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Need some advice on reducing Hbac1

S

sweet-cheeks

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I am posting on behalf of my mum who has type 2 diabetes and has had it for a number of years yet still remains unsure of what foods to eat. She lives on a diet of porridge, salads, a small amount of fish and vegetables but is becoming increasingly bored of her diet. She isn't vegetarian but doesn't like the taste of meat. Her down fall believe it or not is fruit....she is the only person I know who wold eat a whole punnet of grapes (pre diagnosis obviously).

I know she has found it depressing at times and would love to hear how anyone has reduced their Hbac1 levels and how you figure out just what you can and can't eat as it confusing and seems to be different for everyone?

I look forward to reading your replies

Thanks for listening, Alison.
 
Hi,

What diabetes medication is your mum on?
 
Hi @sweet-cheeks :)

The basic rule is Eat To Your Meter - that is, see what effect different foods have on you (or in this case, your mum). As you say, we're all different.

Does your mum have a meter? How often does she test? Is she on any meds?
 
I would eat a whole punnet of grapes - they have been one of the big temptations since diagnosis and I have over eaten them a couple of times. Not the whole punnet but more than I should have eaten.
I can't eat ordinary grains - even the lidl high protein rolls stop weightloss even though they don't cause spikes.
When I was eating low carb for long periods I made two shopping lists so I had variety rather than the same things. Even now if I buy mushrooms I don't buy tomatoes, some weeks I get celery and others a cauliflower, simply to create a change in the contents of the fridge. Even changing from Brie to red Leicester made it a special day.
 
That previous thread was 6 years ago. ;)

Does your mum still have a meter?

What diabetes medication is she on these days?

What sort of blood sugar levels does she have?

Eggs cooked any which way are great (especially with bacon, tomato and mushrooms). Most vegetables, but root veggies can be difficult, especially potatoes. Salads are great, plus all meat and fish, cheese, avocado, all dairy (except milk). Bread is a danger food, but Lidl do an excellent high protein roll that is very low in carbohydrate. Porridge is difficult for most people, especially if made with milk. A full fat Greek yogurt with a few berries added is a reasonable breakfast, or eggs. I personally enjoy a soft boiled egg for breakfast and if she follows this with a coffee and cream it will keep her satisfied until lunch time.

This thread may help you

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/a-new-low-carb-guide-for-beginners.68695/

and this

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/60-seconds
 
Thanks for tagging me @Jaylee .

@sweet-cheeks - I can't say I have found my diet to be boring, although sometimes, I guess, like most other folks, I can just get a bit fed with the whole diabetes thing.

As others have asked, it would be really useful to know if your mother still tests, and the sorts of things she would eat, if given the choice. Fruit is a tricky one though, I will admit. I was a great lover of fruit before diagnosis, and I still do miss it. Since I got my diabetes "house in order", I can tolerate more fruit than before, but mainly I'm content not to bother. Aside from the limitations you have described, are there any other things that shape your mothers food choices? For example, does she avoid bread or grains, milk or whatever?

If you could give us a few points based on the questions I've asked I'm sure we can make some valid suggestions.
 
I'm a fruit freak type 2 OAP on a low carb high(er) fat diet and you are able (and recommended! ) to eat some fresh fruit on this - berries are the ones usually recommended: generally strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. I also include blackberries regularly and when I can get them, gooseberries. But in small quantities, e.g. less than 100 gram portions a day, I've found that I can also eat other low sugar fruits occasionally - red and black currants, greengages, single apricots and little flat(!) peaches, figs, kiwi fruit, very small, or a few slices of apples, 2-3 orange segments, and a little rhubarb, without any significant spikes in my glucose levels. All of which I will eat with thick, double, clotted, or soured cream, creme fraiche, or full fat yoghurt, as part of a complete meal.

If your mother is using a meter, she will be able to test how such fruits might affect her glucose levels, and choose appropriately.

My LCHF diet was what reduced my HbA1c from an initial 60-61 on diagnosis right down to 40 eight months later. And kept it hovering at the lower end of of pre-diabetic levels for nearly three years now.

Robbity
 
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