Drs orders

apurvas5640
apurvas5640 Posts: 3 Member
edited December 20 in Food and Nutrition
Dr said I might be prediabetic. I don’t eat beef or pork and I’m trying to figure out how to make this a little less daunting? I feel like this is a lot and I’m not entirely sure where to start. Help?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Did your doctor have any specific recommendations for your diet? If not, would it be possible for you to get an referral to an RD to help you plan your next steps?
  • apurvas5640
    apurvas5640 Posts: 3 Member
    He really just told me to stop eating late, less carbs, and way less sugar
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    He really just told me to stop eating late, less carbs, and way less sugar

    But you dont feel like you can do any of those things?
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    He really just told me to stop eating late, less carbs, and way less sugar

    Did he give you specific goals for carbohydrates or sugar? If so, you can begin logging your meals now and see how much you're eating and begin making small adjustments to your diet to bring it to the levels he's recommending. If that seems completely overwhelming or you aren't sure what to shoot for, a professional like an RD can sometimes be helpful.

    For the eating late, do you know what time you'd like to stop eating? Once you have a goal, you can begin to implement it. If you find yourself failing to meet the goal sometimes, figuring out why will help you make a plan for future days. Is it boredom, hunger, too many tempting foods around?
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,189 Member
    Diabetes Society
    www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/

    Are you constantly asking yourself, "What can I eat?" It's time to stop worrying! Living with diabetes doesn't have to mean feeling deprived. We'll help you learn to balance your meals and make the healthiest food choices.
    Once you get the hang of eating a healthy diet, you can relax and dig in to a wide variety of delicious meals and snacks.
    A great way to get started is with the special meal planning bundle available at shopdiabetes.org.
  • apurvas5640
    apurvas5640 Posts: 3 Member
    I do. But I also work weird hours where I won’t get home til midnight or I won’t have eaten from 6 am until about 4 pm. So it’s more I’m afraid I’m going to mess it up by eating the things that he said not to eat, since it’s supposed to be fruits and veggies at night.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    Dr said I might be prediabetic. I don’t eat beef or pork and I’m trying to figure out how to make this a little less daunting? I feel like this is a lot and I’m not entirely sure where to start. Help?

    When will the doctor know for sure?

    The best place to start is to evaluate your current diet. If you have not been logging now is a good time to start. You may find that while some changes are needed they may not be as much as might be worrying you at the moment. This will also help you if you decide to talk to an RD.

    When/if you do talk to an RD you need to instruct them that for now you want to keep your changes confined to the diagnosis. It has been my experience that some can still be opinionated about "processed" foods and whatnot.

  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    edited March 2019
    Do you need to lose weight? If you do, often losing weight and moderating carbs are the key to stopping prediabetes from progressing. So set yourself up here to see what your calorie goal is, focus on lowering your carbs and sugar, and maybe hold off on the eating late thing until you get a handle on your weight and get your carbs moderated and see what that does to your prediabetic status?

    The awesome thing about the prediabetic diagnosis is that you don't need to panic - you have time to figure out what to do and improve your situation before things get dire.

    Good luck!
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    I do. But I also work weird hours where I won’t get home til midnight or I won’t have eaten from 6 am until about 4 pm. So it’s more I’m afraid I’m going to mess it up by eating the things that he said not to eat, since it’s supposed to be fruits and veggies at night.

    I honestly wouldn't worry too much about the late night eating thing. Of all the things he's told you, that one is the least important. Work on controlling the other things first. Then when you get a hold on them, you can focus on other things that maybe you can do to improve it. But if changing up your timing is going to make it difficult for you to make improved diet choices, then I wouldn't focus on doing it first.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    I do. But I also work weird hours where I won’t get home til midnight or I won’t have eaten from 6 am until about 4 pm. So it’s more I’m afraid I’m going to mess it up by eating the things that he said not to eat, since it’s supposed to be fruits and veggies at night.

    This can be easily solved with a little brainstorming/research and preparation. There are millions of resources online with ideas for carb control. Also, if you do mess up you can learn from any mistakes. Unless the doctor says otherwise this is not something to take lightly but it is not something to panic over.
  • jlbtnc
    jlbtnc Posts: 725 Member
    It is best to do what the doctor tells you, maybe check with to see if any other recommendations, if not I was like that last year and was told to cut back on carbs and sugars. I know have no use no extra sugars. many years ago I was told to stay away from white foods, such as chips, potatoes, white breads noddles. Of course never new what that meant until this year it finally clicked. It will be a life style change! I was also told to eat as if I was a diabetic, no sugar. Research how to control if prediabetic or check the http://www.diabetes.org/ this might help also.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    I do. But I also work weird hours where I won’t get home til midnight or I won’t have eaten from 6 am until about 4 pm. So it’s more I’m afraid I’m going to mess it up by eating the things that he said not to eat, since it’s supposed to be fruits and veggies at night.

    Why can't you eat fruits and veg at night?

    It sounds like you just need to do a little planning.

    At the moment you're already defeated without even trying by the sounds of it.
  • jaimydude
    jaimydude Posts: 103 Member
    If you're prediabetic, the best thing you can do is lose weight (If you are overweight). So basically start watching your portions on everything and start walking 30-60 minutes a day. Also important is to eliminate simple carbs from your diet as far as you can (especially rotis, rice etc). At first you will be shocked at how little you're actually supposed to eat but once you get used to the smalled quantities, it won't be a big deal (based only on my exp.)
    You need to mainly reduce your intake of carbs but make sure you don't overdo other stuff to compensate. If you're weight comes down and stays down you will be fine.
  • zeejane03
    zeejane03 Posts: 993 Member
    OP, I normalized prediabetic numbers by losing excess weight. Are you overweight? If so, just losing the weight may be enough to improve your glucose numbers.
  • kbmnurse1
    kbmnurse1 Posts: 316 Member
    Why not see a dietitian? If you have health insurance check to see if they have any Health Coach Programs available. I would have certainly asked the doctor more information? Was your glucose high? Eating beef and pork has nothing to do with being pre-diabetic. So this is your wake up call educate yourself and take this seriously. Diabetes is no joke.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Did your doctor have any specific recommendations for your diet? If not, would it be possible for you to get an referral to an RD to help you plan your next steps?

