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Still confused

Joy05

Active Member
Messages
33
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Other
Hi , I first joined in September when I was diagnosed T2 . For the first month I was good though my readings rarely went below 8 . Then I slipped , acted like I wasn't diabetic . Now I'm back on it but it's the whole carb issue that's confusing me . I read one thing and people are saying no carbs at all , somewhere else will say 50/100 a day . I'm a very fussy eater , the only fruit I eat is bananas , I don't really eat salads , just a little lettuce and cucumber . I don't even like yogurts ! I've tried sweet potatoes and I didn't like them . I don't eat a lot of veg either , though I'm trying with veg as long as it's green !! What I need to know is , if I have a small jkt potatoe with lots of butter / tuna my 2 hour reading will go up ... Surely that's defeating the object ! I'm just so confused over it all , and I need to get it under control , I have neuropathy now and need a stent fitted because I have hardening of the arteries in my leg , it would seem I've been diabetic for a long time . I'm so scared now and I'm scared I'm going to turn to comfort eating which is obviously the worse thing I can do !
 
The amount and type of carbs you eat is entirely up to you and your body. You can't compare yourself to others, you need to use your meter to tell you what your body can or cannot cope with.

For the quickest results it is best to cut out all potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, pastry, cereals and anything that contains flour initially. If this is too daunting for you, then cut as many of these things as you can, and seriously reduce the portions in the others or find substitutes. A jacket potato is probably going to be a definite no-no for you, no matter what you eat with it. A couple of new potatoes might be better. Eat meat, fish, oily fish, most but not all vegetables, mushrooms, eggs cooked any which way, cheese, a few berries, small portions of tomatoes, a few nuts. Have a look at this thread, which may help you http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/a-new-low-carb-guide-for-beginners.68695/

Use your meter before and about 2 hours after meals to guide you. If you go up by more than 2mmol/l there are too many carbs in that meal.
 
@Joy05 Your blood sugar probably went up after your baked potato, butter and tuna because of the potato. Potatoes are quite high carbs. They're also absorbed quite quickly unlike other carbs such as beans and pulses.

If you're asking about what you can eat, then that depends on how you react to food, especially carbs. Some people can manage to eat moderate amounts of carbs and still keep their blood sugar within range, but for other people that's not possible. The only way you'll know is by eating something and testing two hours after eating to see if your blood sugar has gone too high (eg if you start breakfast at 8am, test at 10am).
 
Hi and welcome. You need to tell us more e.g. last HBa1C, BMI, medication etc. You do need to keep the carbs down and bananas are about the worst fruit you could have. Avoid any tropical fruit as they are high in sugar. The best foods where they fit for you would be any protein, some fats, veg but avoid too many root veg and non-tropical fruit. If this doesn't keep the blood sugar under control then discuss changing/adding meds with the doc.
 
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