[ShottleBop]

Originally Posted by LarryTango

I was diagnosed September 2007 and its fair to be said i have been told incorrect infomation many times by various doctors all doctors have told me its the sugar to watch not the carbs ... is this another thing i am doing wrong lol.

My last A1C (and to be fair the only one i have had since diagnosis) was 5.2 so surely i cant be doing it completly wrong?

If at all possible could someone give me a link or somthing to what type of foods im not supposed to eat , because i was under the impression that everyone (including diabetics) should have a ballanced diet which includes starchy foods such as bread and potatoes (both of which i have on a daily basis).

i really am perplexed about the watch the carbs not the sugar statement, the way i work it (which i guess as it turns out is wrong) is look on the package and it says somthing like

carbohydrates per 100g = 27
of which sugars = 1.2

if there was no 'of which sugars' on the label i assume that most of the cabs turn to sugar and thus mentally note that as 27g of sugar (To simplify) , not that i have eating anything with 27g per 100g (and thus hate my sad excuse for a life .. i so miss sugar lol)

please dont all scream at me

Won't scream at you. I think everyone reacts differently to what they eat, so that it's always YMMV. That being said, the best recommendation is that you eat to your meter. Many sources say that your blood glucose should be no higher than 200 at any time, and no higher than 140 two hours after (the start of) a meal. Jenny Ruhl, over at Blood Sugar 101, says that, to keep your A1c at 5% or less, you should be trying for no more than 140 one hour after a meal, and no more than 120 two hours after a meal. I watched a video presentation over at The Bernstein Connection (a membership site that requires the payment of an annual fee to get access to the content) that claimed that, within a couple of years, the goal will be a two-hour post-meal blood glucose of 100 or less.

So: pick your target (to maintain your 5.2 A1c, you'd need an average blood glucose level of 103 mg/dl (5.7 mmol/L)), and test yourself after eating different foods.

The total carbs on a nutritional label includes the sugar carbs, but that doesn't mean all carbs but sugar can be ignored. Very generally, refined white flour, white rice, and starchy potatoes are converted very rapidly into glucose, and should be treated as if you were eating sugar. The effect of whole grains, beans, and the like seems to vary from person to person. Dr. Bernstein, the author of The Diabetes Solution, advises adhering to a strict low-carb diet of no more than six grams of carbs for breakfast and 12 for each of lunch and dinner. His book includes lists of foods never to eat, among them all grains, except for a couple of types of bran crackers that are mostly insoluble fiber, and all beans. Again, different folks may find that some of his "forbidden" foods do not affect their blood sugar so drastically as to require that they be avoided.

I am pre-diabetic, controlling my blood glucose by diet and exercise, and I find that, by adhering pretty closely to Dr. Bernstein's recommendations, I can keep my average glucose level to under 100 (assuming, of course, that I'm not simply missing peaks). I'll know better next week, when I go in for my next A1c. (I was diagnosed this past February, based on high fasting blood glucose and an A1c of 6.5; more recently, in May, my A1c was 6.0, which correlates (using the converter at Blood Sugar 101) to an average blood glucose level of 126. Since mid-April, however, I have seriously ratcheted down my carb intake: my 30-day average has gone from 115 to 99.

[volleyball]

Originally Posted by orpy

However, I end up looking like I'm some kind of anal fool.
Just emoting here.

You may only look foolish to whom we consider foolish. The people who continue eating poorly.

I worked with a guy who had T2 for years. would play games with his doc and do what he pleased. After my diagnosis and my transformation, losing the bloated look I had, he got onboard and his doc lowered his meds a couple of times. Now that we are no longer coworkers, his meds are higher than ever, weight too and so are the doctor games. So sad because he now knows what diet can do for him

[Amelie]

Originally Posted by orpy

I guess what gets me is how, instead of people questioning those who eat like a regular person, people will tend to question MY diet instead (as if I'm being overly obsessive and cautious)...

