Almost afraid to eat.

[doctordun]

I was diagnosed early this month and I'm finding myself very reluctant to eat. I'm afraid to make my sugars go up. I can hardly wait for the 2 hours to be up so I can test to see if I did alright on the last meal. I know I have to learn how eat all over again.

Is this paranoid attitude uncommon? After learning all the bad things that can happen with diabetes, it makes me slightly crazy with worry. I'm trying to soak up all the information I can, as fast as I can.

[susique333]

I think for most of us, diabetes comes as quite a shock. My humble opinion is a little healthy fear is a good thing, just dont let it control you. It will be soon that you will know at a glance what foods are your no-no foods and if you eat them how much your BS will rise. I think once we're diagnosed, food sometimes becomes the enemy but over time you see eating can still be fun! I found that severely restricting carbs works the best for me.

[davef]

I agree with Susie about restricting the carbs, but that leaves so much else (especially if you are a carnivore like me). It is daunting getting to grips with what does and doesn't work but it's great that you are testing. You will make mistakes and it can suck when you do. I made one nearly two weeks ago, I ate some wholemeal bread toasted for breakfast and I thought it was going to be fine, but it wasn't, started me on a roller coaster for the day. But with the help of great people here on the forum, I picked myself up, dusted off the frustration and put it down as a learning experience. So if you get it wrong, then you are batting about average.

It does take time, but you will be amazed how fast you will become accustomed to a new way of doing things. I find things like stir-frys are great for me, filling and don't have much of an impact on my BG.

Don't be afraid to eat. Stick with it you'll, get there and we are all on the journey with you!

[R2112]

doctordun- I'm doing the same thing...haha

I was just told last Friday and have been reading labels A LOT! My problem is I think I'm eating better (healthier) but I think all this carb lowering now I'm not eating enough daily calories so now I'm not feeling to good. It's hard when your not sure what you can eat and what you shouldn't.

[Cramster]

When I was diagnosed, I did the same thing, cutting out everything and basically starving myself. I soon learned that it was my duty to know what I can get away with, and find that instead of eating a bagel, I could have soup instead. I love both, but one if better for me. Anytime I made something with meat in it, I'd put twice as much in there. Soon you'll be like Neo and see the good and bad foods. Just keep asking questions and read up on how adding something to your meal will impact your BGs.

But yes, I don't think it is uncommon to feel that way. Food looks scary right now, so try experimenting one at a time to see what affects you. It looks like you're actively testing, so thats a good thing. Are you keeping logs of what you eat and your numbers?

[doctordun]

I was told by a diabetes consultant at the VA hospital to keep eating carbs, just make better choices with carbs that aren't empty.

What I'm hearing on this and other forums is to severely restrict any carb intake, but not completely. Essentially almost an Adkin's diet with a limited number of carbs.

I tried the Adkin's diet a long time ago without much longterm success.

[TomB]

I try not to remember those good old days of trying to figure out what diabetes meant to me. Fortunate for me was at that time I had insurance that didn't care how many test strips I used. so I used a bunch, every day. Didn't have the patience to wait 2 hours. Started testing at about 45 minutes after my first bite, then tested about every 20 minutes or so afterwards. Found out a few things before my fingers got poked full of holes.
Certain foods caused a spike while others made my glucose rise and fall slowly. I even graphed (Excel) my post prandial slope by food type. I found out that my numbers were higher when I was stressed out.
But then the novelty wore off. I also had read a lot about sugars, etc. I had a couple sessions with a dietician who smartened me up on calories, carbs and the food pyramid. And maybe the biggest change was that I started doing the grocery shopping, after I ate.
So go for it, test like crazy as you do your best to eat right. You'll customize your body and life style to what, when and how you eat and feel. Hope you have lots of test strips.
Tom

[SGT Shoutmore]

Doctordun,

Don't beat yourself up, it is normal to feel this way at first, especially when you don't know exactly what you are alowed to load up on or eat at will yet.

