New T2.

Hi and welcome Kevin.
Loads of us have got our T2 under control by reducing (or even almost eliminating) carbohydrates in our diets.
Here's a quick intro to be getting on with
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.17088/
Feel free to ask any questions someone will always be around to answer.
Welcome to improved health!

Skyping said:

Greetings everybody,

Well my name is Kevin and I am 54, slightly overweight (@1 stone) with a HBA1C of 80.

Just started taking 2x 500g metformin daily and not really had too much effect.

Worried about diets and the possibile effects of T2, but what can you guys suggest to a newbie that can have a major effect on reducing my HBA1C? Furthermore, are there any "golden rules" which you now swear by which you wish you were told when first diagnosed?

Thanks for looking, and I hope to get involved in multople discussion soon!!!

K

Click to expand...

Golden rules... I actually wrote a bunch of them down, if you want to see 'em, but all in all... I can't handle carbs. So I avoid them. My meter is my friend. That's the simplest I can make it. https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html goes a bit deeper, Dr. Jason Fung's The Diabetes Code dives well in, as well as this forum's website (diabetes.co.uk, not .org!) and dietdoctor.com.

Basically though... You're going to be fine. You've got help in this place.
Jo

First - eating a low carb diet with lots of salad and low carb veges, drinking coffee with cream, avoiding sugar and dense starches will make a lot of type twos revert to normal levels of glucose. It has the downside of having to buy several sets of clothes due to you shrinking out of the ones you have.
Second - people will most likely tell you that we need to eat all those 'healthy' carbs and some will offer advice about magic ingredients to cure you. Smile, nod and ignore is the best policy.

Cauliflower rice works well with curries etc and courgetti does work instead of pasta. I bought a really cheap, like couple of pounds, pencil sharpener type thing that works brilliantly.

Remember you can eat as much of other stuff as you need to to feel full including fats. So cheese on your bolognese or chilli, an extra slice of bacon with a fry up etc. I have got used curry without rice which I never thought I would.

Bread is my biggest problem. There are some high protein loaves around for occasional toast and butter.

I have found that metformin has reduced my appetite and I eat far less at a meal.

Hi and welcome Kevin,

Cutting carbs can be a bit of a challenge at first but it does have the effect of lowering your blood sugar levels.

I found the best way was to centre a meal on something ultra low/ no carbs for example meat, fish, eggs or cheese.

I personally went ultra low carb- less than 20 grams a day and my HbA1c was within the normal range in less than 3 months.

It can be quite challenging - there are recipes around. I do have cauliflower rice and cauliflower mash.

The trick is to increase your fats so that you are no longer hungry.

Good luck and welcome