Some advice with blood sugar control very high

Morning
I would be horrified to have BGS numbers of that order. I aim for in the 5's first thing and in the 6's after food. I do this through diet and exercise alone keeping my carbs to around 30 gr a day. As much as burgen bread is lower in carb then others I think it's nearly 10g a slice so 2 to start the day would be a most of my daily in take. Instead I prefer to get my carb allowance from green veggies, cauli, swede and celeriac. I do make desserts using almond flour and sugar substitutes. I have no cravings for "comfort" foods as my diet is varied and doesn't leave me hungry.

At 66 your husband is but a youngster so by not looking after himself he runs the risk of diabetic complications which could really harm his and your quality of life.

Have him look at the low carb recipe section here and maybe he can be persuaded to change his diet and see if that helps his numbers?
Cd

You are correct. BG levels should be kept in single figures and preferably under 7 if your husband wants to avoid any of the complications associated with Diabetes. Once these start it can be difficult to reverse them so he needs to change now.

It looks like he needs a complete change of diet. Read the posts on the forum as there is so much information on diet. Although not always recommended by the medical professions you will find most contributors on here believe in the benefits of reducing intake of carbohydrates as it is these that your body converts to sugars.

My advice would be to eliminate all sweets, cakes, biscuits, sugary drinks including most fruit juices, white bread, potatoes in most forms, vegetables grown below ground, white rice, pasta, pizza, pies and fried foods. Also anything using refined white flour. Watch out for all breakfast cereals which can be high in both carbs and sugar. If buying supermarket packaged, tinned or frozen foods look for the traffic light symbols and avoid most things with red lights.

Substitute wholegrain seeded bread, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, green vegetables (or grown above ground as less starch). Increase your proteins such as lean meats, chicken, fish, eggs etc.

This is not an extensive list but should get you started. Its also much easier if the whole family joins in. Smaller portions together with regular exercise ( if only a half hour walk every day) will also help to reduce BG levels as well as weight.

Keep asking questions. We all love to help and give you the benefit of our own experiences


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Waitrose sell a loaf called LivLife which is half the carbs of most other breads. Don't confuse it with their own brand LuvLife. Its a bit pricy at £1.99 for a small loaf but not too bad if you are cutting down on the number of slices you are eating.


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I really have to disagree with Madbazoo in relation to replacing white grains with whole meal or white rice for brown etc for a lower carb diet. You will not achieve a low carb diet by following this method. A grain is a grain. A carb is a carb. Regardless of colour. Seek to eliminate them in their entirety. Get your husband to check this out by measuring his BGS.
Replace rice of any colour with cauliflower rice. Put the cauli in a food processor and let it go to grains. Either steam rthe grains or put in a bowl with some water and some seasoning, cover and microwave for a few minutes. Goes with most meals. Substitute potatoes with celeriac or swede.
Have a look in the recipe section for low carb bread alternatives. The one minute muffin works well.
cd

BS that high for a long period can affect him mentally as well, headaches, severe mood swings, muscle ache, tiredness, broken sleep, so it'll be difficult for him.

Burgen soya and linseed is the better bread, the sunflower and chia can still cause spikes. The livlife is even better. Feed him more meat, more veg, beans, eggs, cheese, anything to get hum off white carbs.

I tried to replace the carbs with fatty/meat snacks initially, such as bacon, peperami, cheese, anything basically that isn't a carb, and will get him bs down.
My mood improved, and I could eventually go onto a low cal diet, watching what carbs I ate, and avoiding any that gave me a bad spike.
Classic healthy foods will be a good start, avoid the really bad obvious choices, then build from there.

andreaabbott1 said:

Is that raw cauli? then cook it after its been in the food processor ??

I have heard of cauliflower mash as well but cant find a recipe of how to make it

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You can use cauli as a bulker in nearly anything.

Cauliflower mash is just that.

Boil it, squash it.

Optionally add milk, butter, season to taste.

