Diabetes
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billnangilbert
Posts: 3 Member
Just found out I have diabetes. Is there a program to help you follow your diet for diabetes? Trying to figure out what I can and can’t have and hoping this app can help me track the right foods.
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Replies
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You should probably consult a doctor instead of a message board.6
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I have!! I’m trying to see if I can track for diabetic diet on app.4
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billnangilbert wrote: »I have!! I’m trying to see if I can track for diabetic diet on app.
What specifically do you need to track?0 -
I’m just learning. I’ve been reading a lot. I think I figured it out. Playing with app. 1500 calories healthy carbs low sugar no processed food. It’s all learning for me. I want to track correctly.6
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DevilsFan1 wrote: »You should probably consult a doctor instead of a message board.
Not always true, I've had plenty of doctors tell me to eat "healthy whole grains" for a diabetic there is no such thing. A "healthy whole grain" is still a carb, which is glucose in the blood.
To the original poster: I try and stay under about 100g of carbs per day with very little (preferable no) wheat. Everybody is different though, so continue reading everything you can, get yourself a glucometer and test, test, test until you figure out all the things you can and can't eat to keep your BG in control.
Walmart sells a ReliOn meter which the test strips are a lot cheaper than the one your doctor will probably prescribe you. I get those strips (and meter) so I can test more frequently than every 2-3 days. Test before your first bite of a meal and then 1 hour and 2 hours after to see what it does to your BG and log the readings and what the meal consisted of including carb count.
Check out the groups "low carb daily forum" and "keto", lots of information in those groups.
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DevilsFan1 wrote: »You should probably consult a doctor instead of a message board.
Not always true, I've had plenty of doctors tell me to eat "healthy whole grains" for a diabetic there is no such thing. A "healthy whole grain" is still a carb, which is glucose in the blood.
To the original poster: I try and stay under about 100g of carbs per day with very little (preferable no) wheat. Everybody is different though, so continue reading everything you can, get yourself a glucometer and test, test, test until you figure out all the things you can and can't eat to keep your BG in control.
Walmart sells a ReliOn meter which the test strips are a lot cheaper than the one your doctor will probably prescribe you. I get those strips (and meter) so I can test more frequently than every 2-3 days. Test before your first bite of a meal and then 1 hour and 2 hours after to see what it does to your BG and log the readings and what the meal consisted of including carb count.
Check out the groups "low carb daily forum" and "keto", lots of information in those groups.
I know several T2Ds who eat whole grains, in fact they eat almost any carbs. They have benefited by balancing carbs over the course of the day, not limiting them per se. Which is why OP should consult with their doctor (if they specialize in diabetes or endocrinology) or a Diabetes Specialist who is often an RD or nurse with special training and experience. Because there are lots of people on the internet who talk as if they are experts but don't actually have access to all the pertinent info or the bigger picture.12 -
There are lots of doctors who talk as if they are experts also, but they are not. I had a "diabetic specialist" give me a list of 15g carb items and wanted me to eat 3 to 4 of them per meal, that's 45-60g of carbs per meal plus one for a snack before bed. I gave it a go and with 3 options my BG spiked from 120 to 235, I wouldn't even try 4 in one meal. I do better on 15-20g of carbs per meal and I know everybody's different, that's why I told the OP to test, test, test.7
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There are lots of doctors who talk as if they are experts also, but they are not. I had a "diabetic specialist" give me a list of 15g carb items and wanted me to eat 3 to 4 of them per meal, that's 45-60g of carbs per meal plus one for a snack before bed. I gave it a go and with 3 options my BG spiked from 120 to 235, I wouldn't even try 4 in one meal. I do better on 15-20g of carbs per meal and I know everybody's different, that's why I told the OP to test, test, test.
Whereas I do best on the 60ish g carbs per meal if I can stick to it. Testing is definitely key!
I've had a lot of conflicting advice over the years. Don't eat carbs, do eat carbs, don't ever have sugar, have it in moderation. I've found what works for me blood sugar wise is testing regularly (especially in the early days) and not just cutting out everything "bad" as then I just end up leaping off the wagon and having a binge. My original consultant said a small treat a couple of times a week, preferably immediately after a meal, is way better than being too strict and failing. It's about finding what works for you really. For me that's moderation, for some it's very low carb.