You should soon be getting an appointment with a type of diabetic nutritional educator that will give you some great instruction on meals and of course, my personal favorite, "freebies", meaning eat at will, eat your fill types of foods that won't spike your blood glucose levels.

Don't be reluctant to eat, that will also cause you problems, big problems. Instead, for now, until you meet with a diabetic nutritional educator, pay attention to carbs, the lower, the better. Some easy things are to avoid are processed foods as they usually contain more junk than good stuff. Leafy greens are freebies, meats are protiens, these things can be eaten without scaring yourself. of course, meats in moderation along with a big dose of leafy greens is a great mix and you can have a serving of a high carb item such as rice, bread or pasta WITH the protien and freebie items. WATCH carefully condiments as they can often contain pure junk and high carbs. Stick to basics, when you want a "mixed type" of dish, something beyond simply items such as a stroganoff, it is FAR healthier to make it from scratch to avoid junk. Pay attention to serving sizes as carb counts on a food item is based upon serving size.

All this will seem daunting at first, but really, it does not take long to become a PRO at this, and learn how to eat your FILL and eat diabetic smart.

So, for now, eat simple, eat your fill, test your blood glucose levels and teach yourself what foods are best in YOUR body. You will soon know what foods react in a given way, most important, do not be afraid to eat, just look at labels, read contents. You don't have to eat like a bird to eat a good diabetic meal.


There will be times when you eat something, two hours later, test your blood and your blood glucose levels are way too high. Relax, don't beat yourself up or feel guilty or even doomed. You can easily go for a good walk, do some push-ups, or whatever you like to do that is physically active and start to lower your blood glucose level. Record the date, time and what you ate and drank, and, when you see your doc, let 'em know. This will help in getting you set with a good treatment plan.

Odds are, by this time next year, you will be amazed at how you have come along.

[R2112]

I haven't really been told anything :mad: I've been trying to get back with the doctors since Monday when I found out what my A1C was. I'm flying blind myself. I think after I have my meeting they'll send me to Scripps here in San Diego which is really good with Diabetics.

doctordun- I heard somewhat the same thing about eating as if I was on the Adkin's diet too.

[TomB]

Oops, forgot about the VA restrictions. I found out today that even though my lovely VA doc prescriped 200 strips a month, the pharmacy department plays god and devines what they think you need. Because I made a major change in meds today and I was about tapped out, I did a walk-in to the pharmacy to pickup the stuff. Had what was like a job interview with a pharmacist. She tried telling me that my last A1c wasn't all that bad. Somehow or other I managed to keep my cool and explained what the doc and I had discussed in a very nice tone of voice. (If this was 40 years ago the clown would have been ripped a new one and I personally would have had her butt shipped out to Thule, Greenland!!!) I managed to get 150 test strips but only for 30 days. After that I'll have to go back and beg again.

FYI: WalMart sells their Reli-On meter for $8.88. It's their name but inside it's really a Precision Xtra made by Abbott Labs. Reli-On test strips cost around $45 per 100, haven't found anything cheaper and they work just fine. If a store isn't nearby, goto Walmart.com - Save money. Live better. (http://www.walmart.com) and order it.
Tom

[doctordun]

Oops, forgot about the VA restrictions. I found out today that even though my lovely VA doc prescriped 200 strips a month, the pharmacy department plays god and devines what they think you need. Because I made a major change in meds today and I was about tapped out, I did a walk-in to the pharmacy to pickup the stuff. Had what was like a job interview with a pharmacist. She tried telling me that my last A1c wasn't all that bad. Somehow or other I managed to keep my cool and explained what the doc and I had discussed in a very nice tone of voice. (If this was 40 years ago the clown would have been ripped a new one and I personally would have had her butt shipped out to Thule, Greenland!!!) I managed to get 150 test strips but only for 30 days. After that I'll have to go back and beg again.

