Re: Please help re: Diet

Thank you very very much all for the replies. I really appreciate it.
It is extremely informative and helpful.
I am sure all of other readers will benefit too.

The specifics that Quentin Grady gave us is especially highly
appreciated.

Some of you asked a bit more about my diabetes situation to be more
specific in their answers.

Well here it is..
The first blood tests after fasting showed 131. So the doc
( endocronologist ) started me on Metformin 500 mg, 2 tabs after
dinner and asked me to test my blood. The tests still showed that I
was around 130. So he has increased it to 3 tabs of 500mg after
dinner. The reading is now between 109 and 129.

I guess this is still not good.

There is where I am at the present time.

Once again thanks for all your help.

Any input / suggestions are always welcome


Best,
Ayesha Hill

USA



On Mar 13, 8:16 pm, Quentin Grady <quen...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sat, 8 Mar 2008 10:46:37 -0800 (PST), ayeshah...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
I apologize in advance if this sounds in appropriate.

I am looking for a 2 or 3 page doc that lists all the good foods for
type 2 diabetic patients.

Most articles talk in terms of high fiber, low fat etc diets. But what
are high fiber foods ? etc.and they hardly list a few specific foods.

G'day G'day Ayesha,

Thank you for asking a most appropriate question.

Many people will be reluctant to answer it and with good reasons.
People differ enormously and what works for one person might not for
another. However I believe there is a genuine need to attempt a list
such as you've suggested if only so you can change it as you learn
more from your own experience. After all the people who are hedging
their answers are doing so because they've learnt from experience and
you're entitled to get a reasonable start to a good experience.

If they would list the food specifically - like say a fruit: apple or
a nut : walnut, it would be so much easier than for ignorant people
like me to have to find out what is a high carb food or a high fiber
food etc., what is high in the bad fats etc.

Here is my starter kit diet.

1. Don't be an idiot.

What this means is don't eat food you're allergic to or for some
medical reason should not be eating. For example, don't eat soy if it
messes with your thyroid.

Don't eat foods that make your blood glucose high after meals.
Good figures to aim for are under 140 (7.7) at one hour and 120 (6.6)
at two hours.

2. Choose some high water content vegetables.

How about green beans? Cauliflower or broccoli?
Courgettes, that is baby marrow, summer squash.
Onions especially green Spring onions.
Tomatoes, bell peppers especially the orange ones.
Baby carrots.
Any salad greens.
Any green herbs eg parsley, coriander, dill

All these vegetables have a lower carbohydrate content than say
potatoes so can be eaten SAFELY in larger portions. The high water
content means they have a higher satiety index so you won't over eat.

3. Lean meat especially fish including shellfish. Remember rule
one, don't be an idiot. If you're allergic to shellfish don't eat it.
If you're not then there are benefits to be gained by eating them.
T2 diabetics who are in need of weight loss need extra protein.
Some vegetable source of protein.

4. Some nuts. You'll most likely live longer if you can eat some
nuts eg almonds or walnuts. There are lots of technical reasons why
this is so but my guess is you're not interested in those right now.
Let's just say your heart likes them.

5. Eat berries. Berries are safer than fruit. It is almost
impossible to bump your blood sugars up too high with strawberries for
example. Your heart will love you if you include cranberries in your
diet. Your brain will if you eat blueberries.

Next come stone fruit. These are fruit with a stone in the centre
like plums, nectarines, peaches, apricots.

6. Include an oil that can replace carbohydrate. To avoid
technical discussion I'll name names. Extra virgin olive oil
especially those with a peppery after taste. Avocado oil and for
that matter avocados. Macadamia oil and nuts. Rice bran oil.
Talk to us if you're considering some thing else. Lots of oils that
look like good choices aren't.

7. Beans, peas or lentils.

These tend to have too much carbohydrate for many T2 diabetics so
applying rule One you must test with your meter to find out. They
provide resistant starch which is good for assisting weight loss
PROVIDED there is sufficient protein in the diet etc.

Recently I saw potatoes, whole grains and beans touted as sources of
resistant starch.

Hmm.

Frankly one should apply the Fast Arrival at Reality Test, FART.

Do potatoes make you fart? Not likely.

Do whole grains make you fart? Not likely.

Do beans make you fart? Bingo.

Beans have resistant starch.
Foods with lots of resistant starch make you fart.
They are also good for you.

Life isn't fair however it is your life and you must choose

8. Whole grains.

How about sweet corn?

How about rye wafers? They keep you regular.

How about a low GI bread. Here in New Zealand Bergen bread would be
suitable. It has a GI in the way below fifty. However like all
breads it has about 35% carbohydrate which puts it on the danger list
for large portion consumption. Find out what is true for you. One
slice per meal. No slices or two slices?

You'll have to find out for yourself.

Grain based foods must be approached with caution. Only your meter
can give you the guidance you need on this one. In general terms if
the food item you're eying up was born in a bakery it is most likely
bad for you. There are exceptions. Its a general rule after all.

9. Include cottage cheese. Read the label before buying. You want
high protein and low carbohydrate. Its not just any old protein it is
because the protein in very, very young cheese like cottage cheese
reduces blood pressure. Mozzarella is similar.
Even a little feta is OK.

Sufficient finely grated pecorino to tempt the taste buds without
adding a lot of calories is OK.

You could also have yoghurt if you're OK with reading labels. Don't
worry too much about the fat content in yoghurt. Their favourite
trick to making it appear to have less fat is to make it watery or
full of sugar.

If you include milk, read the label. You want low lactose milk.

Can anyone pls send me a link to a page that lists such foods in a
simple manner specifically listing such foods. I am sure that it is
out there but I have not see it.

A rule is to avoid certain aisles in the supermarket. The ones with
packaged breakfast cereals for instance is probably best avoided at
least till you've figured out what works for you and your meter.

I have been compiling a list of foods...but I am never certain how
accurate I am nor is my list long enough to give me a variety to
consume.

Smart thinking. You recognize you need variety. Some people don't. I
like plenty of variety so buy tomatoes with many, many colours
eggplant, and courgettes of different varieties. Same with onions.
I include a lot of odd vegetables like Florence fennel for the
variety.It provides a nice mild flavour to casseroles. I challenge
anyone to find a calorie in Florence fennel. <Just joking> These
were rare vegetables here a few years ago. Now they are common place.
Now days tomatillos are a regular sight.
So is sheep's milk in season.

I do not know if others have the same issue. I apologize if I sound
like I am not with it.

You are very much with it and I'm proud that people like you exist.
There is a real need for people to be given information they can use.
This is despite the fact that I live a zillion miles away from you and
what is available for me is unlikely to available to you. We have to
start communication somewhere so we can benefit from our collective
wisdom.

Did you notice how much collective wisdom poured out in response to
your post?

People have learnt so much from their personal experience and wanted
to share it with you. Much of it was protective in a helpful sort of
way. I'd like you to reflect on what has been said to you once your
immediate needs have been met. There are some heck of a good people
out there. Lots of them with your best interests at heart.

IMHO it won't be long before you'll be able to do the same. I'm
guessing that because you've recognised a real need and have had the
guts to come out and express it clearly. Not only will you benefit
but also the half dozen lurkers who'd like to have asked the same
question but didn't.

Thanks,

Ayesha Hill

Best wishes and thank you,
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin

.

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