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Struggling with my diet

J

julie1881

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Almost 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with Type 1 or maybe it could be type 2 - only my consultant can decide and that won't be until November! I was given an insulin pen and over the past few weeks I've had to change the amount I take - I was limiting what I ate and was glad to see the dietitian who told me nothing was off limits but in moderation & a lot of really useful things - but my diet is where I am really struggling.
I'm 51 years old (female) - I know what I like and don't like and I know I have to eat 'healthy' for my own sake - but at tea time I don't always want a 'big' meal - I don't mean portion size I just mean like meat and 2 veg - I hate veg - the thought of eating another piece of broccoli is making me feel ill at the thought! I don't like rice or pasta either & it is taking me all my time and effort to eat it!
I just want beans on toast (brown or seeded bread) I want to eat cheese on toast - or have a bowl of cereal - how do I reconcile the two - I'm literally forcing myself to eat most of the time what I don't want because I want to live a normal life but my eating isn't normal - breakfast - dinner and supper are ok - but I've been told to have a snack mid morning & afternoon - I don't do snacks - again I am forcing myself - has anyone got any ideas?
I am trying so hard but I don't want this evening meal to become a problem
 
He
hello sorry to hear your news , November seems like a long time to hear more news ...
What do you eat during an average day , can you share your meal plan ...
Someone may be able to help you
I can bump up your post ....
Welcome to the forum ...Kat

Bump for further support please ...
 
Wow, that's very crazy that you have to wait until November. Since you were given an insulin pen, your blood glucose must be very high. I assume you also have a blood glucose meter and are checking your blood glucose levels throughout the day. Are you using the insulin? The reason for the snacks are to prevent hypoglycemia. If your blood sugar goes too low it can lead to death. If you are testing between meals and your blood sugar is not going low, then I don't see why you have to have snacks. As for rice and pasta, these are just carbohydrates without much actual nutrition. For sure you can substitute another kind of carbohydrate - bread, potatoes, corn. As for vegetables, I can't help you there. If you can't choke down any known vegetable, then I guess you can't. If there are any vegetables that you can eat, then stick to those.

Many diabetics (type 1 and 2) have success with a low carb/high fat diet. Lots of threads on LCHF on this thread. If you go low carb, you have to watch the amount of insulin and match it with the amount of carbs. Maybe someone else can help with the insulin part.
 
Hi - thanks for your replies - I put what turned out to be diabetes down to everything other than it was - I was thirsty because it was hot - I was tired because I wasn't sleeping at night - and on and on - I got a sick bug about 6 weeks ago and I just couldn't get better - thrush in my mouth was put down to my virus - it got no better and my thirst got to the point where I actually spent £32 just on drinks - by the time I saw a new doctor she was horrified and got me straight to the diabetic clinic - my blood sugar was 'high; and my ketones were 4 - they did a test to see what had been going on over the past 3 months and my doctor said it was so bad - don't quote me but I'm sure she said something about it should have been around 50 but mine was 152 - if that makes any sense cos I'm a bit lost with that.

I test my BG at least 4 times a day - I tested it in the middle of the day the other day cos I felt a bit odd - it was ok but I'm dreading that first hypo
My BG has gone down from the high 20's to about 7 before I saw my dietitian so over the weekend they were averaging at about 9 to 10 so I was told to put my insulin up today.

I see my consultant on the 10th November apparently I need to be in single figures to see him?

I want to get this right and I'm scared - I lost my husband to diabetes almost 9 years ago he was only 48 (type 1) he did have lots of complications over the years that I DO NOT WANT - I'm terrified - and want to get it 'right' but as I say i'm struggling with food :-(
 
Hi if you can't tolerate eating vegetables as they are have you tried blending them. They taste very different blended and at least that way you would get the nutrients. I'm not over keen on broccoli or cauliflower but to make sure my diet is healthy I cook up 1carrot tiny onion some broccoli mushrooms peppers and whatever else I have simmer for 20 minutes and blend. The result is a tasty, healthy soup full of nutrition. I also have the occasional beans/cheese on granary toast and it doesn't affect my BG levels. I live alone and Don't always feel like meat end veg. It's all a matter of trying things, checking your levels and if they are raised then don't have that meal again. As others say you do need to test in order to know what makes you spike and then just cut those foods from your diet. Good luck and I'm sure you will get lots of help from this forum, I have
 
