Type 2 How Do I Learn About What Foods I Can Eat I've No Idea About Carbs

Lisaleo said:

Hi iam type 2 diabetic currently taking metformin and insulin, I've been taking insulin for about four months now and still my BS are all over the place sometimes over 20 depending on what I've eaten, so I have been taking 50 units of insulin the Dr's have told me to keep increasing it till I get them stable, I need to learn about carbs I've no idea at all how you learn what is good or bad an i need help with this iam like a yo yo up and down I've put on 3 stone since I started insulin and I was already very overweight then I have an underactive thyroid and high blood pressure losing weight I need to do its effects on my mobility is bad carrying all this weight so can someone help me learn about carbs and wt foods not to eat and what foods I can eat please am 45 years old with a 13 year old son so the food I cook has to be something he also will eat, its really getting me down this I feel like am in the deep end and can't swim, if anyone can help me understand what I need to do I'd be very grateful but can any help be easy for me to understand cause it over whelms me when I look online an just don't understand, thanks for any help

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are you in the uk? how do you know what amount of insulin to take?

Hello Lisaleo and welcome to the forum! Are you in the UK btw? I am asking because there should be some diab education courses available to you especially siince you are on insulin and do need to know about carbs and how they affect your diabetes and medication needs. You must be feeling rough with high bgs like this so I really think you need some face to face help with this!
If that is not possible stay here and someone will give you the basic info soon.. then keep asking. There are no stupid questions and people are happy to help.
For example Carbs and Cals is a good app for a visual guide to common foods.

I agree with Nicole, the Carbs and Cals book (it's on Amazon) was an invaluable tool for me when I was learning which foods might be good or not so good. Also available as an app. Good Luck, you'll soon be doing your ratios like a pro.

Lisaleo said:

depending on what the blood monitor says I adjust the amounts of insulin

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Dosing should be very much dependent on the amount of carbs you're going to eat. To illustrate, I can have a whole plate of food without injecting one day, and the next day eat a plate of food for which I need 16 units of insulin. (it's usually somewhere in the middle) I choose my dose according to the carbs I'm about to eat in the first place, and only then take in account if my blood sugar is highish or lowish at the moment and add or subtract a couple of units.
Is there a course to learn this in your area?

Hi. Taking insulin when overweight and also not controlling the carbs can be the road to nowhere. You must keep the carbs way down to get both weight and blood sugar down. That means all carbs (see the reverse side of packaging and go for 'Total carbs'). If you can get the weight down you may find you no longer need the insulin, but keep taking it until you discuss any reduction with the GP. You probably have insulin resistance and that can mean increasing insulin will have little effect but it won't do you any harm either. Are you on mixed insulin, just Basal or Basal/Bolus (two insulins)? BTW when the weight goes down keep testing as you can risk a hypo if you are then taking too much insulin.

I was eating low carb when the children were at home and did not find it difficult to feed the family.
The main protein source was not difficult, but I might have for instance, mushrooms and cauliflower with it, I would put some potatoes in the oven either to bake or roast, and other veges for them in the microwave or on the hob. As they did not like the same things as me, or each other, I have quite a few multiple cooking things - a pan with separate strainers, a steamer with three or four layers, even a set of triangular saucepans so that I could accommodate all the different requirements.

Resurgam said:

As they did not like the same things as me, or each other, I have quite a few multiple cooking things - a pan with separate strainers, a steamer with three or four layers, even a set of triangular saucepans so that I could accommodate all the different requirements.

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Quote from some guy: Where there is a will, there is a way.

Lisaleo said:

Hi iam type 2 diabetic currently taking metformin and insulin, I've been taking insulin for about four months now and still my BS are all over the place sometimes over 20 depending on what I've eaten, so I have been taking 50 units of insulin the Dr's have told me to keep increasing it till I get them stable, I need to learn about carbs I've no idea at all how you learn what is good or bad an i need help with this iam like a yo yo up and down I've put on 3 stone since I started insulin and I was already very overweight then I have an underactive thyroid and high blood pressure losing weight I need to do its effects on my mobility is bad carrying all this weight so can someone help me learn about carbs and wt foods not to eat and what foods I can eat please am 45 years old with a 13 year old son so the food I cook has to be something he also will eat, its really getting me down this I feel like am in the deep end and can't swim, if anyone can help me understand what I need to do I'd be very grateful but can any help be easy for me to understand cause it over whelms me when I look online an just don't understand, thanks for any help

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www.dietdoctor.com probably one of the most useful sites on low carb and ketogenic diets.

Hi @Lisaleo Basically anything that grows above the ground is probably OK, anything that grows below the ground is suspect. So potatoes are high carb and to be avoided; courgettes, cabbages, lettuce and cucumber grow above ground and are lower carb. Have a look at the diet doctor pictures for more detail of the carbs in different foods. Bread and pasta is high carb too and you may find that you react to wheat flour as an additive in sweet and savoury. Eggs, cheese and cream are lower carb. You will need to be careful that you do not cut carbs too far. It might be an idea for you to keep a note of what you have eaten, the insulin given and the resulting bg level. It is a bind for a while but it helps you to find what works for your body. Your son is reaching the age when he will eat anything and everything in sight so take care of your diet so that you are there for him.

Lisaleo said:

Hi iam type 2 diabetic currently taking metformin and insulin, I've been taking insulin for about four months now and still my BS are all over the place sometimes over 20 depending on what I've eaten, so I have been taking 50 units of insulin the Dr's have told me to keep increasing it till I get them stable, I need to learn about carbs I've no idea at all how you learn what is good or bad an i need help with this iam like a yo yo up and down I've put on 3 stone since I started insulin and I was already very overweight then I have an underactive thyroid and high blood pressure losing weight I need to do its effects on my mobility is bad carrying all this weight so can someone help me learn about carbs and wt foods not to eat and what foods I can eat please am 45 years old with a 13 year old son so the food I cook has to be something he also will eat, its really getting me down this I feel like am in the deep end and can't swim, if anyone can help me understand what I need to do I'd be very grateful but can any help be easy for me to understand cause it over whelms me when I look online an just don't understand, thanks for any help

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Okay, high in carbs; potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, cereal, anything wheat-based really, corn, fruit (except for berries, in moderation) and of course, sugar in all its forms (from the granulated stuff to honey).

Things that are low carb; eggs, meat (bacon is your new best friend), fish, olives, above-ground veggies and leafy greens, full fat greek yoghurt, double cream, cheese etc.

If you make the same meal for your kid, and he's not suitable for low carb, just add spuds to his plate!

If you go this route you will need way, way less insulin, because the amount you inject is directly related to the amount of carbs you eat. All carbs turn to (blood)sugar once ingested, and with insulin-resistance and possibly a knackered pancreas, we T2's can't process it back out properly. So if you drastically lower your carb intake, you will need way less insulin. So TEST!!! LOADS!!!! Because hypo's can happen if you take more insulin than a meal requires. After a while it's quite possible you can ditch the insulin and meds all together, but do this with your medical team if possible... Like I said, there's a big hypo-risk when you start on low carb and over-inject. Just be careful and make sure you have jellybabies or dextro energy on hand.

Good luck!

Agree with all the above couldn't have said it better.