Newly diagnosed, feel really lost.

[FairyCakes7]

Hi,

I have just been diagnosed today with type 2 diabetes and am totally clueless. Everything online seems so conflicting and I am scared to eat anything as I am unsure what I am OK to eat and what I should not be eating.

Any advice would be great

[Fowey2009]

I was diagnosed in December last year and felt the same as you. There is a lot of information on the internet, but the Diabetes Research website is one of the best sources of information.

I have now lost a lot of weight (several stones - I don’t go by weighing scales but have dropped two dress sizes) and my HBA1C is now in the ‘normal’ range.

As soon as I was diagnosed I adopted a defiant mind set and told myself I was not going to be diabetic and it was not going to rule my life. I bought a blood glucose monitor which attaches to my phone (Dario) and regularly monitor my blood glucose levels particularly if I try different foods. I keep a record of my levels every Saturday morning to show my specialist diabetic nurse.

The best book I discovered was Michael Moseley’s ‘The 8 week blood sugar recipe book’. I have cut most carbs out of my diet (bread,pasta,rice,flour) and use replacements such as cauliflower rice and coconut flour (the book gives lots of examples). The other good book I I found was Tom Kerridges ‘The dopamine diet’

I regard it now as a lifestyle choice rather than a diet as I am going to have to be low carb for the rest of my life.

I have only told my immediate family about my diagnosis. I tell other people who ask about the weight loss that I have cut carbs.

I have always exercised a lot - I am an open water swimmer- but have tried to increase my walking and running, which also seems to help.

I hope this is of some help to you. Good luck - you have to find your own best way but low carb seems to have worked for me.

[SandyDS in reply to Fowey2009]

Well done on the weight loss. I lost some by cutting out biscuits sweets and milkshake but still learning about carbs

[liver-bird]

Hello, welcome to the club. My GP organised for me to attend a one day training session on diabetes as there is a lot to learn. I would ask if such a course exists near you as I am sure that wd help. In the meantime, cut back on carbs, get plenty of exercise and try to lose weight. Good luck. Diane

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Welcome to the group.

Here’s information about type 2 and the free leaflets from the DRWF website. Please show the free leaflets to your doctor at your next appointment and after you can read/download/listen to them anytime.

drwf.org.uk/understanding-d...

drwf.org.uk/understanding-d...

I hope this helps.😀👍🌈

[FairyCakes7]

Thank you for all your replies. I have an appointment with a Nurse on Wednesday and said I will then be referred onto a Diabetes programme. Just trying to start the changes in the mean time. Doctor said my reading was 50, which she said isn't that bad if I start making changes now.

I find allot of things online to be very conflicting and have left myself confused.

I have read that's lots of people with Diabetes live by the slimming world plan, So I was thinking of joining.

This is what I eat yesterday. Does this seem OK ? Or way out ?

Breakfast - 1 Slice of Wholemeal (with butter) with 1 tbsp peanut butter

Dinner - 1 Slice of Wholemeal (with butter) with scrambled eggs and spinach

Tea - 2 Small Chicken Breasts with 2tbsps of BBQ sauce and 60g of cheese on top, served with 4 new potato's, spinach, cucumber, red pepper and red onion. 2tbsps lighter than light mayo.

Water Melon

Apple

1 Mr Freeze Ice Lolly

2 Rich Tea Biscuits.

So I know I need to make, home cooked, healthy meals, but its things like the BBQ sauce, Cheese, Mayo, Biscuits ect that I am not sure on. I know that things like carbs and sugar need to be very low, but just unsure on what is too much.

All of this is within plan on Slimming World, but is it any good for a diabetic ?

If you have replied, read this far or can help, I really appreciate it. Thank You xx

[Hidden in reply to FairyCakes7]

I am American but have visited family in Scotland and Australia and don't find the food value listings understandable or useful. Here I can buy whole grain bread in which 2 slices have only 18 grams of carb as there is a lot of air in it. Not sure what an ice lolly is maybe like our popsicles which are high in sugar. I was using no sugar added ice cream, but as my kidney function is down, had to stop as Metformin was also cut to prevent lactic acidosis. Keep the fat/cheese to a minimum, just a sprinkle. Eat salad and add extra veggies to omelet. I use packaged egg whites with yellow food coloring as often as 1 regular egg. I select packaged goods by carbs, fat, protein, and sodium all of which must be low for diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension and heart condition. Two small chicken breasts may be one too many.