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Husband diagnosed

Tazbo

Well-Known Member
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My husband was diagnosed a couple of months ago he's 79yrs old and very set in his ways how do I help him I'm also prediabetic
 
My husband was diagnosed a couple of months ago he's 79yrs old and very set in his ways how do I help him I'm also prediabetic
Hi there,
What has he been diagnosed as? What are the results of his tests for diagnosis?
As you are both impacted by diabetes in some form it is possible you could both support each other with diet changes but I understand the being set in your ways, my father was very similar
 
Hi there,
What has he been diagnosed as? What are the results of his tests for diagnosis?
As you are both impacted by diabetes in some form it is possible you could both support each other with diet changes but I understand the being set in your ways, my father was very similar
He's type 2 don't know test results to be honest don't know much
 
And what would a typical day's eating look like (including drinks) please? I am going somewhere with this!
 
And what would a typical day's eating look like (including drinks) please? I am going somewhere with this!
Breakfast probably cereal cos I'm not up at 5 am tea, dinner potatoes meat and veg yoghurt and tea and at tea time maybe soup with a crusty roll and tea he also has occasional cup of coffee ,tea or water in between and he probably sneaks a biscuit or something she I'm not looking
 
Hi and welcome. That diet is not ideal. Try to move away from cereal at breakfast preferably to something like eggs and bacon but may be that isn't an option. At the minimum avoid any cereal with lots of added sugar. No sugar added muesli would be OK. Only have no-added sugar yogurt for lunch and not low-fat ones. Check the soup as many have added sugar and starch - look at the Total Carbs. Try to avoid buying any biscuits (not easy!) and have a bowl of nuts, cheese, berries etc instead. Basically try to keep the carbs down.
 
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/

This is a really helpful link written by another forum member. In it she explains that Type 2 people have a problem with all forms of carbohydrate, that is potatoes, rice, pasta, bread as well as anything sugary (and that includes most fruit). So people with Type 2 diabetes find it helpful to stick to meals that are based on meat, fish, cheese, eggs, butter, full fat plain yoghurt and vegetables that are grown above ground. I suspect you may have a battle on your hands getting your husband to change his eating habits but modifying them may be possible. Could be cook himself eggs for breakfast? Or have toast made from low-carbohydrate bread with peanut butter? Could you reduce or eliminate the portion of potatoes and replace them with a range of other vegetables? Soup and cheese, no roll?
If your husband has been prescribed Metformin these changes should help. However, if he has been prescribed some of the other drugs, then different advice might apply. Good luck with making some changes even if you only manage to do it for yourself.
 
My husband was diagnosed a couple of months ago he's 79yrs old and very set in his ways how do I help him I'm also prediabetic

Hi there, is he otherwise healthy and is he on any medication for anything, is he a robust individual who likes exercise or is he frail (sorry to be stereotyping but it does make a difference to all of us). I know that at 79 it is still important to maintain health etc, but in my opinion I would probably gradually make a few alterations to his current diet than go all out into keto mode or a diet so low in carbs that it's miserable for you both. Maybe substitute the cereal with bacon & eggs (if he gets up before you can he make it himself?, or scrambled eggs & sausage for example?). For dinner, heap the plate with vegetables and one small potato or spoon of mash & lots of meat, he might not even notice. If you like, bake some low carb cookies (they taste exactly the same), he can have one of them instead. There are lots of substitutes you can make without too much effort but also do you have the means to test his levels and what did they say on diagnosis? (Some numbers would be good). x
 
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/

This is a really helpful link written by another forum member. In it she explains that Type 2 people have a problem with all forms of carbohydrate, that is potatoes, rice, pasta, bread as well as anything sugary (and that includes most fruit). So people with Type 2 diabetes find it helpful to stick to meals that are based on meat, fish, cheese, eggs, butter, full fat plain yoghurt and vegetables that are grown above ground. I suspect you may have a battle on your hands getting your husband to change his eating habits but modifying them may be possible. Could be cook himself eggs for breakfast? Or have toast made from low-carbohydrate bread with peanut butter? Could you reduce or eliminate the portion of potatoes and replace them with a range of other vegetables? Soup and cheese, no roll?
If your husband has been prescribed Metformin these changes should help. However, if he has been prescribed some of the other drugs, then different advice might apply. Good luck with making some changes even if you only manage to do it for yourself.
He's not been prescribed anything and he won't eat vegies
 
Hi there, is he otherwise healthy and is he on any medication for anything, is he a robust individual who likes exercise or is he frail (sorry to be stereotyping but it does make a difference to all of us). I know that at 79 it is still important to maintain health etc, but in my opinion I would probably gradually make a few alterations to his current diet than go all out into keto mode or a diet so low in carbs that it's miserable for you both. Maybe substitute the cereal with bacon & eggs (if he gets up before you can he make it himself?, or scrambled eggs & sausage for example?). For dinner, heap the plate with vegetables and one small potato or spoon of mash & lots of meat, he might not even notice. If you like, bake some low carb cookies (they taste exactly the same), he can have one of them instead. There are lots of substitutes you can make without too much effort but also do you have the means to test his levels and what did they say on diagnosis? (Some numbers would be good). x
Yes he does have other health issues and he's not to steady on his feet I try to cut down on potatoes and things but it is really hard
 
Another suggestion for breakfast is to make some low carb muffins or the the like so he can just microwave them in the morning which is no effort.

Instead of potato mash you could try cauliflower mash- it is actually delicious- add cheese to make it even better.

I send the idea of having low carb cookies as that at least is cutting down on the carbs. I think at his age maybe a gradual reduction of carbs is probably more achievable. In the end though while he is very fortunate to have you caring for and about him he has to make the decision to be willing to change his diet.
All of us make choices and while mine might be different to another persons I need to find a way of eating that I can sustain with the information about possible consequences of not keeping my blood sugars under control.
 
Another suggestion for breakfast is to make some low carb muffins or the the like so he can just microwave them in the morning which is no effort.

Instead of potato mash you could try cauliflower mash- it is actually delicious- add cheese to make it even better.

I send the idea of having low carb cookies as that at least is cutting down on the carbs. I think at his age maybe a gradual reduction of carbs is probably more achievable. In the end though while he is very fortunate to have you caring for and about him he has to make the decision to be willing to change his diet.
All of us make choices and while mine might be different to another persons I need to find a way of eating that I can sustain with the information about possible consequences of not keeping my blood sugars under control.
He doesn't like cauliflower is thought about that but it's a no go I'm afraid
 
He doesn't like cauliflower is thought about that but it's a no go I'm afraid
Does he like meat, eggs, cheese?
If he does, those things will help keep his blood sugar from spiking.
Avoiding things like bread potatoes and just having more meat will go a long way.
 
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