What do you have for breakfast?

[lesley]

Hi guys,

just wondering, it seems as if nothing I eat gives me good blood sugar levels! Seem to come out about 2? hours later with 9-13 all the time. The rest of the day is fine, but breakfast? I can't get it right! Even rolled oats and weetbix stuff (which I now hate with a vengeance) don't give me good levels. Or am I maybe just eating too much??

Any suggestions, please.

[Andy_nut]

I stopped testing after breakfast as things changed on a day to day basis.

I tried all different types of "healthy" breakfast cerials but I would go from reading 7-12 from the same breakfast. Now I just have a couple of slices of granary toast with either low fat spread or a small amount of peanut butter. It is nothing fancy but it keeps me going until lunch.

BTW... I am no expert, I am still learning but I was getting stressed over the breakfast numbers which wasn't helping me either.

[Richard B]

Andy: I've had good results with McAnn's Irish oatmeal mixed with 2 tablespoons of Flaxseed grain. Mix with water and microwave for 2 minutes. Add some Smart Balance or equivalent low cholesterol margarine and it makes a hearty breakfast that won't spike your sugar levels.

BTW: I've got great bud's in Warrington and Lymm and used to eat some fantastic Indian food in Manchester. Since I quit drinking, I sure miss those Boddington's, Tetley's, and Theakston's Old Peculiar :)

Richard B in Kansas

[Andy_nut]

:topic:

Until I found out I was diabetic I used to eat some fantastic food Indian in Manchester too, not to mention great chinese, mexican etc...

I have never been much of a drinker but the real ales round here are pretty good, my wife loves them.

[Lori531]

I know my answer won't be too popular, but I drink a can of glucerna for breakfast. It keeps my weight down and my blood sugar steady.

[twocute64001]

My favorite breakfast that will not raise my BG are either a slice 7 grain bread toasted bread (they are larger than regular breads so 1 slice only) with 2 tablespoons peanut butter, or 1/2 pita opened up and filled with tuna, egg, pickle relish and low fat mayo

You might find a high protien breakfast is a better start for you, even a piece of cold leftover chicken seems to be better than cereal for me.

When in a hurry I use a protien powdered shake from the health food store, but read the label carefully as may are packed with sugars and sucrose.

[TAutry]

Hi lesley,

I found that I couldn't deal with cold cereal several years ago. If I cut the amount down low enough to keep my sugar in order, I would nearly starve a couple of hours later.

This morning was an average breakfast for me. I had two eggs and oatmeal with blueberries. I didn't add anything to the eggs. The oatmeal was measured at 1/3 cup dry with 2/3 cup of milk. I microwaved the oatmeal for 2 minutes, added a few frozen blueberries and microwaved for another minute. I've found that by using the oatmeal as a substitute for toast and keeping the amount relatively small it doesn't drive my sugar up.

As you know, everyone's taste is different. Everyone's diabetes responds differently too.

Good luck,

Travis

[Lori M.]

I've never been one to eat alot for breakfast (if I have any at all). Now I just have a bowl of cereal, half glass of juice, and maybe a half banana. :tee:

[Cinnabon]

Being on a pump allows for everything/anything you want to eat, as long as you cover ir. I am not a Breakfast person, but I will have some
"Cafe con Leche" (Kafay-cun-Lichay), Espresso w/ milk.

[birds_eye]

breakfast is my favourite meal of the day! lunch too actually...mmm :rolleyes: I eat the same thing every morning, sounds boring but it tastes really good and it's great at keeping my sugars stable - 1 cup All bran flakes, 1/2 cup Kelloggs High fibre bran, 1 apple, and 1 cup milk, sprinkled with seeds.

It's absolutely delicious and really healthy too. three syllables - low GI

hope it helps ;o)

[ADE]

Hi Lesley,
I've been eating the same kind of breakfast for the last 16 months after the diagnose. It's 1/2 cup of broccoli, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese mix with 2 tablespoon of flax seed oil, and 1 slice of toasted multi sprouted grains with 6 grm of carb. You can replace the bread with egg to control the glucose level. Oh yeah, I forgot about 1 cup of coffee with 1 teaspoon of cinamon powder. I, also, take 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar prior to each meal. Take care.

[lesley]

thanks guys,

I'll have a try at some of those suggestions.

