• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Newly Diagnosed - trying to process the news

My personal, and in no way scientific or proven, theory is that those of us with an ancestry nearer the poles, haven't adapted well to the modern ways of transporting fruit thousands of miles at all times of the year, nor of big agriculture breeding ever more sweet varieties.
I live where berries are seasonal, and each has a very short season and apples, pears and plums are only storable for limited times.
In the Mediterranean areas grapes have their season and weren't eaten throughout the year.
In the tropical regions I'm sure local indigenous populations must have had adapted to what's around and to having it when easily available

This leads to our often quoted mantra of we are all different and must be guided by our meters.

For another viewpoint on fructose search for Prof Richard Johnson. He has a series of 3 YouTube videos on why we get faf, but I've only watched the first 2 so far
 
Dear @Goonergal, @Debandez, @BravoKilo, @Outlier, @valann, and @MrsA2,

Thank you all for your responses. Apologies for the delay in response; I was down with a fever. I planned to reply to each one of you separately but that would have been repetitive for the most part, so I decided against it.

Based on all your suggestions, I have decided to give up fruits altogether. I might reintroduce them later with the help of the meter. I am learning things day by day. I did make a blunder - consumed semolina idlis (a South Indian dish). It raised my blood sugar to 160. So, that is also out of the list. I have been experimenting with food items with the help of the meter and creating a list of my own. The reality is dawning on me bit by bit - I have to give up many food items.

Do you go for cheat meals once a month or so, or this is just the lifestyle for you now - don't take the food items you have given up?

Again, thank you so much for all the love, help, and support. It means a lot!
 
krishk said:
Hello Everyone,

My name is Krishen and I am 33 years old. I got diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes 3 days back. I was quite shocked to see the results, as I never imagined that I will get diabetes. I was ill-informed that it's mostly about genes, and people with a family history of diabetes normally get it. Now that I have processed the news a bit, I have come to realize the reality - I am overweight (weight: 110 kgs, height: 181 cm), as a result of depression. My HbA1c is 9% and my cholesterol is quite high too.

The doctor informed me that I have Metabolic Syndrome and advised me to take Metformin ER. I am not sure if I should go with medications straight away. After doing some research, I saw that losing weight and bettering one's diet can improve the condition.
I have a few questions:
  1. Can I avoid taking Metformin for now and just go with a diet and exercise?
  2. Can anyone suggest to me a proper diet that would be beneficial for me?
  3. Is it okay to fast?
I'm sorry if these questions sound absurd or rather basic. It's just that I am overwhelmed with the information I have seen thus far, and some of it has been contradictory. Please help, as I am kinda lost in this plethora of information.
Click to expand...

Hi Krishen,

I found an App called the “Low Carb Program” Lowcarbprogram-com. It is approved by UK’s NHS and if you are in UK your Dr. can prescribe it for free. I purchased it as I live in Cyprus now.

It has lots of support videos and an amazing amount of downloadable menus and fact sheets

IMG_0045.jpg
IMG_0047.jpg
IMG_0048.jpg

I hope this help
 
krishk said:
Dear @Goonergal, @Debandez, @BravoKilo, @Outlier, @valann, and @MrsA2,

Thank you all for your responses. Apologies for the delay in response; I was down with a fever. I planned to reply to each one of you separately but that would have been repetitive for the most part, so I decided against it.

Based on all your suggestions, I have decided to give up fruits altogether. I might reintroduce them later with the help of the meter. I am learning things day by day. I did make a blunder - consumed semolina idlis (a South Indian dish). It raised my blood sugar to 160. So, that is also out of the list. I have been experimenting with food items with the help of the meter and creating a list of my own. The reality is dawning on me bit by bit - I have to give up many food items.

Do you go for cheat meals once a month or so, or this is just the lifestyle for you now - don't take the food items you have given up?

Again, thank you so much for all the love, help, and support. It means a lot!
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear you have been under the weather. Hope you are feeling much better now.

The meter is helping you enormously. Great inventions and definitely my best investment to date. Your blood sugars went up with the semolina idlis and you have therefore popped it on your list of food to avoid. I had a quick look online to see if there was a low carb version and came across this:

subbucooks.com

No Rice Idli || High Protein Low carb Idli || Weight loss Idli - Subbu Cooks

Spread the Love.!No rice Idli is a recipe where we use no rice at all in making the idli batter. This is to avoid carbs from the rice, since many people these days are trying to reduce the intake of carbs. For this No rice…
subbucooks.com subbucooks.com

Recipes can be adapted to make them low carb so you dont have to miss out on your favourites. For example I loved Lasagne and Moussaka but both 'normal' recipes involved pasta. The ingredient that my body struggles with would be the pasta - the meat, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions chili, garlic and herbs not so. So I swap the layers of pasta for corgettes or aubergines.

