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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsT2D Diabetes questions Type 2...
I have just been diagnosed and I am trying to figure out what the maximum carbs and sugars I should consume a day?
While fasting my blood glucose is 127...have not done a test yet after eating.
But the sugars and carbs per meal or day, I prefer to know per day, is what I am researching and I am not getting definitive info yet.
I just feel lousy, no energy, nauseous but not enough to vomit, not yet anyway.
Any info would be helpful.
padfun
(1,787 posts)I have been T2D for 20 years now. My fasting BG used to be 240, while now it is 140 and slowly getting better.
If you want to know how to stop it, look up Jason Fung.
And a high fat low carb diet helps greatly. Do your research and you will find the cure.
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,480 posts)And most times my bsl is in the 80's 90's,under 120.
I eat very few carbs.
onecaliberal
(32,888 posts)Berries are healthy. Egg whites, turkey bacon. Fish. Give up salt. Truvia is the healthiest sugar substitute. Give up red meat. My husband went from an A1c of 13 to 5.3 in 6 months with only food. Please take it seriously because he did not and had a massive stroke almost 4 years ago. You have to remember things that say sugar free like pudding are made with milk that also contain sugar. A very strict diet can achieve health again. We really are what we eat. See a nutritionist if you can.
padfun
(1,787 posts)Most say 50 or less. I am on 20 carbs per day.
My diet is meat, cheese, veggies and lots of eggs.
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,480 posts)I have found the spice mix called herbes de province
Is kick-ass on eggs. I recommend you try it.
onecaliberal
(32,888 posts)padfun
(1,787 posts)And yes, I love chorizo with eggs.
handmade34
(22,757 posts)I personally do not have diabetes... but have extensive experience with people in my life having it... I am not a doc and not even a nurse, but think I deserve an honorary degree with all I've been through. Please, please do what you need to do to get it under control! I have spent years with my partner working on diets, plans, wound care (docs wanting to cut off foot but we fought it and healed wound), hyperbaric oxygen therapy, medications, etc. (and a late husband who died from food poisoning because his system was compromised from diabetes)
I have stories!!!
the answer is to learn and know your own body, we are so complex and different... my partner was diagnosed late (readings of 350 +/-) we now have average readings of 100+/- after years of work. His AIC stays around 6 now.
processed food is one culprit, not sugars per se but hyper processing... eat food as close to natural source as possible! he eats a pretty strict Keto diet... eggs and sometimes a meat at breakfast and lots of veggies (mostly salad) at dinner... we do not use any sugar- sweetener for coffee is erythritol (we drink lots of coffee)
for a treat once in awhile I buy him sugar free popsicles
every few weeks he asks for one of my gooey cinnamon rolls that I make and sell, or a bagel and cream cheese, and if only once in awhile he is fine
I don't follow a strict Keto diet myself but do like the Keto bread (a really fun almond flour and egg bread made in the microwave)
please be healthy... obviously I can't know for others, but I don't like to see anyone go through what we have
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,480 posts)For microwave keto bread
I wanna make some.
handmade34
(22,757 posts)it is so easy and good... my hint is experiment some until you make it just like you want it... it can be a little dry, I add a little of this or that sometimes, spices, half/half, etc... don't give up on it if it doesn't come out perfect 1st time... it is really a nice treat
SCantiGOP
(13,873 posts)Whoever diagnosed you should be giving you information, or you should call the American Diabetes Assn or your insurance provider.
There are people known as Certified Diabetes Instructors who handle this. It requires a 4 year nursing degree and two more years of specialized training.
Throckmorton
(3,579 posts)I saw a nurse practitioner within a week, and attended an eight session class put on by the Jocelyn diabetes center.
Was very helpful, ask your provider for reccomendations.
Lars39
(26,110 posts)Your doc should have referred you to one right off.
LuckyCharms
(17,455 posts)There are many variables involved.
1) Are you on insulin? How much?
2) What is your activity level?
3) What is your stress level?
4) How well do you respond to your diabetes medication?
LisaL
(44,974 posts)Especially with a decent fasting blood glucose levels (which 127 is).
LuckyCharms
(17,455 posts)LuckyCharms
(17,455 posts)Remember that protein and fat slow the absorption of carbs, so it is not as simple as counting carbs. Mild activity will normally make your blood glucose drop, while strenuous activity can cause it to drop very low, or shoot very high.
In my opinion, the only way to REALLY see what your body is doing when it comes to glucose is by using a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor). If you decide to go this route, please talk to your doc to get more information. I wear one, but I am Type 1. Insurance probably won't pay for a CGM unless you are diagnosed as Type 1, but not knowing your exact circumstances, I just wanted to suggest this in case your doctor is somehow able to get you pre-authorized for a CGM.
