To Those of You That Had Type 2 Diabetes Pre-Surgery

[TakeIII]

Hello,

My husband was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I am looking for advice on how to modify his diet to control his blood sugar. Could anyone recommend the macro's (carbs, fat, protein) that they aimed for on a daily basis?

He is not significantly over weight.....6 ft. / 215 lbs. He does enjoy carbs (bread, pasta, potatoes), which I know needs to change. On a positive note, he is not a big sweet eater.

Also, if there are any books/websites you would recommend, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!

 

[Clematis]

Sorry about your husband's DX. If it is early, he should still have plenty of beta cells so it should be reversible.

Richard K. Bernstein, MD -- Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. This is essentially Atkin's induction diet... or what DSers should eat. In Bernstein's opinion (he is a lifelong type 1 diabetic) most doctors and ADA recommend entirely too many carbs for diabetics simply because they don't believe anyone would follow a low carb diet. Bernstein's book is quite illuminating and shocking on how the standards for DX-ing diabetes came to be.

His diet is basically 6 carbs at b'fast, 6 at lunch and 12 at dinner. (Yeah, pretty strict, but the goal is to save those beta cells.)

 

[southernlady]

What Clematis said...you can actually read a few chapters online. http://www.diabetes-book.com/
Another website: http://www.mendosa.com/ David Mendosa is a type 2 and one that helped me find online help by listed email lists like this one: [email protected] (use to be a Lehigh listserve but now is hosted on yahoo groups). Can be quiet but can also be active. An endo by the name of Auturo Rolla is the owner but has a few moderators as well: http://services.bidmc.org/Find_a_doc/doc_detail.asp?sid=41414548474847

A book I recommend: http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Year-Essential-Diagnosed/dp/073821860X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk Gretchen Becker is the author of that one and it's solid. Her web site/bio is on here: http://gretchenbecker.com/

Following Bernstein/Atkins is HARD long term. But one thing he needs to learn to do is eat to his meter. Yes, he will go thru a boatload of test strips to do that but it does help. It's how I found out that potatoes don't bother my blood sugar, rice does. Honey used as a sweetner is far easier on my blood sugar than any other natural sweetener. And how I found out to count ALL carbs, not net carbs.

I went on insulin very early, was diagnosed on Dec 15th, 1997 and was on insulin by 2002, was on an insulin pump less than 6 months later. (I ended p flat faced on the floor with a blood sugar of, as reported by the EMT's and my dh, of 26. One visit to the ER and my insurance paid for my insulin pump.

I am glad I am no longer on an insulin pump as Medicare will not pay for a type 2 to have one even tho it shows the BEST control.

 

[Munchkin]

Why not just fix the problem by getting the switch? Slam bam, diabetes gone. For good. Eat as you please.

 

[DSRIGGS]

Why not just fix the problem by getting the switch? Slam bam, diabetes gone. For good. Eat as you please.

For most but not all type 2 diabetes is eradicated or put in remission... But our own Liz is one who was not so fortunate and I forget the other sweet lady from crazy board who also was not nit cured of her ailment.

Personally I went into immediate remission with no meds but I consider myself very fortunate. That being said I am findng that I pass out sometim after eating too much..... This started recently (last 6-9 months) and has b come more frequent. It happened when I was diabetic if I had a bad carb session. My a1c is still quite low but you would be telling a lie if i didn't tell you that in the back of my mind that I fear diabetes us coming back. It doesn't seem to be carb related but more after a large meal in general, but it scares me because I feel like I flat black out.

 

[Clematis]

@DSRIGGS What does your meter read when you are having these meal-induced blackouts?

 

[DSRIGGS]

@DSRIGGS What does your meter read when you are having these meal-induced blackouts?

I haven't checked because I am passed out.

Seriously I don't know and my readings are usually 85'sh when I have spot checked in the morning. My a1c was 4 on my last read so I will get it checked again this read. These episodes are random and there really is no pattern because there are more times than not when having a big meal with plenty of carbs and protein when I don't have issues.

I am getting a vitamin a injection Monday so I will talk to my doctor and see what he thinks.