FYI: WalMart sells their Reli-On meter for $8.88. It's their name but inside it's really a Precision Xtra made by Abbott Labs. Reli-On test strips cost around $45 per 100, haven't found anything cheaper and they work just fine. If a store isn't nearby, goto Walmart.com - Save money. Live better. (http://www.walmart.com) and order it.
Tom

How can a phamacist override a doctor's prescription? Since when did a phamacist start making decisions on your care and what was she doing looking at your medical records. She should only be concerned with doing her job, not play doctor. I'd be complaining to the highest levels.
We'll see what happens with me. I was assured they would be in the mail........

[TomB]

This has happened several times to me with the VA. The doc prescribing and the pharmacy changing it or flat out refusing to dispense. Take a good look at the VA formulary and check how many asterisks appear after a drug name. There are lots of them and each one means some special authorizaiton or limit goes along with prescribing the drug.
It's really no difference with private insurance and even worse with Medicare. A lot of procedures, tests and prescriptions require: "prior authorization." And if you don't get that, they don't pay. Call them to complain will get you blacklisted so I write, using the prescibed form.

[davef]

Doctordun/R1112,

Hey guys, it's really not all that bad or certainly doesn't seem to be as severe as the Atkins diet (to me). It does look that way at the outset. But I'm 12 weeks after diagnosis and can remember how I felt (just like you), now I wonder why I got so worked up. It does get MUCH better and you quickly work out what foods are best for you and what amounts of higher carb foods you can tolerate. I used to eat A LOT of white bread (well eat a lot full stop), but I have now found a wholemeal bread that works well for me. Do I miss white bread, potatoes, rice etc. - well yes, but it doesn't mean I have not had some on the odd occasion. I test before meals so I know my starting point and if I have nice low numbers, I may *sometimes* allow myself a small amount of something like potato/pasta, it's funny I used to think that mashed potato was the lowest form of potato (give me roast/baked) but now even a small spoon of mash is a really nice treat.

Checking the carbs in foods is easy enough and something that you get used to very quickly. Not only that, but if you think about it, most of us, pre-diagnosis eat pretty much a set number of different types of dinners, it's the same after diagnosis but now we know more about what we eat and can develop a new "menu" that works for us. As you will have gathered from what most of the replies have said, testing is a really important tool.

I know it's not easy, but try to relax about food, you will get your head around it. Don't starve yourself, believe it or not, by not eating you can still get a raise in your BG readings because your body reacts to not being fed. It's all about balance.

You can (if you choose) and I know some people do, follow something like the Bernstein diet, but you don't have to. I have developed my own lower carb plan by working out what foods are best for me.

I don't know if you have heard of it, there is a very good book called "The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes" by Gretchen Becker. It's very easy to read and understand and I have found it to be very helpful.

The great thing about this forum is, that pretty much whatever you experience you will find somebody who has gone through it before you.

Stick with it, ask lots of questions, we are all in this together and will tame the beast!

[ant hill]

Hey I know that you're scared and you would want to know how to get around this frighting thing called "Diabetes" :D whell you would to know about food values as what is good and what to avoid. Do you know that a light form of exercise like walking is a good way to lower BG's. :D

[susique333]

DoctorDun,

My diet is very Atkins like. I dont do much over 40 grams of carbs per day (using Metformin to lower those weird persistant high fasting blood sugars). On days where Im closer to 20-30g. carbs my numbers are near perfect. You might try carb counting like Atkins for a week and see if you like the numbers youre seeing. It really does become easier and easier.

[princesslinda]

DrD/R2, your feelings are quite normal for someone newly diagnosed. It is hard to know what to eat....I remember worrying about EVERYTHING when I started out. Even now, anytime I try something new, I worry until I check and see how it affects me.

If you've been a "carbaholic" like I was, restricting carbs is difficult at first....I lived on green beans, meat, cheese and salad for quite awhile until I calmed down and realized that although I couldn't eat like I used to there were still things I could eat and enjoy...just in moderation.

The main thing to remember is we are all different and have different carb tolerances...what makes my blood sugar rise may not affect you the same way. Try different foods, see what works for you. You'll find you can eat more than you realize.

And check out the book Dave recommended...it has a lot of graet information you'll find helpful.