CGM's make you realize how futile pin prick testing can be, especially if you are a brittle diabetic.
NCjack
(10,279 posts)1. I keep a log of each meal and snack to see what foods and quantities do to my blood sugar (bs) value and energy. Also, I also record my weight each morning on rising.
Note: "Blood sugar" is a dashboard reading. It tells me the value at that moment, but not
meaningful for estimating the daily average. More on that later.
My objective is to eat foods at quantities that keep my blood sugar between 80 to 180 for my two preset times.
Since my breakfast is regularly at 0815 AM, I have picked these two measurements for monitoring my blood sugar level.
A. 0700 AM bs. Eat or drink no food for the period of post-supper snack to taking this measurement. This bs value is usually my lowest of the day. The information that I get is: Did I eat the wrong foods or too much of the right foods for supper the previous day? Did I have a snack after supper that was bad? Exercise? Info goes into record book and promise to correct bad behavior.
Mediterranean breakfast. (More this later.). I no longer count calories. Just simply have two eggs with sweet and hot peppers that appear to have less mass than the 2 eggs. If lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish is available, I will have a quality that appears to be less mass than the 2 eggs. Black coffee, 2 cups. No fruit juice. No sugar. No artificial sweetener. No bread.
No food (except 1/2 cup of blueberries or strawberries) between end of breakfast and next measurement at 1030AM.
Exercise. Walk or stairs.
b. 1030 AM bs. This bs value provides info on my metabolism. (My physician finds it interesting.) Usually, it is higher than the 0700AM value. I want it to rise no more than 15 points, but still be in the range of 80 t0 180.
There are other daily check points. Many do 1 per day, but complete a pattern, e.g., before breakfast, next day 2 hrs after breakfast, next day just before lunch, next day 2 hrs after lunch, etc.
Mediterranean lunch. Lean meat covers 1/3 of the 10-inch diameter plate. Veggies cover 2/3 of plate. I don't count calories. I watch my weight and react to changes.
Mediterranean supper. Same formula as for lunch. More about Mediterranean diet later.)
The above info will get you through the first couple of weeks as you discover more about how you want to manage D-2.
Important Info:
My physician evaluates my D-2 control effort by two measurements:
1. My weight and its trend, and
2. My AiC ("A one C" value. My goal is 6.5 to 7.5 (The Sweet Range). The A!C is regarded as a monthly average, and is considered a superior measure to an average of dashboard blood sugar measurements. There is a relationship chart that is published, but for me, my dashboard blood sugar measurements are always higher than my AIC values suggested by the standard table. It is the A1C measurement value that is important, and it is made by my personal care physician, usually once every 3 months. When I get the new value, I adjust my foods, quantities, and exercise to get to my target range. My personal care, eye, IG, and cardio doctors want my A1C value in The Sweet Range.
3. The Mediterranean diet. The food that I eat is much better than the food that gave me D-2. I stopped counting calories years ago. Instead, I react to my dashboard bs, weight trend, and A1C.
I am guided by these two books:
The Mediterranean Zone: Unleash the Power of the World's Healthiest Diet for Superior Weight Loss, Health, and Longevity; Sears, Dr. Barry
The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: Delicious and Healthy Recipes for Natural Weight Loss with 7-Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan; Daisy, Jolene
That's enough to get you started. Don't panic. Take some introductory steps toward your new life now by stop eating these:
-- all simple sugars (white, brown, sirups, honey.
-- corn, wheat
-- flours of corn, wheat and their breads.
-- artificial sweeteners
Foods that I appreciate: Oatmeal (steel cut or thick rolled), sorghum, pumpkin
Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)Keto comes up often, when I googled it and answered a few questions it asked me to pay something, so I will keep looking...
But your info is greatly helpful!
Looking for an A1C on my labs, dont see it...I do see
GLUCOSE 127 H 65-99 (mg/dL) 05D0644209
- Fasting reference interval
-
F GLOBULIN 2.4
ALBUMIN/GLOBULIN RATIO 1.8
ALBUMIN 4.3
But what I want to see is
Glycohemoglobin
right?
NCjack
(10,279 posts)LisaL
(44,974 posts)So your doctors should order this test if it has not been done yet.
LisaL
(44,974 posts)Any extra pounds to lose? That could be a huge help. With type 2, weight usually plays a huge role. So if there are any extra pounds to be lost, exercise and lower calorie diet would help.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)So no...I have a kit coming so I can test 3 times
1. when I get up before eating
2. then eat something and wait half an hour
3. then 2-3 hours after test 2, do again and see if it went back down to test #1 numbers...
Is what my friend told me to do.
LisaL
(44,974 posts)Is he or she giving you any advice?
Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)I wanted to jump on this now...I feel like shit.
LisaL
(44,974 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)higher numbers?
