Newly diagnosed

Thank you all so much for your responses. it really makes me feel a lot stronger.
I'm taking note of the good advice.

A big question I have is about fruit. I love it and eat loads. Am I right in thinking this has to be severely limited? Any opinions about best fruits?

And do I have to keep to small portions at all meals? Even if it's fairly OK food like fish without cooking fat or broccoli? Is there never a chance to eat lots? - I can be a real pig sometimes.

I've been getting panicky without knowing if eating sensibly is bringing levels down and the HbA1C of 15 seems off the scale, so have arranged to go to the Blood Lab tomorrow morning. Then I can go to my doctor with results on Thursday and see what is going to happen.I have a few other medical problems and so it may get a bit complicated.

I'm sending for a carb counting book!

Thank you again.

Jane.

janewatt said:

.........A big question I have is about fruit. I love it and eat loads. Am I right in thinking this has to be severely limited? Any opinions about best fruits?..........

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Hi Jane,

Fruit is OK for me - I've never found any of it to cause me any problems. I eat a lot of it - certainly, oranges, apples, pear, grapes, kiwi on a regular basis as snacks and with salads. You will need to test to see what it does to you.

As advised previously, it's the starchy carbohydrates that cause me problems.

John

janewatt said:

A big question I have is about fruit. I love it and eat loads. Am I right in thinking this has to be severely limited? Any opinions about best fruits?

And do I have to keep to small portions at all meals? Even if it's fairly OK food like fish without cooking fat or broccoli? Is there never a chance to eat lots? - I can be a real pig sometimes.
Jane.

Click to expand...

First of all be careful where fruit is concerned while you are trying to get your blood glucose levels under control. Fruit delivers a burst of quickly absorbed sugar into your bloodstream, which is not really ideal to start with. Once you have your levels down then just add some fruit in and test before and 2 hrs after to see what the real effect is on you. You still need to use moderation and for now cut down on the quantity. Concentrate on reducing your Bg levels. That is very important at this stage.

All fruit contains Fructose, the naturally occurring fruit sugar, but if like me you are on a low GI/GL diet then it is quite safe to eat most fruits, berries, plums, apples, peaches in particular are a good source although I couldn't touch a Banana, Grapes, Dates, Kiwi Fruit which all send my Bg soaring. Everybody is different in that respect. Types of fruits to avoid are the high carb ones, so your carb counting book will be a great help. Fruits that you may have thought were safe can be unsafe, read the carb count of your favourites, then adjust your intake to suit.

As for portion sizes, that again is an individual thing. There are certain foods you can eat lots of, however if you are really serious about getting in control then you have to reduce your portion sizes along with the carbs.

I too used to eat a lot of food at one serving, then I realised that it was not good to 'pig' out all the time. I started to put my meals out on a side plate, that way it looked like I had lots on my plate, however, I had in effect cut my portion sizes by around two thirds.

What a difference that makes.....that is how along with Byetta I have lost close to 5 stone since January 2009. That together with determination and willpower. I feel so much fitter and healthier because of that.

So, really it depends on what you want to achieve.......good Bg control or not ? Do you need to lose weight or not ? As they say....no pain....no gain !

This might help give some guidance on portion sizes.
http://www.extension.uidaho.edu/diabetesplate/index.html
Whilst you're waiting for your carb book ..and to help your French
http://www.medtronic-diabete.fr/tl_files/FR/PDF/brochure glucides.pdf

Ken has talked about the glycemic index.
The University of Sydney has a big site about it , the FAQs are very useful and there are lots of recipes in the Newletter each month.
http://www.glycemicindex.com

Thank you all so much for the responses and advice. It's been so helpful.

It's been a period of taking in the reality of the diagnosis; coming to believe it's true and will be there forever. I've had to deal with my other health problems and how they can put back diabetes concerns - for instance missing blood tests through migraine.

I got tested again and returned to my doctor. Levels have gone down a bit (HbA1C down to 13.3 from 15 the previous month). Obviously very high so doctor wants me to get it down before sending me to diabetologue as I'd have to go to St Malo fortnightly for monitoring at that level. So she'll see me monthly here for now. Asked for BG meter which she prescribed and gave me general very sensible diet booklet. She increased Metaformine dose to 2 x 845 mg.

Carb counter book just arrived - some very suprising info!

Lots of questions now about testing, numbers used, etc. and wondering where to put these questions as I think this Forum is really just for introductions?

Thank you all again - I feel so much better informed and less helpless. I don't have a lot of support here so it's especially important.

Jane.

Hi Jane.

Any questions you have are best put in Ask the Experts. If you do manage to put a question in the wrong place we would just move it to the corret area - not a problem.

As you say Greetings and Introductions is for just that, hence some posts are sometimes moved from here.

hI NEWLY !

I also live in France, and have been diagnosed, firstly with Type 2 with tablets and diet only, and then this year with Type 1and am now insulin dependant as well as tablets (and ?diet?) she said !

The French health system has so far been excellent - and, by the way, labelling on food is there if you search ! Look for glucide content, as well as sugar - your diabetalogue when you see him/her will advise you, as well as giving you (if he/she is anything like mine !) a hundred leaflets and a conversion chart for all foods you can buy (bit like a sliding calculator !) - I am afraid I am absolutely terrible at keeping to my diet and keeping my bs on a level - you may also have the Infirmier a Domicile attend once a day until you have the hang of measuring your insulin dosage - they used to come to me each evening before dinner. They pop in now and then to make sure I am doing everything properly (and because they want to learn English !)

I now live in Charente Maritime, and have so far not been referred to a specialist centre, but when I lived in Brittany I was sent to the large university hospital in Brest, where every test under the sun was done - they were very thorough - so if you get the offer, go for it.

Like you, I tend to use Diabetes UK for info - although my diabetalogue did tell me there is a website in France which I have looked at, but only briefly - I keep meaning to go back to it and have a thorough look !

There does not seem to be an equivalent of D UK here in France, which is a pity, as a lot of English speakers here are suffering from the disease ! Maybe we can change that ! Bonne chance !