You can usually find a low carb option online. Just add your favourite dish and add low carb. Go for the recipe with the highest amount of good reviews

Although I avoid the culprits that put my blood sugars up still eat lots of different delicious meals - so much more variety now than before my diagnosis when I would really only rotate around a few meals (which did mainly involve rice, pasta, potatoes and bread!). I make use of herbs and spices more. I now have a favourite recipes folder for both savoury dishes and sweet.

I personally don't do cheat meals once a month. My reason for this is that I try to avoid the spikes as I'm aware that the constant spikes can cause health issues. Low carb way of eating for me became a lifestyle.

Many t2d have seen improved insulin resistance and as such can tolerate more carbs. Again the meter will guide the way.
 
Reflect that if you "cheat" you are not winning a competition. You are instead setting back your health. You would only be cheating yourself. So fire up your pride and aim for success! You CAN handle this and we will help and support you all the way.
 
Debandez said:
Sorry to hear you have been under the weather. Hope you are feeling much better now.

The meter is helping you enormously. Great inventions and definitely my best investment to date. Your blood sugars went up with the semolina idlis and you have therefore popped it on your list of food to avoid. I had a quick look online to see if there was a low carb version and came across this:

subbucooks.com

No Rice Idli || High Protein Low carb Idli || Weight loss Idli - Subbu Cooks

Spread the Love.!No rice Idli is a recipe where we use no rice at all in making the idli batter. This is to avoid carbs from the rice, since many people these days are trying to reduce the intake of carbs. For this No rice…
subbucooks.com subbucooks.com

Recipes can be adapted to make them low carb so you dont have to miss out on your favourites. For example I loved Lasagne and Moussaka but both 'normal' recipes involved pasta. The ingredient that my body struggles with would be the pasta - the meat, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions chili, garlic and herbs not so. So I swap the layers of pasta for corgettes or aubergines.

You can usually find a low carb option online. Just add your favourite dish and add low carb. Go for the recipe with the highest amount of good reviews

Although I avoid the culprits that put my blood sugars up still eat lots of different delicious meals - so much more variety now than before my diagnosis when I would really only rotate around a few meals (which did mainly involve rice, pasta, potatoes and bread!). I make use of herbs and spices more. I now have a favourite recipes folder for both savoury dishes and sweet.

I personally don't do cheat meals once a month. My reason for this is that I try to avoid the spikes as I'm aware that the constant spikes can cause health issues. Low carb way of eating for me became a lifestyle.

Many t2d have seen improved insulin resistance and as such can tolerate more carbs. Again the meter will guide the way.
Click to expand...
Wow, that link for the Idli helps me with my Indian cravings..
 
Debandez said:
Sorry to hear you have been under the weather. Hope you are feeling much better now.

The meter is helping you enormously. Great inventions and definitely my best investment to date. Your blood sugars went up with the semolina idlis and you have therefore popped it on your list of food to avoid. I had a quick look online to see if there was a low carb version and came across this:

subbucooks.com

No Rice Idli || High Protein Low carb Idli || Weight loss Idli - Subbu Cooks

Spread the Love.!No rice Idli is a recipe where we use no rice at all in making the idli batter. This is to avoid carbs from the rice, since many people these days are trying to reduce the intake of carbs. For this No rice…
subbucooks.com subbucooks.com

Recipes can be adapted to make them low carb so you dont have to miss out on your favourites. For example I loved Lasagne and Moussaka but both 'normal' recipes involved pasta. The ingredient that my body struggles with would be the pasta - the meat, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions chili, garlic and herbs not so. So I swap the layers of pasta for corgettes or aubergines.

You can usually find a low carb option online. Just add your favourite dish and add low carb. Go for the recipe with the highest amount of good reviews

Although I avoid the culprits that put my blood sugars up still eat lots of different delicious meals - so much more variety now than before my diagnosis when I would really only rotate around a few meals (which did mainly involve rice, pasta, potatoes and bread!). I make use of herbs and spices more. I now have a favourite recipes folder for both savoury dishes and sweet.

I personally don't do cheat meals once a month. My reason for this is that I try to avoid the spikes as I'm aware that the constant spikes can cause health issues. Low carb way of eating for me became a lifestyle.

Many t2d have seen improved insulin resistance and as such can tolerate more carbs. Again the meter will guide the way.
Click to expand...

