newbie

Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
(my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
or anything else I need to know).

On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:15:46 -0700, clhaney00@yahoo.com
wrote:

>Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
>very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
>the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
>meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
>and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
>an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
>stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
>nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
>with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
>(my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
>or anything else I need to know).

Hi clhaney

Welcome. What nick would you like to use - what should we
call you?

The others will be along shortly. You've already started
well by reading Gretchen's book; now a little more light
reading for you:

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm
That will answer your question of "how many carbs per meal,
protein per meal, fat per meal" etc - because it shows you
how to find what is right for YOU. Set numbers and portions
simply do not work for us, despite what some dieticians say.

And this is what I did myself, plus a few other tips on
linked pages:
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/d-day.html

Come back with more questions after you read those.


Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
--
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Kuranda Skyrail near Cairns
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/
latest: Ki Si Ming

On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:15:46 -0700, clhaney00 wrote:

> Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
> very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
> the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
> meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
> and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
> an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
> stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
> nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
> with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
> (my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
> or anything else I need to know).

There are several books about glycemic index and related diets - I'd
suggest you look through them. Many type 2's attempt to severely limit
carbs - basically, T2 is insulin resistance, so to us it makes sense to
limit the carbs. Are you on any meds? Having that answer might help us
help you. For general information, I generally recommend that folks look
at 'Diabetes for Dummies' and Dr. Richard Bernstein's 'Diabetes Solution'
- these have both helped me very much, and they should be available at
your local library. If you peruse some of the other recent posts, you'll
also see some information that folks here have used and or put together -
quite good resources.

In a nutshell, I don't deal with 'exchanges' at all - I try to minimize
the amount of carbs I have in a day - this has worked quite well for me -
YMMV.

On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:15:46 -0700, clhaney00 wrote:

> Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
> very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
> the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
> meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
> and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
> an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
> stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
> nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
> with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
> (my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
> or anything else I need to know).

I should add that, according to my understanding, there are basically
three tools available to a non-insulin using T2: diet, exercise, oral
meds. It usually takes at least two of these to yield much in the way of
control. In my case it takes all three. I'm on a very low carb diet,
metformin 4x500, and I have to exercise much more than I ever did before.
Equivalent of about 40 miles per week on bicycle seems to do wonders.

This post not CC'd by email
On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:15:46 -0700, clhaney00@yahoo.com wrote:

>Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
>very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
>the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
>meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
>and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
>an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
>stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
>nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
>with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
>(my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
>or anything else I need to know).

G'day G'day,


A good place to start if you're feeling confused is Jennifer's advice
to newbies.

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

Some T2 diabetics use exchanges. Those who do can explain how they
go about it.

Many however, manage to get good control without doing so. Though my
background is in science I'm one of those who decided not to use
exchanges. Instead I chose to create a diet which would ensure good
control without doing so. Basically I chose to base my meals on the
parts of vegetables that the plants were not using as storage organs.
This meant avoiding potatoes for the most part. It meant reducing my
intake of grains to mostly to some ryvita or kavli rye wafers. (I
experimented with some multi grain bread recipes.)

It meant choosing lean meat and fish.
It meant choosing berries such as strawberries, blueberries etc as my
principal fruit.
It meant choosing nuts such as walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts.

It meant choosing extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil that have a
high content of monounsaturated fats which the body can use as a
replacement for some carbohydrate.

My GP was astounded by the improvement in A1c and also by my loss in
weight (20 kg which I kept off). On reflection I'd be happy to have
had a slower improvement in A1c. (Some people have had eye problems
when their A1c has dropped too rapidly.)

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

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

On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:28:14 -0600, ray <ray@zianet.com> wrote:

>On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:15:46 -0700, clhaney00 wrote:
>
>> Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
>> very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
>> the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
>> meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
>> and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
>> an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
>> stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
>> nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
>> with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
>> (my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
>> or anything else I need to know).
>
>There are several books about glycemic index and related diets - I'd
>suggest you look through them. Many type 2's attempt to severely limit
>carbs - basically, T2 is insulin resistance, so to us it makes sense to
>limit the carbs. Are you on any meds? Having that answer might help us
>help you. For general information, I generally recommend that folks look
>at 'Diabetes for Dummies' and Dr. Richard Bernstein's 'Diabetes Solution'
>- these have both helped me very much, and they should be available at
>your local library. If you peruse some of the other recent posts, you'll
>also see some information that folks here have used and or put together -
>quite good resources.
>
>In a nutshell, I don't deal with 'exchanges' at all - I try to minimize
>the amount of carbs I have in a day - this has worked quite well for me -
>YMMV.

I agree. The secret (though it took me many years to learn) is
Carbs...period. Then exercise.

This post not CC'd by email
On Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:47:44 +1200, Quentin Grady
<quentin@paradise.net.nz> wrote:

>Some T2 diabetics use exchanges. Those who do can explain how they
>go about it.
>
>Many however, manage to get good control without doing so.

G'day G'day,

It is important to realise that I'm not on insulin and control is
achieved by exercise, diet and oral meds.

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

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

"Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <heartdoc13@emorycardiology.com> wrote in message
>
> May reading the following help you:

It won't...

