Between now and the class...

Avatar for bellevuemama
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Between now and the class...
13
Sat, 03-27-2004 - 11:24pm
Could some of you experienced folks please give me some advice about what to eat and what to avoid? I understand that all carbs turn to glucose in the blood so we need to watch carbs. But we also do need to eat some, not to mention that carbs are in just about everything. So, how many carbs in a day would be a good target? Also, are all carbs created equally? I mean, if I get a certain number of carbs in milk or brown rice or candy... aren't there reasons that they aren't all the same value?

Are there any totally safe foods that can be eaten without worrying about the quantity? Are there any foods that are 100% off limits? How about nearly that forbidden?

My husband was diagnosed on Thursday and we will be taking the class, but they haven't told us when yet. The Dr. wasn't very helpful about what to eat, simply said low fat and watch the carbs. What exactly does that mean? I wasn't there or I would have asked.

One more question, if he does everything he is supposed to, how long does it usually take before he should expect to see results? Is this the sort of thing that takes several months or more? I know cholesterol takes a long time to change, but I don't know about BG.

Thanks for taking time to answer these. I know you all have your own lives and issues. I look forward to knowing enough that I can be of help here.

Sharon

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Sun, 03-28-2004 - 12:30am
Sharon~

Gee, I wish I could give you a definite date/time period for things to straighten out.

I've got 2 months in now, and still screw up. Case in point: had a good 96 after lunch.

Went to Mimi's (a chain here and in California, I think). Ate 1/2 my salad and 1/2 my chicken pot pie less the pastry. However, ate the other halves for dinner and the cheese cake I figured would last me 3-4 days. Well, just took my 2hr post-dinner at 10:30pm and it was 250. Not good!!! This is the first BS I've had above 200 for over a week or more. So, you see, it really does make a difference what you eat!

I can always lower my numbers if I eat at a deli and have their lemon-pepper chicken strip salad. It's grilled chicken strips on a bed of lettuce with a few black olive slices, 2 quarters of tomato, purple onions, and I dip my chicken in fat-free dressing. I end up throwing away about 3/4 of the dressing. My CDE (certified diabetes educator) said vegs were free. So, this meal is 0 carbs!

I'm sure MaryFrances will give you the facts on how many carbs are good. I aim for

8 units (15 gm carbohydrates each) in a day per my CDE. Somebody got on my case a couple of days ago because I had 6 for dinner. Well, ideally they should be divided maybe 1-2 for breakfast (I either have a glass of milk or a yogurt so I can take my vitamins). That leaves 6 or 7 for the rest of the day. Each person has different needs. There are measurements that you will learn in the classes. Potatoes, carrots, corn, breads, cheese cake (hee hee) are on my no-no list. Unless I want to give up some other carbs, I can't eat any of those things.

I believe the Atkins and South Beach Diets are unhealthy...period.

I'd suggest, as someone did for me this last week, that you go buy the book

DIABETES II, THE FIRST YEAR. I bought it today, and it looks like it may get rid of some of my fears.

You should get lots of info in the classes. Here are some helpful sites:

www.diabetes.org

www.niddk.nih.gov

www.cdc.gov/diabetes

www.joslin.harvard.edu/education/library

www.fda.gov/diabetes

There are lots and lots of resources. The first one gives the most info, I think.

A good place to look for diabetic cookbooks before you invest any money would be the library.

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Sun, 03-28-2004 - 10:59am

Hi,

Photobucket
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Sun, 03-28-2004 - 11:16am

Kathi,

Photobucket
Avatar for kelly_colleen
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 03-28-2004 - 5:59pm
The rule of thumb I learned in my diabetes ed classes was meals should be 3-4 carb units, snacks should be 1-2 carb units, a carb unit equals 15 g of a food that's mainly carbohydrates, and you should eat every 4-6 hours. "Free foods" are those that have 5g or less of carbohydrates. My favorite free food is sugar-free jello, but there are lots of others.

As far as how long it takes to show improvement in diabetes control, it can be surprisingly fast. In my case, I was taken off my oral meds within 6 weeks of diagnosis, because my diet changes made such a big difference in my glucose levels. On the other hand, it can also take a long time - it really depends on many factors, some of which we can't control. The best way to track this is to use a monitor. Look at each test result to learn about how a particular food affects things, but look at overall trends to measure progress.

Good luck to both you & your husband. One tip from my hubby - if you can, go to the classes with your husband. We both think the classes are equally valuable for both spouses.

- Kelly

type 2 diagnosed 12/6/02

mommy to Meg, born 12/16/03

- Kelly
"Tobi" edd 3/15/06
Meg born 12/16/03
diagnosed w/type 2 diabetes 12/6/02
Avatar for bellevuemama
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Sun, 03-28-2004 - 7:54pm
wow, these replies are exactly what I was looking for. A few rules of thumb and targets to shoot for while we are waiting for the class. Yes, I am going to the class too. Our marriage isn't one where the wife controls what the husband eats, But I do a fair amount of the cooking and shopping and I want to know what's healthy so that we as a family can move that direction.

I am going to try to get the book you mention and also check out the links. We don't have a monitor yet, but I thik they will cover that at the class.

Is there a way that I can save these messages?

Sharon

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 1:10am

Sharon,


I am sitting here proud as punch over the advise my fellow boardies have given you. See why they are doing well.


Carbohydrates that have fiber attached to them tend to not raise the blood sugar as quickly as carbos that don't. But all carbohydrates raise the blood sugar the same amount. There are really no no-no's in diabetes eating anymore. You can have potatoes provided you limit the amount. Specially for potatoes it is 3-4oz of baked potato, 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes, 2 small red potatoes. Some diabetics can handle potatoes and others can't. I can't keep my blood sugar down if I eat potatoes but my husband can't keep his down if he eats rice. Rice is no problem for me and potaotes are no problem for him. This isn't fair because this Irish person loves potatoes!


Look on the ADA website for cookbooks. They have some really nice cookbooks which have a lisitng of foods and the proper amounts to eat. It is impossible to tell you how much your husband should be eating now. But generally in men it is 15 carbohydrate exchanges which equals 225 grams of carbohydrates. Generally this 4 (60 grams)

Avatar for bellevuemama
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 1:41am
Mary Frances, THANK YOU!

I am going to print up your post and refer to it often.

He quit drinking pop when he was diagnosed. He decided that on his own. He hates diet pop so he is just drinking water and coffee. He also used to sweeten his coffee and he has quit that as of the diagnoses.

I have already had a chance to read the article you mentioned. I found it very helpful. Thanks for that too.

I will be calling the Dr office in the morning to see when we will be scheduled for the class. Also, I will see if they want him to get a monitor now or wait.

Thanks!

Sharon

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 11:24am

Thanks so much for your questions.

Nancy

 


Avatar for bellevuemama
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 12:37pm
Tekiya,

I like the way you think! I wish you every success in finding the answers you need and the strength to find someone else if you don't find them with your current dietician.

After reading the posts in reply to my questions I am feeling so positive. I really know we can deal with this thing. I am trying very hard to get the whole family on board as I know we will all be happier if we improve our diet. We have three daughters, two tend to take after me but the middle seems to be more like my husband's side of the family. She has a tendency to be overweight and I have noticed some moodswings that I assocciate with her diet. It's absolutely clear that when she is more active she feels better emotionally. Anyway... my point is that I am seeing myself and the kids as "at risk for diabetes" and I am trying to move toward fending it off. I am doing this in as positive way as I can, and I am trying to present it both as a move toward better health and as support of Dad.

Looking forward to getting to know you!

Sharon

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 1:47pm

Wow, Sharon.

Nancy

 


Pages