so what diet is best?

Some people get by fine by eating carbs and carb counting. It didn't work for me, but switching to low carb got my hba1c from the high 7s to 6.5%. I find low carb to be so much easier than when I was carb counting. I also lost a few inches from my belly.

If you feel like you've hit a brick wall with carbs, your hba1c is high, give them up for a couple of months and see if it improves things. What have you got to loose? I'd recommend Richard Bernstein's Diabetes Diet book, but I dont follow the strict carb prescriptions he gives. I just dont eat starchy carbs such as bread, rice, pasta, potato etc.

Hi. I think the majority of us with a normal range of diabetes conditions find low-carbing is the best. If nothing else it's logical as the normal body converts sugar into glucose in the stomach and hence the blood stream. Your meter will tell you anyway what works for you. If you are overweight then some reduction in calorie intake is needed and I would suggest trying to reduce the carbs. As you are on insulin you still need to keep the carbs down otherwise you will be matching your insulin to too hogh a level of carbs and the result is weight gain and large sugar swings

Obviously if you reduced your carbohydrate intake, you would have to adjust your insulin dose downwards.

You've already had severe retinopathy and if you could improve your glycaemic control, that would reduce the risk of progression. On the other hand, you need to be careful that you don't do anything to increase your blood pressure as that makes retinopathy worse. If you replaced carbohydrate with fatty foods, for example, it would be better to choose oily fish, rape-seed oil and olive oil as they are considered "healthy" for your blood vessels as opposed to butter, lard and "hidden" fats within meat. I wouldn't contemplate any diet that advocated cutting out fruit or non-starchy vegetables as they contain important vitamins and minerals and help in keeping blood pressure down.

Here is some advice about reducing blood pressure:- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00027

You mentioned that you don't exercise. Well, it would be a good idea to start. Exercise helps in weight management, insulin sensitivity and reducing blood pressure. Every little helps! :thumbup:

I got my Hb1Ac down from 69 to 42 and managed to lose 1.5 stone in 4 months by cutting back (not cutting out completely) on carbs and increasing exercise regime.

Hi Nicola,

It won't do any harm to try a vegan diet.

I have been on a vegan diet for approximately 9 months with very good results. I am getting used to the meals, and it is not as bad as you think.

Although I understand vegan views,I am not a vegan, just looking after my health.

It is also said that a vegan/vegetarian diet may help reduce the problems regarding viterious haemorrage's.

Surely full time work is enough exercise, getting to work etc:

Best of luck and hope you get the results you desire.

Roy,