no guarrantee of sufficient Vitamin D. You should get it checked through a blood test if you have any doubts. Note where I have lived for the last 41 years and yet I was found to be low in D3 and daughter exceedingly low. She works outdoors much of the time.
 
As for being 'allergic' to prices, well, what price is worth good health? I for one would happily pay a little bit more to remain healthy, a lot do for organic foods so i dont think your argument holds well.
Click to expand...
That's a false dilemma: bread is not an essential nutrient. Realistically, your options are to either pay a lot to artificially remove gluten from your food (expensive), OR pick food that naturally doesn't contain any gluten (e.g. rice, maize, potatoes - sweet milk polenta* for breakfast, rice cakes as a snack, rice bread if you find a baker that sells some or are willing to bake your own, etc)
 
Hi
I have Coeliac disease, so cannot eat Gluten, also oats are a no no for me. I have found I never need to buy the over priced Gluten free stuff . I agree with AM there is still a lot of choice from the more natural food groups, even without baking and looking for home made choices with alternative ingredients.
The low carb diet is very easy to follow along with the Gluten free for me, they both have similarities. So one gets you looking for food alternatives for the other. If you are wheat intolerant and not full blown Coeliac you may be able to tolerate oats and there are lots of other wheat flour substitutes on line and in most health food shops to buy, potato flour, almond flour ,coconut flour, to name a few , it would depend what you are looking for..if you fancy making your own Gluten free bread, cakes ect at a fraction of the cost of the shop bought stuff. I found a fantastic site on line that just sells alternative flour's to wheat flour...there were loads :shock:
There are some great recipes in the low carb forum by WJ , that are not only a God send for a low carber, but fab for Coeliac's too.

But not eating breads and cakes and pasta is not really the end of the world, with plenty of choices in the veg, rice, rice noodle options,oh and as said the good old potato :D
 
There's some good ideas coming from all you guys so thanks for that.
Ime very new at the idea of sorting my diet because of diabetes but am trying to sort out my carbs as well as trying to maintain a reasonable lifestyle thats best for me. As you have said, things work on an idividual basis and ime happy with my gluten free route for now as my bloods sugars are down by one pont.
I am also buying foods that naturally dont contain gluten and eating more fresh vegetables and fruit, dont eat chocolates, sweets, cakes, buns, havnt for a long while and have just given up eating crisps[ a terrible weakness i have had]. I dont have to eat bread[cant stand the gluten free stuff] but i have to eat something.

On a nother note, i had a bad fall yesterday, slipped going out my back door and spent 3 hours in casualty ending up with 7 stitches in the back of my head. Blood everywhere and quite a shock. Could have been worse and as ime a carer for my mum. Luckily friends helped and she was looked after in my absence.

Andy
 
I am surprised at your doctors lack of knowledge I am Type 1 and am coeliac Research shows 10% of diabetics have coelicx disease So dont be surpried Also you may need to think about absorption of calcium!

Rosie http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/posting.php?mode=reply&f=1&t=24836#
 
I have had stomach problems for the past 6 - 8 months and even though i have been checked for celiac disease which i don't have i cannot intake brown bread or bran flakes and all bran, even weetabix cause problems, i have found that since starting on white bread that i don't have any signs of a stomach upset.

I am having hba1c blood test done again tomorrow so i am expecting a good result, although i was diagnosed a year ago with high blood sugars my average hba1c results have been between 9 and 10, i know that this is still high but its better than what it first was, which was 15+.

Now all i have to do is wait to see a gastric surgeon to find out about my stomach upsets and then maybe the doctor and myself can start back on controlling my blood sugars by giving me the right dose of metformin
 
Hi, Sorry to hear of your problems I have had coeliac disease since 10months old and Type 1 since my mid-twenties I am now in my sixties so it is possible to survive and prosper with both diseases It hasn't always been easy but the choices are so much better than they used to be so try to be positive and you will get through it so don't be too downhearted - look around the supermarket's own brands and check with your GP what can be ordered on prescription - you might be surprised!
Hop this helps Beatle
 
Briefly, my 17 month old grandson is on a wheat and diary free diet after he became very poorly when introduced to solids. It is not certain, but highly likely, that he has celiac disease and will be on this diet for life. Very tough, as he is getting older he is starting to notice that others have different food, so my daughter trys to get the whole family to eat what he has.

The only good thing is that because my daughter has a wheat intolerance and with my diabetes we are quite good at coming to terms with special diets in our family. I have also recently noticed, that more and more products are becoming available that are wheat, gluten, diary free and even low in Gi, so I often buy them myself, slowly, very slowly the food industry is becoming aware of the importance of additives (or rather, the lack of using them), including sugar - but sadly not fast enough. One of the things my daughter and I have noticed is how many products aimed at children as healthy are brimming with sugar - many people do not seem to realise this, especially in fruit juices!

However, my main point is, and I have no knowledge on the answer to this, is that as a baby at least - he is entitled to NHS prescribed gluten free products - is it possibly the same for adults - though I doubt it - might be worth looking into.
 
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