Sugars

DGavriel wrote: »

I don't need medication yet and he told me if I could lose 15 to 20 pounds I could reverse it which is what I am trying to do. He told me to cut back on carbs and sweets and suggested some sugar free candy. I didn't see anything wrong with having one treat after dinner usually a WW snack or those 120 calorie skinny cow packets of chocolate just a little something sweet after being good all day.

I agree with everyone else...you need to have a detailed talk with your doctor to set up guidelines that fit your medical condition. You need to take diabetes seriously. Both of my parents developed it, so I am doing my best now to do anything I can to prevent it or at least delay it.

That being said, here is one piece of practical advice to allow you something sweet with less of a carb hit. You should realize that those skinny cow chocolates have A LOT of sugar and carbs. If you really want chocolate, I really recommend switching to high cocoa content dark chocolate...minimum 70% cocoa. If you go for the 85% or 90% cocoa, they start to taste bitter...at least to me. 70% still tastes sweet but has about half the carbs and the same calories as the stuff you are currently eating...plus it has a lot of antioxidants and some fiber. There is a lot of research on the potential nutritional benefits of dark chocolate, you should read up if you intend to continue eating it daily.

earlnabby wrote: »

Akimajuktuq wrote: »

DGavriel wrote: »

I don't need medication yet and he told me if I could lose 15 to 20 pounds I could reverse it which is what I am trying to do. He told me to cut back on carbs and sweets and suggested some sugar free candy. I didn't see anything wrong with having one treat after dinner usually a WW snack or those 120 calorie skinny cow packets of chocolate just a little something sweet after being good all day.

It's not your weight that CAUSES the diabetes. It's the FOOD. You CAN control and even cure it if you care enough to do it. No food is worth being sick over imo. WW, artificial sweeteners, and other processed stuff is not going to be beneficial. Skip the high sugar/low fat stuff (which is what WW, skinny cow, and others are in order to keep calories low); you need to do the opposite. Fat has more calories but it's also what a body needs (the right fats, not canola, soy, margarine, etc). Please do a whole bunch of research. I prevented full blown diabetes, just in time, and it was the FOOD. My diabetic symptoms were totally gone long before I'd lost much weight.

1) Food does not cause diabetes. Weight is the second most common risk factor for diabetes, after genetics. The food you eat is not a risk factor at all

2) You can never cure diabetes, it is for life. All you can do is control it, and it sounds as though you are doing really well at controlling it. Yes, the ideal way to control it is through diet and exercise but if you go back to bad habits you will go back to high blood sugar.

Food is a risk factor in type II diabetes.
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/76/1/274S.full
Literature review showing that replacing high-glycemic-index food with low-glycemic index food reduces the risk of type II diabetes, and improves glycemic control in those with diabetes, particularly in the obese.

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/137/6/1447.full
Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages predicts development of type II diabetes

My diabetes has not required any control other that diet (reducing added sugars) since diagnosis, and my blood sugar levels (by A1C) actually went down while my weight went up. For me, blood sugar seems to be affected more by how I`m doing emotionally, or my diet, than by my weight.

Going to a diabetes clinic for nutritional information was free where I live. Dietary choices, like not eating carbs in isolation, can help with glycemic control.

I was a little worried about going over the MFP sugar recommendations, but I find that if I exercise a little every day, there is room for sugar in my diet. Moderate to intense exercise also reduces insulin resistance, and helps with glycemic control. I do prefer to eat smaller fruits, and only one to two servings a day, to keep total sugars lower. Eliminating fruit is a bad idea, as fruit has many essential nutrients, and protects against cancer, stroke and heart attacks. My diabetes nutritionist recommended having sweet treats only one to two times a week.

I found that including enough protein (my diabetes nutritionist suggested .8g/kg body weight, which was higher than MFP recommendation), meant that I need to eat fewer carbs to stay in my deficit (my fat intake is already low). For me, reducing sweet treats was necessary to stay in a deficit. The whey powder I take with greek yogurt is sweetened with stevia, and is quite sweet.

I personally respond to sugar in such a way that I am better off keeping to the sugars I get naturally in my diet (limiting added sugars). With lower added sugars, I have an easier time being satisfied while eating at a deficit, and avoiding cravings. Anytime I increase my intake of added sugars (Halloween, Christmas), my A1C goes up.

My sympathy on receiving your diagnosis. Diabetes is a lifetime diagnosis, but if you can keep your blood sugar in a healthy range you can significantly lower your risk of diabetic complications. Good work so far

Some people with sugar sensitivity benefit from lowering carbs. The best dietary strategy can vary from individual to individual. Even with type I diabetes, however, insulin can be adjusted to prevent the prolonged high blood sugar that causes damage, regardless of carb intake. Eliminating carbs is pointless, as the body would then convert protein into glucose to meet it's basic needs, although starvation or ketogenic diets were sometimes used to manage type one diabetes before insulin.

