Thanks everyone - particularly xyzzy
From my own experience I would tend to agree that the standard non-diabetic dietary advice just doesn't work. I have always eaten a reasonably , low fat, lean meat, steamed fish, fresh fruit and veg, brown rice and muesli kind of diet (although I admit I have always eaten too much of it!) Cutting out the sugar and the quantities in general helped a bit but I have never seen a blood glucose reading below 5.5 (more usually 6.5 or 7.5 ) in 4 years until I found this site and went for the cut out virtually all carbs and gorge myself on cheese and cream and bacon and eggs option about a month ago. Since then I have had regular 5's - even the odd 4.9 and nothing much above 6.9 (leaving aside the stressy incident with the horribly unreliable and scaremongering Codefree meter!) I have started having a slice of burgen bread every now and again and I had half a banana last night with no ill effects but there's still a way to go with experimenting with other carbs (new freestyle strips to collect from surgery tomorrow
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It is hard to get my head around the idea of eating lots of fat given that I have a good 4 stone of extra weight to worry about too - BUT... I do seem to have lost about 2-3 kg (depending what time of day I weigh myself and whether I am holding my breath) in the last month so, if that keeps on happening, I won't complain. My G.P website directs me to all sorts of sites offering very standard looking advice about having a third of the plate made up of carbs and cutting out all fat, so I don't think I'll be telling them what I am doing until they ask how I have managed to achieve such impressive results when I go back in December!!
I do agree with Krazus though that it is a shame it is all the expensive stuff! :sick: A couple of slices of toast and marmite for breakfast, a banana mid morning and a sandwich at lunch was a lot sheaper - but its no wonder my HBA1c was creeping up and up. Ham and cream for me from now on - and to be honest, I am saving money on all those sneaky kit kats !!
If anyone is still with me (sorry for going on so..) What is the deal with alcohol? I have got the impression that it lowers blood glucose (not beer, obviously, and sadly) but is a glass of red wine with a meal a good thing? how about 2 glasses?? or Wine without a meal? Or spirits ?? :angel: I've been steering clear and treating myself with sugar free jelly and cream - but, if it really lowers bg, is it a Good Thing then???
cheers (maybe!)