Andrea
Yes that is raw cauli into your food processor. You can freeze once processed so ready for next time. Try and keep "bite" in it when you cook it.
Cauli mash as Douglas says is just cauli boiled and mashed. If you have a stick blender try using that. You can add grated cheese as well for "cauliflower cheese" without the need to make a flour (bad) based sauce.

To give your husband a wake up call in terms of what might await him (and you) if he doesn't start to look after himself now try and get him to read a thread on here titled "Terminal and scared" by kman. (there must be a way of inserting the link directly to it but that's beyond me). Your husband should surely want to look after himself to spare you from having to care for an invalid.

Cd

It sounds like low carbing would not be palatable to him and therefore a diet he would not be likely to maintain.

Reducing carbs and sneaking better carbs in may be the answer.

I like cauliflower but frankly cauliflower rice, mash and tortillas are to me inedible more than once. Often low carb recipe's replace flower with almond flour. I can't stand Almonds and much as people tell you that you will get used to the taste frankly no you don't.

For me it is a compromise I reduce carbs not low carb.

Any changes to diet have to be sustainable. Exercise and weight loss really helped me but again you have to want to do it.

This may be a little blunt and intrusive. Sounds like your at the end of your fuse with this bloke on more than one level though. Perhaps you need to sort other things out with him first. I know how hard it is looking after a disabled child even though mine is now in his mid 20's it takes a lot out of you, it is tiring.

Mongoose

Do you really have to be so negative? Just because you have a problem with things doesn't mean it's not going to work for others.
Cd

My Mum is type 2 but because of dementia I deal with her diet and medication, with the help of wonderful Community Nursing Team. The advice for morning levels I was given was to keep her around 7 as this would reduce the risks of hypo and therefore falls as she relies on a zimmer.

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Carbdodger said:

Mongoose

Do you really have to be so negative? Just because you have a problem with things doesn't mean it's not going to work for others.
Cd

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Carbdodger why do you have to accuse me of being negative. This lass is struggling to get him to change anything so a radical diet is hardly going to be realistic is it?

Am I saying don't try it? No. I am being realistic that little changes initially are more likely to be more achievable than forcing big changes on someone who does not appear to want to change.

You may enjoy eating that stuff others don't real world! You are happy with it and it is sustainable for you.

I was giving examples of why for me and possibly for others it will not work.

Well said Mongoose. No one is going to go low carb on boring cauliflower when they have such issues.


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Whoooaaa hold on there. I'm not advocating a cauliflower diet! A low carb diet is super varied and delicious.
Meals this week have included:
Breakfasts - eggs and bacon, chorizo omelette, bacon sarnie in low carb minute muffin bread
Lunch - asparagus soup, smoked mackerel salad, chicken tomato avocado salad
Dinner - roast belly of pork with roast veg, steak, asparagus and mushrooms, Thai green chicken curry

The curry was the only dish with cauli rice!

If I'd wanted more food (which I didn't) I would have added in flax crackers with cheese or pâté, Lidl's yogurt with berries, sugar free jelly with cream, kale chips, .......

I've also been to the gym each day for about 90 mins a session so getting plenty of energy from this way of eating.

It is a complete misconception that low carb = boring.

Cd

I am glad your enjoying evangelising however that really would not suit me. Would need a crowbar to open my bowels for a start.

A lot of salty processed products such as bacon and chorizo.

But me and you are not the issue and your really not going to sell that to someone with the issues described by the op.

Again with the negativity Mongoose. Do you know how to be nice?
If what you call evangelising saves pain and heartache then so be it. Far too many folks with diabetes don't get what it can do to them.
A couple of bits of processed meat is the extent of it in my diet so no it I'm not having lots of salt. Far from it.
Sometimes people respond best to drastic changes. There is a tendency on here at times to be all softly softly and not get people to face up to the real dangers.
Cd

Not negativity truth now get of my case. My opinion is just as valid as yours.


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