Getting paranoid about food- diabetes related

[Orchidlady]

I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 and over the past couple of months have done my best to control with diet but to no avail, mt reading are incredibly high so now starting metformin. The trouble is now I have become paranoid about food, obsessing about what I can and can't eat, it is taking over my life. Like now I am really hungry but just can't get my head around what to eat. I have lost nearly half a stone in the past week and was not overweight in the first place. I actually now how to low carb but think this is becoming an mental thing and making me very miserable. Just wondering if anyone has gone through something similar

[digerd]

What is your sugar in blood number result? Under 7, you do not have to worry. Unless your sugar level is causing other problems that have been diagnosed.

[Orchidlady]

My levels have been running in the late teens, was even over 20 the other day. You can see why I am paranoid

[digerd]

Are they UK values ?

[WitchesTit]

You are bound to have higher levels in the first few weeks after being diagnosed. You need to look at changing your eating habits long term.

Don't get upset about high levels until you've got your diet under control. Look into low carb/paleo style eating, look T how things like fruit affects you, start taking notes on how your body feels after eating certain things and if you haven't eaten for a length of time.

This is going to be for the rest of your life so it needs to be more of a slow and steady progression instead of a crash diet, you'll find your comfort level and get used to eating in a different way.

Try and stay positive about the whole thing, its a great wake up call from your body. It IS possible to reverse a diagnosis of type II diabetes. Good luck.

[Orchidlady]

Yes digerd yes UK values. witches thanks for your post, I was always a healthy eater and since being diagnosed, have done all the right things, read the books, bought a great cook book and taken it all so seriously. Am self testing and seeing what works, but the reason I posted is that I feel I am obsessed. Went crazy with DP yesterday because he kept offering me chocolate. Never been big chocolate fan but now I know it is totally out of bounds just makes me cross, iyswim.Just going out for lunch yesterday was nightmare.

[digerd]

Been looking it up on the net, and have not found any mention of glucose being in the teens or 20, so got worried and just wanted to advise you to see your GP or specialist about it.

The levels are obviously lower in the morning before breakfast and higher at night after eating through the day. But the testing is done 2 hours after eating as well. Only had it tested before in the morning on empty stomach. But on the website site, normal is up to 11 at night.

I am sure there must be Diabetes Advice organisations that could give you expert advice on your worries.
Good Luck

[digerd]

ps, " 11 normal at night for Diabetic type 11"

[Orchidlady]

I was gutted to be on medication so early on but no matter what I eat does not bring my BG down much. Even if I go extremely low carb. This is making me very unhappy. I love cooking and making lovely food, suddenly a huge range of foods are out of bounds. Or maybe I am being too tough on myself

[topsi]

you probably could get referal to a dietician who could help

[Orchidlady]

Hi topsi one thing I have learnt pretty quickly is that the NHS dish out rubbish advice about diet, for example being told porridge is one of the best things to eat for breakfast, this sends my levels sky high, also told past and bread ok in moderation, I don't think so! It is a mine field.

[millymae]

I really feel you - my OH developed diabetes many years ago and received a huge amount of help and advice to get him on the right track. Nowadays you just seem to be left to get on with it, and it's really difficult at first. Blood sugar levels regularly in the teens and 20's are definitely far to high and you shouldn't be losing weight if you are not over weight in the first place. Managing diabetes is all about balance and the medication you take needs to be sufficient to maintain the blood sugar levels which result from you eating a healthy diet which doesn't leave you hungry.

Fluctuating blood sugars can make you feel realy unwell - my advice would be to go back to your GP asap and ask to be referred to a diabetic specialist nurse - don't assume that your GP is a diabetes expert - he/she may well be, but in OH experience those who have specialist knowledge have been the ones who have pointed his doctor in the right direction and given the most useful help in managing the condition. He even had the benefit of advice from a dietician who looked at everything he was eating and made suggestions for healthier and more fulfilling alternatives.

I don't know anything about Metformin, but it may well be not the right medication for you - my OH took tablets for several years but in the end even with a really well balanced diet it wasn't sufficient to keep his blood sugar levels under control and he ended up injecting insulin. Initially he thought it would be the end of life as he knew it, but in truth it was the best thing for him and although the regular monitoring of his blood and the injections are a bit of a faff they are now so routine he barely gives them a thought. His diet is generally no different to mine and whilst he wouldn't eat a bar of chocolate in one go the odd piece definitely passes his lips from time to time as does a piece of cake with no ill effects.

