Having started to come to terms with the dietary considerations while on Prednisilone in the past couple of weeks. If that wasn't complicated enough, my recent bloods have also shown I am Pre Diabetic.
So it looks like nuts and porridge for Christmas dinner.... With sprouts of course. How depressing!
Low low carbs is the simple, main adjustment on Pred which should help the blood sugars hugely. What dietary adjustments have you been making?
With the usual Pred regime, Christmas dinner should be no porridge at all mountains of veg, lots of turkey. However, debatably Christmas dinner could perhaps look mostly normal and the other 364 (360?) days be scarce of potato, rice, grains, pasta, bread flours, sweet drinks etc. If fluid retention is an issue then cut salt drastically too until you are under 10mg. Once you really get going with that, having a carb blowout can feel less enticing anyway, especially if you notice feeling worse afterwards.
But too many nuts and porridge are probably the WRONG things to be eating for Christmas dinner!! Turkey, sprouts and other above ground veg are fine.
Low carb is the approach when on pred to keep you out of the diabetic range so meat, fish, eggs, veg with limits on root veg, not too much fruit except berries. And as Snazzy says - it isn't what you eat on Christmas Day (within reason) but the other 364 days that matter.
Thanks... was being a little bit fecisious in my post.... but putting that down to being down in the dumps at the moment
As always thank you for the clarification. I am sure I will get into it in time 
It was the porridge mention that rather concerned me as people using CGMs (continuous glucose monitors) have realised that oats are not always the virtuous option they have been painted in the past!
But if you are in the dumps - are there things you really like but wouldn't normally splash out on (smoked salmon for example) that you could justify as a cheer-up?
Thanks for pointing that out. I will take your advice on that.
There appears to be a lot of contradictions on the Internet so It good you pointed that out!
Smoked Salmon. Yes I can certainly live with that lol !
Our village supermarket often has SS reduced and I buy several packs to chuck in the freezer - a very handy addition to a salad when you want a low carb option. Or in an omelette or with scrambled eggs ...
There IS a lot of guff on the internet and I go by the nutrition labels - having done biology and other related subjects I work it out for myself! It was Tim Spector who realised that oats could be a false friend but identify what really is carbs and what isn't so bad is easy enough. I think I may have given you this link before but no harm again
It is a European site so perhaps better than most American recipe options - no need to join anything, there are some recipes and ideas on there free.
A few people on the forum have used CGMs and discovered that oats in the morning send their blood sugar levels into orbit but don't if eaten in the evening. They have also found there is a period a few hours after taking pred where they have very raised blood sugar levels - by not eating in that period, they have been able to get the Hba1c level back down again. tangocharlie and Koalajane have both written some interesting stuff if you want to have a look at their profiles and replies.
I understand it's good that if you do have carbs you need to slow down their intake ...so think
I will try a little bread sauce experiment this year ( sorry can't live without it) ...I might try it with some Chai seeds, ( they don't seem to taste) with wholemeal crumbs or 50/50 .
Stuffing lots of chestnuts from those vacuum packs, fresh herbs, and sourdough brown.
Cranberries in a low sugar compot..umm might be a bit tart so might try adding apple. I sense a Delia Smith version coming on..
Who knows it could be fun!
Sounds really good to me. My diet has never been good. Living alone and being constantly on the go I have never bothered. Never been a " foodie" as they say, so taking all this in now ( which I clearly need to ) is a massive change. For years I have managed with just one meal a day in the evenings !
Time to join a cookery class may be ? Also freezing stuff is so helpful so you don't have to do it all every night. Make for 4...otherwise it's too much effort.You also need breakfast!!
If that is your pattern - it is mine - there is no real need to change. And no doubt you are like me - easy and no faff please! I lose interest if there are more than 5 ingredients despite having one been an accomplished cook. I have an airfryer - I cook fresh most nights but the meat and fish is in the freezer in one person portions. Veggies with olive oil and herbs for about half an hour or however you find you like them and 15 mins or so before they will be ready I add a piece of frozen meat with the temp at 200C - which ensures a nice finish on the outside and still moist on the inside. I buy a slab of rump steak and usually cut it into wedges about 1x1in cross-section - 15 mins at 200C and it is nicely pink inside and crusty on the outside, just as I like it. Or salad instead of veggies. The airfryer basket and a plate and cutlery to wash - or at least, put in the dishwasher.
