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Hi Newbie here

Hi Anitha and welcome!
Getting a meter and testing is the key, but check with your health authority whether they will prescribe test strips and lancets and some even prescribe meter. It's worth finding out before you buy. My GP surgery is excellent and when I saw my GP newly diagnosed he told me to request what strips and lancets I needed. There is also a form letter on this site you can print and give to you GP as to why they should be prescribing. So it could be useful to go prepared when you see him/her next week.
I was lucky that my GP told me about LCHF so look around this site and then when you see them ask them why not? They can also prescribe a LCHF membership online to get you started, make a list before you go of questions. They probably won't be up to to date so if they tell you the carbohydrates at every meal ask why?
You will find this site and forums exceedingly helpful and informative I couldn't have managed on my own. I did go onto Metformin straight away and still take it, never had any of the side effects either but tell them you are going to LCHF and test before and after meals, keep a record and see what results you get in 3 months then decide whether you want to go onto medication or not. It is your right to choose.
Like others have said it isn't a race, I've had lots of ups and downs as I have other limitations health wise but testing gets me back on track when I've wandered off the LCHF. Three years since diagnosis I've lost 6 stones and 4 dress sizes and I'm happy with that rate, you can do it quicker but it's your decision. I went from 59 to 44 in the first three months and stayed between 39 and 42 ever since. My GP is happy my BG results and my weight continues to decrease and because of other conditions I'm in my wheelchair most of the time.
I still have my toast and marmalade most mornings, toasting from frozen is lower carb don't understand why but my meter will tell me most mornings I've only had a tiny rise in BG after 2 hours so everything is possible. There are also lots of low carb bread recipes out there but I haven't tried any of them yet. I have been meaning to try the French toast recipe from diet doctor but I never seem to have all the ingredients or the inclination atthe same time! The help and support you get here is awesome and there's always someone to answer questions and give suggestions.
Good luck and come back to tell us how you are getting on, you are always welcome here.
Mell
 
Anthia said:
Oh crusty bread rolls, I will miss them with real butter, extra mature cheese and sweet chilli jam.

I used to eat a slice burgen bread toasted with peanut butter when pregnant, that was my breakfast and carb treat but I was on insulin then so needed some carbs.
Click to expand...
The Livlife bread is not bad - and only 4 gm of carbs per - admittedly small slice, but if you miss bread it is a good option. I get mine from Waitrose.
 
Welcome to the forum. I am a newbie so haven't got a lot of advice. I went straight to the LCHF after reading this forum. My initial readings were a bit lower than you but I'm older so figured no time to lose. I agree that self testing is necessary. My doctor said it wasn't but I didn't want to waste 3 months until the next test and be potentially worse off. I'm still in the learning phase but the people on this forum are so awesome and give very generously of their time and experience that it really helps. I am still figuring out where to put my exercise in as that also affects the reading.
Good luck and feel free to ask any questions and also vent with any frustrations- I think my first few posts were completely negative but the support I received here helped turned things around- I wouldn't say I was positive yet but not in tears everyday anymore.
My experience is that the advice I have received on here works- the advice I received from my doctor doesn't. Carbs make me spike. I love love love carbs but I am determined to put this disease in remission without medication. Maybe then my doctor will tell other patients about this site.

welcome.
 
Hi Anthia.
You got to the forum at the right time - before you see the medical professionals so you can see how we have reacted to specialist information and suggestions and how we have organised and controlled our diet, exercise and testing to get and keep our Alcs back in the 'normal' range. As others have suggested testing is essential to work out how different foods affect your bg levels. Some dietitians suggest low glycemic index foods are OK. I have found that only low carb works and I have lost over 30 lbs in 12 months. I also keep track of my bg levels on a spreadsheet so I can work out a 90 day average and see how this relates to the A1c for the same period.. I have been reducing my carbs gradually over the past year and I am now down to less than 50 gms most days. This may work better for you than cold turkey.
Exercise also works as this helps the body to use the glucose waiting on the muscles for energy instead of having it stay in the blood and being turned into fat.
It took me 13 years to find this forum and I wish the professionals had given me the information that I have received from the people on this forum many years ago.
 
I'm new as well, and I'm still learning, so all I'll do is repeat my favourite line of the day from @jjraak above... "welcome to the club that nobody wants to join"!

This is a great forum, everyone on here is so knowledgable, helpful and supportive. Glad you found it and hope all goes well.
 
Anthia said:
Oh crusty bread rolls, I will miss them with real butter, extra mature cheese and sweet chilli jam.

I used to eat a slice burgen bread toasted with peanut butter when pregnant, that was my breakfast and carb treat but I was on insulin then so needed some carbs.
Click to expand...
Yes you can still have Bergen bread a lot here do no point stopping bread if you find one you can eat There are others that are low carb but more expensive with tiny slices
 
Hi,
Sorry I went into hiding for a few days.

So I saw my GP, he was great actually. The concerning news is my BG was 6 last year and now up to 7.5 so no time to lose. He did say it could be my pancreas giving up but I figure less sugar gives it less work and more time to heal.

I have questions

So, which brand of meter would you recommend? I will order today and get started.

I have looked at the diet doctor and can see some good things, and a lot of eggs!! I will struggle to give up carbs (mostly pasta) straight away, is the high protein pasta better?

What do you do for breakfast? I never really eat it but tend to have toast at work, I don’t eat cereal or porridge so any other ideas?

How do you cope eating out? On that how much should I not be drinking??

Thank you in advance :)
 
Hi,
I've found breakfast to b e the most challenging so far. Like you I tend to eat at work. Porriage and cereal don't fit into the LCHF lifestyle so you never have to eat them again. There are a lot of ideas of the diet doctor website. What I am currently trying is cheese slices rolled around prosciutto. Other suggestions are things like boiled eggs or greek yogurt with a few berries.

As for drinking I am assuming you are talking about alcohol. Water is obviously great. When going out I tend to stick to mineral water as I don't know the carb contents of what they are serving. At home I have tried flavoured vodka and gin- neither my preferred drink. I have also found sugar free vodka cruisers which don't spike my levels. Some wines are okay but I'm not a wine drinker. My suggestions is try a few at home and then you have a better idea of what you can drink when out.

Good luck.
 
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