<snip>

On Jul 4, 10:15 pm, clhane...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
> very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
> the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
> meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
> and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
> an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
> stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
> nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
> with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
> (my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
> or anything else I need to know).

I think you'll find Quentin's post below (and Alan's) helpful; I'd
like to share
my own experience. I had poorly controlled blood glucose (bg is the
abbreviation
we commonly use) for almost 6 years, despite ever increasing
medications.
I was up to 6x500mg Metformin, 4 mg Avandia, and was told to eat a
diet
heavy on whole wheat breads, pastas, etc., and to avoid red meat.

About two months ago, after scads of reading on the Internet, I
chucked all
that, and moved to a low-carb diet. No rice, no bread, no potatoes, no
pasta -
"no beige foods" was the way I put it. I eat mostly lean meats
(including steak)
but I do have the occasional slice of bacon for breakfast. I don't
bother to strip
the skin off my chicken. Generally, my proteins are grilled, baked, or
nuked;
I don't do much frying at all. I eat a lot - A LOT! - of salads.
Lettuce, tomato,
bell peppers, radishes, celery, cucumber, coleslaw - pretty much
every lunch
and dinner includes these. Other vegetables I enjoy are onions,
avocados,
broccoli, asparagus, and some squashes (spaghetti squash as a
replacement
for pasta in particular).

I have lost over 20 lbs in 6 weeks, and kept it off, with moderate
exercise. I have
found that I can now add moderate amounts of whole wheat bread back
into my
diet without sending my BG soaring. I have ditched some of my
medications
entirely, and cut my Metformin use in half, all while achieving normal
BG levels.
I just had a physical, and I"m waiting for the blood results; I hope
they show
the same kind of progress.

My point is read, read, and read some more, and then test, test, and
test some
more. What works for me may not work for you, but I don't think it
will hurt you
to try some of the approaches suggested here, and see what the results
are.

Good luck - you can live with this condition; just stay out of
doughnut shops!!

Kevin

On Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:22:33 -0700, kevinbertschglf@yahoo.ca wrote:

>I have lost over 20 lbs in 6 weeks, and kept it off, with moderate
>exercise. I have
>found that I can now add moderate amounts of whole wheat bread back
>into my
>diet without sending my BG soaring. I have ditched some of my
>medications
>entirely, and cut my Metformin use in half, all while achieving normal
>BG levels.
>I just had a physical, and I"m waiting for the blood results; I hope
>they show
>the same kind of progress.
>
>My point is read, read, and read some more, and then test, test, and
>test some
>more. What works for me may not work for you, but I don't think it
>will hurt you
>to try some of the approaches suggested here, and see what the results
>are.
>
>Good luck - you can live with this condition; just stay out of
>doughnut shops!!
>
>Kevin

Congratulations, Kevin.... It sounds like you have found a workable
strategy for healthy living. A total lifesyle makeover, so to speak.

Will, T2

convicted neighbor Will, T2 wrote:
> On Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:22:33 -0700, kevinbertschglf@yahoo.ca wrote:
>
> >I have lost over 20 lbs in 6 weeks, and kept it off, with moderate
> >exercise. I have
> >found that I can now add moderate amounts of whole wheat bread back
> >into my
> >diet without sending my BG soaring. I have ditched some of my
> >medications
> >entirely, and cut my Metformin use in half, all while achieving normal
> >BG levels.
> >I just had a physical, and I"m waiting for the blood results; I hope
> >they show
> >the same kind of progress.
> >
> >My point is read, read, and read some more, and then test, test, and
> >test some
> >more. What works for me may not work for you, but I don't think it
> >will hurt you
> >to try some of the approaches suggested here, and see what the results
> >are.
> >
> >Good luck - you can live with this condition; just stay out of
> >doughnut shops!!
> >
> >Kevin
>
> Congratulations, Kevin.... It sounds like you have found a workable
> strategy for healthy living. A total lifesyle makeover, so to speak.

Sadly, still short of a cure.

It is the world's terrible lie that keeps us from the cure:

http://HeartMDPhD.com/press.asp

Be hungry... be healthy... be blessed.

Prayerfully in Jesus' awesome love,

Andrew <><
--
Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Cardiologist

On Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:22:33 -0700, kevinbertschglf@yahoo.ca wrote:

>I have lost over 20 lbs in 6 weeks, and kept it off, with moderate
>exercise. I have
>found that I can now add moderate amounts of whole wheat bread back
>into my
>diet without sending my BG soaring. I have ditched some of my
>medications
>entirely, and cut my Metformin use in half, all while achieving normal
>BG levels.
>I just had a physical, and I"m waiting for the blood results; I hope
>they show
>the same kind of progress.

Very cool, Kevin - congratulations! I'm sure the blood test results
will continue that great trend.

Nicky.
T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
D&E, 100ug thyroxine
Last A1c 5.6% BMI 25

On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:15:46 -0700, clhaney00@yahoo.com wrote:

>Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
>very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
>the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
>meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
>and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
>an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
>stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
>nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
>with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
>(my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
>or anything else I need to know).

