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low carb options
- Thread starter greener
- Start Date
cyclist
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
daisy1
Legend
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- Cruelty towards animals.
@greener
Hello Greener and welcome to the forum
Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will understand carby foods better when you have read this. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help. Maybe this will help you to either stay pre-diabetic or become non-diabetic even.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 over 140,000 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 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html
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
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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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 bloodglucose 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.
Hello Greener and welcome to the forum
Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will understand carby foods better when you have read this. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help. Maybe this will help you to either stay pre-diabetic or become non-diabetic even.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 over 140,000 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html
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
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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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 bloodglucose 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.
VinnyJames
Well-Known Member
Ritz biscuits are 1.3g of carbs then add your choice of soft cheese.
I find 2 or 3 quite filling.
I find 2 or 3 quite filling.
greener
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 275
- Type of diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
thanks for your replies
I am T2
I saw Ritz biscuits and they say 64% of carbs!
are there any rusks or similar to accompany my cheese with only fibers and with minimum carbs? ideally less than 10% (total carbs, not only sugars) they should have sugar less than 3%
I am T2
I saw Ritz biscuits and they say 64% of carbs!
are there any rusks or similar to accompany my cheese with only fibers and with minimum carbs? ideally less than 10% (total carbs, not only sugars) they should have sugar less than 3%
VinnyJames
Well-Known Member
seanj67
Well-Known Member
I've just bought some Aldi Cheese Thins.. they look like Ritz, and the label says carbs per biscuit <0.1g, of which sugars 1.7g.... hhow does that work then?
I think they got those in the wrong order!
S
I think they got those in the wrong order!
S
Last edited by a moderator:
greener
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 275
- Type of diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
rowan
Well-Known Member
On the tesco info it says 7 ritz have 16g carb
donnellysdogs
Master
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- 13,233
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People that can't say sorry.
That is about right.. That's what I allowed over christmas when having 7.... No probs..
Totto
Well-Known Member
Olives are very low in carbs.
The thing is that if you do LCHF you rarely need to snack and that is a big help in modern life. At least I find it so.
But as to your question neither tuna nor eggs contain any carbs so go ahead.
greendress
Active Member
- Messages
- 25
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I wouldn't recommend anyone looking to seriously low carb - definitely not someone new to it - use ritz crackers or any commercial crackers. They're carby, craving-inducing white flour bombs.
Have a search on the sure or on google for low carb muffin in a minute (mim) - you can make these with almond, coconut or flax flour and add cheese if you like. Then slice thinly and pop under the grill for cheap home made cracker alternatives, great spread with cream cheese, pate etc.
Genuinely low carb, high fibre and won't cause cravings.
You can also grill or microwave salami or cheese slices for crispy snacks.
Have a search on the sure or on google for low carb muffin in a minute (mim) - you can make these with almond, coconut or flax flour and add cheese if you like. Then slice thinly and pop under the grill for cheap home made cracker alternatives, great spread with cream cheese, pate etc.
Genuinely low carb, high fibre and won't cause cravings.
You can also grill or microwave salami or cheese slices for crispy snacks.
greendress
Active Member
- Messages
- 25
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Mims are also a good bread replacement.
Search this forum for cheese and almond bread and cauliflower bread.
Potato replacement: roasted celeriac or a little butternut squash. Mashed cauliflower with butter.
Rice replacement: google cauliflower rice - I promise it's good. Or buy slim rice from holland and barrat but it's an acquired taste
Pasta replacement: get a spiraliser and make courgette spaghetti (google zoodles). Use slim pasta (again an acquired taste). Make thin coconut flour pancakes to use as lasagna sheets or cut into thin strips for tagliatelle
Search this forum for cheese and almond bread and cauliflower bread.
Potato replacement: roasted celeriac or a little butternut squash. Mashed cauliflower with butter.
Rice replacement: google cauliflower rice - I promise it's good. Or buy slim rice from holland and barrat but it's an acquired taste
Pasta replacement: get a spiraliser and make courgette spaghetti (google zoodles). Use slim pasta (again an acquired taste). Make thin coconut flour pancakes to use as lasagna sheets or cut into thin strips for tagliatelle
@greendress I hope you don't mind me asking - what are mims?
greendress
Active Member
- Messages
- 25
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Muffin in a minute - it's in my post. You can google low carb mim or low carb muffin in a minute and there are a zillion recipes - done in the micro, super quick. I make mine with
1 tbs coconut flour (if sweet)
1.5 tbs ground flax or oat fiber (savoury)
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp butter
Add sweeter for a sweet muffin, cheese or herbs if you like for a savoury one, or have plain for toast.
Mix well in small bowl
Microwave - 2.5 mins in mine
Turn out, slice and eat with butter, cheese, marmite etc.
But there are many variations - google is your friend.
Edit: adding that a sweet version with coconut flour or oat fiber (you can get it on amazon but not in supermarkets - it's almost pure fibre and is not the same as oat bran), made with sweetener, cinnamon or da Vinci sugar free gingerbread syrup (Amazon), sliced v thin and toasted to become spiced biscotti is my fave
1 tbs coconut flour (if sweet)
1.5 tbs ground flax or oat fiber (savoury)
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp butter
Add sweeter for a sweet muffin, cheese or herbs if you like for a savoury one, or have plain for toast.
Mix well in small bowl
Microwave - 2.5 mins in mine
Turn out, slice and eat with butter, cheese, marmite etc.
But there are many variations - google is your friend.
Edit: adding that a sweet version with coconut flour or oat fiber (you can get it on amazon but not in supermarkets - it's almost pure fibre and is not the same as oat bran), made with sweetener, cinnamon or da Vinci sugar free gingerbread syrup (Amazon), sliced v thin and toasted to become spiced biscotti is my fave
Last edited by a moderator:
Winnie53
BANNED
The 1 min flax muffin is what got me through the second week on the LCHF diet - (tomorrow I begin week 6!). It allowed me to have sandwiches again, and toast with cream cheese occasionally. It added just the right amount of normal back into my life. If asked, I'll post the recipe.
rowan
Well-Known Member
The 1 min flax muffin is what got me through the second week on the LCHF diet - (tomorrow I begin week 6!). It allowed me to have sandwiches again, and toast with cream cheese occasionally. It added just the right amount of normal back into my life. If asked, I'll post the recipe.
yes please, I'm really missing toast and marmite!
