Diabetes

annaosso7
annaosso7 Posts: 1 Member
edited November 22 in Health and Weight Loss
I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have no clue what to eat. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Replies

  • jamadeacs
    jamadeacs Posts: 2 Member
    After I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago, my doc referred me to go take a diabetic nutrition class. I am sure you can find enough info on the web, but going and hearing it directly from a nutritionist was helpful!
  • jenny3073
    jenny3073 Posts: 117 Member
    After my diagnosis a few years ago, the doctor sent me to a diabetic nutrition class that was lead by a skinny vegetarian who just said the same thing everyone's been saying for decades... fill up half the plate with veggies (which I hate), some type of grain and a little dry boring piece of meat if you eat meat... did not help me. Everyone is different though, and most people actually like veggies so it might be helpful for you, check with your doctor to see if that's available at your medical facility.

    It's been 3 years and I'm still tweaking but I have to find what works for me or else it won't be done.
  • ralph124c41
    ralph124c41 Posts: 17 Member
    Maybe…
    I have an appointment tomorrow to "talk" over my A1C test. It's the first time I've had that test, and so I'm reluctant to accept a diagnosis of diabetes. Six months from now will be another story.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,749 Member
    If your diabetes is borderline, you may be able to treat it with diet and exercise changes. Losing weight and exercising more can make a big difference. Lower carb eating can help. When DH was diagnosed with T2D we went to a nutrition class for diabetics which mostly just focused on eating a more healthy diet. For the first six months we were conscientious, after that we slipped into bad habits again and he ended up on medication. When he is very active and loses weight, he is able to reduce his medication. When he isn't as active, he needs more.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited October 2018
    annaosso7 wrote: »
    I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have no clue what to eat. Any suggestions?
    Thanks!

    First of all, schedule that appointment with a Registered Dietician almost all insurance will pay for upon a new diagnosis. Most of the time you need your PCP's referral to get insurance coverage. Second, check out diabetic education classes in your area. Third, spend time on the website of the American Diabetes Association diabetes.org/ . If you are not in the US, it is still good information, especially in the "Diabetes Basics" and "Living with Diabetes" tabs. Your own country probably has a similar organization you can check out.

    What was your A1c? Did your doctor prescribe medication?

    While you are educating yourself, food choices basically mean reducing total carbs and raising fiber. How much you need to reduce the carbs is going to depend on the severity of your disease as indicated by the A1c number you were diagnosed with. One thing to remember: the problem is carbs, not just sugar (a subset of carbs). If you eat a lot of sweets, drink regular soda, and eat a lot of fruit, reducing that sugar will be a quick and easy way to reduce carbs.

    Simple ways to reduce carbs:
    • Make your sandwiches with one slice of bread instead of 2
    • Reduce the fruits you eat and increase the vegetables
    • Stay away from high carb beverages like fancy coffee drinks, soda, juices, etc
    • Have protein snacks like boiled eggs, cheese, nuts, etc. instead of carb snacks like crackers, chips, etc.
    • Forego the dinner roll and the breakfast toast
    • Be very precise in weighing carb foods like rice, pasta, and potatoes.
    • Learn substitutes like using root vegetables (turnips, parsnips, etc) in soups and stews instead of potatoes
    • Log everything

    I was diagnosed in January of 2014 with an A1c of 7.3. I was put on medication and also told to eat a moderate carb diet (under 180 grams per day). My PCP is also a Certified Diabetic Educator so I didn't have to seek out a doctor who understood diabetes. I also started losing weight and exercising more. Eight months later, my A1c was 5.5 and I was off all medication. I have been maintaining a similar number ever since.

    Living with diabetes does not HAVE to mean a drastic change in your diet, but it MAY mean that depending on how severe your disease is and how you respond to the changes. Everyone is different and it is best to find a medical team that will guide you.