 

[Clematis]

Geez Scott syncope is SERIOUS. As you know, a1c is an average and morning fasting is one flash in time. None of that will explain you dropping like a stone. You really should have a reading when you pass out -- either by your wife, or as you are thinking you're going to faint, or immediately as you come to. For all you know this could be something related to your heart (pressure of a huge meal) and not glucose at all. (Or are you sweating, breathing shallowly or showing other signs of glucose impairment?)

 

[DSRIGGS]

Geez Scott syncope is SERIOUS. As you know, a1c is an average and morning fasting is one flash in time. None of that will explain you dropping like a stone. You really should have a reading when you pass out -- either by your wife, or as you are thinking you're going to faint, or immediately as you come to. For all you know this could be something related to your heart (pressure of a huge meal) and not glucose at all. (Or are you sweating, breathing shallowly or showing other signs of glucose impairment?)

I hear you and fully understand about timing of glucose checks but when I have tested after a meal it has never been over 120. This only happens when I am sitting down so there is no worry of harm from falling. There are no symptoms or signs that it is coming. No feeling of being tired and fighting dozing off. I will be sitting in the recliner typically not reclined, and boom, I wake up later thinking what the hell. No sweating, no dizziness, no blurry vision.. Nothing.

Most of the time my wife is in another room and has no idea I am out. I will ask her to check me if she sees me passed out/dozing.

 

[southernlady]

Well, dh's last a1c was 4.6 so he is on below normal too.

 

[DSRIGGS]

Well, dh's last a1c was 4.6 so he is on below normal too.

My Doc was not concerned with my 4.0 A1C but I am going to have it checked again to make sure I am not dropping more.

 

[Clematis]

I will be sitting in the recliner typically not reclined, and boom, I wake up later thinking what the hell.

This sounds like a seizure disorder.

 

[DSRIGGS]

This sounds like a seizure disorder.

No neurological history other than tingling hands but that is from disc/nerve damage. I do think my copper could have tanked even more and I hear that can cause neuro issues, so I will see what my doc says monday and what next labs say.

 

[TakeIII]

Sorry about your husband's DX. If it is early, he should still have plenty of beta cells so it should be reversible.

Richard K. Bernstein, MD -- Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. This is essentially Atkin's induction diet... or what DSers should eat. In Bernstein's opinion (he is a lifelong type 1 diabetic) most doctors and ADA recommend entirely too many carbs for diabetics simply because they don't believe anyone would follow a low carb diet. Bernstein's book is quite illuminating and shocking on how the standards for DX-ing diabetes came to be.

His diet is basically 6 carbs at b'fast, 6 at lunch and 12 at dinner. (Yeah, pretty strict, but the goal is to save those beta cells.)

Thank you @Clematis, I will take a look at this book!

 

[TakeIII]

What Clematis said...you can actually read a few chapters online. http://www.diabetes-book.com/
Another website: http://www.mendosa.com/ David Mendosa is a type 2 and one that helped me find online help by listed email lists like this one: [email protected] (use to be a Lehigh listserve but now is hosted on yahoo groups). Can be quiet but can also be active. An endo by the name of Auturo Rolla is the owner but has a few moderators as well: http://services.bidmc.org/Find_a_doc/doc_detail.asp?sid=41414548474847

A book I recommend: http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Year-Essential-Diagnosed/dp/073821860X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk Gretchen Becker is the author of that one and it's solid. Her web site/bio is on here: http://gretchenbecker.com/

Following Bernstein/Atkins is HARD long term. But one thing he needs to learn to do is eat to his meter. Yes, he will go thru a boatload of test strips to do that but it does help. It's how I found out that potatoes don't bother my blood sugar, rice does. Honey used as a sweetner is far easier on my blood sugar than any other natural sweetener. And how I found out to count ALL carbs, not net carbs.

I went on insulin very early, was diagnosed on Dec 15th, 1997 and was on insulin by 2002, was on an insulin pump less than 6 months later. (I ended p flat faced on the floor with a blood sugar of, as reported by the EMT's and my dh, of 26. One visit to the ER and my insurance paid for my insulin pump.

I am glad I am no longer on an insulin pump as Medicare will not pay for a type 2 to have one even tho it shows the BEST control.

Thanks so much @southernlady! I will check out all of these resources. When using your meter to determine how specific foods affect you, how long should you wait after eating to test?