[Kim_in_TN]

I think we all go through that "afraid to eat" period when we are first diagnosed. It was especially hard for me because everything I loved and was used to eating nearly every night was "bad". I've now learned that if I stay away from noodles, rice and most breads, cereals and regular sodas,that my numbers are MUCH better. The best advice I can give is to TEST TEST TEST after certain foods and you will soon learn what you can't have and what you can! ;)

[R2112]

I didn't think I was a carbaholic per se except I do like bread and my wife is Asian so we were eating rice, but not a lot. I've cut down on both ... maybe my "feeling not so good" is just withdrawals :D

I'll be getting the book this weekend.

[princesslinda]

One good thing about cutting carbs is that, after that initial adjustment period, your cravings really go away. If I allow myself to have a "splurge," its amazing how quickly those cravings come back. I do remember just not feeling "right" when I first started eating differently...guess my body didn't like the adjustment at first.

If you really like rice, experiement with some of the brown rice and see how you tolerate it. I find I can have a serving on occasion and it doesn't bother me, esp. if I have it with high-fiber veggies and some type of chicken...guess the fiber and protein slow the digestion and my blood sugar doesn't elevate. Watch the sauces though...sometimes they run my blood sugar up even when they don't taste "sweet."

When I absolutely must have bread, i'll buy the Nature's Own Double Fiber...it tastes very close to "regular" whole wheat bread....also, Mission Brand Low Carb Tortillas are good as well...they have lots of fiber in them.

[R2112]

Mission Brand Low Carb Tortillas are good as well...they have lots of fiber in them.

Being so close to the border Mexican food is pretty much a staple and is everywhere around here. We bought these low carb tortillas last weekend and they're really good surprisingly. Now if I can only get my hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant to carry them I'd be in heaven!

[princesslinda]

Now if I can only get my hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant to carry them I'd be in heaven!

I sometimes bring my own when we go out for Mexican food. I just heat them and wrap them in foil and stash them in my purse.

These actually bake up into really good chips for dipping with salsa and/or queso as well.

[R2112]

I sometimes bring my own when we go out for Mexican food. I just heat them and wrap them in foil and stash them in my purse.

Ahh, that's why you're a Moderator ;)

Great idea but I don't think they'll fair to well in my pockets since I don't carry a purse. I'll get it to go!

[princesslinda]

Great idea but I don't think they'll fair to well in my pockets since I don't carry a purse. I'll get it to go!

That's why a wise man should ALWAYS take his wife with him when eating out. Amazing the things we can stow in those suitcases we carry!;) :T

[orpy]

It's really normal to feel that way...I still obsess about my carb intake. When I was first diagnosed I was petrified and confused. My doctor told me on the phone to stop all simple sugars! I was suddenly thrown totally as to what I was going to eat, even that night! It's normal to go through lots of stages with diabetes. Just give it time, read lots of information, and realize that you will have good days and bad days. Finding this forum helped me enormously and still does.

There are tons of really good websites online and also don't forget your library databases where you can consult lots of medical information. Just ask your librarian! (My push for libraries)!

[Kim_in_TN]

I just bought the Mission Carb Balance tortillas this week. They are really good! I've been putting a tad of mayo, a tad of grated cheddar cheese and one slice of Light Bologna on them and it is yummy! My numbers are great afterwards! Of course, I could probably woof down about 4 of them, but I stick with just one.

[R2112]

I've been having the same thing for lunch this whole week.

1 Tyson Mesquite Grill chicken breast warmed up and cut ito cubes (carb conscious 1g/130cal)
1 Mission Low Carb Tortilla (warmed up)
Grated cheddar cheese
tbsp of Lite Ranch dressing
some Louisiana Hot Sauce

mmmm, good and low carb and not to bad on calories too!

[Kim_in_TN]

I've been having the same thing for lunch this whole week.

