reading suggestions

[samantha13]

Hi all, I am just recently diagnosed insulin dependant. I love this forum and find it an absolute life saver. But to be honest I still can't get my head around what I should and shouldn't be eating.

The first time i seen the dietician she told me to keep my diet as near normal as possible minus the sweets etc.

on a typical day i would have cereal with 4units novorapid, pre lunch my bm 8. 5units with sandwhich and crisps, pre dinner bm 8. 6-8 units with dinner, usually potaoes chicken and veg. At supper i would have a low fat hot chocolate and 2rich tea biscuits. bedtime bm 10. fasting usually 6.

whats throwing me off is seeing what people on this forum eat and i'm now unsure of what i should be eating and avoiding.

Does anyone know of a good book that would spell it out for me in simple straight forward terms. Unfortunately DAFNE not available in my area.

Thanks

 

[Jen&Khaleb]

Diabetes for Dummies is a really good book and Think Like a Pancreas. Go to your library or bookstore and see what appeals to you.

As you are taking insulin with food you will find that most foods are acceptable but portion control is important. You can teach yourself how to carb count and from there work out what ratio of carbohydrate to insulin you need. You would just need to make adjustments if before your meal you were too high/low and also how much exercise you do.

It can be a lot of trial and error.

Hope you are coping well with your new diagnosis. It can all seem a bit overwhelming at times.

 

[victry77]

I was exactly like you when first diagnosed. The advice I got from the dietician (both initially at the hospital & a bit later at the diabetes clinic) seem to conflict so much with information I read here. I remember I ended up in tears because I was so confused and also very upset (because it came off as very anti-carb on here at the time) and I thought I had to stop eating everything I thought was OK.

Jen is right in that portion control is really important and so is testing a couple hours after eating just to see how your BG are reacting to what you've eaten. Try not to let yourself get too overwhelmed right now because with a bit of trial & error you'll soon start to figure out what's right for you.

Good luck

 

[Snodger]

I also found this book of use after diagnosis - written by a diabetic - covers some of the emotional/psych side too and is one of the best I've seen on the subject of managing exercise and insulin and diet:
"Funny, you don't look like a diabetic" - Janet Waterston - you can get it on Amazon but prob not in general bookshops.
Hope that helps a bit

Snodger

 

[the_anticarb]

I just got a book called 'think like a pancreas' (forgot author but you can get it off amazon) which is really good, although it is for insulin users rather than those who can manage without insulin. Very good on dosing, dealing with hypos etc. It is written by a doctor who actually has diabetes himself (a rare thing) so you get the feeling he really knows what he is talking about! It's american but all the american blood sugar levels are converted into mmol/l so that english readers can understand it too.