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Low carb diet help

W

wasdale

Well-Known Member
Messages
61
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello all, could I please ask for some advice regarding a low carb diet?
I have had type 2 diabetes for many years now and all I've been told is to eat a low carb diet, I don't have a problem with this but my question is:
How do I know what low carb actually is?
How many grams per day is considered to be low?
I've been told to buy foods that are low in carbs but a lot of the times I'm still having around 150-200g of carbs a day and it's obviously still too much as my sugars are quite high still.
I am not getting a straight answer from anyone as to how many carbs is considered OK to keep sugars down, basically not exceed more than so many grams per day?
I have never been given a diet regime by anyone at various GP surgeries and am now getting seriously stressed out trying to guess what is a good diet, so basically just guessing at the moment.
Could somebody please advise as I am at the end of my tether now I've really had enough. I had cancer 3yrs ago and still dealing with that as well!
Sorry for the long post, TIA
 

Hi, it is very difficult to give you a specific number because you have to find what works for you. Within these forums we have people consuming less than 20g per day and some around the 100g range.

All I can suggest is keep lowering your intake until you reach the magic level.
 
Hi- sorry you're having such a hard time. I'm a newbie and not qualified in any way tom tell you what to do. What I did was go straight to under 20 grams of carbs a day- my theory- based on no experience is that I want to try to improve my blood sugar levels as much as possible as quickly as possible. My readings are now in either the 5s or the 6s with the occasional 4 thrown in. I'm thinking- based on no experience is that after I have stabilised it for about 6 months then I will try increasing my carbs - slightly and very gradually to see how many I can actually tolerate. It may be that I stay on 20 grams or under forever but I am hoping that I will eventually be able to tolerate maybe 50. I've a long way to go. 150-200 seems a lot to me though.

Good luck!
 

There are really 2 ways to go about finding your "level"

Remove as many carbs as you can from your diet by following a ketogenic way of eating (fewer than 20g per day) see what your bloods do (they should reduce quite comfortably) over say 6 months. Then if you want add in a few more carbs each day and see when you start to get spikes (although by then you could be enjoying what you eat so much that you won't want to reintroduce the carbs.

Second way would be to remove some carbs and titrate down monthly say start at 120g per day then cut 20g per month until you get decent levels.

I personally went for the first method and chucked in some intermittent fasting (way easier when you eat very few carbs). I have ended up almost totally carnivore (as close to zero carb as possible) with some pretty decent results..
 
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I went for the opposite approach to @bulkbiker , I started at 100g carbs per day and over 6 months I think it was, I gradually reduced down to between 30-50g/day. I remain between 30-50 and have maintained normal levels for nearly two years. Here’s a good website to start with for recipes and info:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb
 
Option 2 I think you mean..?
 
Hi @wasdale ,

You've not gotten straight answers because there aren't any, not really... How many carbs a person can handle varies. Your meter will tell you though. But if you want to be absolutely sure you get your numbers down drastically, there's always keto... That's about 20 carbs a day or less. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ might help figure out how to do that, as well as dietdoctor.com and this forum's website diabetes.co.uk.

From what I understand a ketogenic diet also aids where cancer is concerned, as a lot of tumors feed off of (blood) glucose. So that might help there as well.

Best of luck!!!
Jo
 

Hello there Wasdale. It can be a bit frustrating to begin with, but you'll get there, I'm sure.

@bulkbiker and @Rachox have made very valid suggestions, however, if you feel you might benefit from a structured, guided process, you could have a look at the Low Carb Programme, offered by this website.

The Low Carb Program (LCP) is an NHS approaved approach, with the App in the NHS App Store. Your GP, or specialist can prescribe the LCP, although it seems some haven't yet heard of it.

You can have a look at it here: https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/
 
A good question, yes, how low do you go. And one that I asked and got a variety of answers. Best approach is to to start off moderately low, say 100 to 130 grams of carbs per day. Then if you want to or need to or both, drop down lower, especially as you get more familiar with everything.
 
Thanks I can't imagine having only 20g of carbs I have no idea what to eat, I've skipped breakfast this morning as can't think what to have. This is so hard but thanks for your comment
 
wasdale said:
Thanks I can't imagine having only 20g of carbs I have no idea what to eat, I've skipped breakfast this morning as can't think what to have. This is so hard but thanks for your comment
Click to expand...
Eggs and bacon. Breakfast of champions. Virtually zero carbs.
 
What works for me, and I am off my meds, is to ignore carb and calorie counting. If its leafy green veg and legumes then I eat it. If its bread, pasta, rice, cerials, potatoes or highly processed foods, then I don't. I lso always try to start with eating protein and fat, e.g. meat or eggs, first before the veg. The simpler the rules the easier the diet. Choice can be a little limiting but once you wean yourself off the processed carbs you will see a drastic improvement in you bsl. Hope that helps.
 
