Finding it difficult to limit carbs

LIFOtheparty
LIFOtheparty Posts: 24 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I was told by my doctor that I have prediabetes and that I should try to limit my carbs (i.e. have bread once a week max and eat meat, eggs, and vegetables only). I also want to lose around 100 lbs. I have tried keto off and on multiple times but I can't ever stick to it. I'm just finding it hard realistically to keep my carbs low. I feel very restricted and then when I inevitably eat carbs I feel like I've failed my body and my health.

Can anyone with prediabetes or blood sugar problems chime in on this? Is it really necessary to eat a low carb diet when you have prediabetes? I know for weight loss it's CICO, but surely I'm not doomed to a low-carb diet forever b/c of prediabetes?

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Replies

  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,464 Member
    If you are still trying, you have not failed! You just hit a bump in the road. Use it as a learning experience. Do you eat more carbs when you are hungry? When you are tired? When you are stressed? Learn to manage it. When you want carbs, reach for something else instead. Take a deep breath. Ask yourself what you really want. Sleep? Dinner? An answer to problems?
  • brenn24179
    brenn24179 Posts: 2,144 Member
    keto is very restrictive for me but I do low carb, 100 gr or less and log my calories . If I can do it anyone can. A friend of mine did this and lost 160 lbs. You can have right many carbs for 100 gr
  • mystgrl28
    mystgrl28 Posts: 43 Member
    Maybe your doctor meant refined carbs? That is bad for diabetics. But I dont see a problem with low GI carbs. Following this post as I want to have a low carb, high protein diet as well and am struggling to keep my carbs low. Im a carb monster hahahahaha.
  • Cahgetsfit
    Cahgetsfit Posts: 1,912 Member
    StatChicBayes wrote: »
    I was told I had pre-diabetes back in Feb (also have issues with high LDL cholesterol, but normal triglycerides and high HDL). I was working with a lipids specialist who recommended reduced carb (but not keto or Atkins) - recommendations were pretty close to 40% carb, 30% protein and 30% fat (the Mediterranean diet??) which translate to about 130g of carbs for me in a 1400 calorie diet. Carbs were supposed to be primarily low glycemic index fruits, vegetables, but pasta and bread on occasion were OK within the macros. Brown rice rather than white rice if possible, legumes for carbs, protein and fiber, steel cut oats, oat bran, etc. Wine was also OK. Healthy fats: avocado, olive oil, etc were fine, but should limit saturated fats (this is related to lipids more than the pre-diabetes) from meat/dairy. I tend to avoid processed foods and do most of my own cooking so find it easier to eliminate sugars or other added carbs.

    With this I have been exercising (cardio +strength training and have lost 48 pounds so far - still a ways to go but getting there! It has been pretty easy to adhere to, and something that will work for me long term. Mostly it has been limiting the more refined carbs (pasta, pizza, fritos). Fortunately, I don't really like sweets so that has not been a problem :-)

    Tests yesterday indicate that fasting blood glucose is now in the normal range. LDL cholesterol results tomorrow.

    So do ask for more specifics - you can change this with reducing carbs and weight. Feel free to add me as friend.

    this is pretty much what the doctor told my dad. Dad walks more as exercise now (coz of high blood pressure too) and has just swapped some things out in his diet like white rice for brown and the white (even though mainly sourdough) bread for grainy/rye other types of bread. No more chocolates and ice cream all the time, but he eats yoghurt in moderation for his sweet tooth, as well as fruit.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    edited August 2019
    deleting - double post
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    edited August 2019

    No, you do not need low carb, you need to count carbs and distribute them throughout the day. This is just an assumption from my part, but I assume your dr said to limit carbs and not to eliminate carbs? Even a diabetic can eat bread daily, as in have a sluce of bread with cheese for breakfast, but not have the entire loaf of bread for breakfast, and not have also bread as snack, at lunch and at dinner.

    The usual plan is something like one small serving of carbs per meal/snack, paired with protein. So even though a peach is definitely good for you and you should eat, diabetic or not, do not eat 10 peaches at once, but eat 1 peach and pair it with a plain yoghurt or a cup of milk to have a snack, and not with more carbs. Similarly at main meals, eat one serving of rice or whole grain pasta or bread or beans etc with meat and a green salad, but do not eat a serving of beans and a serving of potatoes and a couple of slices of bread. Of course you need to figure out what a serving is per food, your dr should provide resources, otherwise the American Diabetes Association has a lot of info.

    Usually several servings of fruit, vegetables and grains are encouraged for diabetics, and reducing overall fat is also encouraged. You can check here: https://www.diabetes.org/nutrition/meal-planning , there is a lot of detail. It requires some reading, but it looks very close to what my local hospital advises diabetics and prediabetics.
    Also keep in mind that losing weight and adding exercise (walks are good, you do not need to find anything more complicated) are key to controlling and even reversing diabetes.[/quote]

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