Question:
Kaiser gave me a 1 hour class, but I really didn't get it. They would show
food plans where each of ten things to eat in a day would be something that
comes in large portions. One day of doing what they said and I'd have 2
weeks of leftovers.
I've assumed that if carbohydrates are complex enough, that they won't make
a spike. I like to have rice when I can. It saves money on the food
budget. I love spaghetti, but I'm thinking maybe I am screwing up. Is
cheese OK?
6 months ago I figured things were not too bad because my blood meter (BG?)
would range from 130 to 180 with spikes to 240. If 100 is normal I guessed
this was not too bad. I stopped checking through the summer. For the last
several days I've been checking about ten times a day and I can't seem to
get below 180. Average is 250 and spikes go to 315. I tried one of the
glucophage pills (500mg) they had given me and I got diarrhea. My readings
went up after the pill.
Is Quaker Oats for breakfast OK?
I use Splenda as a sweetener. Is it OK?
My whole life I almost never eat vegetables. Sometimes vegetables taste OK,
if I use lots of mayo or salad dressing.
I understand I'm not supposed to have orange juice, but it seems like OJ
should be so healthy.
I feel so frustrated.
I was supposed to go back to the doctor in June, but I have been afraid to
go.
Answer:
- Kaiser gave me a 1 hour class, but I really didn't get it. They
would show food plans where each of ten things to eat in a day
would be something that comes in large portions. One day of doing
what they said and I'd have 2 weeks of leftovers.
A one hour class for a newly diagnosed diabetic is just not sufficient.
The standard diabetes educations series at our local hospital is 10
hours. Diet is only one of the topics covered, so it is not a 10 hour
diet class.
Even worse, some diabetes educators teach the traditional ADA diet
which, in my opinion, is not a good diet for type 2 diabetics. I think
the ADA diet has too many grams of carbohydrate.
Check with your local HMO and/or hospitals for diabetes support groups.
These groups are places you can meet others with the same problem and
support each other. The support groups I have seen are all free.
- I've assumed that if carbohydrates are complex enough, that they
won't make a spike. I like to have rice when I can. It saves
money on the food budget. I love spaghetti, but I'm thinking
maybe I am screwing up. Is cheese OK?
If by "complex carbohydrates," you mean the old definition that
included potatoes, rice, pasta, etc., well, those can be *worse* than
table sugar for raising your blood glucose levels. Some complex
carbohydrates are actually digested and result in glucose in the blood
stream faster than table sugar!
- 6 months ago I figured things were not too bad because my blood
meter (BG?) would range from 130 to 180 with spikes to 240. If
100 is normal I guessed this was not too bad. I stopped checking
through the summer. For the last several days I've been checking
about ten times a day and I can't seem to get below 180. Average
is 250 and spikes go to 315.
Those numbers are extremely high. See another thread on the website
titled "Post-meal BG goal?" for my post-meal goals (spike less than
140). You need other medications or help to get your blood sugars
under control.
- I tried one of the glucophage pills
(500mg) they had given me and I got diarrhea. My readings went up
after the pill.
Did you take the Glucophage *with* your meal? Diarrhea is one of the
possible side effects of glucophage (generic name is metformin).
Taking it with a meal is supposed to reduce the side effects. I'd also
try it several times; the side effects might diminish. You need to get
back to your doctor about this; there are other medications available
(though glucophage is usually the first medication tried now).
- Is Quaker Oats for breakfast OK?
For some people, yes. Not for me; too many grams of carbohydrate.
- I use Splenda as a sweetener. Is it OK?
Yes, better than other sweeteners. However, it is best that you use
the tablet or liquid form, not the powdered form. The powdered form
has additional carbohydrate. I rarely use sweeteners any more.
- My whole life I almost never eat vegetables. Sometimes vegetables
taste OK, if I use lots of mayo or salad dressing.
One of the best changes you can make in your diet is to add lots of low
carbohydrate vegetables. These are generally vegetables with lots of
fiber too. I have acquired a taste for fresh (preferably locally grown
and organic) vegetables that are just steamed. When fresh, broccoli
etc. tastes sweet.
- I understand I'm not supposed to have orange juice, but it seems
like OJ should be so healthy.
Orange juice is terrible for most diabetics. If you read the label,
you'll see it has a great amount of sugar in it. An 8 oz glass will
probably have 24 grams of sugar. The glucose absorbs so fast into your
blood that you might as well have injected the glucose straight into
your blood stream! In fact, one common treatment for type 1 diabetics
who have a low blood sugar attack is to give them orange juice -- the
oj will bring their blood sugars up very rapidly.
- I feel so frustrated.
I appreciate your frustration. Diabetes itself can be a frustrating
disease, not always responding as you want or expect.
The most important thing for you to learn is carbohydrate counting.
You need to reduce the number of grams of carbohydrate you eat per
meal, and per day. (My personal goal is less than 20 gm per meal, but
I am being very stringent. I didn't start out with that low a limit.)
There are a number of books related to "low carb" dieting. You might
want to check your library for books such as the Schwarzbein Principle,
South Beach Diet, Doctor Bernstein's Diabetes Solution.
- I was supposed to go back to the doctor in June, but I have been
afraid to go.
The most important thing I can say is: Go back to the doctor, right
away!
Believe me, your doctor isn't going to be surprised that you were in
denial and not in control. It happens so often, especially with newly
diagnosed diabetics. Hopefully your doctor can be supportive in
helping you work through your fears and frustrations. If not, find
another doctor!