I have been thinking of more eggs, my internet research is suggesting that the cholesterol may not be absorbed because of lecithin in the eggs.

T Autry, do you find that you need the eggs and the oats together? I guess you are talking a fairly small portion of oats?

The cider vinegar sounds like a good idea too, I get my lowest levels with a meal of protein and pickled vegetables which are easy to make yourself.

Ade, do you have the cinnamon powder in your coffee??

Thanks
Lesley

[ADE]

Well Lesley, Offcourse I put that cinamon powder in the coffee, otherwise the coffee would be too bitter for me. The cinamon powder has a natural sweet flavor to replace the sugar/condensed milk that I used to put in my coffee. You can do google on the cinamon, vinegar, and diabetes to learn about them. I, myself, can not say that they lower my glucose because I've lowered it with low carb diet and heavy exercise prior to using the cinamon and vinegar. Take care.

[birds_eye]

The cinamon powder has a natural sweet flavor to replace the sugar/condensed milk that I used to put in my coffee.
yes but ADE, does it actually taste nice? how much do you put in, one/two teaspoon?

[ADE]

>yes but ADE, does it actually taste nice? how much do you put in, one/two teaspoon?

Well for me, yes I like the taste and it also so reduce the bitterness of the black coffee. I put 1 teaspoon of cinamon powder for a big cup of coffee (it's more like 1 1/2 teaspoon). Please make sure that the cinamon powder you buy is not mixed with sugar. The price is very reasonable, so you don't loose much money if you don't like it. Enjoy your adventure.

[arlenecarol]

it seems that everytime i read some of these topics, i have at least two questions for every answer!

about breakfast...it's the hardest meal of the day for me to eat but i do it because of the medication. do any of you take your medication if you've missed a meal?

i just forgot to take my avandia now...should i take it AFTER eating instead of before as i usually do? i would think that skipping it completely isn't a good idea, right?

breakfast here is mostly a 'traditional turkish breakfast'...it consists of sliced tomato (fine this time of year when our tomatoes are gloriously delicious..i have no idea what will happen in winter!!), cucumbers, green and black olives (home cured and not very salty), homemade white cheese, not unlike greek feta cheese. i usually have a few high-fiber crackers with it instead of our homemade village bread. and if i'm really feeling decadent, i'll have a spoonful of natural fruit jelly without sugar.

tell me about vinegar and diabetes. i keep seeing references to it but not much of an explanation...what about fenugreek? and also why cinnamon in your coffee?

i guess i should make a list of these questions and let you all try to answer them one at a time.

sorry...i'm still a newbie to all this.

oh...forgot to tell you all...went to see my doctor on monday..he's pleased with my progress and said 'keep on, keepin' on'... we'll meet again in 3 months.

the 'other' problem has corrected itself...i hope it doesn't reappear...so far, so good.

arlene

[Middle Aged Man]

I don't know if you have them overseas, but in the US we have egg products made from the egg whites. Egg Beaters is a popular brand. It's like a cardboard milk container of uncooked scrambled eggs, but a LOT less cholesterol than the full egg.

[Andy_nut]

I too am still learning, but does an egg really contain enough cholesterol to be harmful if you have 2 or 3 a week?

[LauRa Lu]

I too am still learning, but does an egg really contain enough cholesterol to be harmful if you have 2 or 3 a week?

My doctor told me that one egg a month is about what I should stick to, which is hardly worth having unless you're some kind of eggoholic :rolleyes: I have a high cholesterol and that's why he says I should reduce it so much, I'm not sure whats recommended for people with normal cholesterol levels. I'd imagine 2 a week would be fine.

I recently found a cerial thats designed for people on the atkins diet. It's low in carbs. It's cinnamon flakes and it's really nice. Usually I don't eat breakfast because I don't get hungry, but now and agian I fancy some and this cerial hardly raises my bg at all. http://atkins-uk.com/shop/products/Atkins_Morning_Shine_Cinnamon_Breakfast_Flakes.htm l
tastey stuff :wink: They sell it in boots in the uk and I'm sure they must sell it in other countries. I can never keep my bloodsugar under control with other cerials, usually have a huge spike and then a huge drop, cerial usually has the worst effect on my bg over anyother food.

