First MS, then breast cancer, now diabetes?!?!?!

So sorry you are finding all this stuff coming down on you   I'm horrible in the 'what I eat' department, but b/c dh was dx diabetic, I had to learn for him what to change in our lives.  First....cut out all additives, like ketchup, mayo, sauces, dressings, gravy's and so on.  You can use mustard it's a freebie, no calories, sugar or other.  Anything you eat that's starch/ carbs, like noodles, bread and so on, make sure they are whole wheat or other high fiber (this helps to clear them out before the sugar can all be digested too.  Fiber is great for you.  Fruit with peelings are okay, but just ripe, not overripes (they contain more sugar) and veggies are freebies too. 

Recently I read that they are now saying that diet coke (what ever it is in there that makes it diet) is used in the body like regular sugar and NOT good for diabetics.  Just a thought, but you might want to read up on it.

If you should loose some weight?  Good way to start out, is to start cutting 1/4 of everything you normally put on your plate off.  Like take away a 1/4 hamburg, potatoe and add veggies to fill in that area.  If you use big plates to serve on.  Use the smaller (salad) sized plates, it looks fuller to your eyes

DRINK lots of water.  IT's good for everyone, but especially if you are diabetic to keep your system (uninary tract) flushed

Cut out chips and other carbs.  Read lables and look for the sugar (carb) content.  Dh is a large man and was told 2 carbs for his snacks (2 a day) and 5 for each meal.  And he was NOT supposed to skip meals.  The thing with diabetes is that you want to keep the sugar level consistent.  If you go without food, your more apt to overeat the next meal/snack.

BEST thing I did, was take a menu of everything he'd eaten for 2-3 weeks into an appt I made with a dietician for him.  We sat down, went over the meals and she told us how to figure homemade goulash, pizza and what not.  She explained a lot more to him than I could have and had him absorb it.  Time and time again I have to remind him I will NOT push his wheelchair or lead him around if he doens't take responsibility for his diabetes.  He has to want to keep his feet on his body and see with his own eyes.  It does help to get him back on track.

Good Luck to you.

Whoopsie,

If you want to do a quick turn around.  And I know this works because I did this diet and it worked!  Also saw this on Dr Oz special.  For the next six to eight weeks...cut out all carbs, meats and dairy.  Yes, this leaves you with fruit and veggies.  No salt or any thing white (flour, white rice, white potatoes, breads) You can have one protein (chicken or cold water fish) each day. A small amount. This is tough to do, but you did bc so you can do this.  After two years of chemo I had high blood pressure & cholesterol plus forty extra pounds my health was the worst it has ever been.  On top of everything was the fatigue.  (I had none of this before tx.) After being on this diet I had a big burst of energy and my high blood pressure and cholesterol was gone! On top of that I lost the forty pounds! And NO more fatigue.

When you come off this diet.  Slowly add back in more protein's.  If at all possible stop the dairy and red meat.  This will make your body flash faster.  And your stomach does not spend all it's time trying to break these items down.

Good luck - I know what your New Year list will have at the top!  Eat better in the new year

Flalady

Seconding LJ13 - it is VITAL to eat a good breakfast, with protein. I find that if I eat lean protein with my breakfast it "sticks to my ribs" a lot longer, and I have more energy, too. I like low-fat yogurt, chicken or turkey breast - yes, I've been known to eat turkey on whole wheat pita for breakfast!



It is better for most people to eat several small meals a day rather than three big ones. And I find that it's better for ME - for my weight, my digestion, my sleep and my hot flashes! - to have a big breakfast and small dinner rather than the way most people eat it, the other way around.



Take walks, even if it's just around the block or to toss dirty clothes in the hamper. Any little bit of movement you can do will be good for you.

I think it saw results in three to four weeks.  Hang in their whoopsie....don't give up yet.

Flalady

My husband is fighting his genetics--both parents are diabetics and this year his fasting sugar crept up: I was steered to this web site and found it very helpful. Also, Dr. Bernstein has a website that is intense but helpful. The main thing is low glycemic index, low carbs, high fiber, exercise. My husband was testing and just one serving of bread made his sugar jump. The high trigylcerides go along with pre-diabetes. Keep up the good work.

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/ 

http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/ 

Kira 

Hi Deb:  I'm thrilled to see this update--------good for you girl!

 Looking forward to seeing you again...keep up the good work.

Hugs, Trina

Hi Whoopsie and welcome to the world of diabetes....and it ain't such a bad place!  I have lived with diabetes for more than five years and have found that life has only changed for the better...better eating, better exercise, better self awareness.  Has your doctor made any recommendations after diagnosing you?  Has he recommended diet and exercise to manage the diabetes, or does he have another plan.  There are regional and national associations for diabetics that provide EXCELLENT information from experts with well researched info that I have found worth exploring.  And as much as diabetes can feel overwhelming at first,  it can be well managed.  And it sounds like you are off to a fantastic start...GOOD FOR YOU!  Hugs and best wishes,

Debra M.