Sorry to hear about your husband. I understand the scared part. It can feel like you have lost control of your own body and it has betrayed you. However, diabetes can be managed if you get the right information and work at it. Hopefully you'll continue to get good help. It sounds like your blood sugar has already vastly improved. Hopefully they told you what the signs of a hypo are and what to do (i.e. eat some sugar). Right now I would not worry about trying to eat super healthy except with respect to your blood sugar levels. How much carbohydrate you eat at a meal will affect how high your blood sugar goes after that meal. So, the less carbohydrate, the less your blood sugar goes up. Did they teach you about carb counting for the insulin, or is it a basal insulin? I honestly don't know a lot about taking insulin. However, I would suspect that if your post meal blood glucose is too high, then cutting back on the carbs should help. Generally, you should check your blood glucose when you get up, before you eat a meal, 1 and 2 hours after meals, before going to bed, and if you are having hypo symptoms. Keep a log of your readings (time and result) and when and what you ate. After a few days this will give you an idea what's going on with your body's blood glucose regulation.
 
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Julie , so,sorry about the loss of your husband ....
Talk anytime always someone around to help ...
Hope things can improve for you soon , and you find the answers you need ...Kat
 
Julie, can I ask what insulin have they started you on?

It seems odd that you are seeing a dietitian and not a diabetes nurse or a diabetes specialist nurse for advice on adjusting your insulin, if your under the care of your hospital then ask to speak with the DSN, they will advice you further on adjusting your insulin to the food you eat, just be sure to keep a diary of food eaten, bg readings and insulin doses given.
 
Sorry I added another letter to,your name ...a sort promotion
 
Hi. Yes, you should be receiving some guidance on the use of insulin over the first few weeks. Do let us know what type of insulin you are using and how often you use it each day. Although the dietician is sort of correct in that nothing is off limits, carbs need to be kept down but it is essential that you keep measuring with the meter to keep the insulin in line with the carbs you are having to avoid hypos. Snacks are normally not a good idea for diabetics as they tend to increase overall carb intake. I suspect the guidance is to minimise hypo risk but in the longer-term that is best controlled by the right insulin regime and carb-counting etc. I'm not keen on veg but tolerate some of it. Raw carrots are good. Some fruit is low-GI and OK such as berries. Avoid exotic fruit. Cheese is great and so are nuts. 85% Dark Chocolate is OK. Do you like eggs and bacon; I have them for breakfast?
 
Thanks everyone your advice is fab and I am taking it all in

I am on Humulin M3 & taking it twice a day - the dietitian did say there is another types of insulin they could put me on an over night long acting one and then inject before meals 4 times a day but that will be in the future - I am keeping a record of all my BG levels and talk to my diabetic nurse twice a week - I'm going to see a specialist nurse but that also isn't until November

I've been told not to carb count or weigh things out - just to be sensible.(I asked specifically about this because I'd read about it before going)

I had a list a mile long of what I wanted to eat & was told if I wanted 2 crumpets I could have them I just needed to cut down on the carbs at my next meal - if I want a cream bun I can have one because the fat in them makes them long acting (does that make sense? It did when she explained it to me haha)

I don't eat cream cakes every day I'm not that daft - but its nice to know I can have one.

What she said made compete sense to me - if I have a curry have boiled rice - not boiled rice and chapatis and onion bhaji s and .......If I want a pudding I cut down on the potato's or chips (I don't eat chips) with my main meal - oh I'm rambling now - I guess I've got to trust her and I've already noticed how things affect my BG - its early days isn't it?