    One more note: you need to learn how to balance living with your disease with the life you want to live. Do you enjoy carb laden foods? Then decide when and where to have an appropriate amount of them. Not every diabetic needs something drastic like keto, especially if it means craving the foods you enjoy. So much is about balance.
  • TanyaHooton
    TanyaHooton Posts: 249 Member
    Ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietician. There is some good information on the internet, but your best bet is someone who specializes in nutrition and can create a plan for you.
  • happytree923
    happytree923 Posts: 463 Member
    After meeting with a dietician or taking a diabetes management class, tracking your blood sugar before and after meals will help you find out what foods you have a particularly strong response to. I know someone with type 2 diabetes who gets major blood sugar spikes after eating certain fruits even though he does just fine with a generally moderate carb intake.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited October 2018
    Never mind B)
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Another vote for asking your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian.

    I'm flabbergasted this didn't come with your diagnosis.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    Perhaps in the year since OP made one and only post, further advice has been forthcoming from the doctor.

    #ZombieThread
  • Strudders67
    Strudders67 Posts: 989 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    Perhaps in the year since OP made one and only post, further advice has been forthcoming from the doctor.

    #ZombieThread

    Good spot. Although I appreciate the bump as some of the info above was helpful. I was diagnosed earlier this year but, apart from being told to look at the Diabetes website, was given no information. I had a followup blood test last week and when I go to see my doctor for the results I'll be asking to see a dietician. It's all very well saying "eat less sugar" but how much less? Looking at my food diary on MFP, 99% of my sugar comes from fruit and veg. I'd like to know numbers to target not vague statements.
  • maureenkhilde
    maureenkhilde Posts: 849 Member
    Strudders67 wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    Perhaps in the year since OP made one and only post, further advice has been forthcoming from the doctor.

    #ZombieThread

    Good spot. Although I appreciate the bump as some of the info above was helpful. I was diagnosed earlier this year but, apart from being told to look at the Diabetes website, was given no information. I had a followup blood test last week and when I go to see my doctor for the results I'll be asking to see a dietician. It's all very well saying "eat less sugar" but how much less? Looking at my food diary on MFP, 99% of my sugar comes from fruit and veg. I'd like to know numbers to target not vague statements.

    I have been a T2 Diabetic for 17 years. And finally really in last 5 years I can say Dr's are doing a better job here in USA, of being more involved and making sure their patients get more information, and follow up more. Before it was more of send us out for tests, and for me literally handed me a diet to follow that stated it was 1500 calories, and stated how many carbs, proteins and so forth allowed for each meal. Um to say it was not interactive and did not work well is being nice. The diabetes association website has tons of good information. Lots of good info on youtube as well. And as earlnabby said some Dr's themselves are trained Diabetes Educators which is a huge bonus.
    Because personally I think one of the really important things to understand is what is considered a good acceptable fasting blood sugar from overnight, what is good for two hours after eating. Understanding what types of carbs drive it up and so on. For me, I stay away from bread, grains, regular soda. And lots of fruit. Yes I eat fruit just not lots and watch serving size because the carbs in fruit can really drive blood sugar numbers up.

    When people say they have reversed their diabetes, well they have, as long as they 100% stay eating on that healthy curve, and stay plenty active. Because once you have been diagnosed with Diabetes it is there in the background. So if you go back to bad ways of eating, stop being active it will come roaring back. And it has so many ugly complications with it. Truly the more people know about it the better for all.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Strudders67 wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    Perhaps in the year since OP made one and only post, further advice has been forthcoming from the doctor.

    #ZombieThread

    Good spot. Although I appreciate the bump as some of the info above was helpful. I was diagnosed earlier this year but, apart from being told to look at the Diabetes website, was given no information. I had a followup blood test last week and when I go to see my doctor for the results I'll be asking to see a dietician. It's all very well saying "eat less sugar" but how much less? Looking at my food diary on MFP, 99% of my sugar comes from fruit and veg. I'd like to know numbers to target not vague statements.

    The first person I spoke to gave me the same vague statements. I was diagnosed when in the hospital for anemia. I had a followup with my PCP and the first thing she said was to stay under 180 grams of total carbs and suggested a calorie and macro tracking website like MFP to know how many I was eating. Turns out she is a Certified Diabetic Specialist (something I didn't know when i first saw her). She also said watching sugar is not nearly as important as watching total carbs.

    That is the information I needed. Tell me what numbers I should be hitting and I will figure out how to hit them. I have my macros set to 35% protein, 35% carb and 30% fat which works really well for me. Currently 35% of my calories is 148 grams so I am under her recommendations for a maximum.

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