prediabetic, low carb, but can only eat carbs
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If you are considering a protein powder for shakes/smoothies, you might try a vegetable-based protein powder (I use Naturade pea protein powder that I buy on Amazon.) Many people are bothered by whey protein. Also, I was having many of the symptoms you describe before losing weight, and I know my diet at the time was very high in carbohydrates and lacking in good quality protein & fats. I too avoided dietary fat and greasy foods because I seemed to have trouble digesting it. Now that I have lost weight and improved my diet overall, I find I actually tend to eat more fat, but have much fewer digestive problems than I used to have. I would agree with a previous poster, that the focus on reducing carbohydrates right now is less important than actually taking some of the weight off, which simply requires a calorie deficit. Reducing carbs seems to be standard Dr's advice for weight loss, but that's probably based on the assumption that many of the extra calories in a person's diet likely come from carbs, not that they need to be on a low-carb diet per se.0
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Marjatta007 wrote: »Guys, I need your help! My GP told me to get on a low carb diet as I'm prediabetic. But I have a huge problem with that: I live of carbs! I cannot eat much protein because I get terrible reflux in my esophagus from that and stomach pain. My stomach just feels so full for a long time after eating. And I think I cannot digest fat properly. Sorry for being so explicit, but my poop floats and when wiping it always feels slippery and oily. What can I eat? Meat and eggs are particularly bad for reflux
As a note: I'm in the UK and did get a referral to a gastroenterologist. But the waiting time is at least 25 weeks I've just been informed. I just don't know what to do. Apparently I cannot get a referral to a dietist either. I just don't know what to eat now.
You have a legal right to be seen (and start treatment) within 18 weeks of them receiving the referral. You also have the Right To Choose, and can choose a gastroenterologist at a hospital with a shorter waiting time. I'm not sure why you've been told that you can't be referred to a dietician, as it's standard practice here to send diabetics and prediabetics to the Diabetes Clinic where they see a Diabetic Specialist Nurse and a Registered Dietician (might depend on who your Trust is though, check with your surgery to find out what Diabetic Education they provide).
http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/Waitingtimes/Pages/Guide to waiting times.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/appointment-booking/Pages/about-the-referral-system.aspx
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You could just pay to see a dietitian, that is what most people do here.
I suggest upping your veggies, aim for at least 5 servings a day. Look into roasting them, they taste wonderful and that helps with eating more.
Also look into alternative sources of protein. Try fish, like tilapia and haddock. Good white fish. Beans and a greta source too.
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I was diagnosed with prediabetes last year, and after seeing the nurse and the dietician I was advised to go on a low GL diet. I'd already lost quite a bit of weight by then, enough that my results should have been better, but after 6 months or so of low GL my results were lowered out of the prediabetic range.0
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Drop wheat in a hurry. That was my prediabetic issue. Look up Wheat Belly diet. (Several of your issues are the same I had-even the BM) Then, start bouncing for 5 minutes a day. Either with one of those little trampolines, or jogging, or just bouncing. I know it sounds crazy, but I was diagnosed with GERD and my Dr put me on meds for it. THEN I started getting heartburn. Talked to my chiropractor, and he explained that runners don't get Reflux because the bouncing motion causes the stomach to drop lower in your abdomen. My brother was suffering with the same issue, and it helped him too. Now, no prediabetic issues, no GERD, no heartburn, and the only thing I don't eat is wheat. You will know within 7 days if it works though. Just stick with it for 7 days.
I'm sorry, but this is bull. There are enough properly done and reviewed studies now that state this wheatbelly book is quack and so-called evidence in it taken out of context so that it fits the authors crude theories.
Besides, this TO clearly cannot eat large selections of food, and you suggest she drops another large group? Clesrly you did not read this thread, but why should you? As long as you can spread your believe it's fine and you feel great.
No reflux with running is rubbish as well. Then I should not have reflux either or if I had would just need to get out of bed at night and go on a run. But besides, you suggest to go running while you have no idea how heavy TO is. Would you recommend a 300lbs person to just go on a run because an alternative healer said something that is clearly bull? Ghee!
But chiming in on what someone else has said: have a look at too low instead of too much stomach acid. Reflux with protein and meat feels like a stone might sound like it. You need sufficient acid to break down protein, as otherwise the food stays in your stomach longer than it should. Seems to be a common problem with poorly treated hypothyroid people if I can trust uk thyroid discussions. Not sure though if true. How do you feel with acidic or spicy food? But don't run out now and buy acidic pills as you might have completely other stomach problems and cause harm with that please. My reflux seems to be related to too little acid, and since I eat and drink things people with reflux should avoid things are getting better indeed and since my gp upped my thyroid medication my stomach is imroving. But again, please don't run out and start experimenting with all sorts of strange things.
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Eat the foods that feel o.k. /safe for you.
My Mom has acid reflux due to the side effects of a medication she was on.