Not to change the subject, but what brand air fryer do you have, PMRPro? I am very interested in learning how to cook with one! Thank you
The little Phillips one - there is only me so didn't feel a bigger one was justified. One daughter has a dual drawer Ninja and the other an Aldi middle aisle bargain!
Don't think of it as a fryer - think of it as a mini fan oven. The food usually takes about 2/3 of time it would in a normal oven and no preheating needed at all. My electricity bill dropped a lot after starting to use it. My main oven is not full size but is also a microwave and very handy but it is hardly ever on as an oven now.
I have one of those with the two drawes but can't grasp the instructions. Unfortunately I do have a form of Primary Progressive Asphasia so don't always grasp the meaning of things ( hence by having ask for clarification in the past on things
I keep it on the worktop and give ot a polish when I clean. At least it looks smart lol
Just ask when something isn't clear. not a problem to try a different way of putting it. Does it help to SEE something used? I am a "see it done" person.
Yes VERY MUCH SO !!
There are several really good "how to use an airfryer" videos on the internet - I looked at quite a few before deciding I wanted one. American video are often good for simple meat preparation with not too much faff.
Sorry to hear about PPA..my son’s FIL has familiar diagnosis -will catch up about it one when I’m back from my holiday..
Hi and likewise
sorry to hear it. Its a difficult one to dianose but mine is slow progression though it seems to be speeding up with age ! I have found a way to control it, however I will give you more in a PM when you are back
Thanks -his main struggle is with speech .
Will catch up …
Same here
Haven't you got airfryer liners in Italy yet? best thing since ... well .. air fryers
Of course we have - I bought mine here!! Had it about 2 1/2 years I think. Use it almost every day - every day I eat hot food at least. It is brilliant for bacon!!!! And steak.
I mean the paper liners so you don't have to clean out the drawer every time. Recent game-changer for me. I got my air-fryer as a 60th birthday present a few years ago, I thought it was an odd surprise at the time but I wouldn't be without it. Tonights meal was some roast chicken in the fryer and some steamed green veg and cauliflower stir fried in katsu sauce. Unfortunately followed by some chocolate raisins I'd left unhidden but hey, nobody's perfect all the time 😆
Oh, sorry. No, not liners that I have seen. I did look while I was in the UK but couldn't find any
Amazon, they also have silicone liners which are easy to clean.
There is a company online that will deliver low carb meals. I think the cut off is today to order for delivery on Sunday then they are closed for Christmas.
Thanks Sophie, will take a look 😀
You can choose not to have breakfast and 5 days or 7 days
But you need freezer space !
Delias Christmas book........never bettered! Simply super bombproof recipes 🍽 Lots in it without any cereal content. Pint......est has great tempting stuff.
Sounds good
I try to eat low-carb most of the time and it has worked to get my blood sugar levels down from diabetic range to normal and now I'm trying to keep it that way. I do keep some 'good' carbs in my diet so I eat things like oats, brown rice and sweet potatoes occasionally because they are nutritious and good for you, especially our guts as research seems to suggest. Also the odd slice of good quality bread like multigrain or German rye style as fibre is fab for our guts. I have personally found that carbs have less effect on my BS if I eat them late in the day from teatime onwards and in small quantities. I also found from using the Continuous Glucose Monitor that I could also have a bit of carbs eg a piece of toast or bowl of muesli when I take the Pred or within a few hours of taking them before the steroids started to raise the BS level but genrally I don't bother with breakfast these days, I just got out fo the habit. There is some research that says combining carbs with protein or fats lowers the BS spike, so for example having something on a piece of toast such as egg or ovacado but that not something I've personally experimented with.
When it comes to Christmas though, I'm going to eat drink and be Merry and get back to normal eating on the 28th when the last guest has gone. 😆 A few roast potatoes and bits of party food for a few days won't do me much harm. Like Christmas itself, trifle and Quality Street come but once a year
I am really in awe of you guys who seem to have found your ways through this jungle!. One things clear and that is that things work differently for each person, but all these pointers are invaluable.
