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Welcome to the Forum J.

Well done for getting back on track and hope you get that HbA1c back down into the 6's.

Here is the basic advice Ken and I give to new members, hope it helps.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306&start=0

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002&start=0

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091&start=0



Sue/Ken.
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A little help please

This is my first post (apart from intro) Have been type 2 diabetic for 7 years now. I have been low carb since then. Fell off the wagon for a good year (long story) and have been put on metformin in the past week after Hba1c 9.3 previously 6.1. Testing bloods randomly at home they were mid teens. Have been testing them morning and 2hrs after meals and morning is anywhere between 8-10. Today on waking they were 8.1. Two hours after breakfast (egg and cheese omlette) they were 10.1. Mid morning had 2 dessert spoons of greek yogurt with strawberries and flaxseed, 2hrs after that 8.8. Lunch was cauliflower stir fried with bacon, some greek yogurt mixed in and sprinkled with cheese, 2 hrs 9.0.
Was always used with my sugars being aroung 5 when I low carbed before (followed south beach) Am I expecting results too quickly (it's been 3 days low carbing) Would you cut the yogurt out? Have also stopped the metformin after some horrible side effects but that's for another forum. Hopefully that's not all too confusing :lol:
 
I think 3 days is way too early to see how things are going. On the face of it your levels aren't too far out of kilter with the guidelines that Sue posted for you. It's a case of get back to the basics of low carbing......test as often as you need to and I am sure you will soon see results.

As for the Metformin......here is as good a place as any to discuss it seeing as how you mentioned it.

There are people that have a problem with it initially but persevere and find after a few weeks they can tolerate it quite well. You really should give it a chance first. If after that you really are unable to tolerate it then see your GP and discuss an alternative.

I am one of those who never had any problem with Met......cast iron constitution I think..... :)
 
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