It makes more sense to reduce body weight (when appropriate), exercise, make healthy diet choices overall, replace high GI/GLoad foods with low GI/GLoad foods (to improve glycemic control), track/limit total carbohydrates (or net, total after some or all fiber is deducted), try to consume carbs at the same time as protein, or just after a good protein meal, and adjust insulin bolus to diet (if required).

OP is best off talking to a diabetes nutritionist, if she hasn't already.

Hi. I am the MFP Hall Monitor, and yes, my cat's breath smells like cat food. I'm not even in the mood for people to derail yet another user's thread with a ridiculous fight and scads of reports/flags just because they can't stand the idea that someone they don't like has the audacity to post information they don't agree with in the forums.

Please either contribute constructively to the actual topic (that's the OP, not the topic you derail the thread with so you can argue for the sake of arguing), or move on without posting.

I'm going leave this here to prevent any confusion as to why Disapproving Triangle Face is appearing in your Notifications if the shenanigans continue.

DGavriel wrote: »

I also know that you can have the biggest butt in the world and it won't cause health problems but if you carry your weight in your stomach like my family does then you're screwed!

Genetics plays a role but speak with your physician about family history and options to avoid 'being screwed'. You may find you have better control over things then you realize. Best of luck OP.

lemurcat12 wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

Any doctors in the house want to clear up some confusion for me? I had always thought the advice was, in an ideal world, diabetics should avoid sugar and also cut carbs. Did I get it wrong?

Here is diabetes.org on the topic: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/myths/?loc=db-slabnav

I have heard people who are high on the health benefits of low carb diets in general complaining that the recommendations for diabetic diets often tend to focus more on (arguably) outdated advice like lowering fat that have long been medical approaches to losing weight and not focused so much on lowering carbs.

Obviously medical advice for reducing calories is always going to suggest reducing sweets (non nutrient dense calories that also have a strong affect on blood sugar for someone prone to that), reducing processed carbs (similar reasons), and reducing certain kinds of lower nutrient or otherwise medically questioned high fat foods, especially trans fats and (for many medical professionals still) saturated fat.

I personally tend to think that somewhat lower carbs work for many (and truly low carb works for some, diabetes or no), and some doctors seem more interested in that approach, but I don't think it's at all the mainstream approach currently. I don't have even pre diabetes or insulin resistance and never have, though, so can't speak from personal experience.

This idea that that means eliminating fruit and grains and never ever being able to have a dessert again seems unfounded, however.

I agree that lowering sugar makes lowering weight easier, but I thought sugar and high carbs actually does more damage to a diabetic, too. That is where my confusion sets in.

lemurcat12 wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

lemurcat12 wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

Any doctors in the house want to clear up some confusion for me? I had always thought the advice was, in an ideal world, diabetics should avoid sugar and also cut carbs. Did I get it wrong?

Here is diabetes.org on the topic: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/myths/?loc=db-slabnav

I have heard people who are high on the health benefits of low carb diets in general complaining that the recommendations for diabetic diets often tend to focus more on (arguably) outdated advice like lowering fat that have long been medical approaches to losing weight and not focused so much on lowering carbs.

Obviously medical advice for reducing calories is always going to suggest reducing sweets (non nutrient dense calories that also have a strong affect on blood sugar for someone prone to that), reducing processed carbs (similar reasons), and reducing certain kinds of lower nutrient or otherwise medically questioned high fat foods, especially trans fats and (for many medical professionals still) saturated fat.

I personally tend to think that somewhat lower carbs work for many (and truly low carb works for some, diabetes or no), and some doctors seem more interested in that approach, but I don't think it's at all the mainstream approach currently. I don't have even pre diabetes or insulin resistance and never have, though, so can't speak from personal experience.

This idea that that means eliminating fruit and grains and never ever being able to have a dessert again seems unfounded, however.

I agree that lowering sugar makes lowering weight easier, but I thought sugar and high carbs actually does more damage to a diabetic, too. That is where my confusion sets in.

Lowering is not eliminating. I believe the idea is balancing carbs so you reduce the blood sugar effect. That's consistent with what the diabetes.org link seems to be saying and what I've seen elsewhere.

But I'm sure some people who are experienced in TypeII and diet will weigh in again soon.

