Hi from T2 from Zambia.

[nelibonsai]

I already joined ADA forum 2 weeks ago. Just recently diagnosed and discovered thios forum. I am still learning 10 hours a day about D. Trying to manage it all on my own, so lots of help needed. I would not go to a doctor here, unless I go abroad .

 

[Liam1955]

@nelibonsai - Hello and Welcome to the Forum.. I will tag @daisy1 who will provide you with some basic information. Have a read and ask any questions.

 

[daisy1]

@nelibonsai

Hello and welcome to the forum Here is the information we give to new members and I hope it will be helpful to you. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

 

[BeccyB]

Hello in Zambia! Glad you've found this site - you will find lots of help here

 

[Patricia21]

Hello and welcome.

 

[nelibonsai]

Thanks every one. I have been reading for the past 2 weeks like 14 hours a day. Organizing correct foods, and getting into proper diet of low carbs, and I am testing before and after each food at 1 and 2 hours.
I shall ask questions very soon.
Today I made my own recipe and it was divine.
1cup soy milk (tested for the first time)
1/4 avocado and 2-3 sweeteners in a smoothy maker.
You must try this! Tasted like ice cream. Next time will add ice to it.
I am just not sure how many carbs are in this. Any idea?

 

[Prem51]

Hi @nelibonsai and welcome to the forum. You will find lots of good advice and support on here. Your recipe sounds nice. I don't know how many carbs would be in it, but it sounds quite low-carb.

 

[muzza3]

Welcome @nelibonsai

This is a great site so welcome and let us know if we can be of any help

There is about 9g of carb in the Avocado and 15 g in 1 cup of Soy Milk

 

[nelibonsai]

@muzza3,
It is so confusing. Many sites have different numbers about different foods. Which carb counting app do you use?

 

[PatsyB]

Hello and Welcome....I have trouble getting my head around carbs, I knwo I must sit and study it but according to my diabetes Nurse I have to have them .....arghh ...am sure you will enjoy many hours of reading in here

 

[urbanracer]

Welcome to the forums @nelibonsai .

 

[Mike d]

I know I must sit and study it but according to my diabetes Nurse I have to have them

Did you ask her why or just simply accept that as gospel

 

[nelibonsai]

Hello and Welcome....I have trouble getting my head around carbs, I knwo I must sit and study it but according to my diabetes Nurse I have to have them .....arghh ...am sure you will enjoy many hours of reading in here

I was hard to figure them out at first but I will soon be a pro. Just had cucumber and 2 sausages he he he! I guess almost no carbs. Problem is the more I read the more confused I get. He he he.

 

[nelibonsai]

Welcome to the forums @nelibonsai .

Thank you!

 

[nelibonsai]

Did you ask her why or just simply accept that as gospel

he he he! I would for sure ask, research and argue if needed.

 

[bulkbiker]

Thanks every one. I have been reading for the past 2 weeks like 14 hours a day. Organizing correct foods, and getting into proper diet of low carbs, and I am testing before and after each food at 1 and 2 hours.
I shall ask questions very soon.
Today I made my own recipe and it was divine.
1cup soy milk (tested for the first time)
1/4 avocado and 2-3 sweeteners in a smoothy maker.
You must try this! Tasted like ice cream. Next time will add ice to it.
I am just not sure how many carbs are in this. Any idea?

That does sound good. For the soya milk it depends if it is unsweetened which has something like 0.2g of carb per 100g or sweetened which is the higher carb one and better avoided. Check on the back of the carton and hopefully it will tell you.