You can track carbs and sugar on MFP but as far as I know there's not setting just for a diabetic diet.7 -
There’s a book called “the obesity code” by dr Jason fung which I’ve found life changing. He also talks a lot on YouTube about his philosophy to lower blood sugar27
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billnangilbert wrote: »Just found out I have diabetes. Is there a program to help you follow your diet for diabetes? Trying to figure out what I can and can’t have and hoping this app can help me track the right foods.
You should start by getting an appointment with a Registered Dietician. If you are in the US and have insurance, a certain number of visits will be paid for because of a new diagnosis of diabetes (other countries have other options depending on how health care is paid for). There also are classes offered by local RD's which teach the basics of the Diabetic Diet. Check with your doctor to find out about those too.
A great place to start is the American Diabetes Association website ( http://www.diabetes.org/ ). There is a lot of information to get you started. If you are not in the US, there are similar associations for most countries.
You need to find out from a medical professional how many carbs is suggested for you. Once you have that information, this website will be great to help you track that. You need more information about your particular situation first. None of us can answer your questions, this should have been discussed with your doctor upon diagnosis. So many factors enter in to managing the disease. Do you need to lose weight? Are you taking medication? Are you taking insulin?
I was diagnosed 5 years ago. I was able to get off medication and manage the disease by diet and exercise only ever since.10 -
With respect, I had a meeting with a registered dietician who was supposedly a “diabetes expert” at a major medical center in a good sized city when I was diagnosed and if I had followed her advice - eat three “carb items” with every meal, with a single “carb” meaning anything from a whole baked potato to a slice of pie - I would be very sick and medicated right now, instead of having normal labs with no medication. My so-called doctor sent me home with medication which can dangerously drop blood sugar, and also told me I didn’t need a blood sugar meter. Looking at the statistics of how long people with type 2 diabetes live in the US and what percentage of them have adequate glucose control, it’s pretty apparent that following the prevailing wisdom is a mistake and that most doctors have no clue when it comes to diabetes.
Dietitians and doctors tend to assume that type 2 diabetics will be noncompliant and not bother to follow instructions anyway, so why bother trying to get them to change. My dietician’s advice was an oversimplification of the the already flawed guidelines of the ADA, which works off the assumption that diabetes is a progressive disease and all diabetes can expect to get worse and worse. This isn’t true. You can take charge of your illness and very likely see great improvement in your blood sugar control. Just ignore literally everything any professional tells you, and you can be like me and have the doctor call in other doctors every visit to go on about how miraculous you are and how they have never seen the like.
Sorry for the rant - but the referral to the experts as if they all know what they are doing and give good advice makes me see red.
OP - use MFP to track your carbs by adding a fiber column under settings so that you can easily see net carbs. Use the notes function to record how different meals affected you. At first you should be testing after every meal, then later, only after novel meals.
Get a cheap blood glucose meter with inexpensive strips you can easily afford to use often, not the expensive one your doctor will try to foist on you, test after meals, and learn how many carbs and of what foods you personally need to eat to stay within safe levels. This is different for everyone and even different day to day based on how much exercise you do, whether or not you are sick with a cold, and even whether you had a fight with your spouse that morning, so no dietician or doctor can teach you about your own body. Some people can eat lots of specific foods without spikes, others can’t - you have to find out for yourself. For example, I can eat lots of fruit and potatoes with no spikes, but even a tiny amount of rice will spike me, and for some reason beans which are supposedly a “good carb” spike me badly. Others are the exact opposite.
