Type 2 Newbie 6wks - Carbs And Sugar?

Ange1a65 said:

Sorry to ask yet another question. But should I be carb counting (what is daily limit) or should I be sugar counting. I can't exercise as I have lower mobility problems. I really am struggling to get my head round this. I was not told to check bloods or given diet sheet. I must admit I love fruit and would quite happily eat that and veg all day. Thanks in advance

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It's the carbs you count

You'll need to experiment to find your own 'daily limit'. Some Type 2s can eat a moderate amount of carbs, but others need to stick to lower limits.

Ignore Sugar on it's own, as it is all Carbohydrates you need to limit.

There is no "Daily" amount, as everyone is different and the target you need to aim for can only be decided by yourself, by testing your blood glucose reaction after eating different foods.

Testing is imperative.

Most people find that arguing with their DN just promotes bad feeling since she cannot change the advice she gives since that is what she has been told to say. It is better to smile and nod and go home and do your testing anyway. Won't she get a surprise when you go there one day with a controlled Hba1c.

Hi
The Diabetes Nurse told me, and most other type 2's, not to test as we, apparently, don't need to (have we got ESP, perhaps? ) and also gave me a 'diet' sheet saying at the top, not to reduce starchy foods, ie bread, potatoes, pasta and rice!

I couldn't understand this advice. It just wasn't rational. So, I bought myself a meter (SD Codefree is good and the test strips are cheaper to buy).

Basically, the DN has to tell you what NICE recommend and not to test so that they don't have to prescribe test strips! The rest is up to you and what you decide is right

Julie

Hi. As others have said you do need to test to see what foods affect you and by how much; most of us don't have ESP powers! Bin the diet sheet unless you want to make your diabetes worse - good isn't it that we pay taxes for this harmful information. For daily carbs, an initial guide level might be 150gm/day and the meter will then guide you. Some on the forum have 50gm/day or less but that's not easy unless you really love veg which I don't.

I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago I had no symptoms except extreme tiredness. Routine blood tests then 2 fasting tests diagnosed diabetes. My dn told me not to test but I looked on here for advice and bought a codefree meter. It's the best thing I've done. I now know Wat does and doesn't affect my bg. I have gone low carb high fat. My hba1c was 94. Which was high. My bg is now between 5.4 and 7 all the time. This is because of the advice from here. Do yourself a favour and invest in a codefree meter. Someone on here has the link.