I only have brown rice and just bung some herbs in it to give it a flavour. I am da vegetable stew with lots of pulses to go with it. It was lovely but then I thought "oh no" what about the stock I used and the salt. I don't intend to become OCD over this but realise it is a learning curve
You might want to think about getting a Continuous Glocose Monitor (CGM) which you wear for 2 weeks to learn how different foods affect you in particular. You can get a free trial from Abbott if you say you're pre-diabetic or diabetic, I personally have to really cut back on the rice as even a little bit makes my glucose shoot up and stay high for hours, which is how you put on weight as your body has to store that excess glucose somewhere
freestyle.abbott/uk-en/prod...
Never even heard of one of those, but it sounds like a very good idea thanks !
Hi, I am a grazer, so I find it helps me make good choices if I leave them out on the counter, like apples, oranges, fresh pecans and fresh walnuts. That way I don't get into the darn m&ms.
Yeah I can recognise that. I have never been a big fruit eater but love Pink Lady Apples, Pears and Apricots and am now keeping them on view in the kitchen. I do love my veg and prefer it raw I can eat carrots all day. Not however a nut lover other than peanuts ( which needless to say are apparently bad for you ) 🙄
About 4 years ago, after lots of digestive upsets, I found that that I was intolerant of cereals. This was something of a shock to a bread loving omnivore! After despairing of the taste of a lot of gluten free products, I took the advice of a multi intolerant friend who suggested avoiding commercial products that substitute sugars to achieve similarities but to make stuff differently. Although I dont consider myself vegan/ veggie, recipes for items that replace bread,pasta, pastry, potatoes etc abound on vegan/ veggie websites. I simply add fish, meat, cheese etc to these to make a good , relatively calorie light/ carbo free diet. I break this rule for high days and holidays; poached egg has to include toast!!!
Just had poached eggs on toast !!! Great minds etc etc
The only thing I would add to the other answers is that it’s amazing how your body adapts. Some years ago - before pred - I decided I needed to lose weight, now or never, and so cut out carbs, refined sugar products and all fast foods, takeaways, snacks etc and ate only freshly prepared meat, veg and fruit. The cravings were there at the beginning but I was determined and resisted. What surprised me was that later when I couldn’t avoid having birthday cake or a specially prepared dessert etc I found I didn’t - and still don’t - actually enjoy them any more - all I could taste was the sugar and it wasn’t pleasant. Other foods which I had loved like bread, pasta, rice now seem tasteless and I no longer miss them. So I would say stick at it!
Will do my best !
Pre-diabetes can be reversed. I have done it twice. Look at my previous posts and Tangocharlies. In a nutshell stick to low carbs around 8 to 10 hours after pred. That is the spike zone, then you may be able to relax a bit. You need to find what triggers spikes in you. It is strangely different in people. Anyway, our posts have a lot of info.
Yes thank you. I am starting to appreciate that it's by no means one fit for all
Thank you
Just looked at the diet doctor website and it has some really useful info and recipes. Recommended.
👍
hiya Bridekirk,
Really sorry to hear about your diagnosis too. To be honest, I think one of the biggest problems is eating enough. PMR causes weight-loss itself and once you have cut out sugar, dairy and refined carbs there is so little left that has any calories in it! I’ve lost nearly two stone since I got it (half a stone before I was diagnosed) and have BMI of 16 now and just have no idea how to make it up! Meat, olive oil and veg is okay but it’s basically the Atkins Diet.
Really hope you can find a diet that works for you but I think im going to have to start cheating this Christmas!
Wow that is some qeoght loss !!
I found a good wartime recipe for a " ration" veg stew so O decided to try it and had it with brown rice.
Fortunately I love veg and really liked it so made a huge one in the sloe cooker and froze about 10 servings.... Then I realised I need to think about what put in as seasonings!
This is all very new to me. Halft the kabels I read on stuff I just don't understand.
I suppose with seasoning it's the salt content that will be the main problem..
Anyway don't tell your PMR you are going to cheat lol
Flying to USA newly diagnosed with GCA/PMR 
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