Hey, CL - nice to meet you! Doctors can be real idiots at times...

Gretchen Becker's book is excellent. I don't recall her being
enthusiastic about exchanges - personally, I gave up on 'em really
soon, and now I just count carbs. Much simpler!

Eggs for breakfast is good. Beware of the toast and the nectarine.
Insulin resistance is often at its highest in the morning; stay as
carb-free as your meter dictates, but I'd be surprised if you can cope
with toast. If you want to keep the fruit, ask Wendy for her fruit &
yoghurt breakfast - and then test to make sure it's OK for you.

Lunch is fine. (Sounds good, actually!) Eating something similar for
an evening meal would work, too. Don't be afraid to have snacks, too -
it's important to not get hungry and have swinging bgs.

If you feel low, eat a little bit of something carby - that nectarine
would be good here - then wait a bit and test again, to make sure
you're rising.

Exercise is a really powerful tool to get your bgs down. Try a walk an
hour after a meal and watch those numbers fall... take a piece of
fruit or something along, in case you overdo it. Stable bgs take a
while to achieve; have patience! And if something puzzles you - ask.
Gretchen has a blog these days, btw - good reading, she's a funny,
perceptive, clever woman.

Nicky.
T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
D&E, 100ug thyroxine
Last A1c 5.6% BMI 25

Nicky <ukc802466929@btconnect.com> wrote:
: On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:15:46 -0700, clhaney00@yahoo.com wrote:

: >Newly diagnosed, I am reading "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes". It is
: >very informative and an easy read. However, I don't understand all
: >the food exchanges (how many carbs per meal, protein per meal, fat per
: >meal) so I am not sure how much to eat. Tonight I got really hungry
: >and shaky. I had a small sugar free yogurt, 16 freeze dried peanuts,
: >an iced coffee and didn't feel better until I ate a low fat mozzarella
: >stick. For breakfast I had 2 fried eggs, 1 whole grain toast and a
: >nectarine. Lunch at about 3, a pork chop, a big salad and green beans
: >with onion, garlic and mushrooms. I am so totally lost. Please help.
: >(my doctor thrust a pamplet in my hands that did not explain exchanges
: >or anything else I need to know).

: Hey, CL - nice to meet you! Doctors can be real idiots at times...

: Gretchen Becker's book is excellent. I don't recall her being
: enthusiastic about exchanges - personally, I gave up on 'em really
: soon, and now I just count carbs. Much simpler!

: Eggs for breakfast is good. Beware of the toast and the nectarine.
: Insulin resistance is often at its highest in the morning; stay as
: carb-free as your meter dictates, but I'd be surprised if you can cope
: with toast. If you want to keep the fruit, ask Wendy for her fruit &
: yoghurt breakfast - and then test to make sure it's OK for you.

: Lunch is fine. (Sounds good, actually!) Eating something similar for
: an evening meal would work, too. Don't be afraid to have snacks, too -
: it's important to not get hungry and have swinging bgs.

: If you feel low, eat a little bit of something carby - that nectarine
: would be good here - then wait a bit and test again, to make sure
: you're rising.

: Exercise is a really powerful tool to get your bgs down. Try a walk an
: hour after a meal and watch those numbers fall... take a piece of
: fruit or something along, in case you overdo it. Stable bgs take a
: while to achieve; have patience! And if something puzzles you - ask.
: Gretchen has a blog these days, btw - good reading, she's a funny,
: perceptive, clever woman.

: Nicky.
: T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
: D&E, 100ug thyroxine
: Last A1c 5.6% BMI 25

OK, Here's Wendy's fruit and yogurt breakfaast. 1/3-1/2 C low fat cottage
cheese 3 or 4 frouits in small quantities, like 3 strawberies, a ahndful
of blue, rasp or blackberries, 1/2 small peach, 1 apricot, 1 smile slice
of canteloupe, 1/5-1/6 mango, 1/4 apple or pear, 1/2 small, clemintine
orange NO BANANA, you get the picture. Top this with a big spoonful
(1/4-1.3 C plain, lowfat yogurt. ths works forme.

I still ocasionally test this to make sure it still works for me. just
yesterday my FBG (fasting blood glucose) was 99 and at 2 hours , after
this breakfast, I was at 96. Go figure:-)

Wendy

Congrats on the weight loss and on getting a working plan for
yourself.

Cheri


kevinbertschglf@yahoo.ca wrote in message


>I have lost over 20 lbs in 6 weeks, and kept it off, with moderate
>exercise. I have
>found that I can now add moderate amounts of whole wheat bread back
>into my
>diet without sending my BG soaring. I have ditched some of my
>medications
>entirely, and cut my Metformin use in half, all while achieving
normal
>BG levels.
>I just had a physical, and I"m waiting for the blood results; I hope
>they show
>the same kind of progress.
>
>My point is read, read, and read some more, and then test, test, and
>test some
>more. What works for me may not work for you, but I don't think it
>will hurt you
>to try some of the approaches suggested here, and see what the
results
>are.
>
>Good luck - you can live with this condition; just stay out of
>doughnut shops!!
>
>Kevin
>