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Totally Lost Type2.

R

Rosiek

Active Member
Messages
35
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Just found out I have type 2. Don't know what to eat, what to drink. First day today I had a banana for breakfast to take my tablet, 2 pieces of toast for lunch and meat, roast potatoes and 2 veg for dinner and eating fruit throughout. I am drinking water as I don't know what juices I can have. I am scared to try the monitor in case I do it wrong. I feel totally helpless and lost.
 

Welcome aboard Rosie.

Have a good read around the forum. There's lots to learn, but you'll get there.

Most of us find we need to make dietary changes, so keep an open mind when you're doing your reading.

Good luck with it all.
 

Hiya. as you explore the site (and I advise you look specifically at the Low Carb Diet threads) you will soon learn what the vast majority of us have...that the carbohydrate content of a food is as important to you as the sugar content. there are differing opinions, but most of us would agree, I am confident, and that includes my doctors and my diabetes specialist, that you should at least dramatically reduce (if not entirely remove from your diet) most kinds of what's called simple carbs (eg. bread, cereal, pasta, spuds, rice, biscuits...and all the obvious sugary rubbish). Easy guide I used initially was if it says on a label that a product has more than 10g of carbohydrate per 100g of product - it gets left on the shelf. IGNORE what people generally tell you is "healthy food" as it doe snot apply to Type 2s as much as it does to non-diabetics (and even then I would say the general advice is wrong anyway).

Of course, dramatic change to diet can take while to adapt to, to get informed about - so explore and look at what others are saying. MOST IMPORTANTLY use your monitor (you won't "do it wrong" in any way which gives you grief - I promise). The only way to know what certain food does to your blood sugar level is to test before that food and about 2 to 2.5 hours after. These two readings should be similar if you are not eating the wrong foods. For example....a slice of toast can have 20 carbs in it and would send my blood sugar up from about 6.5mmols (a reasonably normal level on the machine) to as much as 15mmols. We all vary, and while certain foods seem to hit all of us similarly, we each need to find our own way...and the testing (if you record the food, the time and the readings) will put you in control (and that's exactly what makes the difference from feeling lost and overwhelmed to feeling ok and that you are making progress). I drink 2-3 litres of fluid a day...to start with avoid what is obvious. I drink heavily diluted Robinsons and have no problems with that at all. Water is ideal. Tea and coffee are absolutely fine..and even most alcohol in moderation is fine. I also drink cinnamon tea and experiment with that kind of thing. Cinnamon can lower your blood sugar, as can asparagus and a couple of other things.

Anyway. it's a lot to take in..and I have already given you too much to take on board really. Just keep up the fluid intake, avoid lots of carbs (like the grub you refer to above!), use your machine...and you will son get the hang of how to keep in control - honestly..if I can do it... It's just a new thing to get your head around..that's all. If I can help in any way, don't hesitate to ask - but there are loads of very experienced people here to ask - so ask. Good luck. I'll copy the wonderful @daisy1 in to this, and she will no doubt be along to provide you with some very useful basic details to consider. Take care.
 
@Rosiek

Hello Rosie and welcome to the forum Some very good advice from @pleinster above. Here is some more information, which we give to new members, and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to 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 over 150,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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 bloodglucose 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.
 
Hello Rosie and welcome to the forum , you have come to the rigth place
 
Rosiek, it's so great you found us. This is a wonderful place to explore and learn!

The book and diet that changed my life one year ago was Richard Bernstein MD's book, Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution, 4th Edition (2011), the diet was the low carbohydrate, high (healthy) fat, moderate protein diet, commonly referred to at the LCHF diet. Here's a link to the Low-carb Diet Forum where you can learn more... http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/low-carb-diet-forum.18/ Another good resource is Diet Doctor... http://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb

If you don't eat animal protein, let us know. It's possible to eat low carb by eating a whole food, plant based diet too.

To get started, try eating a source of food low in carbohydrates - (above ground vegetables or a 1/4 cup of berries will get you off to a good start) - a healthy fat such as butter for cooking or extra virgin olive oil with a vinegar of your choice for your salad, 2 parts oil, 1 part vinegar, and moderate protein such as 1 or more eggs, 3 to 4 ounces of meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish will bring your numbers down and help you to feel better.

Notice I didn't encourage you to eat any sugar or grains. Greatly reducing those two things alone will make a huge difference in your blood glucose levels! Can't imagine life without bread and potatoes? Take what you'd normally eat in a sandwich and wrap it in lettuce or throw it in a salad bowl. Miss potatoes? Try eating cauliflower in a variety of ways. I like it sliced and pan fried in butter. Yum!