I am feeling quite well now, thank you :)

Thank you for sharing the link. I am looking for alternative ingredients to my favourite dishes. It's just a bit hard for me at first, as my diet has mostly been carbs-oriented before this. I'm happy with the progress I am making mentally. With time, this will all be normal for me.

Alright, If it isn't okay to do cheat meals once in a while, I am gonna stick with the low-carb routine moving forward.

Yes, the meter has been quite helpful thus far. I'm experimenting quite a bit with my meals now and check their response.
 
krishk said:
I am feeling quite well now, thank you :)

Thank you for sharing the link. I am looking for alternative ingredients to my favourite dishes. It's just a bit hard for me at first, as my diet has mostly been carbs-oriented before this. I'm happy with the progress I am making mentally. With time, this will all be normal for me.

Alright, If it isn't okay to do cheat meals once in a while, I am gonna stick with the low-carb routine moving forward.

Yes, the meter has been quite helpful thus far. I'm experimenting quite a bit with my meals now and check their response.
Click to expand...
It is a massive learning curve - lots to take in for sure and you're doing really well.
 
Outlier said:
Reflect that if you "cheat" you are not winning a competition. You are instead setting back your health. You would only be cheating yourself. So fire up your pride and aim for success! You CAN handle this and we will help and support you all the way.
Click to expand...

You are right. I don't want to compromise my health, and will thus stay away from "cheat" meals. Thank you! I really appreciate it :)
 
Hi krishk,

Sorry to hear you have been unwell but really pleased to hear you are now well again. :)

You have done so well in a relatively short time so feel proud of yourself [clapping]. I personally wouldn't think of cheating yet, in fact I'm not intending to cheat at all for some time to come (it has been less than 3 months for me on low carb), but may in the coming months but if I do it will be a small amount of whatever and I will still test.

Low Carb for me now is definitely a lifestyle change. :)
 
valann said:
Hi krishk,

Sorry to hear you have been unwell but really pleased to hear you are now well again. :)

You have done so well in a relatively short time so feel proud of yourself [clapping]. I personally wouldn't think of cheating yet, in fact I'm not intending to cheat at all for some time to come (it has been less than 3 months for me on low carb), but may in the coming months but if I do it will be a small amount of whatever and I will still test.

Low Carb for me now is definitely a lifestyle change. :)
Click to expand...

Hi @valann,

Thank you :) I am doing quite well now. I hope you're doing well as well.

Thank you! I wasn't planning on cheating as such. It was just to mentally prepare myself for what's to come. That's good to hear. It takes effort in the beginning. As an Indian, It was quite hard at the start, as my food was mostly carbohydrates. However, now, I am kinda used to it. I am also planning to make it a lifestyle. These days, I take 2 meals a day and do 16+ hours of intermittent fasting, and the funny thing is that I don't get that hungry.

I am not testing after every meal; I am only testing if I consume some new food item. I am taking food in the same proportion every day, so that helps. It's going quite well at the moment. My doctor was concerned that I lost quite a bit of weight in a short time, but I told him that I am not pushing myself that hard. I just changed my diet and started working out. My total cholesterol was normal, sugar fasting was 78, and sugar PP was 120. I told him that I didn't take the medicine, so he took it off the prescription and told me to do what I am doing and see him in 90 days. I'm quite happy with my reports. Hopefully, I will sustain this and be healthy for the rest of my life.
 
Hello Everyone,

I am sharing my results with you all, as this progress would not have been possible without your help.

HbA1C went from 9% to 5.6%.
I also lost 22 kgs.
ALT and AST are within limits too.
I need to work on my Cholesterol levels, as they are still out of range, but not by much.

I went to see my doctor, and he said: "No treatment is required, just be active and keep healthy habits."

At first, It was difficult to ditch the foods I loved, but now, I don't miss them. I am enjoying this new life and quite happy with the results. Thank you so much for all the help.
 
krishk said:
Hello Everyone,

I am sharing my results with you all, as this progress would not have been possible without your help.

HbA1C went from 9% to 5.6%.
I also lost 22 kgs.
ALT and AST are within limits too.
I need to work on my Cholesterol levels, as they are still out of range, but not by much.

I went to see my doctor, and he said: "No treatment is required, just be active and keep healthy habits."

At first, It was difficult to ditch the foods I loved, but now, I don't miss them. I am enjoying this new life and quite happy with the results. Thank you so much for all the help.
Click to expand...
Wonderful news.

All credit to you for trying AND sticking with it

So very pleased for you . :cool:
 
Back
Top