what to avoid

[Gillw1978]

thank you for all the great reply’s on my last post in need of some advise was meant to see the diabetes nurse to day but been delayed till the end of July. Start a diabetes prevention program at the end of next week but what foods should I be avoiding? What food are good. Feel a little frustrated as no real info already am only allowed red meat once a week, no more than 3 eggs a week, salt reduced, trying not to have processed food any tips would be amazing ❤️

[Flimflab]

I assume you have not been diagnosed as type II diabetes but (like me) pre-diabetic? I don't know if this helps but diabetes UK has guidance on diet for type II diabees which I am trying to follow to prevent moving on to type II . diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-di....

They leave it loose "make healthier choices more often, and only have treats occasionally and in small portions." rather than giving foods to avoid, but have suggestions for meals." There may be something on the NHS site too.

[Gillw1978 in reply to Flimflab]

hi yes pre-diabetes although top end xx

[Chappychap]

There's potentially a difference between what might cause a glucose spike in the general population...and what definitely will cause a glucose spike in Gillw1978!

A lot of people in your position are trying to understand that difference by wearing a Freestyle Libre Glucose Monitor. This clever little device tracks your blood glucose constantly, so instead of getting a snapshot in time from a traditional finger prick monitor you can see in real time how you as a unique individual are metabolising different food and drinks.

What I discovered was that moderate quantities of brown rice, boiled potatoes, 70% cacao chocolate, and sourdough bread (the proper stuff, not the supermarket pretend versions) didn't cause me any problems. Where as beer, pizza dough, cake, or crisps caused my blood sugar levels to surge upwards.

The weird thing is, different people have very different results. So some are okay with say fruit juices or muesli, neither of which I can safely handle.

We're on this new regime for the rest of our lives, so any small areas of diet flexibility that we can carve out gives us an oasis of normality in what is an otherwise pretty tough and anti-social regime.

One other thing, exercise is very efficient at reducing blood sugar levels. However, by exercise I don't mean a spot of gardening or walking the dog. For this to work it requires getting our heart rates above a certain level and keeping it there for thirty or more minutes. In reality I've found that means jogging or the gym. Yes, I know, it's another giant faff, and if wasn't for the alternative of full blown T2 Diabetes being pretty dreadful I'm pretty sure I'd have packed it all in. But extra years of healthy active life is a prize that's surely worth almost any sacrifice?

Good luck!

[RufusScamp]

I was told that I was prediabetic a couple of years ago . My GP rereferred me to a WeightWatchers course which certainly helped. The main thing seemed to be avoiding sugar and refined carbs, while eating more fruit, and particularly veg.

[JennyRx]

I have kept my Hba1c below the danger level by avoiding carbs and sugar. I rarely eat bread, rice or pasta. I have a sweet tooth but have given up sweets altogether. I eat eggs most days as there’s no evidence that they contribute to elevated cholesterol. That idea is no longer upheld. I struggle to keep my Hba1c down as I’m on a couple of meds that are determined to elevate it. I also exercise - run, swim, walk. I am determined to not become diabetic. It’s one more thing I could do without. My endocrinologist said even losing 10% body weight can bring down Hba1c quite effectively

[VickyHK72]

the diabetes.uk website has some great recipes for meals with a good traffic light system telling you how many carbs (which affect your blood sugar) are within them etc.

also Zoe science and nutrition do loads of good podcasts on different topics, diabetes being one of them. I suspect I am insulin resistant (genetically) for many reasons, so I do try to keep my HbA1c in check but taking statins makes it an uphill battle.

[Sljp0000]

Ok, so this is an absolute big can of worms, an absolute minefield. I've been type 2 for 8 years. Eating is hard. I was told originally to reduce carbs and get energy from fats. The advice was reduce bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and no cake, sweets etc (all the obvious stuff) and increase proteins, ie. Chicken, eggs, cheese etc. BUT......now I have heart disease so NO FATS!!!! The only way I can keep my glucose levels down now diabetes has got a massive hold on me, is to eat salads, some vegetables, chicken, eggs, legumes, pulses etc. I find it very limiting. My advice would be to kick diabetes ass whilst you can. It's a horrible disease and so hard to control when it gets you. Even when I don't eat my blood glucose levels go high (liver produces glycogen and floods my blood with sugar). I'm on 6 meds a day just for diabetes and might be going on insulin.

So, cut down on carbs. ....the longer something takes to cook the worse it is (jacket spuds are dreadful). Eat wholegrain rice, pasta in small amount. Eat more pulses and beans. Eat lean protein. I could go on. Let me know if you need more help

Susie x

[Theska]

As others have said diabetic uk website give loads of useful info, i have type 2 diabetes which is now in remission, I changed my diet completely, done a low carb diet by cutting out all the what i call bad carbs (refined carbs ) such as white - rice bread pasta etc.. and sugary foods such as cakes biscuits sweets chocolates etc.. i found cutting out the sugary foods the hardest with my lifestyle changes as i had a really bad sweet tooth, also i cut out all alcohol because it wasn't doing my blood pressure any good at the time, also i lost 20kg weight which also helped, now eat a lot of fruit and veg, do cooking from scratch, this was MY own personal journey, hope it helps and good luck 🙂

[LaceyLady]

Hi, I had a massive shock 2021, my HBa1C was 134! Ended up in hospital 😵‍💫 I went low carb high protein and HBa1C reduced massively in few months! I paid to see a consultant Endocrinologist who was ecstatic when she saw how I’d managed to lower it is short time. I am still low car high protein, I was given a testing kit in hospital and I use rigorously. I have one tablet, Empagliflozin and so far managing NOT to inject 🤞🏻 I am not extremely strict, I do eat carbs, its very difficult to go completely ‘No Carb’ and have a reasonable life where you CAN enjoy your food, just differently and carefully. *Eating out* is a nightmare, lot more recently, currently on holiday in Cornwall!! Our favourite restaurant in a gastronomic pub has changed its menus to fast food!!! Burgers, buns, chips, coated fish etc. 😭 Usually the advice is, ask for salad to go with the main, or veg. I should have asked this but not wanted to cause a bother, but if there’s a next time, I WILL. I had issue with a National Trust restaurant, nothing on the menu was suitable, even the only salmon dish that I asked for just salad with it, it had already been plated and they said couldn’t oblige 😡 I was SO upset because there was no where I could get any food, so went to front desk to make a complaint. Usually it was possible to get better choice. NO WHERE caters for T2 D’s

The diabetes testing kits you can buy from chemists and boots together with lancets and strips. Some who are heading for diabetes do buy them, you will not get from Drs, they don’t always give T2D’s them either!! Luckily I was given mine by the hospital.

[Yellow26]

I’m type 1 diabetic and find it very difficult to keep sugar levels maintained at a good level.

I have a monitor, which helps only takes seconds to get a reading but only use it when needed. I find taking like cereals and porridge sents my level sky high, it can be concerning .

What I was told eat as usual but very small meals and snacks, Diabetic Uk does give great advice on eating habits but some people are different, I also have AF so exercising is so important, don’t over do it.

Good luck but you will find a way but it might take time.

[HenryTudor]

Cut your carbs. Join the Diabetes UK forums for good advice.

[Judithdalston]

yes as others have mentioned look at the Zoe website and work of Prof Tim Spectre…everyone is different in how they respond to carbs/sugars, and even timings or order of eating foods can make a difference to blood sugar spikes.