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The FNG

Cassidy

Cassidy

Member
Messages
6
Location
Market Deeping, uk
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
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Victims
Good morning everyone,

I am the new guy. My doctor told me 3 days ago that I have type 2. He gave me a box of metformin and sent me on my way. I have been tearing through the Internet for dietary advice and I find myself a little confuse. The NHS advise is to eat starchy carps at every meal, yet most others say avoid Carbs. Other food experts say switch to a vegan diet, yet some say animal is good and follow a strict low GI diet. Some say don't eat sugar, but the NHS says eat sugar.... And it goes on!

Now, I know that opinions are like arseholes (everyone's got one) but I figured I should come to the horses mouth and find out the gospel according to the diagnosed.

Who's got it right?

(Broad question, I know, but I'm the new guy remember)

Thanks for the time,
Cassidy



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Welcome to the forum. Hopefully you'll get lots of replies, all different lol ! I would advise reducing carbs where possible but just try to find what works for you. Diets are short term. You need to experiment so you can make it a lifestyle. Also, please try to include regular exercise.
Mo


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Hi Cassiday,
There are several dietary options that people here follow with good results. It really is finding something that suits you using trial and error. You could eat something that other people swear by and yet your results may not be the same as the ones that they get., diabetes is an individual disease and there is no blueprint for dietary success. Don't look on it as a diet but an eating plan that you like and that keeps your blood sugars at an acceptable level.

The one thing that is paramount in your success is to avail yourself of a blood glucose meter and testing strips. If your G.P. will not provide on then you will have to buy your own. You need to be able to test your reaction to certain foods. Keeping a food diary also helps as it is a quick reference for yourself to see what raises your blood sugars.

There is some good advice for Newly Diagnosed in general terms and may help you understand the way forward.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.26870/

Hope this helps, any questions please ask.

CC.
 
I'm going to be blunt ref diets as I usually am on the forum! The NHS advice to have starchy carbs with every meal is totally wrong and would make your T2 worse unless it was very small carb portions for each meal. The NHS is behind the times in this area and the American Diabetic Association for example, has recently moved away from this advice whereas Diabetes UK is somewhere in the middle. As you may know all carbs are converted to glucose and increase blood sugar. Having low-GI carbs when you do have them slows absorption and therefore helps to smooth blood sugar spikes. Having fat with carbs also help slow absorption. As Mo suggests avoid short-term commercial diets or books, although some like the Atkins have their value. Adopt a long-term lifestyle that reduces carbs but includes a wide range of proteins, fats, veg etc. Yes, and do include exercise. The meter will tell you which foods affect you most and help you define a lifestyle that works for you. If this doesn't control you blood sugar enough then meds can be added by the GP.
 
Good evening,

That you both for your suggestions and advice. It sounds to me like I need to find my own path. With that said, I will be taking everything you say into account. Between myself and my wife, we can figure this out.

On a side note, what's the policy on alcohol? I am a soldier after all, and booze is a part of my life.

Cassidy



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Spirits do not contain sugar but any mixer you have might. Wine does not contain very much sugar and the stronger it is the less sugar it is likely to have. Drinking wine in quarts can be a problem. Sadly beer has sugar in it and the big problem is that no-one drinks just a half pint and walks away from the bar so expect to notice the effects of beer.

Alcohol also affects the action of the liver and the liver will not provide back up sugar supplies while it is getting rid of the alcohol so your hangover blood sugar level might be quite low. This is true of non diabetics also but for some diabetics it is important to remember this.
 
Thanks for the quick response. I recently gave up beer anyway, and vodka and soda are my weapons of choice. But I spotted somewhere that the body metabolises alcohols like sugar, thus messing with your BG.. Is this true, and would straight vodka mess with my BG?



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