What's is best to eat

As posted above, my first concern would be diagnosis type. I'd hope that a c-peptide and antibodies test was done and not just assumed you are type 2. This is very important given your family history.

Here is a great write up on diet that would help you a lot I believe.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/

I sort of agree with the other posts, but I would always preference blood glucose control over everything else.

I have a huge bias that I put up front and centre, in that I do not believe in high or higher carbohydrate ways of eating. So now this is on the table. I would if asked always say select foods that have the least impact on blood glucose fluctuation, whilst trying to be as broad in choice as possible.

I should add that with what I know now as a Type 2, I would still do the same had my diagnosis been Type 1, 1.5 or any other variant.

So I would select whole animal based foods as sources of fat and protein, specifically red meat, oily fish, shell fish and full fat dairy. I would use ofal, chicken and pork as backups. The carbs would be broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, cauliflower, green beans, bean sprouts, and similar, with raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and a few blueberries. I would have some nuts and make cream cheese and coconut flour pancakes.

That's what I would do food wise, supplemented by sharp and focused powerlifting and walks. As I opened with, this is what I would do under any circumstance, and customise accordingly.

dmhmsh said:

Thanks for your advice. Excuse my ignorance, what is c-peptide test, what does it mean? The Dr did mention T1 but apparently is trying hard not to go down that route, you know what Dr's are like.. Blood and stone spring to mind. The plan is to get my numbers down using the Gliclazide then put me on the non insulin injection, but what ever I seem to eat pushes my numbers right up, I know I will get to grips with it but frustrating at the moment.

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Trying hard not to go down that route? Is that what your Dr said?, if so, that is truly bizarre. IF you are type 1 then you need treating as one, end of. The C peptide test is a test that may indicate how much insulin you are currently producing, (google for the technical terms). You don't become a type one by ending up there as some sort of last resort when everything else has failed, please speak to your Doctor again and find out exactly WHAT they are going to/have tested for. x

dmhmsh said:

One thing my Dr said is, you can only be type 1 if your born with it and type 2 if diagnosed later, this includes insulin and tablet. Not entirely sure how true this is.

My Dr is the diabetic specialist at our surgery.

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Your doctor is very wrong indeed.
Which country do you live in out of interest?

dmhmsh said:

Uk

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Well that takes the biscuit for GP stupidity..

dmhmsh said:

Hi.

I have just been diagnosed type 2, taking metformin and Gliclazide 2 tablets am and pm.

Both my parents were type 1. I had 2 fasting blood tests done, first was 20.9 and the other 19.9. My highest reading so far is 26.8 after dinner.

The question I have is what is the best food to eat for breakfast and dinner. I now have shredded wheat with skimmed milk and this put my reading from 14.6 to 19.4 when I take the reading 2 hours later. Also with my dinner, I have meat veg, small amount of potatoes with weak gravy and my figures go from 12.2 to 20.2 2 hours later.

I know I'm new to this and still getting my head around what I can eat but any suggestions what will bring my figures down would be very much appreciated.

I am a HGV driver and my licence has been suspended until my figures get stable and the blurry vision and burning eyes go.

Thanks
Mike

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Hi Mike

Welcome to the fold.

The simple answer to your first question (Which is THE most important question one should ask). Is, here is a good place to have a read and see what others have found.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/food-nutrition-and-recipes.3/


Your Breakfast was not a good start to your day. How can I say this, or more importantly why?

First off, the fact you are testing is brilliant because you see what the effect of that meal has on your BG level. In this case it raised it almost 5 points.

Most people think that your after-meal numbers ideally should not be higher than 2 above your before meal number. So, in this example you would want a level around 16.4. As your finger prick test proves, it is more, almost 5 more. This could be an indication that you perhaps had to many carbohydrates in that meal. Your lunchtime meal feared worse, an increase of 8. I would say, avoid potatoes as much as you can. the chances are they were a cause of such a high rise.

For now, keeping it simple, you like me, and several others here (and globally) will want to become very aware of the total carb content of everything you buy and eat.

For myself, I now aim to keep my total carbohydrate intake to around 30 carbs a day.

I am not suggesting you should aim for this number, At least not at the moment.

I began by dropping to 100g a day and slowly lowered my intake (Please see my signature at the end of post to see what I did… and the time frame).


I note that you drive for a living and have at the moment had your licence suspended.

So, getting your levels down is paramount, not just to allow you to return to work, more importantly to keep you well. Diabetes is not a condition you, or any of us, can afford to ignore.

I drive around 1200 miles a week myself, and having to test myself every two hours during my working day (by Law) gave me (and my consultant) very accurate data to gauge my progress (or lack of it).

Finding this site was the number one factor in a huge steep learning curve.

