Hungry

What are you eating at the moment, halesb? You don't have to be hungry if you eat the right things.

Please post a typical day's food, including whether you're a vegetarian or wheat intolerant etc, and we'll see if we can help.

Viv 8)

Have you been given a kit to test your blood glucose with? Some of the things you're eating are quite high carb (sandwich; banana; baked potato; rice) and would spike my BGs too much, but we are all different and can tolerate different things. Some people can eat all the above, but only in small portions, such as 2 spoonfuls of rice instead of a more usual larger portion.

In terms of feeling hungry, protein and fat make you feel more satisfied than carbohydrates, and last longer. I'm an enthusiastic low-carber, though there are other ways of controlling your blood glucose that work for some people. This is my suggestion - others will be along with alternatives.

If you look under Sticky Threads on the Board Index, you'll find Viv's Modified Atkins Diet. This is very low carb, about 20g to 30g per day, and may be too low for you, but have a read of it anyway. All the foods listed are low carb and can be safely eaten in the quantities given. You can eat as much as you want of some foods, so you need never be hungry again!

If your daily carb target is higher, base your diet around this list of foods, but get yourself a carb counter book and add in extra carbs from Low GI foods such as more veg and fruit. As you increase the carbs, lower your fat intake a bit, but there's no need to be afraid of natural fats.

If you need to lose weight, low-carb will do it. If you don't, many people find their blood glucose readings can be controlled at a level of 100g to 150g carb a day. Some exercise helps.

If you want to eat a ready meal now and again, or tins and packets from the shops, read the labels carefully and try to go for things with less than 15g of total carb per 100g.

Have a look at the Low-carb Recipe section - you'll be amazed at the ideas the clever cooks amongst us have, and you'll get ideas for suitable foods at the same time.

Good luck!

Viv 8)