New to Diabetes

Hi elainer and welcome to the forum, it is absolutely not uncommon to feel bewildered after diagnosis and to be getting conflicting information even from doctors who really should be better informed about diabetes especially now it has become so prevalent.

In my opinion testing is fundamental to gaining good blood glucose control, without testing you will have no idea what food does to your blood glucose (bg). Imagine having to comply with a 30 mile an hour speed limit and being told you don't need a speedometer!!!!

My advice is to read everything you can get your hands on about diabetes and a great place to start is the Basic Information For The Newly Diagnosed that is posted here by the forum monitors Sugarless Sue and Ken (cugila)

Just click on this link to read it Basic Information For The Newly Diagnosed

Things will become clearer and before you know it you will have this thing sorted. Good luck and any questions you have just shout

I've only been diagnosed 4 weeks so can't offer as authorative advice as others but I found being honest with myself identified my bad eating habits. So I have cut back on bread to lose weight, I used to have cereals and toast for breakfast but really don't miss the toast. I have bought wraps instead of using bread for sandwiches (112 calories a wrap 92 a slice of bread, but you need 2 slices for a sandwich!). I am losing the weight in a slow healthy way and changes like the simple ones mentioned are so easy to maintain.

Welcome elainer
the initial shock on diagnosis has quite an impact on us all . I am a fellow type 2 and was confused about every thing regarding to diabetes however you have certainly came to the right place for a (realistic) information and support. Ask ?'s at will and remember we all have started off feeling the same :shock: .We are a crazy bunch of people that are happy to help the best we can
JF

elainer said:

which is driving my partner mad because he has had to have the same as me but more.

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That is the reason |I dont eat any 'special' foods or meals I just eat a normal meal put dont take the amount of carbs that I used to, or anything else for that matter. I just dont see the point in making special meals just because I'm diabetic, if we have a curry I eat the same as my wife but I eat more vegetables and less rice than her, if we eat fish and chips which we do every now and then I just have a normal piece of fish, scampi etc but only have ten or twelve chips

Why make things hard for yourself when you can just eat a normal healthy diet but eat less. You just have to test loads of foods to find out how much of everything you can tolerate without pushing your bg up more than you want.

hi
I only found out 2 weeks ago that I had type 2 and was told by my doctor to cut out sugar and to go to see the nurse for some diet info, which she told me nothing I did not no already. After reading info on the fourm i have brought my self BS moniter and I'm learning what foods I can and can not eat. This a great site so keep reading
Pamela

Its great that people are finding answers here , forums can be invaluable but its sad also that so many are left to flounder alone at a time when they are in shock and feeling such a need for support . Was just the same for me , I doubt very much that I would have got tight control of diabetes if it hadnt been for online help and brilliant information .

elainer said:

Well it's a few weeks further on and still not seen the diabetic nurse. Going on Monday but meanwhile I have been told by the my podiatrist about a course run by our Local NHS trust called X-pert Diabetic Programme. Went to the Doctors Surgery and got a form about it and enrolled. It is a 6 week programme 2.5 hours each session. You get a "workbook" and each week we have come away withsome recipes. This week it was soups. I have found it excellent and woulld recommend it to anyone new to Diabetes.

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I've got a referral to DESMOND but never heard of X-pert Diabetic Programme, this is good to know, thanks for that. I will ask my nurse about this as I have no idea if my diet is actually helping or hindering me and I have not been given meter/strips despite asking if I should have this to help me.

How did you get on with your nurse?

Hi elainer,

Welcome to the forum.

When i was diagnosed I needed to find some recipes which would suit the diabetes.
I do adjust my cake recipes but it is trial and error to get them to taste the same. I sometimes use sweetner or just reduce the amount of caster sugar and as for main meals I usually start from scratch and if using a jar I read the labelling first. I found it was easier to adapt existing recipes first.

I hope you are finding your X-pert course really helpful andthose recipes are tasting good

Josie