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Thin type 2 diabetics

@GMC 007
Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it both interesting and helpful.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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.
 
GMC 007 said:
Hi, I was diagnosed with type 2 two years ago and being a very active 5’10 male and then about 12stone. My diet was pretty good meal wise but was drinking a lot of Coca-Cola and had a very sweet tooth ! Cut that out and got hba1c down from 86 to 53 in 9 months but lost over a stone and was being very strict on sugar not so much carbs . Started on metaformin of which I was advised to do at start but felt I could do with out meds and do it diet only not realising that weight lost and muscle loss would occur .
Did have a test for type 1.5 c-petide I think which was negative .
Problem now is hba1c is at 77 and haven’t changed diet apart from the occasional pudding no sweets biscuits or cocoa cola .
What’s going on ?
Click to expand...
Hi @GMC 007 ,

Sorry, I didn't see this sooner. I wrote up a little something about LCHF, if you're interested. ( https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/jokalsbeek.401801/ ) Usually people lose weight when going that route, but I found that if I up the intake of nuts, my weightloss stalls... So just up the fats/calories a little, to hopefully not become waifer thin.

Hope you're doing alright!
Jo
 
GMC 007 said:
I know carbs are SUGARS .
Mike what is your daily diet then ?
Click to expand...

:-) I think we are asking why you are eating a very carb heavy diet if you know carbs are sugars. :-)
 
@GMC 007
Diet suggestions.

Start the day with coffee with butter and double cream in. This gives you a fat hit, and can supress hunger until the afternoon.

Breakfast/brunch. Eggs, bacon, sausage tomato, mushrooms and any other meat you fancy. In eateries this is an English Breakfast or Mixed Grill. Avoid the hash browns and toast and baked beans. Alternatively a three egg omelette with cheese. Or scrambled eggs

Evening meal. Some kind of meat such as chicken, beef, lamb, pork with either salad or green vegetables. Plenty of butter on the vegetables. Or fish, fish is good.

Snacks. Protein snack fill you up. Hard boiled eggs, cold ham and beef (optionally wrapped around cheese). Lettuce leaves with full fat mayo; or celery sticks dripping in full fat mayo.

For a start that should be enough to fill you up and maintain weight. Gain weight by eating more fats and protein.
 
GMC 007 said:
Right thanks for some guidance guys , will take a new approach to diet . Feel as if I’m back to square one when 1st diagnosed .
Click to expand...

That is your genesis moment, hold on to that feeling and dive into this website and you will find answers to all your needs, what to eat, when. Somebody here will have done it and lend you the tee shirt.

Welcome to the new you.
 
I’ve been slightly delusional in that I believed when my bs got down to 53 from removing all the sugary elements of diet whilst still eating carbs to try and maintain weight and calories for energy . (Doctor thought if cut out sugar I’d be in remission)
Should have joined this form 6 months ago when bs were rising . Did feel a little despondent with comments at start as I cut out my sweet tooth element of which I’m sure all of you have felt !
It’s if I like it don’t eat it .
But life sometimes needs a kick up the backside and deal with it like you all have.
Thanks for diet suggestions as needing them .
Taking regular bloods to monitor and trying the odd carb to see what I can eat as still concerned about weight as only 65kg the now .( rather paranoid about weight always been lean but now thin ) Thankfully yogurt seems ok not apples though .
 
Remember to add fats as you cut carbs though. That’s what will fuel you and maintain weight. It isn’t just butter and bacon. Nuts and cheese count as do good oils in cooking and as dressings. I love a creamy mushroom sauce or garlic butter on a nice steak. For sweet hits try cream and berries. With fewer carbs thing taste sweeter so very dark chocolate (work up to 85%) can be a good treat as you only need a little.
 
GMC 007 said:
rather paranoid about weight always been lean but now thin )
Click to expand...

I lost all my excess weight on low carb. That was 4 and a half years ago. Since then I have not lost any more and have not re-gained. My weight is stable at a BMI of 21. You have to increase your calories by increasing fats and possibly protein, or both. Most protein foods are also fatty anyway. I increased my dairy consumption (cheese, butter, cream, full fat Greek yogurt) and use butter, lard and goose/duck fat for cooking. I also increased my egg consumption - probably doubled it. By adding all this extra fat and protein I kept my weight stable. It can be tricky to find the right balance, but using your blood glucose meter, a food diary, and your bathroom scales that balance can soon be reached. The fewer carbs you eat, the more fats you need.

Oh .... and plenty of oily fish, too.
 
  1. Hi GMC 007 Just reading this and you sound just like Mr. Zig. He was 55, 5'10", never over 12 stone. No help with the diet from the doctor so I had to google everything. Didn't find this wonderful site till about 2 years after diagnosis. ANYWAY, he went down to just under nine stone in a month. He is now stabilised at 9'10" and doesn't feel too thin. He used to have toast, cereal, pineapple juice and a yoghurt drink for breakfast, 4 butties for dinner, probably something with potatoes for tea and loved hot chocolate with dunks. He went back to the doctor after 3 months and he was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and a 'miracle'. It was so hard I was in tears most days trying to think what he could eat (yes, I do ALL the food) but it is much easier now, have a look on here and the Keto free sites are good for ideas too. Just for your info, Babybels are on offer at Morrisons at the moment - 6 for £1 I think, we have 4 nets full in the fridge and these are always on hand together with a few boiled eggs at a go to take out for snacks. He also tolerates peanut butter well and has recently been taking out a pouch from Tesco to 'slurp' from on the go. I usually make a big 'leftovers' frittata once a week too to have 2 slices off either hot if at home or cold if we are out. He has a glass of red wine every night and a chunk of 100% dark chocolate too.
 
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