[cindel]

I'm type 2. My blood sugar runs about 176. Doctor says I need to be under 130. I know I need to lose weight, which I'm working on. I test once in the morning.

What I'm confused about is...what do i need to watch? Carbs OR sugars OR the sugars listed under the carbs? When I read the label I don't know what I need to be watching. I'm afraid to eat anything lately. I end up (maybe) eating breakfast and dinner. I know this isn't healthy but I'm confused.

Any where to turn for help? Are there any good books to read on this?

cindel

[matingara]

hi cindel,

when it comes to labeling there is only one number to worry about and that is Carbohydrates.

you should read the Bernstein book online at Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. A Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars. Official Web Site

that will be a big help. bernstein recommends a limit of 30g of Carbs per day. (6 at breakfast, 12 at lunch and 12 at dinner).

hope that is a start!



-- Joel.

[Scrabblechick]

Carbs are certainly the numbers to watch. Dr. Bernstein certainly has some good methods for diet. However, I personally find his recommendations too strict for me. My diabetes educator recommended I stay under 150 carbs per day, but I try to stay under 100, most of the time. I find that number is attainable without being too restrictive for me. I'd go crazy keeping my carbs at 30 per day, although I admire those who have the self-discipline to do it.

Look at other threads here. There is a ton of great advice on diet and exercise, which absolutely go hand in hand. Personally, I started modifying my diet with the glycemic impact method, which is a lower-carb diet, and also focuses on those foods that don't spike your blood glucose (BG). It does mean cleaning out your cabinets and getting rid of white bread, white rice, potatoes, pasta (there is a Dreamfields brand that is low-carb) and starchy vegetables. All the aforementioned foods are high in carbs and will cause a sharp BG spike in many people.

Also, make sure you take a diabetes education class, which will really help you make informed choices about diet, exercise and other aspects of living with this disease.

Until you get a better handle on what foods really affect your BG, you need to test several times a day: when you get up, right before and 2 hours after each meal and before bedtime. It sounds like a lot. However, when you log all these readings, it does help you get a feel for what works and doesn't work for you. It will also help your doctor see how you're getting along.

We've all been where you are. I was just diagnosed in February, although my dad struggled with it for years. We all start out scared, confused, and in my case, angry and disgusted with myself for not getting control of my weight and health before it got this far. I know I have company there. Check out previous threads and you'll see that kind of confusion is a running theme.

But we learn, and you will, too. This forum has helped me so much, in just a week, and I've learned an enormous amount of information.

Keep posting, keep asking questions, and keep making changes to stay on top of your health. We are all pulling for you, I promise!

[bkburns]

Hello Cindel,

I was diagnosed T2 2 weeks ago, and I understand your confusion. It's a lot to take in, and probably a lot of change to make. Don't be afraid. You can do it. I spent the first two days angry, depressed, and scared. But once I decided to accept it I have already been able to make dietary and habit changes I never thought I would.

My Dr gave me some (good) brochures, talked to me a little bit about diabetes. I was in a bit of shock so he didn't go into too much detail, but made a follow up appt with me for two weeks out (tomorrow actually). He also made me appts with an education class and a dietician.

If your general practitioner is not educating you to your satisfaction - fire him or her and find another one.

Check with your insurance and see what they cover, or get your doctors office to. Mine covered a dietician, which happened to be at a diabetes facility at my hospital. The 90 minutes I spent with her were absolutely worth it. I never payed attention to or understood anything about food but the taste until now. Now I feel much better equipped to both (a) read labels and make better choices, and (b) have enough knowledge about the basics to continue educating myself.

Immediately find a diabetes education class. Your insurance should cover it and/or you should be able to find free ones. I learned more about how diabetes works and what I need to do to care for myself there than anyplace else so far.

You should probably also be testing more frequently - take the education class with a Certified Diabetes Educator and you will learn why and how. More frequent testing will help you take control. I test my levels in the morning when I wake and at bedtime. I also test two hours after various meals. This lets me test and see how different meals or foods affect my BG.

Keep a logbook of everything you eat, your exercise, and your BG readings. As you learn to understand hw they all relate, that logbook will become invaluable and will help your doctor with any medicines. I use the Diabetes Pilot software (Diabetes Pilot - Software for Palm, Windows, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile. Make Diabetes Easier!) on my PDA and computer to track all my information throughout the day. The software will generate various graphs and reports that will help you. Log it on paper, or log it on a computer - just log it.

It can be overwhelming - but take the time to learn, and start making the changes n your life as you learn, and you will get control.

If I can do it - anyone can do it.

[davef]

Cindel,

Okay, take a deep breath and give yourself a break, the early days are not easy but please believe me that it does get much easier. It can be confusing and at time overwhelming but now you are part of the DF family you have lots of help and support, we are all in this together and will help each other with our struggles.