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rheddmobile wrote: »With respect, I had a meeting with a registered dietician who was supposedly a “diabetes expert” at a major medical center in a good sized city when I was diagnosed and if I had followed her advice *snipped for brevity*
I had the exact opposite experience when I got diagnosed. My PCP is a Certified Diabetic Educator and she told me to start with a maximum of 180 grams of carb per day, divided among 3 large and 2-3 small meals. I immediately started with MFP so I could track and adjusted my macros to allow for the 180 carbs, which turned out to be 35%. I did 35% protein and 30% fat. I met with an RD who looked at my MFP diary and essentially confirmed that I was doing the right thing and gave me tips on making sure I got enough protein. I was off medication within 7 months and my glucose numbers have stayed in the normal range ever since.
As I lost weight, I kept the same percentages so now I am eating closer to 150 grams of carbs.
Also, why buy a meter when insurance will pay for one that the doctor can actually download and view all kinds of information during the 3 month follow up visits? Most programs do not sync with Reli-on
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I was diagnosed in Germany and the advice I was given while there was completely different to the advice I've had back here in the UK. They focused on getting my blood sugar to a normal level ASAP (put me on insulin) and then worked with me on weight loss and diet. I was off the insulin in a few months and my meds were reduced massively. I think if I hadn't gotten pregnant I'd have been off them completely and just diet controlled.
Now I see the nurse once a year, I get no support with diet, I'm not supposed to test my blood sugar, just rely on the once a year check, and my control has slipped. Clearly not all diabetes care is created equal
Pregnancy didn't help me as it went haywire afterwards yet I've had no support with that, just "oh, increase this and if it doesn't work we'll put you on insulin". 0 -
Despite the n=1 anecdotes, the best template for a newly diagnosed diabetic is to see an endocrinologist and diabetes educator to get started. Working with a clinical exercise physiologist is helpful as well. Many hospitals have a series of classes or “diabetes boot camps” to start educating you about lifestyle management. Diabetes management can be complicated and my experience is that most family docs or internists are not knowledgeable enough to be a primary manager.14
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I highly recommend the book, Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. Great book! It has a low carb plan that will help most minimize or avoid meds. He has a bunch of YouTube videos too.
I also recommend Dr Sarah Halberg"s ted talk on diabetes and diet. She is also part of the Virta study which has reversed t2d in about 65+ % of patients, and improved almost all of the others.
Ditto the others who say test test test. Some can handle cookies fine while others cant handle fruit. Some can eat pasta but rice is a problem. Testing will tell you what you are okay with. Good luck.9 -
My spouse's n=1 was this: With 45-60 minutes of moderate exercise a day, they're able to reduce med, avoid insulin, and eat moderate amounts of carbs. While keeping A1C at normal levels and morning testing in goal range.
(Before you go buy a meter, check insurance. We received a package from our insurance company with a meter and strips, and get a shipment of enough strips for daily testing every three months. For free).
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I would talk to a registered dietician who is certified in diabetes education.5
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rheddmobile wrote: »With respect, I had a meeting with a registered dietician who was supposedly a “diabetes expert” at a major medical center in a good sized city when I was diagnosed and if I had followed her advice *snipped for brevity*
I had the exact opposite experience when I got diagnosed. My PCP is a Certified Diabetic Educator and she told me to start with a maximum of 180 grams of carb per day, divided among 3 large and 2-3 small meals. I immediately started with MFP so I could track and adjusted my macros to allow for the 180 carbs, which turned out to be 35%. I did 35% protein and 30% fat. I met with an RD who looked at my MFP diary and essentially confirmed that I was doing the right thing and gave me tips on making sure I got enough protein. I was off medication within 7 months and my glucose numbers have stayed in the normal range ever since.
As I lost weight, I kept the same percentages so now I am eating closer to 150 grams of carbs.
Also, why buy a meter when insurance will pay for one that the doctor can actually download and view all kinds of information during the 3 month follow up visits? Most programs do not sync with Reli-on
The usual insurance covers only one strip per day unless you are on insulin, which is not enough, and the typical doctor provided meter has strips which cost over a dollar apiece. The Bayer Contour Next has higher reliability according to consumer testing, and strips only cost twenty cents. Testing once a day isn’t giving you information about how different foods affect you at meals. Morning fasting glucose is not strongly correlated with outcomes, unlike postprandial glucose which is a strong predictor of complications. A1c is not strongly predictive either.
