Starving

Paul14208

Member
Messages
11
Hi
Type 2
High Blood Pressure
High cholesterol
Low salt diet

Please help me with something I can eat that tastes ok.

Thanks
 
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bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
High Blood Pressure
Definitely ignore the doctor. I eat full fat everything eggs, bacon all and any meat of whatever colour.
Dairy, cream, butter all the things you've been told to avoid. Blood pressure down lost loads of weight and HbA1c very low.
Total cholesterol gone up but the important ratios are fine so I don't worry about it. All of this done by cutting out as many carbs as possible and not counting calories.
 

Guzzler

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Your Dr. has really limited your diet. May I ask, did he prescribe a statin, too?

No red meat or dairy and a limitation on white meat, where does he/she suppose you get your protein and fats from? Did he mention carbohydrate at all in your consultation?

Edited typo.
 

Guzzler

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If you decide to follow your doctor's advice then fish (especially oily fish) will be a good source of protein and Omega 3s but are you prepared to eat it every/most days. Avocadoes and olive oil is a healthy source of fat but I'm not sure how much of these you would have to eat to offset a lowered carb value. Lowering your carb intake will aid your Type 2 Diabetes and may have a positive effect on your bp.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
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Diet only
Of course you are starving! Your doctor has made sure of that. I can understand low salt if your blood pressure is very high, but red meat and dairy is nonsense . Carbs are the culprits in raised blood sugar and cholesterol levels, not good natural fats. Please have a good read round and ask questions. Meanwhile I'm tagging @daisy1 for her very useful post for newcomers.
 
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Brunneria

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Retired Moderator
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Hi and welcome Paul

As you can see, there is a lot of conflicting advice about all these topics!

I would say that it is in your best interests to do quite a lot of reading about this. Carbs. Hypertension. Salt. Potassium. Fats and red meat. Type 2.

You must be reeling.

In my humble opinion, your first challenge is to get a full stomach and stop feeling like you are starving.
There is actually a lot you can eat, even on that awfully restricted diet your doc has set you.

How about a nice big chicken breast, baked with mediterranean veg. Lots of veg. Courgettes, cherry tomatoes, onion, peppers in red, green, orange and yellow, on a bed of sliced aubergine. All drizzled with good quality olive oil and scattered with garlic?
Then a dollop of icecream (there are some diabetic friendly brands out there, have a look for Oppo, Halo and Perfect World).

Or turkey mince, stir fried with Chinese spices, beansprouts, mushrooms, etc. etc. Followed by a bowl of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, with some yogurt (reduced dairy doesn’t mean NO dairy).

Both those meals will fill you up until you have done a bit more reading, and weighed up your doc’s advice.

Personally, from the reading I have done, and the home testing of blood glucose and blood glucose, I have discovered that salt does not affect my blood pressure, and that carbs have a very detrimental effect on my blood glucose. I have found no convincing evidence that red meat carries the health risks so often dramatised in the press. And there is increasing evidence that the whole idea of saturated fats being a stab in the heart, is down to bad science.

But you really need to make your own mind up before you decide which way of eating to follow.
 
Last edited:

Paul14208

Member
Messages
11
Thanks everyone. I am on a Statin. Not happy about it and BP Pills. I just need something to base my diet on. I'm going to beat te diabetes and tell Dr to stuff his pills. I'm quite strong willed. Struggling with arthritic ankle through years of football bit still exercising. Lost 3lb in 2 weeks so far and determined to get it beaten. Just fed up with same diet every day.
 
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daisy1

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@Pau14208

Hello Paul and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

LittleGreyCat

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,233
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diet drinks - the artificial sweeteners taste vile.
Having to forswear foods I have loved all my life.
Trying to find low carb meals when eating out.
Hi
Type 2
High Blood Pressure
High cholesterol
Low salt diet

Please help me with something I can eat that tastes ok.

Thanks

Height and weight would help us understand where you are at.
Also a typical day's eating at the moment.

My personal view is to stop the statin and avoid worrying about high cholesterol for the moment; the jury is out on how bad that is and the latest thinking is that it is ratios that are most important. If you have your current cholesterol results (all components, not just the total) posting that will help us to suggest stuff. Obviously I am not a doctor (my son is, but not a medical doctor!).

Tastes O.K.? Very personal view, which depends a lot on what you are used to eating. If you are hungry then bulk may be the answer - lots of veggies.

As others have said, getting weight down and cutting carbohydrates can get your blood pressure down. Do you test your own blood pressure? I often have very high readings at the surgery, but low reading at home.
 