[Harold]

i just forgot to take my avandia now...should i take it AFTER eating instead of before as i usually do? i would think that skipping it completely isn't a good idea, right? My last doctor had me taking it with dinner, but my new doctor wants to to take it later in the night. So with or without food is okay. When I forget, if it's within several hours I go ahead and take it, but over a few I blow it off. Q&A from Avandia.com (http://www.avandia.com/about_avandia/avandia_q_and_a.html#5);
What if I miss a dose?
If your doctor has prescribed Avandia for use once a day:

* As soon as you remember your missed dose, take one tablet anytime during the day.
* If you forget and go a whole day without taking a dose, don't try to make it up by adding another dose on the following day. Forget about the missed dose and simply follow your normal schedule

[am1977]

Breakfast for me usually consists of a bowl of cereal and sometimes an egg :egg: . Pretty simple, but I like it ;)

[SVanderkolff]

Laura
I would do some more reading on the eggs thing. About 5 years ago they came out with the "Do not eat eggs if you have Hi cholesterol" thing. they have since done a bunch of studies that say cutting back on eggs makes virtually no difference. I would do some reading then talk to your doc, he/she may not be up to date on this.

I went through the same process with my doc for my cholesterol.

Steve

[arlenecarol]

okay...but what if you don't have cholesterol problems...then what?
do eggs do anything to diabetes blood sugar levels??

arlene

[lesley]

I find that I get some of my lowest bg readings after an omelette and salad.

do a google search for eggs, cholesterol and tests and you will be able to read and decide for your yourself.

for me, we have just bought some more chooks and I am having eggs regularly. I figure I will find out if the tests that showed that eggs did not appear to raise the cholesterol levels in most people were correct or not when I do my next three monthly test!

[arlenecarol]

for me, we have just bought some more chooks and I am having eggs regularly. I figure I will find out if the tests that showed that eggs did not appear to raise the cholesterol levels in most people were correct or not when I do my next three monthly test!

hmmm....since my son has recently returned to the land of Oz, i've been learning more of your 'language'...otherwise, i'd never know what 'chooks' are!!
:egg:

i wonder if anyone has done any studies comparing FARM FRESH EGGS...
ie, from free-ranging chickens with the eggs that come from poultry farms where the hens are kept cooped up all of their lives?

i SEE a visible difference in our eggs from the village and store bought ones
and i believe that these are better for your health, still, i don't know what the tests show.

then again, i don't always believe the tests...

be sure to let us know what your results are at the 3 month mark, okay?

ar.

[lesley]

ar,

I will be sure to let you know what my tests are, have about another month to go.

You have gotten me started on one of my favourite hobby horses here! I would never buy eggs from those poor battery hens. Quite apart from the cruelty of keeping any animal that way, their feed is full of antibiotics and stuff that I don't want in my system! Chooks that free range and have access to good quality pellets would have to be much healthier, they don't need all those antibiotics. The pellets that I buy are rice based and have fish meal as well as meat meal, I am hoping to raise the omega 3 levels as well as possibly lower the cholesterol that comes from meat meal in chook pellets. Free range chooks also eat a great deal of grass, they are not eating concentrated processed foods all the time. The difference in the taste between fresh free range and the normal eggs you buy is like the difference between chalk and cheese!

I personally think that the general increase in things like diabetes, cancer, allergies etc. is that most of the food we buy is chock a block with all sorts of unnatural ingredients. I really do think that we need to get back to simple fresh untampered with foods that are grown, raised without all the pesticides, insecticides, antibiotics that seem to be part of so much of the food that is available.

Well, I'll get off my hobby horse, and will let you know of the results for my cholesterol.

Lesley

[arlenecarol]

looking forward to your results..

in addition to chickens being fed antibiotics...don't even get me started on cattle! we have both free-ranging cattle (vet inspected and vaccinated every year so they are 'disease free') and semi-domesticated cattle kept in pastures.

i didn't realize it until my daughter (the professional chef) pointed out the difference in taste when we purchased filet mignon two different times and tasted an enormous difference...later we asked the butcher why...he said that the best tasting one was from a cow that lived 'down by the river'.. ie, free-ranging.

and i agree, we're manipulating food much too much and may be part of increase in cancer and diabetes.

i wonder if the cavemen had diseases like diabetes....

arlene