Typical meals for me...

Breakfast: Omelet with sauteed vegetables and a side of berries. (Favorites are sliced mushrooms, onion, red and green pepper topped with a handful of spinach sautéed in butter then topped with 1 or more fork whipped eggs OR sliced mushrooms topped with a handful of spinach sautéed in butter then topped with 1 or more fork whipped eggs and diced tomato, then topped with a tablespoon of crumpled feta cheese just before serving. At the end of cooking, I fold my omelets in half, then in half again before transferring to the plate. I buy my berries frozen and let them partially thaw on the plate while I'm cooking the omelet. Sometimes I add cheese to my omelets. An omelet with mushrooms, spinach, and swiss cheese is quite good too!
Lunch: Leafy spring greens, half an avocado sliced or cubed, pecans, and sliced chicken breast meat or ham, topped with a vinaigrette of 2 parts extra virgin olive oil and 1 part vinegar.
Dinner: Meat and vegetables. Vegetables can be sautéed, pan fried, steamed, or boiled. I often use butter for sautéing or pan frying, or butter afterward if steaming or boiling. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and/or butter can be added at the end of the cooking process too.
Treats: 1/4 cup of berries alone, also good with a small amount of heavy cream whipped which can be sweetened with stevia - (I use a few drops of Stevita liquid extract) - perhaps with some walnuts; a small square of dark chocolate; a glass of wine; a spoonful of peanut butter, the kind with peanuts and salt only that you have to stir then refrigerate.
Snacks: an ounce of raw nuts or cheese; above ground vegetables dipped into full fat greek yogurt, no sugar added; a slice of ham with cream cheese and a long slice of a dill pickle rolled; olives; half and avocado. Snacks that have all three macronutrients - (protein, fat, and carbohydrate) - are the most satisfying.
For beverages, I like black teas and green teas - (the latter lessens cravings), water throughout the day, a glass of red wine in the evening. Sometimes I make lemonaid: 1 part freshly squeezed lemon with 3 or 7 parts water, with or without a few drops of stevita liquid extract. Eating or drinking something sour also helps take a way sugar cravings.

Using your glucose meter will help you track your progress. Keeping a journal to track what you're eating and your glucose levels in the beginning will provide valuable feedback as to how you're doing as you learn this new way of eating. Oh, and if you're not already walking each day, get started! Work up to a mile, at a pace that feels right for you. For some this is easily done, for others walking one block and back is a good start. Build from there. Eventually I worked up to walking 2 to 3 miles a day. The more I do it, the better I feel. You will too. If you have joint issues, swimming is another option.

Jump in with both feet, or make one change a day. You set the pace. You have time to figure this out. Just get started and keep moving forward.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Rosie

Welcome to the community. It can seem overwhelming at first but take a little bit at a time. You have taken a tablet and had breakfast. Your monitor is your friend so don't be afraid of it. I made a spreadsheet listing everything I ate and the result after 2 hours. It helped to keep me on track and when I added in the exercise I took I began to feel more in control. I could see what food had raised my sugar levels, and surprised myself with what I could eat without raising my sugar levels. I could also keep track of what exercise I took and could see that I needed to take more exercise when I was at work. We are all different and what works for one does not necessarily work for another, finding your own way is hard but take small steps and you will soon find what changes work for you.

It is an interesting journey. Good luck.
 
Just eat sensibly. Much smaller portions. Cut down cakes, biscuits and pastries. I did this and have reversed T2. Also I have lost 3stone by cutting down portions etc. It is hard but you will get used to it. All the best.
 
Using the monitor for the first time can be a bit daunting, I know my hands were shaking! But it's dead easy now and a vital piece of equipment that will empower you in the management of your diabetes!
 
I will freely admit that my first few tests I closed my eyes held out a finger and yelled "just bloody do it" to my poor husband I am now happily sticking myself less than a week later so it really does get easier with practice and it really is your friend as it gives you knowledge and that is power.

I have chosen the LCHF way of diet and it seems to be working for me. If you go onto dietdoctor.com there is a two week low carb challenge which basically tells you what to eat for two weeks to keep your carbs under 20g per day and to raise your fats. It may be worth trying that and testing for two weeks to see if this is a way of eating that works for you.

You really are in the right place this foum is full of knowledge and support.

Take care x

Lindy
 
Hi and welcome. You've already had a lot of helpful advice here. Bananas are nice but best only eaten occasionally like all tropical fruit due to the high sugar content. You do quickly get used to using the meter and doing it wrongly at first doesn't do any harm; ask the local chemist to help if not sure and of course the nurse.
 
