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Newly diagnosed type 2 need help and advice

M

MickeyD123

Member
Messages
20
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I am type 2 53 mmol in July 22
I’ve seen a foot specialist was ok seeing an opticians in October and an online consultation later this month . I’ve started feeling really funny lightheaded no energy and keep dropping of to sleep when I usually wake up My head feels fuzzy and I don’t know what I should eat I’ve not had any help since diagnosed with diabetes where do I start I’m also urinating more and is strong also changed in colour I am looking for a diet to start me off please or any advice thanks
 
Hi @MickeyD123 and welcome to the forum.
Fuzzy head and urinating more suggests high Blood Glucose.
It is the carbohydrates we eat which digest into glucose and thus ends up in the bloodstream until/unless pumped into muscle and fat cells by Insulin.
So in rough terms high blood glucose for a Type 1 is caused by lack of Insulin and also influenced by carbohydrates consumed, but for a Type 2 it is due to 'insulin resistance' meaning we are consuming more carbs than our body's insulin response can easily handle.

So in short best diet for Type 2 is just to eat fewer carbs - not necessarily to cut calories. When you do this you find that you can fuel your body up to 100% on fat which together with protein is something we must eat (not so carbs though they are hard to avoid completely).
Cut down on grains (even whole grains) bread, pasta, rice, potato, fruit juice and tropical fruits as well as sugars, honey etc. Breakfast cereal is a terrible way for a Type 2 to start the day (even whole oat porridge) eggs/meat/cheese is much better (approx zero carbs).

Best foods for Type 2s: meat (especially fatty meat), fish (especially fatty fish), eggs, full fat dairy, avocado, nuts, above ground veg. Best fruit for Type 2s : berries, watermelon.
 
Thanks for great advice I had cereal this morning and bought porridge yesterday so that bad I think I’ve printed off a keto diet it has 8 weeks of menu is that a good base ? I love water melon but read I wasn’t allowed it so that’s good news thanks for your much wanted help
 
 
MickeyD123 said:
They look really good I’m buying a glucose monitor as well I want to bear this I’ve stopped vimto in water just water for now and no zero sugar pop as I think there is sugar in them
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I gave up porridge during my first few months of getting into remission, but afterwards re-introduced it for 3 breakfasts a week, 18 months ago. Metering has shown me very little spiking and all back to normal after 2 hours. So it is just too rigid to describe it as a “terrible” choice. It is in many ways an excellent choice if you are not adversely affected by it. Trust the meter.
 
Thanks tomorrow I’m planning my first weeks eating thsnks for help is any cereal possible for me or not as Neely diagnosed?
 
MickeyD123 said:
Thanks tomorrow I’m planning my first weeks eating thsnks for help is any cereal possible for me or not as Neely diagnosed?
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I would drop cereal for a good while. In my first few months I stuck to two alternating breakfasts: two boiled eggs with some blueberries; or 100g of full fat natural yoghurt with some blueberries, 10g of walnuts and almonds and 15g of cheese. Did not deviate until four months had passed, then gently reintroduced porridge or toast a few days per week, which has since been absolutely fine for me.
 
I suffer from diverticulitis so I’m not allowed nuts but will try the eggs thanks
 
Welcome to the forum.

Light headedness and lack of energy despite eating is a sign of glucose starvation at cellular level which also could have led to high blood sugar levels by now.

Regardless, you should start monitoring your fasting blood sugar levels (first thing after your wake up in the morning) and after-food levels (after 2 hours of eating) daily. Record the levels in you mobile. There are tons of apps available that help you track the numbers. This will be very useful for your discussions with GP later.

To address your symptoms, you could try reducing added sugar and simple carbs (pastries, pasta, white rice and white bread) a bit and see how body is responding. Try not to tip over to hypo (low sugar levels) by over restricting. This is why blood sugar monitoring is important. Keep a log of which food raises your levels and which does not.

Also try not to eat too frequent and too late. You could also try intermittent fasting if you want to. Read books and artcles by Dr. Jason Fung amd Dr. Benjamin Bikman. They are quite popular

Good luck with your journey.
 
I used a glucose tester to discover what I could not eat - but I did already know that carbohydrate - even the 'healthy' stuff made me feel unwell.
Once I eliminated sugar and starch heavy foods I picked up that beans and peas also caused me to spike, and that I seem to be able to extract almost twice the expected amount of carbs from them.
It is usually only necessary to use a meter for a short while to discover what to eat.
 
Hi MickeyD123,

Welcome to the forums.

I am also T2D and since joining this forum decided to try the low carb diet with much success, not only lowering my BG but also losing that extra weight I put on. Strange thing to me is now I'm eating low carb I never seem to feel hungry between meals which is a good thing, I often start the day with full fat Greek Yoghurt with a few blueberries or bacon & egg, high meat sausages are also good.

The BG meter will become your best friend and tell you what you need to cut down or cut out. Test just before eating then 2 hours after the first bite, some people like to test 1 hour/2 hours and 3 hours later but I think most of us test 2 hours later, this will tell you what spikes you (pushes your blood reading up), if it goes up just 2 full points or less then thats ok if it's more then you need to think about that particular food.

It all sounds difficult but it isn't really and you will soon get used to it.

Looking forward to reading more of your posts and finding out how you're getting on
 
Thanks for that great info I rang gp a blood test has been booked Monday and an online consultation with a Diane nurse so should help thanks for great details
 
Thanks I’m gonna get a glucose tester even though my dr said I don’t need one I think I do thsnks
 
MickeyD123 said:
Thanks I’m gonna get a glucose tester even though my dr said I don’t need one I think I do thsnks
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If your GP makes a fuss about testing you might ask if driving a car without a speedometer would be sensible as you could always just wait for the fines to arrive so you'd know, eventually that you were driving too fast.
Without testing blood glucose you could go for months eating something you could not cope with, eventually find out, but still have no way to discover what is causing the problem.
 
What a fantastic answer I just told my wife that she totally agrees why wait something goes wrong if you saw your tyres had no tread on them you change tyre not drive till it blows as it’s to late ,I totally agree I’m going online to get one thanks
 
I also suffer from Diverticulitis, and since eating low carb i can safely eat all the things i shouldn't without any problems. The main thing i was told to do was increase the fibre in my diet, funnily enough that bulks up the stools and compounds the problems.
 
Thanks I am gonna try it I’ve 8 weeks of various diets now so I’m gonna mix and match to get right balance
 
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