    This.

    Or just do a little meal planning and consider making your evening meal in advance. Typically advice would be something like mix carbs with fiber and protein, limit added sugar and carbs that don't come with fiber.

    Weight loss often fixes the problem if you have weight to lose.

    I doubt eating late if you get home late is the issue (although this is why you should talk to a dietitian). Often doctors give canned advice like that thinking that many people snack at night after dinner.
  • thanos5
    thanos5 Posts: 513 Member
    I have type 2. my a1c was 10.7 in august, it is now 5.9.

    my super secret? i eat less calories than i burn. that's it.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    He really just told me to stop eating late, less carbs, and way less sugar

    Get a food scale, start logging your food, and see where you can start cutting sugar.

    You could log for a week and open your diary for us to make suggestions.

    Your doctor's advice sounds confusing - did you tell him or her you get home late?

    Did they give you a printout you could post here?

    I think your best bet is to ask for a referral to a dietitian who can help you sort all this out.
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    This is for diabetics, but maybe this information would help...


    "Lifestyle therapy begins with nutrition counseling and education. All patients should strive to attain and maintain an optimal weight through a primarily plant-based meal plan high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, with limited intake of saturated fatty acids and avoidance of trans fats."
  • kytdkyt
    kytdkyt Posts: 16 Member
    Doctors are terrible about providing good nutritional advice. They aren't really knowledgeable in this area. You should ask him for a referral to a registered dietitian, and do as much research as you can on your own. The American Diabetes Association is a good starting point. Also the websites of hospitals like the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    apurvas5640 wrote: »
    I do. But I also work weird hours where I won’t get home til midnight or I won’t have eaten from 6 am until about 4 pm. So it’s more I’m afraid I’m going to mess it up by eating the things that he said not to eat, since it’s supposed to be fruits and veggies at night.

    I think the “no late night eating” can stem from the fact that some folks can mindlessly nosh in the evening (after dinner) when they’re watching tv or on the computer.

    If your late night eating is dinner (as opposed to snacking), the that’s likely not what the doctor meant. I eat dinner late, too. I workout after workout and usually don’t get home until 8-8:30. I’m not going to not eat because someone says I’m past a window of when I can eat. My dinner fits into my day.

    Losing weight requires a calorie deficit. Meal timing doesn’t matter. Though it is important to be aware if you have a habit of night-time snacking. Think about how you can work that into your day. Maybe save 100 calories or so for that time and have something that satisfies you.

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    I reversed my prediabetes with a very low carb diet. My numbers were better within days. I followed Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. Great book. Dr Richard Bernstein also makes many youtube videos.

    I cut carbs by first eliminating added sugar and processed and refined carbs. Then I cut way back on root vegetables and sugary fruit. I ate under 20-30g of carbs from vegetables, nuts, seeds, coconut, olives and berries. Then I found that I felt better the fewer carbs I eat so I eat very few now. My BG is super steady.

    Testing blood glucose is very helpful. I recommend getting a metre and using it to test before eating, and in 30 minute intervals after eating until you get a good feeling of whi h foods have a large effect in your bg.

    Good luck.
  • sytchequeen
    sytchequeen Posts: 526 Member
    ok. My good friend was diagnosed with type 2 a couple of years ago. His doctor immediately prescribed pills, and gave no other advice. He researched himself what to do, and found Diabetes UK to be a helpful resource.

    He has now reversed his diabetes completely, although is left with neuropathy in his feet. Here is what he did...

    He started to get fit. He has lost a third of his body weight (he needed to...) through regular exercise, mainly cycling and walking. And by regular I mean daily.

    He started counting calories (his guide of choice was the Hairy Bikers / Hairy Dieters books).

    He reduced the amount of bread he ate, avoids baked goods, limits pasta and rice to the whole grain kinds and only eats them rarely, and increased the amount of green veg. He didn't really eat desserts or sweets in the first place, but did drink a LOT of beer. He now has occasional wine or a gin and tonic instead.

    You are not in the bad state he was in. You can do this.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,657 Member
    When my husband was diagnosed we signed up for a series of classes at a local hospital. They educated us on what exactly diabetes was, what affected it, and how to eat properly. What really registered with us was the instructor handing around a series of clear testubes filled with sugar corresponding to how much was in a serving of soda, a snickers, Oreos, and even no sugary foods. It was eye opening.

  • tmpecus78
    tmpecus78 Posts: 1,206 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »

    Why can't you eat fruits and veg at night? .


    Didn't you know that after the sun goes down, your body will store all carbs as fat. :p
  • sharon8271
    sharon8271 Posts: 140 Member
    My Doctor told me two years ago that I was close to developing diabetes. The doctor made an appointment for me to see a nutritionist. I started working on portion control and slowly cut out junk food. I started going for daily walks. Then, I started going to the gym for cardio and strength training. This month I got a check up and my a1c is now normal as well as my weight. So I think seeing a nutritionist would help you tremendously. Good luck!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I was pre-diabetic when I started years ago. Eating late has nothing to do with anything...I eat late every night. My numbers improved with weight loss...regular exercise was a big help as well. I did reduce my carbohydrates and particularly sugar as I was drinking anywhere from 3-6 full sugar sodas daily. I didn't go low carb, I just moderated them and made better choices like more veg and fruit, legumes, lentils, etc.
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