low carb/high fat against Mediterranean diet

[Birdwoman]

The amount of protein you eat is unlikely to be an issue unless you have already reduced your carbs to below 50g a day.

I have been trying to keep under 20 a day for a few weeks now.

 

[woodywhippet61]

I have noticed you asking similar questions on other threads. We all want to help you, but you will get far more replies if you start your own thread. Use this link to get you to the right forum http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/newly-diagnosed.39/
then press the big green banner that says "post new thread" and off you go!

They have I've just bumped it back to top of recent posts. It's nearly died at A & E.

 

[bulkbiker]

I’m a newly diagnosed T2 and I’ve decided to follow low carb.

However I’m always hungry, loss of energy sometimes I could hardly walk, nauseated and very weak.

I’m scared to eat.

Any advice....Please help!

that's because you seem determined to avoid the HF bit..so you have cut carbs and not upped the fat content so you will be weak and hungry because you are starving yourself.

 

[Kristin251]

Thank you for all your help.

Against other people I don't have the problems but I feel that now is the time to do something and not let it get bad, if at all possible.

You have all been very helpful and given me the inspiration I need, perhaps I am being too impatient. I have printed off lists of veggies and carb values, fruits and sugar values and have stuck with a few berries occasionally. I have not found a list yet of how much protein in meat and fish and wonder if I have too much protein and that is my problem. Other than that I must just be patient.

Thanks gain, you have all really help me.

The recommended amount of protein is .8-1 g per kg LEAN body mass.
The average amount of protein is 7g pure protein for 56 weighted grams. (7 g per ounce)
White poultry and lean red meat is slightly higher and some fish are slightly lower but in your situation not enough to worry about.

 

[NewTD2]

Thank you all for the good advice. Really appreciate it!

I have increased my fat (coconut oil) and have started eating more.

For lunch I had a quarter roast duck, 4 teaspoons brown rice with beans fried with coconut oil, and half a plate/lots of salad.

Bg readings were before lunch 6.4 and two hours after lunch 6.7.

Please continue to give me more advice.

Thank you!

 

[ringi]

I would replace the brown rice with olives.

 

[NewTD2]

Thanks

 

[daisy1]

@Birdwoman @NewTD2

Hello and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will both find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 276,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of them are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.

 

[NewTD2]

Thank you!

 

[Kristin251]

Thank you all for the good advice. Really appreciate it!

I have increased my fat (coconut oil) and have started eating more.

For lunch I had a quarter roast duck, 4 teaspoons brown rice with beans fried with coconut oil, and half a plate/lots of salad.

Bg readings were before lunch 6.4 and two hours after lunch 6.7.

Please continue to give me more advice.

Thank you!

The duck and coconut oil should help with energy. Salt as well as low carb is naturally dehydrating.

I’d skip the rice and beans ( if they weren’t green beans) and have olives or cheese. Rice tends to spike most of us

I hope you put some low carb/ high fat dressing on that salad. Haha

 

[NewTD2]

Brown rice with beans doesn’t spike my bg

Thank you very much for all your advice. I really appreciate it because I nearly died 2-3 x during this month I was so scared to eat.

My poor mother had to call for the ambulance as I’ve lost energy, experienced muscle weakness due to starvation diet (little vegetables, small piece of meat, zero carb) about 500 calories per day for 5-6 weeks.

My body is still very weak.

We don’t know what to eat or do anymore hadn’t it been for the support and advice from all of you here!

Is it safe to eat cheese?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Is it safe to eat cheese?

Yes, as much as you like, but do bear in mind it has a lot of calories if you are also trying to lose weight. It will not raise your blood sugar levels. Most dairy is "safe" to eat - except milk other than a small dash in tea. Butter, cheese, plain full fat yogurts and plenty of eggs are all good stuff.

 

[Kristin251]

Beef lamb pork eggs bacon chicken turkey salmon tuna and all other proteins.

Fats are olive oil, butter, ghee, olives, avocado, nuts, mayo, lard or tallow if you wish

Safe carbs are above ground veggies, salad greens for the most part. Carrots and peas should be monitored.

With the high fat meal you had of duck and coco oil you might not see your peak until 3 or 4 hours as the fat slows down digestion for much longer than a low fat meal. This is why we test foods and meals and in the beginning we generally have to test more often to find trends and patterns. Then we can relax a bit when we know which meals and food work or don’t work

 

[Bluetit1802]

Fats are olive oil, butter, ghee, olives, avocado, nuts, mayo, lard or tallow if you wish

I always forget to mention olive oil, olives, avocado and nuts because I never eat them - a matter of personal taste.

 

[Kristin251]

I always forget to mention olive oil, olives, avocado and nuts because I never eat them - a matter of personal taste.

I see you left out mayo lol. I’m a mayo junkie. I still laugh that your hellmanns is not soy oil like ours is. Always behind the times here! But my non gmo expeller pressed canola mayo tastes just like it

 

[Alexandra100]

I always forget to mention olive oil, olives, avocado and nuts because I never eat them - a matter of personal taste.

Goodness, I eat them all, at least twice a day. Without them I'd probably starve to death!

 

[Alexandra100]

Thank you all for the good advice. Really appreciate it!

I have increased my fat (coconut oil) and have started eating more.

For lunch I had a quarter roast duck, 4 teaspoons brown rice with beans fried with coconut oil, and half a plate/lots of salad.

Bg readings were before lunch 6.4 and two hours after lunch 6.7.

Please continue to give me more advice.

Thank you!

It's worth sometimes also testing 3 hours after first bite, just in case, especially when eating a meal high in fat which will take longer to digest. I suffer from gastro paresis (slow stomach emptying) and I can sometimes see no rise, or even a fall in bg at 1 hour and 2 hours, only to get a spike at 3 or 4. Very annoying!

 

[ringi]

Brown rice with beans doesn’t spike my bg

But they may still stop your body using any energy from fat for some time. (By increasing your insulin level.) If I was you I would first get a diet that works for you by copying what people who have been doing low carb for a long time with Type2, then after a few months consider what foods you can add back.

(When going out for a meal, I may have a few spoons of rice, as it no longer spikes me, but I don’t cook it at home, hence most weeks I will have no rice.)

 

[Bluetit1802]

I see you left out mayo lol. I’m a mayo junkie. I still laugh that your hellmanns is not soy oil like ours is. Always behind the times here! But my non gmo expeller pressed canola mayo tastes just like it

Ooops yes, forgot the mayo, but it has to be the real stuff. Because I don't like olive oil, it goes on all my salads and whatnot. Hellmans, naturally!

 

[NewTD2]

Thank you very much for all your advice.

I really appreciate it.

I definitely need to increase my fat intake.