Type 2 - what to eat ?

@howroydf

Hello and welcome to the forum Basically you need to reduce carby foods (all carbs not just sugar) and increase the fatty ones. See this information below which we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask as many questions as you like 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.

howroydf said:

Can someone offer advice. My husband is type 2. He takes metaformin, his blood glucose levels this morning was 17. His Dr has added another medicine to be taken in the morning with breakfast. We haven't a clue what's good for him to eat, obviously we know not too much sugar/cakes. His old nurse always said anything in moderation. What is classed as moderation!!. We can't get an appointment with the diet/diabete nurse until 7th Jan. I'm worried about the impact of Christmas.

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Hello @howroydf, welcome to the forum! Follow Daisy's advise - low carb, low sugar is the way to go. Don't be scared to ask questions, there is a wealth of experience on here.

Welcome @howroydf
Daisy's information is very useful but to give you a guide to what seems to be working for me. From testing before a meal and 2 hours later I found I couldn't eat cereals so I have scrambled eggs and mushrooms for breakfast. For a while i had to cut our all bread but having lost all the weight I need to I can now manage Livlife bread so have that with breakfast. Lunch I tend to have salad with a small portion of meat or fish or cheese. Recently I discovered I could also eat Lidl rolls, they are called "High Protein" but are also low carb and I now have half a one with my lunch. Evening meals vary but meat or fish and lots of veg. A very small amount of potato (50 grams). Pasta still spikes me. To follow I often have a small handful of blueberries and greek yoghurt. Also cheese. Lots on here cut down far more than me on carbs and restrict them to 50 grams or less a day. I tend to test and eat what my body can cope with.
When diagnosed my fasting level was 18 and has now come down to mostly normal ranges. It took me several months and I am still learning.
Do ask questions and people will try and help.

The low carbohydrate higher (good) fats and oils approach worked for me.
With this way of eating starch carbohydrates have to be avoided this comes as a bit of a culture shock as it goes against most of the he healthy eating advice given to us in the last half century.

Particularly in the early stages one of the biggest problem is finding reliable information on the nutritional content of various foods, it is best to look at a variety of information sources on the web and check them against each other.
There are rough and ready rules I follow if I am unsure what foods are suitable. These rules err on the safe side but when lacking better information or self-testing the experience I keep to them.

Not list: Tropical fruit, any fruit juice, Root vegetables, Grain & other cereal products including bread, pasta, cous cous rice, all breakfast cereals.

OK list: Fish (all types), Olive and other oils and fats, nuts sallads all vegetables that grow above ground, Eggs, Meat including bacon, cheese.
Some Type 2 find beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils are OK some don't, same goes for or tomatoes
Any fruit or berry that will grow north of the Mediterranean is generally OK for type 2's in small quantities for example kids fun sized apple not a full sized one.

Hi, the forum will certainly help your husband as much as possible, a lot find that a change of diet is needed.
Is your husband able to join the forum? he will find it invaluable.
this page with a few good video’s that you both may find ok.
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

what to expect the first week
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm

From the @Southport GP study, who posts here
http://www.practicaldiabetes.com/Sp.../March 2014/PP Unwin final proofs revised.pdf

I found it useful to start by cutting out the obvious things first like cereals, biscuits, chips ect and cutting down on bread, potatoes, rice and pasta which I eventually cut out completely. With dietary changes he should see his numbers start to drop. Its not a quick fix and it will take time but dont panic especially about xmas. At least you have found the forum so that is already a step in the right direction. If you or your husband have any questions just ask, we are happy to try and help.

If the drink he is over indulging in is beer that would go a long way as to why his BS has risen.

howroydf said:

Hi Freddy unfortunately my husband doesn't use the Internet. He's been diabetic for a few years without any serious problems, see's the nurse every 6 months and has his eyes tested regularly. He's never tested his blood levels, he's lost weight recently so went to the Dr Who sent him for blood tests etc. Everything was fine except his blood sugar level which was 17. Dr recommended Diabetes U.K. website which I've been looking at but I don't understand the numbers or even what food is good or bad. I know the obvious foods but don't know about good/bad carbohydrate's. We can't get to see the diabetic/diet nurse until 7th Jan. He's been Captain of his golf club this past year and has really over indulged on the drink. I really appreciate all the information.
Thank you.

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for blood testing info

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

initially I would reduce all grain and grain product, sugary stuff, including fruit/juice..that will cut a marjority of carbs..eat everything else and buy full-fat to replace the lost carb energy;
meat and 3 veg, with a dob of butter and have an icecream scoop of starch veg, potato etc. if he must.
for recipes, the 'atkins induction' diet is free on the net and a good start.

booze and fatty liver go hand in hand, low carb may help that too. as ratbags said, beer is bad and liquid bread

I think this is important,!
if your husband has lost weight without trying and has a high BG, he may need more than just diet change. keep in mind that it could be a late onset pancreas not putting out enough insulin, make sure the dr keeps an eye open for high blood sugar and ketones in urine, especially if the weight continues to drop.

Beginners guide
(From a NHS nutritionist in 2012)

At dinner one should eat some protein about the size of the flat of your palm (excluding fingers) - like a chicken breast

Have as much salad as you want.

Simples!

If you're having carbs - then limit it to a maximum of a quarter of the plate.

No more candy, sweets or cakes unless he is going to have a hypo (which is unlikely unless he starts taking insulin)