Paul14208

Member
Messages
11
Height and weight would help us understand where you are at.
Also a typical day's eating at the moment.

My personal view is to stop the statin and avoid worrying about high cholesterol for the moment; the jury is out on how bad that is and the latest thinking is that it is ratios that are most important. If you have your current cholesterol results (all components, not just the total) posting that will help us to suggest stuff. Obviously I am not a doctor (my son is, but not a medical doctor!).

Tastes O.K.? Very personal view, which depends a lot on what you are used to eating. If you are hungry then bulk may be the answer - lots of veggies.

As others have said, getting weight down and cutting carbohydrates can get your blood pressure down. Do you test your own blood pressure? I often have very high readings at the surgery, but low reading at home.
5.10
16 st 2
Lost of leg muscle due to sport.

Breakfast.

2 bananas and yoghurt

Lunch

Salad with chicken

Dinner.

Meat and 2 veg stuff.

Given up bread rice potato and pasta
 

LittleGreyCat

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,233
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diet drinks - the artificial sweeteners taste vile.
Having to forswear foods I have loved all my life.
Trying to find low carb meals when eating out.
5.10
16 st 2
Lost of leg muscle due to sport.

Breakfast.

2 bananas and yoghurt

Lunch

Salad with chicken

Dinner.

Meat and 2 veg stuff.

Given up bread rice potato and pasta

Unless you are very muscular (I mean VERY muscular) you seem to be carrying a bit too much weight. Below 13 stone could be better. Unless you have legs like Indian Clubs and are carrying about 3 stone of muscle on them. :)

The bananas are very high carbohydrate, better if green, but still.......I trust that it is full fat natural yoghurt not a "low fat" one stuffed with sugar to add flavour. Look at grams of carbohydrate per 100 grams and try to get below 10.

How about bacon, egg, mushroom, tomato for breakfast instead? That would cure the "starving" and set you up for the day. I realise that the advice from your GP may not fit in with this, but many find that a large breakfast, medium lunch and small evening meal work best. You seem to be doing the opposite.

Do you snack at all between breakfast and lunch?
 
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Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi. It's standard government mantra to recommend keeping dairy, red meat and salt etc down. As far as I can find the evidence for any of this is weak and keeping your BS under good control must be the highest priority. That means keeping the carbs down and having enough fat and protein to keep you feeling full. To keep the Dr happy you might want to go for white meat rather than red and have unsaturated fats as well as saturated. For interest how high is your blood pressure and cholesterol? Be aware that it's best to measure your BP at home and give the GP/DN a list of readings done in the peace of your home. I do this and the DN averages the figures and puts that on my record. The average is lower than an in-surgery test. For cholesterol it should be a fasting test with full lipids 'panel' to be of any use. You then need to look at the various ratios. Don't accept meds just based on the Total or the rather silly NICE algorithm which will put most of us on statins.
 
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kokhongw

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
It may help to do some research (googling) on fats, fasting and ketones.

These topics will provide a better idea of what true starvation is...fuel better to feel better.
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
One of my wicked pleasures was to watch the face of the person doing my blood pressure - they often would go and get another device because they think theirs is broken - and then I told them that I have bacon and eggs for breakfast - I then got a lecture on how bad that is and that it will mean heart problems. I then told them that I started low carbing in the early 1970s and do they think that the consequences will arrive any time soon.
As my HCPs have lost all interest in me I have been denied that pleasure - but I do know that going back to LCHF (after almost two years of a supposedly cholesterol lowering diet) resulted in trigs of 2 at 80 days and 1.5 at 6 months - a delayed response, said the nurse. yeah, right.
If you do go low carb you will need to have some salt or risk cramps, but the red meat and dairy in my diet seems to have done me nothing but good, and I put a really minute pinch of salt in my coffee along with a pinch of cinnamon - supposed to be good for diabetics but I just like the taste.
I use herbs and spices in cooking - try various herbs with cauliflower covered in cheese, I sprinkle them on after the cheese is melted and cooling down so as not to lose all the volatiles.
I used to have a rock hard liver - my waist was not compressible and I had a bay window in front, which the diet has removed - I have needed to get all new clothes and shoes.
There are now reports of some checks being done on just what is effective as a diet to counter diabetes, and high cholesterol so we are not trying to push you into anything shown to be dangerous, quite the reverse.
Low carb has been out of fashion for some time, but it used to be the treatment for diabetes - and there are quite a few people who have got test results showing a return to normality if you take a wander around the forum.