LisaL
(44,974 posts)I am not sure how they tell type II and type I apart either.
handmade34
(22,757 posts)much earlier... a pretty serious condition as the body doesn't produce its own insulin from early age... type II commonly from lifestyle and sets in later
LuckyCharms
(17,455 posts)a few years later by a different doctor.
There are blood tests that help determine how much of your own insulin you are making. They also check for ketones in urine, etc. Type 1 can develop at any age, although it is usually diagnosed in young people. There are also a few different forms of type 1.
LisaL
(44,974 posts)just by fasting blood glucose alone, if it's type I or type II. Most doctors would just assume that an adult has type II.
Marthe48
(17,015 posts)Although, if you didn't get information, I understand.
When I was first told my fbg was high, my daughter who is a renal dietitian, recommended to limit my carb intake to 180/day, divided into 3 regular meals, or 6 smaller meals. I did that for a year and thought I was on track, but when I went in for my well-check, my fbg was even higher. I was really p'o'd. My doctor didn't offer dietary advice, and I don't take medicine. I put myself on 100 carbs a day or less. I cut out white potatoes, bananas, most other fruit, a snack bar I liked a lot, all processed food (except turkey lunch meat), snacks like chips and for the first few months, cold cereal. As other posters mention, I eat mostly veggies and meat. I have been baking my own bread since last Oct. I can control the ingredients and the portion size. I was already off sugar, candy, most sweet treats, juices, have drunk diet soda most of my life, but I guess that wasn't enough.
In January, I discovered unsweetened coconut almond milk that is 1 carb and 35 calories in a cup. I alternate breakfast-one day I have a half cup of cereal with a cup of the milk, and the next day I have a 1 egg cheese omelet and a thin slice of toast. Sometimes I treat myself to homemade sausage and toast, or avocado toast. I eat a lot of unsalted dry roasted peanuts, and unsalted almonds. I eat a second meal in the afternoon, usually white chicken and lots of veggies, either roasted or stir-fried. I make enough so that if I need to nibble later in the day, I can pick at the cold veggies. I eat a lot of salad, but I don't get my own groceries right now, so that isn't regular.
You can go on the site: https://www.diabetes.org/ and get a lot of information free.
Since Oct. 2 2019, I've dropped my fbg over 40 points, and as of today, I've lost 43 pounds, which is a great side effect. Since I've entirely changed my eating habits, I don't miss the things I stopped eating. I still have a shot of vodka every couple of days, don't drink wine or beer.
There is a topic on DU>Health>Weight Loss/Maintenance, also Chronic Health Conditions Discussion and Support. I have felt very welcome in the weight loss topic, and have gotten wonderful advice. The low carb diet or Keto diet will really get you there, but if you have kidney problems, you might ask your doctor before you go real low.
I wish you good luck. Take care of yourself.
Massacure
(7,525 posts)Most insurance plans allow diabetics to be seen by a certified diabetic educator and/or a dietitian four times a year.
handmade34
(22,757 posts)another person medical advice... but this I know... if we had relied solely on the diabetic educator my partner met with, he would still be injecting insulin or taking copious amounts of metformin... we finally figured out on our own what he needed to keep his A1C down and be stable without medication
I believe we have to listen to Docs and professionals and continue to listen to our bodies and learn
ccjlld
(267 posts)A single glucose test should not be enough to diagnose Type 2. Your doctor should order the A1C before you receive an official diagnosis. So many factors can affect a FBS/glucose level. The A1C will average your glucose over 3 months.
When I was first diagnosed they told me 30 grams of carbs at three meals a day plus 2 snacks of 15 carbs or less per day. The also had classes for the newly diagnosed to help manage food.
If you do not feel that your regular GP is managing it effectively, ask to see an Endocrinologist and Good Luck!
As far as I can tell, basic advice most people get is to exercise and eat an appropriate diet. Diet should have less sugar (no eating cookies, cakes, candies, sodas and so on is always a good advice).
And then of course there are various meds that doctor is likely to prescribe for a type II diabetic.
Here is an article on what food to eat and what food to avoid.
"So aim for variety. Eat a mixture of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to manage your blood sugar better and stay full longer. But make sure to choose quality carbohydrates and smart fats that are:"
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-meal-plan
tanyev
(42,601 posts)Similar info in both, but Diabetes Code is newer. Low carb eating and intermittent fasting for diabetes control.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)wont have much to look forward to now
tanyev
(42,601 posts)On the bright side, there are lots of non-dairy alternatives now that aren't too bad. My hubby was diagnosed with Adult Onset Type 1 diabetes in 2009. I have a cousin who was diagnosed with Type 1 as a kid in the early 60s. I can't imagine how difficult it was to manage such a risky condition back then. There are so many products and advances in technology available now. It's better than it was, but yeah, it still kind of sucks.