I was recently diagnosed. Still trying to figure it out on my own. It took me 2 month to accept that I have D.
Now my best investment has been to read read and read 14 hours a day to understand it all better and avoid complications. And I test test and test too. I am now 2 weeks on this diet, and trying to get better at it.
 
SheilaThompson said:
Just eat sensibly. Much smaller portions. Cut down cakes, biscuits and pastries. I did this and have reversed T2. Also I have lost 3stone by cutting down portions etc. It is hard but you will get used to it. All the best.
Click to expand...

I think it is great that you have managed to do so well just by cutting down on portion size and on some very sweet high carb foods. I have no doubt that this would make a good difference to the average person's weight (particularly if original portions were pretty substantial and average intake of cakes etc was relatively high)...but it's difficult to advise cutting portion size if we don't know what the person's current portion size is (ie. it could already be very small..however unlikely it may seem...and cutting it further could be quite unhealthy). More importantly, I think most of us here would not expect great results simply from reducing portions and sugary foods in this manner, and instead (having already removed all sugary stuff from our diets on diagnosis) have to dramatically cut all carbohydrates as well as the very obvious ones. I would agree that such initial changes would be a good place to start but ...and without wanting to in any way undermine your own success or your statement)...I believe most of us would not expect our diabetes to be reversed by such small changes to diet. Indeed many would argue that most diabetes is not reversible at all. I may have managed to get all my levels down to normal after cutting carbs down to less than 30g per day (and certainly no cakes, biscuits etc etc etc), but I know that if I go back even for a day to eating more "normally" my levels will jump right back up again. I am confident many would agree with me. Certainly someone who is overweight and perhaps pre-diabetic might just manage to get their levels back down to normal but I would not say that the average diabetic can reverse anything in any "cured" implied sense of the word. Hopefully someone new to this will read all the comments and find what works for themselves by eating to their meter and noting what works and what doesn't. Personally, I would say that the advice to cut portion size and to cut down on sweet stuff applies best to non-diabetics (ie. to the general public) to help them avoid ever becoming diabetic; the rest of us need to be a bit more brutal with how we wield our forks.
 
What you need to do is see what works for you. Check your bg with a meter, but also see how you feel. If I go really low carbs, then as an active person I start to flag and the wick gets turned down. I find that if I eat a slice of bread, or have a banana, or something similar before work/ walk an hour, then when I get back after about an hour my bg level in around 5.5 to 6mml. The best reading I get all day. I probably have about 100 to 120 gms of carbs per day. I think that's lowish, but not extreme. Experiment for a week or two. It won't kill you. Don't make life miserable, that's not the aim here.
 
Thank you so much everyone for taking so much effort to help me. I know I will get there. It is just so daunting. I am writing down all the tips. Hopefully, within a couple of months I will be helping peoples. Thank you once again
 

@joe-90 I agree, reducing calories and exercising a lot can adversely affect metabolism and may not work well. It's great that you're able to eat 100 - 120 grams of carbohydrates a day with daily exercise and maintain good blood sugar levels.

Have you considered eating a more nutritionally dense food than a highly processed slice of bread? Less sugary foods than a banana? Your body needs lots of nutrients too, preferably from whole foods that aren't high in sugar, also protein and healthy fat with those carbohydrates. Or are you eating a whole foods, plant based diet with beans, nuts, and seeds for your protein and fat?

I guess I'm not sure what you're doing diet wise. Could you talk a bit more about what's working for you?
 
I'm pretty new at this. Actually when I was out walking just now I totted up my carbs and I think it's nearer 80 to 90. I had a banana before I went out, felt great when walking, loads of energy and I've just come back and tested bg - and it's 4.5. That's the lowest I've recorded yet. Generally speaking, my diet today has been, One slice of wholemeal toast with butter and a boiled egg. For lunch (out working) One slice of wholemeal bread and butter and one boiled egg. Tea was one sausage with peppers in it, and a stir-fry of peppers, mushrooms and onions. Supper will probably be porridge tonight, slightly undercooked and with a dab of butter to stop me spiking too much. That's it. Three months ago I was a complete dustbin on 5 - 6K calories per day.
 
Wow @joe-90 that's an impressive change for you from 5 to 6 thousand calories a day to a low carb diet. Glad to hear you're also getting some protein and healthy fat with those carbs.

Protein is important for daily tissue maintenance and repair. I wonder, are you getting enough?
 
I'm watching it all the time and will gradually increase as time goes by. I've lost 17 kilos is just over 10 weeks. When the weight is under control I'll make sure that I eat properly. I find the whole subject of nutrition interesting.
 
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