Thanks all for your help I do appreciate it - I've got no one else that understands so it's been wonderful to come here thanks again xx
 
I think your nurse is very clever to not overwhelm you with too much info and dos and don'ts.
the truth is your taste will change, in a couple of months you'll spit out sugared tea, and vegi egg pie with a ground almond base will be your new love.
you can have a bit of everything, as long as your meter says its ok

this would be the first site I'd recommend
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

if it turns out you're T2 or overweight
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf it’s a long page and a video
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm
 

Hello Julie, gosh 3 weeks is still in its raw state, you have such a lot to come to terms with right now so take a step back, deep breaths and try not to rush things to soon. I don't think everyone has snacks, I don't and I never have as my sugar levels rocket without Insulin ( Type 1 for 25 years). Baked Beans and bread are high in carbs, Cereal, potatoes, How about some baked beans with a fried egg on top, make a sausage and bean stew, or scrambled eggs on one piece of toast, Cheese Omelette, yogurts etc,, Do you eat chicken and pork? as these meats are so versatile with a little tweaking here and there. Some members have reduced their carb intake a little, I have ,and that has helped with my sugar levels.
Anything you need to know please just ask, we will try and help as much as possible .Type 1 can be a big shock to the system and honestly, in time, things will get a little easier for you ( Or possibly a different type, 2 or LADA ?). Take care and try not to worry to much.
Best wishes RRB
Don't force yourself to do anything, that really wont help you. All the best..
 
Hi and thanks for the additional info. I think the nurse and dietician have given you generally good advice. Yes, in the longer-term you may want to move to what is called the Basal/Bolus regime with two insulins as you mentioned, but there is no hurry for that. Yes, fat with carbs does slow absorption so can be a good thing. With the mixed insulin you are on you need to have an amount of carbs during the day that keeps your blood sugar roughly within range and spreading the carbs out during the day helps. Eat to your meter is good general guidance.
 

Hi, I have never eaten in between meals, my body cant tolerate foods without Insulin. Also being newly diagnosed type 1 is a big shock to the system and a lot to take in.
Type 2 management with diet alone and or with tablets is different if theType 1 diagnosis is correct. In time the OP will know what foods she can tolerate and how much Insulin to take for the different types of foods. I love raw vegetable with some dip, it's a different taste and texture to cooked vegetables so that could be something new to try..
This forum is a great support for all diabetics and I hope we can help out as much as possible..

RRB
 
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Humalin M3 is a pre-mixed insulin containing both short and medium acting insulins, I've never used this insulin but your diabetes team would have set your insulin doses to a certain amount of carbs at each meal, so it's best not to deviate from this unless they advise you on adjusting your doses accordingly.

The other insulin regime your nurse is referring to is Basal/Bolus, you take a long acting insulin (basal) once or twice a day and the other insulin (blous) before you eat, overall it's a much better insulin regime to be on as it gives you some flexibility as to the foods you eat, plus it gives you the option to skip or delay meals should you choose.

I'm surprised that they've not told you to carb count as this is important when injecting any insulin to prevent high's and low's, perhaps you should ask them how you are meant to maintain good bg when you have no idea how many carbs your food contains, but it's quite easy to carb count as most packaging now lists carbs in the nutritional information and there's some good books around such as Carbs & Cals and The Calorie Carb & Fat Bible 2014.

Try and refrain from eating simple carbs and stick to complex carbs, although if you fancy a cream bun as an occasional treat it won't do you any harm, keep in touch with your diabetes care team on your progress and hope all goes well on the 10th November.
 
Hello

I'm back and just read all your messages and got a few more idea's

I'm not over weight - I lost 5 stone in 10 months - I'm skin & flipping bone :-(

I was surprised to Noblehead I fully expected to be told to count my carbs but I was told not to - apparently they worry more about fat and salt intake - I talked to my daughter this morning as she came with me and she said I wasn't wrong I was told that - I was also told to balance things out & my isulin could be changed to my diet - I know I can't eat a massive amount of carbs but she did say 'Everything in moderation'

Can anyone suggest a really nice tasty yogurt? I bought weight watchers today - I was told to check ingredients rather than the traffic light system and sugar was way down on the list so I'm sort of guessing that's ok.

I am trying to take it a day at a time - getting better is a slow process and I want to run before I can walk but I know deep inside it's all going to take time

Thanks again for your really helpful replies and I am now going to look for a dip to eat with raw veg RRB ) '
 
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