These are the foods she has stopped eating:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/condition-15/heartburn/treating-acid-reflux-disease-with-diet-lifestyle-changes
These are the foods that she can eat
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/foods-that-fight-heartburn
Bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew.
Oatmeal, Bread. Rice and couscous.
Green veggies. Broccoli, asparagus, green beans, celery, and cauliflower
Lean poultry and turkey -- grilled, broiled, baked, or steamed. Just remove the skin -- and don't fry it. Even ground beef and steak can be fine, as long as they're lean.
Potatoes. Other root vegetables are good, too -- just not onions.
Fish -- grilled, poached, and baked
Egg whites.
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A person will move out of the pre-diabetes stage by losing weight no matter the specifics of
certain individual foods.
Good luck to you.0 -
I never tried protein shakes. How do I prepare them? Just with water? I'm not too keen to have too much milk or fluid, low fast yoghurt.
IF you want to try protein shakes make a very small one first. Do it with water or something like almond milk that is mostly water or tea that has cooled. Try a shake that is marketed to vegans: usually pea powder, hemp seed, rice powder or a combination.
Sometimes the shakes come with flavoring. Other times you add your own flavoring. Add some foods you can eat or some honey or jam. You could add some rice or whatever you feel safe eating.
Do what feels right for you. Your body will start healing.0 -
Oh dear, so many comments. Thanks a lot everyone. I'll try to get through everything you wrote. First of all, let me say writing here was a fantastic idea. It kind of got me out of the shock state and my brains are starting to work again. I'm a data analyst, and realised last night that I need a proper hold on how many calories I'm eating, and the margin of error is probably too big with just guessing. I just love cooking and baking, and entertaining friends so much. Guess I need to stop that now, at least to a certain extend 2
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How are you with things like beans: kidney beans, baked beans (in small quantities because of sugar), butter beans and such? Lentils/spilt peas? They are all protein sources but at least not of the animal variety, you could try upping protein that way. Maybe for reflux, smaller meals more often would be better if your lifestyle allows this, I mean I couldn't eat say 6x a day due to the nature of my job but if you could, that may help (I'm no expert though).
Just losing weight will help prediabetes though whether low carb or not. Good luck!
I don't know if I have problems with pulses as I never really eat them. I always have the idea that they take a long time to cook while I prefer quick meals during weekdays. But maybe I could try it next weekend. Lentils with potatoes, carrots, some other vegetables and bacon? Or is that too much sugar again?1 -
Complex carbs (veggies, brown rice, whole wheat flour, etc) are supposed to cause less of a blood sugar spike, so maybe try to shift the carbs you are eating to less white flour, sugar, pasta. If you need to, go half whole grain , half white at first. Good luck!
Thanks a lot! That helps a lot. I'm already eating whole grain bread from a specialist bakery. Never got used to what the British call 'bread'
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rosebarnalice wrote: »Maybe sweet potatoes, squash, and some legumes might be worth a try. Sweet potatoes are lower carb than white potato varieties, and squash is generally tolerated by even the most sensitive tummies. Plus, both back be eaten whole or hit with a stick blender and made into soup fairly easily.
Great ideas! I'll see what I can do with that!0 -
Well seeing as you have to wait half a year to see a physician that can help I would look into things that can help with digestion.
This is from a quick search so there may be better info out there:
https://sott.net/article/266284-Natural-solutions-to-increase-stomach-acid-and-improve-digestion
And this is book is about treating diabetes with a vegan diet. Only throwing this in because you say you don't tolerate meat or fat well so it might be a way of eating that could work for you:
https://amazon.com/End-Diabetes-Live-Prevent-Reverse-ebook/dp/B0089LOG7U?ie=UTF8&keywords=diabetes%20cure&qid=1464732955&ref_=sr_1_2&s=books&sr=1-2
Hmm.. not too keen on going vegetarian to be honest. I like my bit of meat or fish. It's just not much that I eat.
But increase stomach acid? I have reflux, thus I'd think I have too much of it.0 -
When I got my pre-diabetes diagnosis I got myself a blood sugar tester and diarized all my food for three months (before my first dietitian appointment). All those diary entries helped a lot as I started to associate certain foods with high blood sugars therefore baaaad. I was able to stave off type 2 diabetes for almost a decade. My diabetes went in to remission a few years ago from significant weight loss.This at least gives me some hope. I'm devastated since my GP told me I'm pre-diabetic!
Diabetes is a controllable condition, so there is definitely hope!
I love the suggestions above to switch to unrefined and complex carbs. Indeed, they process much more slowly, so are good for blood sugar control.
Thanks a lot for your comment! I hope losing weight will be enough.
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Marjatta007 wrote: »How are you with things like beans: kidney beans, baked beans (in small quantities because of sugar), butter beans and such? Lentils/spilt peas? They are all protein sources but at least not of the animal variety, you could try upping protein that way. Maybe for reflux, smaller meals more often would be better if your lifestyle allows this, I mean I couldn't eat say 6x a day due to the nature of my job but if you could, that may help (I'm no expert though).