There are so many different forums to read and so many great stories of people who have, and are daily getting themselves back on track to a healthy more fore-filling lifestyle.


Lurk, or interact, the choice is yours. But please I implore, don’t just do nothing.

You have made the first step on your journey stay on the path.

Oh! and follow me, I'm right behind you!

Po

Agree with the others, your GP's knowledge is seriously out-of-date.
If you are t1 then you are t1, postponing diagnosis and the correct treatment puts you at risk of developing irreversible problems.
If you are t2 then I can't recommend low carb enough (your GP probably doesn't know about the research on this either, or that you might even get an NHS prescription voucher for the cost of the low carb program!).

My GP was better informed, but still a little dubious about low carb - we agreed I would try it first instead of metformin and statins, but then my initial numbers were a bit lower than yours. By the 3 month check I was well into remission, but I was lucky to be diagnosed within a year fro a previous normal BS results.
My cholesterol is fine, my triglycerides actually went down and continued to fall over the first year of low carb plus some extra fats.

Breakfasts - if you don't fancy a fryup or omelettes for breakfast then I developed my own version of a lower carb porridge to have instead of my usual toast.
I tried chia porridge but wasn't keen on the texture so I started with about a third of a portion of oats, using oatbran as it is a bit lower in carbs, mixed with chia seeds and milled flaxseed, cooked with water and coconut milk, served with a pinch of salt, cinnamon and cream. over time I reduced the oatbran and increased the flaxseed. My total carbs for breakfast including a milky coffee made with half full fat milk is about 17g.
But I miss lunch and just have another coffee, or maybe add a lump of cheese with lettuce if I'm hungry. Dinner is usually fish or eggs or chicken with 3+ vegs (cauliflower rice or mash, then two green veg usually and some onion or a little tomato, or a stir fry mix with loads of mushrooms) followed by full fat greek yogurt with a few raspberries.
Bedtime is cocoa made with coconut milk and a bit of full fat milk ( or cream) and a couple of squares of 85% chocolate.

I make up a batch of cauli rice every week - it is my preferred sub for rice/pasta/potato these days and simple to make.

In deference to my still sweet tooth:
For a change, I make coconut pancakes for breakfast.
If I'm out for longer I pack a sugar free (technically no added sugar) biscuit or egg muffins.
If I'm going somewhere there will be loads of cake I make an almond flour or coconut cake, and freeze it in portions.

I am (generally) an advocate of low carbing BUT please remember that if you are newly diagnosed and when there is still doubt about which type, then low carbing now MAY skew any further tests your Dr may do or recommend etc. Low carbing will most likely lower your glucose levels in the short term but when you go back to the Dr, they will say 'Oh you're levels are fine' and may leave it as that, ie commensurate with their 'type 2 ' diagnosis. I was told on diagnosis to eat 'normally' in order that they could then see what effect food & medication was having on me, this helped them to come to a diagnosis by having me tested for all sorts. 3 months later the results of those tests came back and I was type 1. I feel that had I gone very low carb at the start I would have been misdiagnosed and spent who knows how long getter more and more ill. x

If you are a type two, then a starchy cereal is the last thing you should eat - particularly with the sugary fluid which is milk on top. Two shredded wheat with milk are probably equal to, or maybe more than, my total intake for the day.
People did used to eat a proper meal for breakfast - meat or fish, a chop or herrings was the go to for centuries, before breakfast cereals were invented and pushed as a healthy choice.

dmhmsh said:

What can you recommend for breakfast then, I currently have shredded wheat as don't fancy much else at 4am, any suggestions

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You need to read up on what you can eat that is food that you like.

People can give you some thoughts on what they like however if you don't fancy that what is the point.

Take time to find out some Low Carb options, First however, understand what low carb food is.

Plus... why it going to benefit you at this time.

This place is a fantastic resource with a wealth of information and support on offer.

Don't wait to be spoon feed. dive in and enjoy

poemagraphic said:

You need to read up on what you can eat that is food that you like.

People can give you some thoughts on what they like however if you don't fancy that what is the point.

Take time to find out some Low Carb options, First however, understand what low carb food is.

Plus... why it going to benefit you at this time.

This place is a fantastic resource with a wealth of information and support on offer.

Don't wait to be spoon feed. dive in and enjoy

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Here is a good place to start: https://www.paleorecipeteam.com/sweets/

I was diagnosed type 1 at the age of 43 and because of my age the GP assumed type 2 - i was very ill by the time I ended up in A&E.

So if you are seeing your GP again on Monday then I'd ignore low vs high carb for now and insist that they tell you what tests they have some to rule out type 1. Don't get bullied or ignored - 20% of new T1 diagnosis are in people over the age of 40.

Did he test for ketones? Did he take bloods for antibody tests? If not insist they are done.