Hi, Looking for advice

[fatboyslim2]

My GP has told me I am boarder line type 2 diabetic and my cholesterol is on the high side, I normally juice Apples,Beetroot and Carrots for my morning drink is it ok to continue to have this juice ?

[rajabalzarahni]

Probably yes but the quantity is also a factor. Why not put the same question directly to your GP ?

[SRMGrandma]

Hi!, Beetroot is actually pretty great for your blood pressure and cardiovascular system, and carrot is terrific. It would be more beneficial to eat the entire apple so that you get the benefits of the fiber. Buying those juices from a store is less healthy than juicing them yourself because there is likely to be added sugars and other ingredients that you don't need. To make that even healthier you could use those ingredients in a smoothie and add a little flaxseed, oatmeal, maybe some spinach and you would have a fantastic start to your day that will keep you feeling full and provide lots of nutrients. Make sure you are incorporating exercise and lots of movement in your day as that is a most powerful weapon against developing diabetes. Good luck!

[fatboyslim2 in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thanks SRM, I do juice my own fruit and veg and now thinking of getting a smoothies maker to get more fiber, I have made major changes to my diet and apart from my juicing I also started eating fruit. I have also started the Couch to 5K challenge, it was not easy but I am enjoying it apart from the pain in my ankles and legs !

Will the natural sugar from my juices have an adverse affect on my blood sugar levels ?

[Beek]

I fully endorse what SRMgrandma said. It's the keeping moving that is your greatest weapon against T2D. Also keep your carb intake to a minimum. Try to do your own juicing because bought juices do contain added sugar. It is better to eat the whole fruit than as a juice. Take a look at bigleg's link and I hope you manage to see your way through all the hype (I do not mean on that site). At the end of the day there is a huge amount that you can do to help yourself.

The general advice is that veges growing underground store carbohydrates because they cannot source energy directly from sunlight. (Hence those veg you mention will be higher in carbs than, say, spring greens, spinach, broccoli etc.) Try to eat more of the veges that grow above the ground if you can. Avoid refined carbs at all costs (Flour, sugar cereals)

Hope this helps but my experience showed that the exercise was the biggest influence over my blood sugars as well as over appetite control.

As a person who for my whole life has not felt full after a meal, since running I now do feel full and indeed I often simply do not feel hungry at meal times.

Eat because you are hungry and not 'by the clock' is helpful too.

Good luck!

[fatboyslim2 in reply to Beek]

Thanks very much Beek, I do juice my own fruit and veg and have recently joined the Couch to 5K challenge, apart from the pain in my ankles and legs I am enjoying it !

I have made major changes to my diet and cut out sugar from my coffee etc. and no more crisps and chocolate which was my down fall.

Would the natural sugars from my juices have an adverse affect on my blood sugar levels ?

[Beek in reply to fatboyslim2]

Any sugars (carbs) are bad for your blood sugar levels. It's the total amounts that matter and obviously natural fruit sugars are better than, say, HFCS - high fructose corn syrup, which is added to many processed convenience foods.

uk.search.yahoo.com/search?...

Carbs include:

Pasta

Sugar

Flour

Rice

Potato

There's a wealth of information about sugars on t'internet.

There is a lot of reading for you to do, but you will eventually get a handle on it.

Good luck!

[SRMGrandma]

I was in a 16 week class for lifestyle change this past winter and one thing the physicians running it kept saying that the fresh fruit is not the problem for those in the class with diabetes, it is the processed foods, with sugars, the sugary juices, the white pastas, the white breads that are the worst offenders along with the obvious sweet treats. There were several people with diabetes in this class as well as the rest of us with heart arrhythmias and we all switched to whole grain pastas, whole grain bread, and all plant based nutrition and while having our blood work monitored several times over the course of 5 months. Everyone, including those with diabetes had dramatic decreases in their blood glucose levels as well as dramatic weight loss, decreased blood pressure, and incredibly dramatic decreases in cholesterol. I wasn't technically overweight according to the charts but I certainly had gained some weight over the past decades and I am back to my weight at 30 years old now. Food is medicine.

[Slowbro]

I would maybe cut out either the carrot or apple for a less sugar rich alternative if you are concerned . However saying that I don't see any major issue with it. The sugars in fruit and veg is healthy and easier for the body to process. I would advise speaking to the diabetes nurse at your gp surgery if you are looking for ways to change your diet to improve your health.