Agreed. I try and make what I am doing as faff free as I possibly can. Taking everything into consideration.
 
Hi. I would say low carb means certainly no more than 150gm/day and for many a lot less; the lower the better. If you still have difficulty with your BS level, then discuss appropriate medication with the GP e.g. Metformin or more and if slim then consider the possibility of being T1 and there are tests that can help.
 
The correct amount of carbs to eat is individual to the person. The only thing I could do was to eat one type of food and test my bgl to see how my body reacted to it, I would test hrly for 3 hrs to see if and when it spiked.
I found some food ppl ate on here and had no reaction to would make me rise very high. I would test after each new food was added in the same way and keep a diary of what food was good and which foods were bad. It took a few weeks to get my bgl where I wanted them and several months in ketosis to sort my fasting (dawn phenomena).
There is no one side fits all but once you know which foods your body copes with it will be easier to plan meals and understand your bg... also there are other things which may affect bgl such as hormones and medication. Exercise can cause a spike too but this will reduce in severity over time.

Hope this helps good luck.
 
Hi, yes I am type 2 & on Metformin already. I just wanted an idea of what may be too much carbs, I struggle to stay around 80g a day well done to those who can manage 20g or less a day. Thanks for your reply
 
wasdale said:
Hi, yes I am type 2 & on Metformin already. I just wanted an idea of what may be too much carbs, I struggle to stay around 80g a day well done to those who can manage 20g or less a day. Thanks for your reply
Click to expand...

@wasdale

I urge you to check out the www.dietdoctor.com website
You wil find a lot of recipes, articles and ideas on what a low carb way of eating looks like - and the likely benefits.
There are bread, cake and dessert recipes too.

Obviously, no pressure to actually go as low carb as shown there, but it is a fab education in how interesting, enjoyable and varied it can be.

Please don’t believe anyone who says ‘the Best way to do it is...’ because that simply isn’t true. Just as we each live different lives in different bodies, we each have an individual response to food, and our personal way of eating needs to reflect that.

Hope that helps!
 
wasdale said:
Thanks I can't imagine having only 20g of carbs I have no idea what to eat, I've skipped breakfast this morning as can't think what to have. This is so hard but thanks for your comment
Click to expand...
Breakfast you could go part English, so all the eggs, meat, mushrooms, beans... just no toast or hash browns I'm afraid... or full fat natural yoghurt with berries and peanut butter (I can't have strawberries so I have just blueberries)... I am heavily pregnant at the moment and it seems even the yoghurt is too much for me so I'm having a cheesy omelette for breakfast instead.
Don't get disheartened... hope these sound like good options to you and you fancy at least one of them. Coleslaw is also an option but I prefer that for lunch.

If you're a tea drinker I use soya milk to reduce carbs there and it doesn't taste too bad (I tried the other types and they just didn't work) with coffee I would add double cream instead of milk.
 
Hi @wasdale
i think the issue at first IS *** to eat.

we get so indoctrinated with carbs..sandwishes with every thing.
bread pasta rice..goes almost hand in hand with every meal we think
of because..it err, just does,...but WHY ?

because it bulks out a meal..plain and simple
bit of meat on plate does look pretty boring.

we just have to consider other option to bulk out a meal AND help fill us up.

for ages i struggle WHAT to have for breakfast.

NO cereal so easy stuff out the window.

But now..i might a peice of cheese, a few slices of tomato and a ryvita.
we really do need to look outside that box, every one puts 'meals' into and think what doi I want this morning.

and usually that MIGHT take a litle planning the night before.

boil an egg or two, have then on there own or with a ryvita.
add in half an avocado, maybe mash up the eggs and mix it in..a filling nutritious breakfast in minutes
got time for a fry..egg n bacon.
too much effort, Greek yogurt and berries..yum

Lunch..
any grilled chicken shop, salad from the supermarket..Job Jobbed.
kebab..yeah, just toss the pitta..jobs a good un
burger, same as ...toss the bun, salad up
subway..recommend their salads fresh tasty.

many say LC is more expensive..perhaps
BUT that better bit of meat, now does me for two meals.
i make a delicious dinner the night before, then
safe half for the next lunch time..

see once you get past ...*** do i eat NOW.:***:
there is a world full of foods to find and enjoy.

search the forum, plenty of folk ask the same question and others post up good ideas,

for me..i got beef jerky as a regular in my fridge
never would have thought of it..pepperami , deli meats (chorizio a fav )

Its a world of foods to explore, and as you do you get more accustomed to what you can eat,
begin avoiding those you can't
and along the way discover your own favourites

many rave over celeriac ..to replace potatoes...ok but not for me.

i know have swede instead.
same process for mashing etc

so we each find our own way.
take notes of others and add until you get your own a la carte menu.
 

We now eat tons of fresh eggs, fried, scrambled or omelette. But I always have a jar or two of pickled boiled eggs that I can dip into if in a hurry or to add to a work packed lunch.
 
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