It's been less than three weeks since I was diagnosed, and already I have experienced this. Over the weekend I was at a barbecue hosted by a friend. I chose my food very carefully, eating grilled chicken, a grilled vegetable kebab, and salad without dressing, while skipping the potato salad, buns, and dessert. My (so-called) friend tried to talk me into having dessert, saying, "I have another friend who has diabetes, and she eats pie all the time!"

So somehow she assumes that what her other friend is doing is okay, and I'm being too rigid and restrictive! I thought my friends would support me in doing what I need to do for my health. Why do people have a problem with that?

As a side note (please allow me this opportunity to vent), this friend also screwed me over the same day... When I had first told her about my diagnosis, I'd asked her not to tell anyone, because I don't feel ready to talk to everyone about it yet (I only told her because I spend a lot of time with her, and thought she should know why I need to make these changes in my life)... But at the barbecue, she asked me, in front of everyone there, "So, how are things going with your diabetes?"

I think she feels she hasn't done anything wrong, because I'd asked her not to tell anyone and she didn't. She just mentioned it to me in front of everyone! But the end result is the same! Everyone knows! And everyone's asking me questions that I'm not ready to answer and making ignorant comments that I don't want to hear.

[Janlaton]

I have 2 ideas one if you feel you really must say something to the other person, do you know her well enough to invite her out for a one on one lunch where you could privately ask some very gentle questions related to diabetes and has she had the opportunity to spend time with a nuturion specialist.

The second if you really are concerned how other people might verbally compare the two of you; you can always simply and again gently say doctors vary in their methods of treating diabetes. It is a true statement even though to say she is eating the way a good doc would suggest is doubtful.

[Janlaton]

Oh and Amilee, be careful who you talk to they always talk. Do not worry about what a non diabetic says about what you eat. Just gently say "I am doing what is best for me I can not know what is best for so and so."

[athena]

I think its alot about not wanting to seem different from other people. In school we get it pretty much beaten into our heads that if you are different for any reason, you are an outsider. I know most of the people that have had stories about people who aren't eatting right or whatever are adults and true enough we should grow out of that feeling. I have to say tho, alot of times what we learned then, emotional wise, stays with us for a very long time. People who may have been an outsider or teased in school may end up less likely to want to have that feeling repeated.

I have had issues with food and feeling like an outsider for a long time in my life. Now the one thing I hated thinking about in my life is the one thing that could end up killing me. It's a hard thing to face and to deal with. Something I used to ignore (eatting, what I ate, when I ate and so forth) is something that has to be dealt with more than I want. It's actually bringing up alot of my own insecurities from 10+ years ago. Im surrounded by loving people but that doesnt matter when it comes to some emotional things. Food is comfort for alot of people. Watch tv or for some of us, remember when you had a bad day or hurt yourself, mom's would give you a cookie and milk.

If diabetes is something hard for them to deal with (if they show it or express it or not) then food may be their comfort. Denial is also something else, but I think it plays into what is the comfort they may be seeking.


I'm not tryin to defend or say its ok to ignore the ramifications of your diet and diabetes. It should be taken seriously. It's just not always so easy to be strict with your diet as badly as it may be needed.

[PMohanan]

I understand the pain to see people not being careful about Health! My bro was 10 years older to me, dx Type 2 died at 65 with his third heart atack. He was almost blind. He would eat sweets with no control, no exercise... and would say 'well... I had a good life. Now i don't want to put restrictions. When it is time to die, is ok'!!!We all watched helplessly!
The best that came out of it was......
When i was dxd in my regular annual checkups in 1987, I was ready. I had read all material for my brother.. and knew the importance of exercise, controlled eating habits, good sleep etc.. which has helped me now 22 years still in excellent health! And what I have found is you can enjoy life and even eat all items you like, as long as it is controlled, EXERCISE regularly, and keep your 'life partner' happy and friendly!
So, to new dx Type 2s, don't be disheartened, a lot depends on consistent behaviour from you, and you can control!
Good luck!
PMohanan
Dx 10/87 Age 65 Type 2 Aug 08: HbA1C 6.1, Tot Chlor. 173, HDL 74,LDL 83,BP 115/65 Oral medication low doses

[shutterbug]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

Even some of the other T2s have said "you know it won't hurt you to have the occ. Coke/bread/dessert."