The standard 180g carb advice is not something that works for everyone, or even most people. It would not have worked for me, for example, since that’s above my tolerances. I’m happy the generic advice worked for you, but still wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. It’s a case of a stopped clock being right twice a day.2 -
rheddmobile wrote: »rheddmobile wrote: »With respect, I had a meeting with a registered dietician who was supposedly a “diabetes expert” at a major medical center in a good sized city when I was diagnosed and if I had followed her advice *snipped for brevity*
I had the exact opposite experience when I got diagnosed. My PCP is a Certified Diabetic Educator and she told me to start with a maximum of 180 grams of carb per day, divided among 3 large and 2-3 small meals. I immediately started with MFP so I could track and adjusted my macros to allow for the 180 carbs, which turned out to be 35%. I did 35% protein and 30% fat. I met with an RD who looked at my MFP diary and essentially confirmed that I was doing the right thing and gave me tips on making sure I got enough protein. I was off medication within 7 months and my glucose numbers have stayed in the normal range ever since.
As I lost weight, I kept the same percentages so now I am eating closer to 150 grams of carbs.
Also, why buy a meter when insurance will pay for one that the doctor can actually download and view all kinds of information during the 3 month follow up visits? Most programs do not sync with Reli-on
The usual insurance covers only one strip per day unless you are on insulin, which is not enough, and the typical doctor provided meter has strips which cost over a dollar apiece. The Bayer Contour Next has higher reliability according to consumer testing, and strips only cost twenty cents. Testing once a day isn’t giving you information about how different foods affect you at meals. Morning fasting glucose is not strongly correlated with outcomes, unlike postprandial glucose which is a strong predictor of complications. A1c is not strongly predictive either.
The standard 180g carb advice is not something that works for everyone, or even most people. It would not have worked for me, for example, since that’s above my tolerances. I’m happy the generic advice worked for you, but still wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. It’s a case of a stopped clock being right twice a day.
Which is why it is a starting point and gets adjusted as needed every 3 months in follow up visits after getting an A1c. Easing into a reduced carb eating pattern generally results in better adherence. Obviously there are those with acute diabetes who need to go a different route but most with newly diagnosed T2Dm have time to play with the numbers to find their sweet spot.
Re: the strips. The one a day fasting strip is all the doctor needs to see how well the current regimen is working and most do NOT need to test more unless they are on insulin. Insurance will pay for more strips if they are. Some people will want to test more often for various reasons but it is not necessary and can actually cloud the real picture. I have a Walmart meter and strips for the occasional random test or when I feel my BG is too low and I might need to eat something. I am not saying one shouldn't test more often, I am saying it is unnecessary for most people with T2Dm.8 -
SarahMacphail1 wrote: »I was diagnosed in Germany and the advice I was given while there was completely different to the advice I've had back here in the UK. They focused on getting my blood sugar to a normal level ASAP (put me on insulin) and then worked with me on weight loss and diet. I was off the insulin in a few months and my meds were reduced massively. I think if I hadn't gotten pregnant I'd have been off them completely and just diet controlled.
Now I see the nurse once a year, I get no support with diet, I'm not supposed to test my blood sugar, just rely on the once a year check, and my control has slipped. Clearly not all diabetes care is created equal Pregnancy didn't help me as it went haywire afterwards yet I've had no support with that, just "oh, increase this and if it doesn't work we'll put you on insulin".
The standard of care here in the US starts out like you did in Germany: medicate to get the numbers down and work on lifestyle changes with no medication after the numbers are in the normal range. It also includes one or more meetings with a Registered Dietician and a series of classes that cover food and lifestyle. Depending on the medication, testing is usually once a day but can be more if insulin is prescribed.
The ongoing care is different here. The standard is a follow up visit every 3 months with an A1c lab test and may or may not include other labs as the Dr. deems necessary. Usually there are no more visits to the RD unless the doctor thinks they are needed. Once the numbers get into the normal range and have stayed there for 2 years, the visits and A1c go to every 4-6 months instead of quarterly. Testing every morning is still done.5
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