My advice is that you need to significantly increase your testing. By testing only in the morning you will only be getting your FBG (fast blood glucose) which is something that your Doctor will undoubtedly be checking, but that's only one part of the whole equation.

You ask what you need to watch carbs/sugars, essentially when looking at food packaging you need to look at the the total carbs and the total fiber. If for example a pack shows 10g carbs and 2g fiber, you subtract the fiber from the carbs (10-2=8) so you are looking at a 8g carbs. I (and a lot of us) watch our carb in take as they will have the biggest impact on your BG (Blood Glucose) readings. This is where the frequent testing comes in. Some people can tolerate some foods that others can't, for example some people can eat potatoes but not rice. You need to find out what works for you and you do that by testing. What I did starting out (and continue to do) is test just before I eat, this gives me a starting level, then test again two hours after first bite. So what should you aim for after eating?

Well, I believe that many of us have a similar goal reading for 2 hours after first bite (post prandial reading). That is I aim to be below 140 two hours after eating. I aim to be below 110 in the morning and for random tests.

My testing regimen is:

Test first thing in the morning (aim to be below 110)
Test 2 hours after breakfast (aim to be below 140)
Test before lunch
Test 2 hours after lunch (aim to be below 140)
Test before dinner
Test 2 hours after dinner (aim to be below 140)
Test before bed

Now I don't always get all those tests done, but at the start I certainly tried as it showed me what foods did work for me. I continue to test regularly and test before meals as if I have a nice low number I will allow myself a few extra carbs.

Personally I tend to avoid, rice, pasta, white bread and potatoes, but that doesn't mean that I never have them. I have on special occassions had potatoes and on the odd occassion white bread, we all need a treat every now and then. Some people find they can handle wholewheat pasta or brown rice, I don't really like either so don't eat them instead I have the "proper" stuff (in small portions) every now and then.

Try to relax, it really does get easier. By testing you quickly learn the best foods for you and soon you will be able to look at a plate of food and decide what will and won't work. It is a matter of balance, one thing I have learned is that when eating carbs if you eat something with fiber then I can handle the carbs better.

As somebody here told me, there is nothing I can't eat, I just choose not to eat some things. I use that line anytime one of my friends (with the best of intentions) become the diabetes police and ask if I should be eating something.

I was diagnosed by in Novemeber'07 and feel I have come a long way, I couldn't have done it without the help and support of the people here in DF. Don't struggle alone, ask lots of questions it's how we all learn.

[ultrafine]

I would think the best thing for you is to see a registered dietitian. I just started pumping, I had to take a carb counting course with the dietitian. They will help you and decide how much carbs you should be taking and how to read labels. It's very important!
Good luck!

[mg_2204]

Originally Posted by davef

As somebody here told me, there is nothing I can't eat, I just choose not to eat some things.

This is simply wonderful! Mind if I steal it from you and use it from time to time??!

[davef]

Marie,

I got it from somebody on the forum and reckon they won't mind you using it!

I find it a perfect answer for the D-Police I run into

[jacobsam622]

I will give you the same advice i gave the guy from Texas. i lowered my Bg reading by 100 points following this diet

There are several diets you can follow south-beach, Atkins, sugar-busters, etc, etc,

None of these diets are totally correct.

When determining carbs subtract the fiber from total carbs. You can also subtract artificial sweeteners.

portion control is a must and do not get seconds


foods you can eat:

Meat, = Beef well trimmed, chicken, fish broiled or baked, eggs

Nuts - most nuts are low in carbs, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, any that have total carbs of less then 10g

spread buy no sugar added jelly or there are several reduced sugar, no sugar added Peanut butter

vegetables = almost anything but corn If you eat corn stick
with the small kernel corn on the cob.

sugar free ice cream, sugar free jello chocolate that has a
cocoa % >= 60%

Breads = whole grain or low carb whole grain.

pasta = whole grain

rice = brown rice

sodas = diet only

alcohol = Low carb beer, brands like Mich ultra, miller-lite, there is at two others. Red wine or wine that is at least 13% alcohol
tequila

avoid high carb food any anything with a lot of refined sugar

Fruit = try different ones to see how they effect your BS

Apples should not be eaten at meal time.

general rule if its brown then its OK for diabetes

[sparrow1]

Originally Posted by cindel

What I'm confused about is...what do i need to watch? Carbs OR sugars OR the sugars listed under the carbs? When I read the label I don't know what I need to be watching.

Cindel - the sugars on the label are included in the total carb count so just count the carbs. If fiber is listed, subtract that from the total carb count. Example
Carbohydrates 9
Sugars 7
Fiber 3
equals a total carb count of 9-3 (6)

You have received very good advice - so make going to a Diabetes Educator you top priority. Good luck on your journey - you'll soon be a pro