anyone else here vegetarian or vegan?

[atyreyuas]

I've always wondered if other diabetics have done like me and completely eliminated animal products from their diet. I got rid of meat and fish a long time ago (for a combination of health and ethical reasons) and now the only time I eat dairy or eggs is by accident - when someone cooking for me has slipped them into the recipe without telling me. I personally find it's much easier to control my bloodsugar and weight this way, but has anyone else had this experience?

[raulsecajr]

I've always wondered if other diabetics have done like me and completely eliminated animal products from their diet. I got rid of meat and fish a long time ago (for a combination of health and ethical reasons) and now the only time I eat dairy or eggs is by accident - when someone cooking for me has slipped them into the recipe without telling me. I personally find it's much easier to control my bloodsugar and weight this way, but has anyone else had this experience?

I'm not a vegetarian, but it does sound really interesting resulting in good sugars. Is it really helpful in diabetes? Do you see a drastic change in your glucose results? I'm type 1 and I've never thought about that.

[notme]

I am eating fish only, no chicken, beef or pork. I eat some dairy. I have had very good control of my blood sugar doing this and have lost about 20 pounds. That actually was my goal weight, but have decided to try and lose about five more. I eat mostly things that grow from the ground and little in the way of refined foods. I am pretty happy with my diet and control.

[foxl]

I have been an ovolacto veg for 36 years. Despite that I have always had an unacceptable lipid profile. Eating less animal fat (which was already minimal) did not help and in fact lowered my HDL.

Since diagnosis with D I have actually increased my animal fat intake in the form of dairy and eggs, and decreased my carb intake. I am now on simvastatin and CoQ10 and Flax oil ... and my lipid profile has improved despite the increased animal fat intake. My blood sugar is excellent now too.

[xMenace]

No. I eat lots of meats, eggs, and dairy, but I try to only buy naturally raised products, except for milk which is regulated. I avoid mass-produced animal products as much as I can. I have no big problems with a vegan diet as long as carbs are minimized.

[bengeance]

I've been vegan for two years and vegetarian for twenty :).

My blood sugar control has improved slightly since going vegan, but I attribute this mostly to the cost and rarity of vegan junk food.

[jer.lawrence]

I've always been curious to try a vegetarian diet.

I find, though, that I try to sort of "sub" in protein for what I would have eaten as carbs. Now, instead of having a sandwich or something of the like for lunch, I'll have a chicken breast.

It seems like being a vegetarian, or even moreso, a vegan diabetic, would offer very limited food choices.

Am I wrong in thinking that? (It wouldn't surprise me at all if I am)

[bengeance]

If you cook your own food, everything has a substitute. Restaurants and precooked foods can be difficult though, depending on where you live.

[notme]

I really don't find my diet restricted, but then again, I do eat a few types of fish.

I eat vegetarian soups, casseroles made with veggies and cheese and mushrooms. I make a spaghetti squash with a mushroom sauce over the top. I eat some fruits, lots of berries and kiwi and pineapple (YMMV). I love sweet potatoes with butter if I want a filling food and tons of salads with salmon. I eat nuts, beans (limited) and make one heck of a spinach lasagne with eggplant instead of noodles.

You just have to change your thinking a bit and the foods are not limited at all. Just another way of cooking.

To be honest, vegan gave me trouble and I have decided that it isn't for me. I won't eat if I don't like the food. I decided to eat salmon and some white fish as long as it is wild and not farmed.

[lark 27]

I was a vegetarian in my college days, but that time was spent in doing the diabetic vegetarianism incorrectly (too much processed food, Mcdonalds cheesburgers minust the meat, etc.) Now I will eat any meat products, but my wife is a vegetarian (lacto-ovo and actually now she's a flexitarian because recently she'll allow herself to have some chicken) so my meals mirror hers a lot of the time no matter which of us is cooking, and therefore I don't have meat a lot of the time.

I've enjoyed reading this thread because I find it encouraging that one can go vegetarian or limit meats without negative effects on BG, and I like to read the various ideas for food people have. I basically like the Michael Pollan philosophy of "Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants." Honestly for me as I've reduced my carbs (I'm at 100-150 per day so not at all low carb), I find it difficult to limit meatand aninmal products. I guess I can keep working on this. I have eggs basically most days for lunch. Alternately I eat yogurt and blueberries. Also for after dinner snacks my go to's are cheese and lunch meat.

[Evermont]

Ovolacto for 23 years and T2 for 3 years. I'm in control with diet and exercise only. After Dx I eat lower carb - but not low carb. I eat very little refined carbs, most of my carbs are a wide variety fresh veggies, various fruits, cooked veggies, and a small amount of natural sweeteners - no artificial.

Limited choices are what vegetarianism is by definition. The trickiest part is convenience. We (especially Americans) live in a meat-oriented society. Meat eaters won't notice that many restaurants have almost nothing vegetarian on the menu. If you then eliminate the menu choices with "bad carbs" you're often left with my old friend salad and maybe soup. I always ask about soups because often they are made with chicken stock.

I think the second biggest obstacle is picky eaters followed closely by lack of imagination.

Mostly I think vegetarianism and diabetic control are independent things. The combination just makes it hard to find convenient choices - a bigger problem for some than others. It is possible to eat a healthy diet whether or not you are diabetic, vegetarian, or both.

[notme]

Ovolacto for 23 years and T2 for 3 years. I'm in control with diet and exercise only. After Dx I eat lower carb - but not low carb. I eat very little refined carbs, most of my carbs are a wide variety fresh veggies, various fruits, cooked veggies, and a small amount of natural sweeteners - no artificial.

Limited choices are what vegetarianism is by definition. The trickiest part is convenience. We (especially Americans) live in a meat-oriented society. Meat eaters won't notice that many restaurants have almost nothing vegetarian on the menu. If you then eliminate the menu choices with "bad carbs" you're often left with my old friend salad and maybe soup. I always ask about soups because often they are made with chicken stock.

I think the second biggest obstacle is picky eaters followed closely by lack of imagination.

Mostly I think vegetarianism and diabetic control are independent things. The combination just makes it hard to find convenient choices - a bigger problem for some than others. It is possible to eat a healthy diet whether or not you are diabetic, vegetarian, or both.


GREAT POST!

I recently went to a Home and Garden Show. There was nothing for me to eat. My choices were limited to BBQ'd beef or something that would have required a pump full of insulin. Luckily, I am able to walk away and not worry about it. I do find dining out to be a little bit of a challenge. So far, I have only been at this a year, I usually just eat a salad or soup. I do find that I look more and more for vegetarian restaurants.

Well done Keith.

[susieq214]

Hey
I just started reading The Pleasure Trap, which is all about going vegan, and am intrigued. I have been counting carbs and calories to keep my BS down and it has been working, but I always feel tired and hungry. Would love to hear about your experiences. How long have you been vegan? I need to lose about 40 lbs, the weight is all in my middle.