1,200 calories is way too few for a man weighing 235-240. Probably the best way to figure out what he needs to eat and still lose weight is to enter his height, weight, etc. into either MFP or one of the various online calculators out there. My guess is he'll be able to eat closer to 1,800 calories per day, even more, depending on his activity level.

Of all the things you mentioned monitoring, I would monitor the carb count the most. Upping the protein is a natural by-product of lowering carbs in most instances, so you can kill two birds with one stone. Carbs are the one macro that affects a diabetic the most. When I was first diagnosed, I cut my carbs back to almost nothing. I try to keep them under 100 per day now, but sometimes they will creep up in the 120 range. Anything over 140 and I usually see it in my results when I test my glucose the next morning. Some people can handle more, some people have to stay at carb counts way lower than me.

I was diagnosed September 2011. However, my father has been diabetic for over 20 years, so I wasn't new on what to expect or how to start attacking it. I also saw him not take it seriously for years and the effects from it, so I was determined I was going to take it seriously from the start. I've also watched him go from shooting up with insulin 5x per day to being completely med-free in the last two-and-a-half years, so I also knew that it could be controlled, rather than having it control me.

I'm at 2,050 calories per day right now, at 6'4" and right around 300 lbs. Plus, I will also eat back up to 50% of my exercise calories. If I'm not hungry, I won't eat them, but if I am and they are there, I will. Letting myself get too hungry when I have calories available only leads to bad things for me.

One last thing. I lost 115 lbs. in the year before I was diagnosed following a low-fat, high-carb diet. I knew that my father and many other relatives from his side of the family were diagnosed at around my age, and I was trying to lose weight in an effort to prevent/delay a diagnosis. Once I was diagnosed and changed my diet, my weight loss stalled. I bounced around in the same five pound range for months, and actually ended up gaining about ten of those pounds back. But I brought my glucose numbers down to a range better than many non-diabetics on very little medicine (Metformin 500 mg 2x per day). It's just been the last several weeks where my weight loss has started to pick up again. It was very frustrating, but it was something I just had to ride out, keeping in mind that the number on the glucose meter was more important than the number on the scale. So I would not worry so much about the 5 lbs. he gained and concentrate on bringing the glucose numbers down. Ideally, we could do both at the same time like some people can, but not everyone can do that - I couldn't - so try not to lose heart if he finds himself that boat as well.

Hi Natalie,

I went through all the phases when I was diagnosed with Diabetes. The denial, anger and then finally got down to working on fixing things. I agree with the commentary that 1500 is too low. My A1C is now about 5.7 on a regular basis. I am on Glipizide and Victoza and am working to get off the meds and control this with weight management and diet control. It's a lfestyle, not a diet!

I'm fortunate that I have a good local support network. My Endocrinologist is amazing and she's super supportive. She's the 3rd doctor I've had since diagnosis. I 'fired' the other two previous ones as they weren't doing me much good. I also have a daughter that is an MD and gives me good information and access to more info that's helped me. My other daughter is a dietician and exercise science graduate and working in those areas. It's helped me.

I've also seen a diabetic dietician to get more insight into proper eating. It's helping me.

I also agree that going too intensely can hurt more than help. Each of us is different and what works for some fails for me; what works for me fails for some.

Good luck and we're here to lend support.

Kurt

Thank you all for yours stories and advice. It is such a blessing to know that we are not alone. Today has been a much better day. My new goal is going to be to lower the carbs more, and One day at a time is going to be my new motto. I am going to check into the classes though.

LOL I am sorry, that was me logged onto my husbands account! Thank you all

Your next goal is to get HIM logged in here everyday!!! There is so much support here and the tracking of food has been so easy for me and a huge part of staying on track.

Your husband is very lucky to have such a supportive and understanding wife. Messed up glucose does lead to crankiness that isn't your fault. I'm glad you understand.

Sometimes its not just about cutting carbs but cutting the right ones. Foods that shoot me up may not shoot someone else up and vice versa. There's a good explanation about eating to your meter on bloodsugar101.com . It can take a while to figure out what works and what doesn't but ultimately this is the best way.

I firmly believe that our goal is to have a safe glucose level. For some people, diet and exercise can do that. For others, it requires drugs and sometimes more and more drugs. 13 years ago I could take about 1000 mg of met per day and pretty much eat normally. 7 years ago, I could take 1500 mg of met per day and eat pretty normally. Now I take 2000 mg of met and have a severely carb restricted diet and manage to have ok glucose levels but not as good as they should be. I think today I have eaten more carbs than usual and I'm sure I'll pay for it in the morning.

The rot doesn't care how hard you are trying, it only cares about your glucose. My goal is not to rot. Just because someone takes drugs doesn't mean they will keep having to take them. Sometimes when you are first diagnosed your pancreas is exhausted and needs a break. Sometimes you need to take something until your body gets balanced by the changes you are making. It is not failure to take drugs. I've been met dependent since I was diagnosed. I'm at a point I wish the dr. would put me on insulin because I sure miss eating carbs.

The Carb Count is the most important for diabetics. Like your husband when I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago, I wasn't concerned since I didn't feel sick. As I ignored my condition and grudgingly took the meds ( the only way to get the wife to leave me alone) but didn't try to learn about proper diets for diabetics, I just made things worse and ended up in the emergency room 4 times in a 2 week period. The last time my blood sugar dropped so low I wasn't even aware I was there until I was released and my wife was driving me home. She was very upset and scared, which I couldn't figure out why until she told me the next morning the doctor told her had she not given me a gluclose tablet I probably would have died. That was my wake up call and I contacted my doctor and told him I wanted to know everything I needed to know about diabetes and need to be educated on what I should eat and the medicine I need. I learned that eating a diabetic diet isn't all that bad, I've lost a total of 35 lbs since I've taken it seriously.
I do understand about being angry and irritable, I was that way at first but as I learned what I could and couldn't eat and started experimenting I learned that there are some salads out there that are pretty damn good, low carb totilla warps replaced bread, high fiber wheat bread is also pretty good toasted. I have myself on an 80 carb and 30 grams of sugar a day and I feel as good as I did when I was in my late 20's/early 30's. I wish you and your husband all the luck in the world, but I highly encourage you both to go to a diabetic diet class. I think you'll learn a lot and find out you don't have to starve yourself, to control his blood sugar and you to lose the weight your wanting to loose.

^^^^