I live with 2 such T2s. Yeah.. My inlaws are visiting us for 3 months and both of them are T2. My father-in-law has been on meds for 30 years now and he still think its ok to indulge in sweet things often because he takes meds. My mother-in-law is a little better, she trys to avoid, but fails all the time !

[volleyball]

I admit that I do indulge occasionally, but occasionally has to be the operative word.
Chris it will be very difficult but you can rid the house of thing that they would indulge in. If you make a very low carb meal, you could make or buy a small 6" cake so that they get cake but only a small piece.
My friends parents came for a week and we changed their diet. They actually enjoyed the new menu and plan on modifying theirs when they got back.

[Scrabblechick]

Right: occasionally is the word, for sure. Is eating a piece of cake at Christmas going to kill me? No. A piece. A SMALL piece. As in singular. LOL. I keep some dark chocolate in the house simply because if I don't get a little something sweet, I'll start raiding hubby's sweet cereal boxes. NOT GOOD! So I eat my one square of dark chocolate, drink a little Hood's milk and I'm all right.

My dad would stick to his diet sporadically. He would be really good for a while and then just have a spell where he didn't do much. I'd get in the car and see honey bun wrappers and chocolate milk cartons on the floorboard. This, of course, was before home BG meters were readily available. I really think if he had been able to see in black and white what he was doing to his BG, he would have stayed on his diet more carefully.

Like Linda, I've seen what "D" can do to people. It isn't pretty and it certainly has made a difference in how I manage this thing, myself.

Here's one of my favorite comebacks for the "Well, you can have just a LITTLE piece!" thing. "Look. If I'm going to blow my diet, I'm doing it with Godiva chocolate and Thai curry, NOT with a Wal-Mart bakery cake with nasty Crisco frosting." That usually shuts them up. In fact, the general comment is, "I don't blame you." I see my co-workers get the piece of cake with all the flowers on it and just gobble up that horrible frosting. Makes me physically ill. I'd rather eat dirt. In fact, I have. It tastes better. LOL.

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by Scrabblechick

"Look. If I'm going to blow my diet, I'm doing it with Godiva chocolate and Thai curry, NOT with a Wal-Mart bakery cake with nasty Crisco frosting."

I love it

I'd rather eat dirt. In fact, I have. It tastes better. LOL.

Especially with worms and crunchy bugs in it

[fgummett]

Sounds like the title for yet another "reality" TV show

[volleyball]

Originally Posted by Scrabblechick

"Look. If I'm going to blow my diet, I'm doing it with Godiva chocolate and Thai curry, NOT with a Wal-Mart bakery cake with nasty Crisco frosting." .

I too agree whole heartily. We need to make our indiscretions count. Like you may never ever consider fooling around behind your husbands back, if Brad Pitt or whoever does it for you came asking, you'd be tempted.

I think anyone over 30 should be looking at sweets the same way . Make it an occasion and make sure it's special. And savor it.

[Janlaton]

Being different has never bothered me. My Mother stressed letting our talents show and being Individuals in our own place so I guess that is part of why I speak my mind so freely and most people so I stand out in any crowded room. At least it does not bother me when someone offers me sweets and I can say No without thinking about what someone else is going to say or think.

[mrDiabetic]

My wife's aunt is T2 as well. She has been so for many years. one of these days I saw her eat breakfast. Man, just looking at her made me squeamish. I mean, there were sweets, copious glasses of orange juice, buttered toasts. She is supposed to be on insulin and she has drinking problems.

I was so scared, for days just thinking about her gave me the heebie-jeebies. She has neuropathy and can't feel a **** thing in her legs.

After the reckless eating, she narrated her diabetic complications. Being a new diabetic I was so scared on hearing those things.

Man, I hope people realize what they are doing to themselves.