diabetic question please??

Sandytoes71
Sandytoes71 Posts: 463 Member
in Food and Nutrition
My husband has type 2 diabetes and I was wondering if its ok to have a simple carb like a baked potato like once or twice a week? And is it ok to have a complex carb with every meal? Anyone have any advice please? Thanks! Oh and any ideas on snacks that are low fat and low carb? I cant think of anything but veggies :(

Replies

  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    He should speak to a registered dietician that specializes in diabetes education. I found that incredibly helpful when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Also, I found that experimentation with food has to happen in order to find the best way to control blood sugars. For me, if I had carbs in the am, my after breakfast number was high, so I avoided them at breakfast. But, if I wanted a good morning fasted number, carbs right before bed (usually whole wheat toast and peanut butter) were the way to go.

    If a potato doesn't affect his numbers, it could be ok here & there, but again, talk to a dietician or his endocrinologist.

    I used Balance bars as a snack and had Sugar Free Jell-O to calm a sweet tooth.
    Lowfat dairy is a good snack option as well.
  • web816
    web816 Posts: 10 Member
    Agreed! I am a Registered Dietitian and meal plans for diabetics are very individualized. The current recommendations are to follow a consistent carbohydrate meal plan within an appropriate calorie level for moderate weight loss. Emphasis is NOT on low carbs, but CONSISTENT carb intake--that means including carbs at all meals and most snacks depending on your plan. Eating a complex carb source at each meal would definitely be recommended and would be ideal, but white potatoes can also be included as long as the carb intake for the meal is in line with his recommended goals. Again...ask your doctor for a referral to an RD! :)
  • Sandytoes71
    Sandytoes71 Posts: 463 Member
    Ok thanks guys :) we cant afford a dietician tho. But thanks for the info u were able to provide. I know I should trust his dr and I do to an extent, but when it comes to nutrition info I do like to get other oppinions.
  • DonPidgeon
    DonPidgeon Posts: 20 Member
    What web186 said. You should not experiment with the foods for a diabetic. If he runs into complications due to eating wrong it can go very bad, very fast.
  • chadraeder3
    chadraeder3 Posts: 279 Member
    I am not a dietician or any other medical professional but I am a type 2 diabetic non-insulin and I have no problems eating potatoes or other carbs the thing I have noticed with my body is that I have to keep portions under control and do my best to eat healthier foods. This is a continual challenge but I do like to use MFP to track my food intake and a spreadsheet to track my sugar levels. If I eat something that shoots my sugar up too much I make a mental note that the food does that to me and I either need to decrease the portion size or cut it out entirely. I believe that we are all individuals and that different things will affect us all differently, as for the potato eat it and see how it affects his sugar.
  • JayKay60
    JayKay60 Posts: 15 Member
    The diabetes consultant I work for recommends low GI diet for diabetes. If you can't afford a dietitian check out this website here for ideas.... http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Food_and_recipes/
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    I assume he has a glucose meter? I "eat to my meter" - if I test high 2 hours after a meal, I know that there was something wrong with what I ate for me. There are very few foods a diabetic cannot eat; the key though really is portion control. A whole baked potato might not be doable, but maybe he could half instead.

    There are some useful tools here for getting an idea of baseline sugar levels and learning how to watch for "bad" food:

    https://www.accu-chek.com/us/glucose-monitoring/focused-testing-overview.html

    Also check with his Doctor to see if there are any free classes in your area. My Dr sent me on a course that was grant-funded, so no cost to me.
  • web816
    web816 Posts: 10 Member
    I understand that cost may be an issue for you in seeing an RD in person. My best advice would be to take the total amount of carbohydrates that MFP recommends for him and divide it evenly among his meals/snacks. Typically for a guy trying to lose weight, that will be 45-60g carbs/meal and 15-30g carbs/snack. He should always include a carb-containing snack if his meals will be more than 4-5 hours apart. Other posters were correct--there are essentially no foods that are "off limits" for a someone with diabetes as long as the carb content meats the above mentioned goals. However, everyone handles foods differently, and some individuals do find that certain foods (even when eaten in appropriate amounts) wreak havoc on their blood sugar. Of course these carbs should be balanced with healthy fats and proteins as well. Physicians mean well, but in my experience, they can give some pretty bad nutrition advice--so I commend your efforts to seek further guidance!
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    You should read or watch the movie "Forks over KNives".