I take it you've had a look on Diabetes UK's website - there is some good advice there. Hope things become a little more settled soon - it's very easy to become obsessed with what you should and shouldn't be eating

[Orchidlady]

hi millya good post, I have never seen a GP only the Diabetes nurse. She told me a monitor was pointless we don't recommend them because it costs the NHS too much, low carb is not recommended a good balanced diet. hum ok then!!!! Yes found that web site very good actuallym, many of them thing I might has LADA but when I brought this up at last appointment, it totally dismissed.

[topsi]

mm I see your point they do dish out the usual crap don't they. I am on a low carb diet which is supposed to stabalise your insulin levels. I am not qualified to give you diatary advice though.

[Orchidlady]

topsi I is actually pretty pathetic isn't, you loose all faith in them. I have received some great advise on the Diabetes UK site. Luckily for me I am really into food and ahve low carbed in the past. I think I need to keep experimenting what works for me. Just feeling a little overwhelmed and paranoid.

[topsi]

many things in a 'well balanced diet' 5 a day, yada yada yada will raise insulin levels. We are so conditioned to eat refined carbs now that we don't even notice them

[Mynewmoniker]

I would like to ask, as a newly diagnosed type 2, how everyone is getting on since these postings anf how you survived Christmas.

[knackeredoutmum]

I dont knnow whether you already do this but one way diabetics are advised to get their sugars down is lots of cardio/aerobic exercise - jogging, gym classes, treadmills etc. This is because the exercise helps burn up the free sugars that your own body cant process you would otherwise see reflected in your bloods.

Secondly if you are overweight at all this has an effect also as your bodies own supply of insulin is trying to control a much bigger area. If you are heavier than middle of normal range then you should try a diet.

Could you keep a food diary please and post on this thread or a new one exactly what you eat in a couple of days, every mouthful? With results like yours not responding I would imagine you have a diet full of hidden sugars that you arent aware of.

This would include the obvious cakes/biscuit/chocs.

But it also includes fruit juice, alcohol, fizzy drinks (except diet drinks), fruit of any kind. If you want to get on top of it you must also try cutting OUT or nearly out all the other sugary foods such as pasta, bread, potatoes, cereals and rice.

Did you know (from school science!!) if you put starch indicator on bread it goes black for starch, but one you chew it for a bit and stick it in a test tube it no longer goes black as it has been converted into sugars.

Have a look at the lo carb boot camp thread somewhere on this forum. You need to fill up with proteins (tons of it), good oils, salad and vegetables (not carrots or potatoes).

Could you try this for a week? Loads of fish, chicken (I mean a whole breast to yourself with half a plate of veg with grated cheese over), cheese, salad and veg.

If you want to try to eliminate the tablets (which is a good thing to aim for) I think you could but you will have to have a total lifestyle change I am afraid.

[Mynewmoniker]

Thanks for that knackeredoutmum. Are you a diabetes nurse by any chance?

[Mynewmoniker]

I was told pasta and rice are OK as long as they are brown/wholemeal. And a jacket potato is better than mashed (half digested already).

I get conflicting advice all the time.

[Bubblegum78]

Hi,

I work on a diabetic ward.

First of all you need an appointment with a dietician so head back to your GP.

Secondly, keep a food diary, you should be able to work out within 2 weeks what it is that is pushing your blood sugars up.

You should test your BS in the morning, after that test your BS 2.5 hours after eating, that is when you will get an accurate reading.

It's trial and error to begin with, there are type 2 diabetics that end up on insulin at a later date, it could be that your metformin is not controlling your BS enough.

Also metformin is not for everyone anyway. It has side effects for some, weight loss is one of these side effects so keep a record of what you are losing on a weekly basis, the dietician will need this info.

The rule of thumb is that you should (within reason) be able to eat a normal diet but that depends on what is normal for you?

A lot of people try to enforce a healthy lifestyle when diagnosed, this is good but don't go overboard on fresh fruit and fruit juice as this will push your sugars up. Bananas are particularly high in sugar and diabetics should consume no more than 3 a week.

They say your sugars should be between 4-8, this will take a while to get to, it won't happen automatically.

I think you are being very hard on yourself, it will take time to adjust.

Complex carbohydrates are great for diabetics, and will help stabilise your blood sugars, like I say, make an appointment with your GP and get a dietician referal.

Good luck. x

[knackeredoutmum]

Ha! No not a diabetic nurse but have too many family and friends with diabetes and I have had to learn a lot about a lo carb paleo type diet for myself. Even some non diabetics cant lead a normal life unless they cut out all the starch/complex carbs.

If a diabetic nurse who you trust tells you different to what I have learnt from friends/family then you should prob listen to the nurse.

But I do think you should definitely keep food diary and Im sure plenty of people on MN will be able to give you advice on it.

[Mynewmoniker]

I hope so