Macros and Micros for friend with diabetes!!

jcalicott

I have looked all over for a simple way to get my friend who was just diagnosed with diabetes. He is really trying to get the weight off and but doesnt know how to do all of the calorie counting and that jazz. Is there any way someone could break it down so i can explain it to him and if you have any advice to help him lose weight please share that as well thanks!

4legsRbetterthan2

This post tells you everything you need to know about setting up a good weight loss plan:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

This one breaks down accurate logging and has some good tips:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide#latest

He should have gotten reccomendations from his doctor on sugar intake so he should include those when he sets up his goals.

There are plenty of groups on here for diabetic people so that would be an easy place for him to find some friends for more advice and tips.

wkwebby

Most important thing is to cut the simple sugars and overall carb numbers. There should be no more carb heavy meals (i.e. pasta, sandwiches, and pastry stuff) as they have way too little protein. The only way to have these are to balance out with plenty of protein in the same meal. Load up on the veggies instead of rice as well.

If he/she is prone to "cheating" and has a sweet tooth for example, the rare times of cheating is fine, but then moving more becomes way more important. As long as he/she is moving more and weight training, the diet can be skewed a little bit. On the cheat days, it is especially important to use that extra blood sugar in an activity (whatever it may be).

girlviernes

Is there a reason you are posting instead of your friend? He should start by implementing advice from doctor. Usually there is a dietitian or diabetes educator who can help him learn how to manage his condition.

earlnabby

Your friend should ask his/her doctor, Registered Dietician, or Diabetes Educator for a target carb number, then adjust the other macros around that. This is what I did. My doctor (who is a diabetic educator also) told me to eat no more than 180 g of carbs per day, spread out over all of my meals.

I assume the diagnosis was T2? If so, most medical professionals will tell you to ignore sugar counts and focus solely on total carbs, unless you are treating it with insulin. As far as food goes, limit the obvious like breads and pasta (and make sure the ones you do eat are higher fiber whole grains) but also be careful around things like fruit and juices, they are loaded with carbs. Also, some veggies are much higher carb like carrots, peas, and corn.

I was diagnosed T2D 15 months ago. Since that time I have been able to lose 100 lb. and got off the medications by using MFP and customizing my daily targets. I am very diligent and accurate in my weighing, measuring, and logging. I aim to stay under 180 g of carbs a day no matter how many exercise calories I earn but don't stress over the occasional higher carb day. I enjoy the occasional high carb treat like last night's birthday cake or a couple of cookies, but I don't make them a habit.

Good for you for helping your friend. I would really encourage him/her to seek out more info about diet recommendations, then get onto MFP to help implement them.

jcalicott

girlviernes wrote: »

Is there a reason you are posting instead of your friend? He should start by implementing advice from doctor. Usually there is a dietitian or diabetes educator who can help him learn how to manage his condition.

Cause he doesn't really know about this site and wouldn't know what questions to ask plus, he is very not tech friendly. And I'm just trying to get info because he wont talk to a doctor about anything.

jgnatca

The very first advice I give for a newbie type 2 is the plate method. Easy to remember, easy to implement. All macros are important in proportion.


The second is to begin eating on a routine, starting with breakfast at the same time every day. The life of a diabetic is one of routine [and balance], so he better get used to it now.

For instance if he has a diabetic episode, he doesn't want to have to figure out how long it has been since he last ate. If he doesn't know that, then his blood sugar number won't make sense either.

So have breakfast the same time every day, and the first snack 2-3 hours after that.

CorinnaShaw

jcalicott wrote: »

I have looked all over for a simple way to get my friend who was just diagnosed with diabetes. He is really trying to get the weight off and but doesnt know how to do all of the calorie counting and that jazz. Is there any way someone could break it down so i can explain it to him and if you have any advice to help him lose weight please share that as well thanks!

Calories mean nothing in terms of BG control. And a calorie deficit won't mean much if he is loading up on carbs and has to shoot up massive amounts of insulin into his body since insulin is a hormone that builds body tissue to either be turned into fat or muscle depending on whether he is exercising or not. He wants to eat a diet high in healthy fats, moderately high in protein (remember that even protein turns into sugar in the body just at a much slower pace. Fat is the only macronutrient that doesn't turn into sugar.) and low in carbs. This will help him to limit the intake of medicine he is on and lose weight. Make sure he keeps an accurate food journal to show his doctor. He should be making frequent visits while he is trying to lose weight.