    Has a great deal of info for him.

    I was type 2 diabetic twice in my life so far. I have beaten it twice with diet and exercise. The key is to keep weight down and eat correctly. I would say no to white potatos. I eat strictly sweet potatos.

    Let me know if I can help further.

    watch the movie.

    Don
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    My husband has type 2 diabetes and I was wondering if its ok to have a simple carb like a baked potato like once or twice a week? And is it ok to have a complex carb with every meal? Anyone have any advice please? Thanks! Oh and any ideas on snacks that are low fat and low carb? I cant think of anything but veggies :(

    Why would a diabetic want to eat a baked potato ? They have a higher glycemic index than glucose so it's like eating 30 grams of glucose.

    I've seen people with limbs missing, heart attacks and no eyesight from diabetes. This isn't an appropriate food for someone unable to regulate their blood sugar effectively.
  • sharon_moyer
    sharon_moyer Posts: 177
    I believe that the best person to answer this question is your husbands doctor because I'm sure that the doctor would be the best judge of character for this question. The doctor knows what's best for your husband because he's familiar with your husbands situation.
  • GurleyGirl524
    GurleyGirl524 Posts: 578 Member
    our medical insurance covered my husband to meet with a dietician for his diabetes and then again for his renal failure. You might check if that is an option.
  • harvo
    harvo Posts: 4,676 Member
    As a diabetic that has been thru nutrician classes he needs to know how many carbs he is allowed per meal and per snack. Once he has that it really does not matter what he eats. Some people, and I have not read everyones answers, believe no or low carb but your body uses carbs for fuel so it may not be the best to cut them out all together.
  • LMT2012
    LMT2012 Posts: 697 Member
    I am NOT an expert, but here are a couple of things not mentioned that I know from diabetics close to me.
    -Walk after every meal. No matter what.
    -Not all potatoes are created equal. Between the white potatoes, there is a huge difference between glycemic index. Find a reputable source to shop for types that are low.
  • Sandytoes71
    Sandytoes71 Posts: 463 Member
    Wow! Great advice y'all have given. And thanks for giving me links and even a movie that might be helpful. Thanks again everyone!!!
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    I'm a Type I, so my chemistry is different, but I learned a TON from the discussions on diabetesforums.com. There are a lot of long-time diabetics who are very educated and helpful with advice.

    I would suggest that your husband do blood glucose testing after eating a meal- 20, 40, 60, 120 minutes etc, and he can discover how each meal affects HIM. It's very individual. He could write it all down, and also take notes of how he feels. There are things I simply don't eat anymore (bagels!), not because anyone said I shouldn't, but because I know I will feel tired and terrible in 2 hours and it isn't worth it.

    Good luck to you!
  • MochaMixAZ
    MochaMixAZ Posts: 844 Member
    In short: Yes.

    The poster who was an RD is correct, it's very individualized. However, there are some basics supported by the research. . . and MOST of it dispels old thinking of a "diabetic diet" and foods that must be avoided. It's more about counteracting effects of ANY food on blood sugar, maintaining a reasonable level, exercising, and taking medications as needed. While diabetes is chronic, it can be controlled with smart planning and does not need to be feared.

    To get you started, try reading through the Diabetes Center on WebMD: http://diabetes.webmd.com/default.htm

    You might also check with your health insurance or employer. A lot offer "health coaching" by phone by RNs, RDs, and the like - which is free to the user and part of your insurance coverage.
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    One more thing! In my experience, doctors don't necessarily have much training in nutrition or diabetes. I have gotten very bad advice from GPs about my diabetes. Not just my opinion- when I told the specialists, they agreed the recommendations were both outdated and totally inappropriate for my age and condition.

    If you can't see a diabetes specialist about nutrition, find other diabetics or read books. Dr Bearnstein's Diabetes Solution is way over the top on low-carb for my taste, but he is great at explaining how diabetes works, and I found the book very empowering.

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