Just losing weight will help prediabetes though whether low carb or not. Good luck!
I don't know if I have problems with pulses as I never really eat them. I always have the idea that they take a long time to cook while I prefer quick meals during weekdays. But maybe I could try it next weekend. Lentils with potatoes, carrots, some other vegetables and bacon? Or is that too much sugar again?
That could work. Eat a small amount and see how you feel. Then eat some more later.
Lentils will work because they do not take long to cook. In fact I too frequently over cook mine.
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JanetYellen wrote: »Open your diary.
Caring people will help you.
Log food for a few days, and put your symptoms on the note section.
Did you know that many doctors know about this program? Use it !
Do you eat salads?
I don't have a diary yet but I realize I need to do something. No, I don't like salads or many green vegetables as they taste very bitter for me and don't fill me up. And I don't want to drown my salad with dressing to get some nutrition, or use chicken as it causes reflux.0 -
This is not true, I'm in the UK and have had really good dietetic referral on the NHS. I don't have pre-diabetes (though I have recovered from this 5+ yrs ago). Get a second opinion. I don't know whereabouts you are but you can self refer to My Weight Matters/ACE health sessions in east Anglia.Marjatta007 wrote: »diannethegeek wrote: »If you have problems digesting both fat & protein and need to lower your carbs, then it might be time to see if your doc can refer you to a registered dietitian. They'd be able to give you much more specific advice that takes all of your medical issues into account than most of us can.
I asked for a referral but apparently I can only get one once I have full diabetes. There are too little consultants and too long waiting times.
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Drop wheat in a hurry. That was my prediabetic issue. Look up Wheat Belly diet. (Several of your issues are the same I had-even the BM) Then, start bouncing for 5 minutes a day. Either with one of those little trampolines, or jogging, or just bouncing. I know it sounds crazy, but I was diagnosed with GERD and my Dr put me on meds for it. THEN I started getting heartburn. Talked to my chiropractor, and he explained that runners don't get Reflux because the bouncing motion causes the stomach to drop lower in your abdomen. My brother was suffering with the same issue, and it helped him too. Now, no prediabetic issues, no GERD, no heartburn, and the only thing I don't eat is wheat. You will know within 7 days if it works though. Just stick with it for 7 days.
What? This all sounds very wrong to be honest. I'm glad it helped you, but I think it's something I should run away from as quickly as possible. I did a quick search earlier this morning and found a lot written about this book, but no properly peer reviewed articles in respectable journals that support any of those claims. It rather looks like advertising a product nobody needs. Glad it helped you, but I don't see it as a serious option. Sorry.
And honestly, I don't think I should be jumping around 22 stones! Besides, I can hardly walk when my stomach hurts and feels heavy, how should I be jumping?4 -
I agree with the others. Log everything you eat and make notes about how you feel. You will have lots of data for the dietian to review when you see them. Also check into a diabetic diet plan. Losing weight will hopefully solve both the reflux and prediabetes. Good luck.
Yes, I will have to do that. Analyzing data is my job anyway
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I would advise you to change your doctor, or ask to see a nutritionist for advice. Low carb is a crazy and outdated idea, which goes against science. If by low-carb he meant low GI then I could agree. Do your research on what diabetes actually is and you'll see its a build up of fat in your system which stops sugars from being accessed by insulin, as the sugars literally get surrounded with sludgy fat. Fat is the issue not the carbs. I would advocate a low GI diet, consisting of brown rice, whole wheat pasta, lots of veg (as much as possible) and lentils and beans (lentils and beans make whatever you're eating lower GI by combining them. The most important part of this is to have a super super low fat approach, especially saturated fats (from animals: dairy, cheese, eggs, meat, fish). For ultimate health aim for no more than 30g a day of fat, but ideally around 15g, and take these from whole nuts and seeds, not oils or processed foods. I would predict a very fast recovery on this type of plan. Basically low fat and plant-based. For more information look at nutritionfacts.org for reliable current scientific research and advice.0
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If you are considering a protein powder for shakes/smoothies, you might try a vegetable-based protein powder (I use Naturade pea protein powder that I buy on Amazon.) Many people are bothered by whey protein. Also, I was having many of the symptoms you describe before losing weight, and I know my diet at the time was very high in carbohydrates and lacking in good quality protein & fats. I too avoided dietary fat and greasy foods because I seemed to have trouble digesting it. Now that I have lost weight and improved my diet overall, I find I actually tend to eat more fat, but have much fewer digestive problems than I used to have. I would agree with a previous poster, that the focus on reducing carbohydrates right now is less important than actually taking some of the weight off, which simply requires a calorie deficit. Reducing carbs seems to be standard Dr's advice for weight loss, but that's probably based on the assumption that many of the extra calories in a person's diet likely come from carbs, not that they need to be on a low-carb diet per se.
THanks a lot. I will look into it. But with what do I mix protein powder if milk is a no?0
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