1 Tyson Mesquite Grill chicken breast warmed up and cut ito cubes (carb conscious 1g/130cal)
1 Mission Low Carb Tortilla (warmed up)
Grated cheddar cheese
tbsp of Lite Ranch dressing
some Louisiana Hot Sauce

mmmm, good and low carb and not to bad on calories too!


That does sound yummy! I'll have to get some Light Ranch!

[Sheralyn]

I was told by a diabetes consultant at the VA hospital to keep eating carbs, just make better choices with carbs that aren't empty.

What I'm hearing on this and other forums is to severely restrict any carb intake, but not completely. Essentially almost an Adkin's diet with a limited number of carbs.

I tried the Adkin's diet a long time ago without much longterm success.

What carbs are "good carbs"? I've been trying to avoid ALL carbs, not an easy thing to do.

[doctordun]

Good carbs are the ones you get from nutritious foods, as opposed to candy and cookies and such. If you are going to get them, you might as well be getting the nutrition also.

I just saw my dietician yesterday and she pointed out that the body needs 90 to 120 carbs a day in order to keep the liver from doing it's thing and distribute glucose into the blood. Of course, she followed that up by saying that every diabetic has to find their own threshold, since each of us are different.

[Lulika]

Hey guys, I know what you are going through. I am three weeks after diagnosis now and that first week was so hard. I lived on vegetables and brown rice (I am a vegetarian so it wasn't too hard.) I didn't have a meter at the beginning, so every bite scared me to death as I could not check how the food was affecting me.
The good thing is that, little by little, I became more educated and got a meter. I test and test and test and now have a good idea of what affects my BG.
Keep your chin up and you will soon realise that perhaps diabetes was just the push you needed to get healthier..it was for me :)

[amyjo29]

NO it's not uncommon! I went through the same thing. Don't be afraid to try different things. Right now you need to see what your body can and can't tolerate. The first years is like a trial and error. Talk to your endo to see if you can get set up with a diabetes educator who can help you with your diet.

[birdyland]

When I was diagnosed I had sort of the same feeling... what I did was decide to test WHENEVER I FELT LIKE IT I didn't restrict myself. You should know what food does to you at one and two hours. As you start to see patterns and learn what certain foods do to YOU, the paniky feeling will subside. For instance, rice kills my sugar, potato isn't too bad. You will learn!

I found that it REALLY helped to track everything in a spreadsheet... made patterns much easier to see, and readings much easier to predict.

[jacobsam622]

Its not the carbs we need to stay away from its the refined sugar and starchs in its many forms. My doctor told me to follow the sugar busters diet. The food sucks but it works. I am starting to get my blood sugars back to normal. I now eat multi grain bread and pasta, brown rice and no sugar added foods. Nuts are great snack and most have very little or no carbs.

[Real4]

I tried the Adkin's diet a long time ago without much longterm success.

I'm not pushing the Adkins' diet (Adkins was something of a jerk, IMMO, he neglects all the problems in following it, for one thing), but everyone who says it stopped working, actually is saying they went off the diet. That's not the same thing.

If I advised you to stop gambling so you could pay your bills, don't complain that it only worked for a while. When you started gambling again, you soon were out of money! The advice was fine, the practice not so.

One problem people have with low carb, is that they believe also in the "never eat any fat" propaganda. Well you can't do both, or if you do you will starve.

[Scrabblechick]

I know people who have had success on the Atkins Diet and I'm really glad it works for them. I went on it for a couple of weeks about 2 years ago, and honestly, I felt AWFUL! I felt like I had a volleyball in my stomach all the time. No energy.

I feel much better on a less restrictive diet. I'm allowed 150 carbs per day on my diet, but I rarely eat that many. I usually average closer to the 90-110 mark.

But omigosh, do I EVER know about the "Afraid to eat" thing. That's just what I said for about the first three weeks after DX. I was completely shattered emotionally. I don't know how I made it to work.

As everyone else has said, though, this is a learning experience. I'm learning what I can and can't eat, and what those "stealth" carbs will do. You know, the carbs thrown in through preparation, like in a sauce or something. Sneaky little devils.