As I've learned to my dismay, the body will even turn protein into an insulin spike if it gets enough. So lowering is probably the best any of us can do. I was just thinking of the out of control blood sugar levels and the horrors of blindness and gangrenous limbs.

eric_sg61 wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

eric_sg61 wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

Okay, help me out here. I'm not trying to be dense, sometimes I just am! Insulin sensitivity is the opposite of diabetes, correct? Meaning you want to eat in a way that increases insulin sensitivity, especially if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, correct?

So doesn't low carb moderate protein high fat fit the bill according to recent research?

There have been some prominent low carbers turning their backs on low carb diets because it made their insulin resistance/glucose tolerance worse. Improving glucose tolerance means you would be able to eat carbs.

I haven't read that, I'll have to go looking for more research papers to wade through with a dictionary and much effort. I do know that too much protein can cause insulin spikes, though. I'm trying to lower mine to moderate levels because of this. But without medication, how could a diabetic ever improve glucose tolerance by eating higher carb/higher sugar?

I posted a link earlier of an RCT here is is again. The link to the RCT is in here, also read the comments
http://carbsanity.blogspot.com/2014/12/vegan-ma-pi-diet-bests-conventional.html#uds-search-results

They also lost weight because they were restricting calories. My impression from my doctor was that losing weight and restricting calories was the most important goal.

kyta32 wrote: »

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and kills the beta cells of the pancreas. No, or very little, insulin is released into the body

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can’t properly use the insulin that is released, or releases too little insulin.

About 90% of diabetics are type II. It is possible to have both types.

In both types of diabetes, prolonged high circulating blood sugars can cause damage to various body systems - kidneys, vascular/cardiac, vision.

For some diabetics, taking insulin allows normal metabolism of sugars.

Others can control their diabetes through diet, exercise, or other medications.

Many things cause insulin spikes (including protein and exercise), and naturally-produced insulin spikes do not appear to cause harm to the body in healthy individuals (although diabetics taking insulin must calculate their dosage carefully). Hypoglycemia is a topic for another thread.

Other things can be converted to sugar in the blood, like high intakes of protein. Getting a handle on insulin resistance, through managing weight, exercise, diet, tracking/limiting carbs (for some), and sometimes medications, is key to managing type II diabetes, not the complete elimination of carbs, which can have problematic side effects.

Low-carb diets work for some, but not all.

Source for some info used: http://www.diabetes.ca/about-diabetes/what-is-diabetes

Thanks! So low carb could work for some, others might do better controlling their blood sugar other ways and can do so. Regardless, avoiding insulin spikes is good, right?

Exercise, though? Seriously? I didn't want to learn that one! (Diabetes runs heavily in my family, I'm doing my best to stay off that road, so this subject is important to me.)

Let me preface that I know nothing about diabetes.
Only that my uncle has it... he eats loads of carbs and sugar. His doctor simply said if he doesn't reign these things in he will be dead soon.
Whether his doctor is right or not I do not know??

Jolinia wrote: »

kyta32 wrote: »

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and kills the beta cells of the pancreas. No, or very little, insulin is released into the body

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can’t properly use the insulin that is released, or releases too little insulin.

About 90% of diabetics are type II. It is possible to have both types.

In both types of diabetes, prolonged high circulating blood sugars can cause damage to various body systems - kidneys, vascular/cardiac, vision.

For some diabetics, taking insulin allows normal metabolism of sugars.

Others can control their diabetes through diet, exercise, or other medications.

Many things cause insulin spikes (including protein and exercise), and naturally-produced insulin spikes do not appear to cause harm to the body in healthy individuals (although diabetics taking insulin must calculate their dosage carefully). Hypoglycemia is a topic for another thread.

Other things can be converted to sugar in the blood, like high intakes of protein. Getting a handle on insulin resistance, through managing weight, exercise, diet, tracking/limiting carbs (for some), and sometimes medications, is key to managing type II diabetes, not the complete elimination of carbs, which can have problematic side effects.

Low-carb diets work for some, but not all.

Source for some info used: http://www.diabetes.ca/about-diabetes/what-is-diabetes

Thanks! So low carb could work for some, others might do better controlling their blood sugar other ways and can do so. Regardless, avoiding insulin spikes is good, right?

Exercise, though? Seriously? I didn't want to learn that one! (Diabetes runs heavily in my family, I'm doing my best to stay off that road, so this subject is important to me.)

I'm not sure why you think insulin spikes are dangerous, when naturally produced by the body. Some people find it easier to manage cravings when they avoid glucose spikes (eat fiber, pair carbs with protein, switch in lower GI foods for higher GI foods), but that is a separate issue. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels in healthy people, and controls amino acid uptake by cells (can increase protein synthesis). If you have research supporting that insulin spikes produced by the body are dangerous, I would be interested in seeing it. All evidence points to exercise being beneficial for insulin sensitivity.