MrsPugwash said:
I'm a dietitian and a diabetic myself and although the reduced carb approach isn't for everyone, I would urge you to try and stick with it a bit longer as 3 weeks really isn't long enough for you to get a good idea of whether it works for you. A weight gain when you've been trying hard can be so frustrating but we all get small fluctuations for a variety of reasons and it's the general trend over a period of weeks that really counts. I can't give you personalised advice but if you could give me an idea of what a typical day's food and drink intake is for you (inlcuding water), then I will be happy to give some general comments which may be of help to you.
Many of us on this forum have gone through similar frustrations and felt like giving it all up and falling face down in a vat of jaffa cakes! Especially in the early days. But please do try and keep your chin up, make use of the experience on this forum and work with your diabetes care team and hopefully things will start to improve and you'll feel better. Do press your doctor or diabetic nurse for a meter though - if your doctor is reluctant to give you one, perhaps you could ask to have the loan of one for say 3 months to help you assess how different foods affect your blood sugar. It's not ideal but it will at least give you something to work with.
Thanks MrsHugWash - your input is very mucha appreciated. My DN is away and the lady I saw from another surgery was great - all pro low carb and giving me a meter etc BUT she can only do so with my Docs say so, as she does not want to go against Surgery guidelines. I can understand, but hope that it is a good sign for my doc's appointment on Thursday. We shall see.
I really appreciate your offer of looking at my diet and below I have listed my last few days:
7th May 2009
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs + 3 rashers of streaky bacon, 1 coffee w/milk (381 cals / 2.5 carbs)
Mid-morning: 2 flatbreads + 20g cheese, 1 glass cordial (121 cals / 9.0 carbs)
Afternoon: 1 coffee w/milk + 20g 90% dark chocolate (114 cals / 3.0 carbs)
Dinner: 200g homemade burger, 50g Carrots, 50g Coliflower, 50g Broccoli, 1 glass cordial, 15g dressing/sauce (461 cals / 6.5 carbs)
Evening: 2 plain digestives, 2 mini Babybel, 1 diet coke (281 cals / 18 carbs)
Between 10pm and 1am – 1 glass of water
During the day I drink plenty of water – approx 1L-1.5L
Exercise: 4 mile walk + 2mile walk + light floor exercise in the evening (leg lifts + sit ups)
Total for the day: 1355 cals / 39.0 carbs
8th May 2009
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs + 3 rashers of streaky bacon (375 cals / 2.3 carbs)
Lunch: 300g Rump steak, 50g Carrots, 60g Leeks, 50g Broccoli, 15g dressing/sauce, 1 glass cordial, 1 coffee w/milk + 40g 85% dark chocolate (682 cals / 14.4 carbs)
Dinner: 75g Roast chicken (breast), 65g mixed salat, 30g dressing, 1 glass water + 1 glass cordial (335 cals / 4.2 carbs)
Evening: 2 plain digestives, 2 mini Babybel, 1 coffee w/milk, 20g 85% dark chocolate (392 cals / 22 carbs)
Between 10pm and 1am – 1 glass of water, 1 diet coke
During the day I drink plenty of water – approx 1L-1.5L
Exercise: 4 mile walk + 2mile walk + 0.7mile walk + light floor exercise in the evening (leg lifts + sit ups)
Total for the day: 1813 cals / 42.7 carbs
9th May 2009
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs + 3 rashers of streaky bacon, 1 coffee w/milk (381 cals / 2.5 carbs)
Lunch: 200g Rump steak, 60g Carrots, 60g Leeks, 60g Broccoli, 60 Coliflower, 30g dressing/sauce, 1 glass cordial, 1 coffee w/milk + 40g 85% dark chocolate (822 cals / 17.6 carbs)
Dinner/Evening: 1 diet coke, 2 plain digestives, 2 mini Babybel, 1 coffee w/milk, (287 cals / 18 carbs)
Between 10pm and 1am – 1 glass of water,
During the day I drink plenty of water – approx 1L-1.5L
Exercise: 4 mile walk + 2mile walk + light floor exercise in the evening (leg lifts + sit ups)
Total for the day: 1444 cals / 38.1 carbs
10th May 2009
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs + 3 rashers of streaky bacon, 1 coffee w/milk (381 cals / 2.5 carbs)
Lunch: 100g Roast chicken (breast), 75g mixed salat, 30g dressing, 1 glass water + 1 glass cordial (279 cals / 3.3 carbs)
Afternoon: 1 coffee w/milk + 20g 90% dark chocolate (112 cals / 4.0 carbs)
Dinner: 175g Roast chicken (breast), 75g Carrots, 50g Leeks, 50g Broccoli, 30g soft cheese, 15g butter, 1 glass cordial (469 cals / 8.7 carbs)
Evening: 2 plain digestives, 2 mini Babybel, 1 coffee w/milk, 20g 85% dark chocolate (392 cals / 22 carbs)
Between 10pm and 1am – 1 glass of water, 1 diet coke
During the day I drink plenty of water – approx 1L-1.5L
Exercise: 1 x 4 mile walk + 1mile walk + light floor exercise in the evening (leg lifts + sit ups)
Total for the day: 1623 cals / 36.7 carbs
11th May 2009
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs + 3 rashers of streaky bacon, 1 coffee w/milk (381 cals / 2.5 carbs)
Lunch: 75g Roast chicken (breast), 100g mixed salat, 30g dressing, 1 glass water + 1 glass cordial (165 cals / 2.4 carbs)
Afternoon: 1 coffee w/milk + 1 plain digestive + 25g cheddar (177 cals / 9.3 carbs)
Dinner: 150g homemade burger, 80g Carrots, 60g Leeks, 100g Broccoli, 60g onion, 20g butter, 1 large glass red wine (652 cals / 13.0 carbs)
Evening: coffee w/milk, 25g 85% dark chocolate (147 cals / 5.0 carbs)
Felt very lightheaded and strange and consumed:
2 plain digestives, 50g cheddar cheese, 20g 85% dark chocolate (450 cals / 22 carbs)
Between 10pm and 1am – 1 glass of water, 1 diet coke
During the day I drink plenty of water – approx 1L-1.5L
Exercise: 4 mile walk + 2 mile walk + light floor exercise in the evening (leg lifts + sit ups)
Total for the day: 1873 cals / 52.2 carbs
Thanks
Alice