[Diabetes-Talk] Eating and blood sugars

[sjryan2 at gmail.com]

Hi Terri,

As a former dietitian, I would like to correct one piece of advice you've
received in answer to your question. While nuts and seeds are rather high in
fat, they are high in good fats only, and they make excellent snacks. As
Bridgit said, fat keeps us from feeling hungry so, contrary to teachings of
the 80s and 90s, working to lower the fats in your foods is not necessary.
You don't need the extra overwhelm of trying to do that, and since foods
that are higher in fat satisfy hunger, you will, over time, likely eat less
and feel more satisfied eating fat. And it's okay to have some saturated
fats, like butter or coconut oil in your diet, but it's best to keep those
fats lower than your intake of things like oils. As Bridgit says, avoid
trans fats like the plague. They have been bad all those years they were
hidden from us but served to us in everything manufactured and sold from the
grocer's shelves!

Nuts are an excellent snack. At a given time, a quarter-cup is almost
certainly enough. I buy unsalted nuts to remind myself that these are not
intended for indulging, but for nourishment, but you can also buy
lightly-salted nuts, which are fine, so long as you don't sit down and eat
them by the can or jar. The quarter-cup is an ounce, which is a very
reasonable snack, and if you need another snack during the day, eating
another ounce of nuts, the same kind or another kind, is okay. I eat up to
three-quarters of a cup per day, though not often. 

This is all a lot to take in, and you will be getting some in-person help
with it soon. I hope it will be up to date advice.

Sandi

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bridgit
Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 10:11 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Eating and blood sugars

Terry,

It sounds like you're overwhelmed, and that's okay. To break down the
basics, carbs raise glucose levels and proteins stabilize glucose levels.

Foods high in carbs will raise BGs. Wheat, grains, pasta, potatoes, fruits--
all foods with carbs.

Proteins will not raise BGs and stabilize glucose levels. Meat, seeds, nuts,
legumes, eggs-- none of these will raise BGs, and if you eat enough, will
help stabilize BGs.

Fats are what keep us full. But you want good fats. Foods with trans-fats
are really bad and what cause belly fat. Good fats come from sources like
nuts, olives, avacados, coconut oil, etc. Fats are what make us feel full.

The dietician is likely correct in that you think you feel hungry because
you're bored or stressed. But you may also not be eating a balanced enough
diet. I think working with the dietician is going to be really great for
you.

With meals, try to have more veggies, particularly greens, and proteins on
your plate than carbs. This will help with BGs, weight loss, and veggies and
proteins have much more nutrition than most breads and rice and grains. If
you have BBQ pork with a baked potato and bread, choose just the potato or
just the bread, not both, and add some green beans or lettuce salad with
romain and/or spinach. If having a rice dish, avoid other carbs with the
meal and opt for veggies like broccoli or cauliflower or peppers, etc. If
you like oatmeal, avoid the microwaveable, because these are high in sugar.
Make plain oatmeal and add fresh fruit to sweeten. If doing oatmeal, no
toast, but maybe eggs cooked in olive oil or yogurt. BTW, with yogurt, if
the sugar grams are higher than the grams of protein, you want to avoid
those brands. If you want some comfort food and choose pancakes, keep to 2
cakes, unless minis, do just a tablespoon of syrup and avoid other carbs
with the meal. Opt for eggs and/or protein. Just some ideas of how to
structure meals.

You have made quite a few changes to your lifestyle since joining the list.
You should be proud of this. Change is difficult, and it takes small steps
some times. It's good to challenge yourself though, and I think you're ready
for the next steps.

This is something you need to speak to your endo about, but I also wonder if
your Humalog needs adjusting. You say you're going low after eating high
carb meals, and to me, this suggests a carb/insulin ratio issue. But again,
this is something you need to talk to a doctor about.

You're doing great, keep it up.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Terri
Stimmel via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2020 9:10 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Terri Stimmel <icecreamlover76 at outlook.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Eating and blood sugars

Hello everyone,


I am writing to ask for some advice. I know part of what is happening is due
to how I am eating. I am trying hard to change this. But it's really a
struggle for more than one reason.


I have had some lows in my blood sugar lately. Today, a couple of hours
after lunch, it went down to about 67. So I ate an orange, and some pork
rinds. Not the best I know. But knowing things I should eat is really
difficult for me. I've really cut down on my candy. And I quit purchasing
snack cakes. Also, I even cut back on my diet soda.


Saturday night, for dinner my boyfriend and I ordered some barbecue. I had
pork, and sausage. I did have just a bit of sauce on the pork. I had a piece
of garlic bread, and a few good sized bites of some baked beans. 
I had eaten this before, and it didn't raise my blood sugar. So I figured it
wouldn't this time. I was right.

However, a few hours after I ate, my blood sugar went down to 57. Before I
had eaten dinner, I took my 30 units of insulin. I take Novalog. I also take
Treseba in the morning, 80 units. And once a week I take Ozempic. Sorry if
all of these are mis-spelled. I can't ever remember how to spell the names
properly.


So I did eat 2 snack-size peanut butter cups. In the morning, my blood sugar
was 121. That was good.


Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I feel like I am starving! Other
times I am not very hungry at all, for a while. Some mornings, I drink the
vanilla shake by Premier. But I'm never quite sure what else to eat. 
So usually my blood sugar ends up going low a couple hours later.


So first of all, what are some things I could possibly eat, when I have a
shake? If I'm not careful, I can end up really hungry a few hours after
having the shake. I seem to tend to need a good amount of protein. 
I've noticed this about myself.


Also, if I need to snack in between meals, what are some snacks I could eat
that will help me not feel so empty? But that won't raise my blood sugar too
badly?


I'm trying to make small changes. This way I don't get too overwhelmed. 
But it's hard for me. I feel I get mixed messages. My boyfriend who also has
type II diabetes says that part of diabetes and how it affects us is
genetic. Others say I shouldn't eat any sugary foods at all. Still others
say that fruits, veggies, and even different meats can be eaten for snacks.

But then when I was talking with the nutricionist, she told me that I could
have a sugar-free popsickle, or a sugar-free pudding. So I have done this a
few times. I like both of these. But I know sometimes I need something more
filling. She also told me to try to rate my hunger on a scale. This way it
will cut down on me eating when I am bored, or just watching TV. So I have
started doing this.


I don't cook much for myself. A lot of what we eat is pre-packaged, or
frozen. Or we order out. Which I have tried to cut back on. But again this
is difficult. Mainly, because it's not just me here by myself.

I have tried to start doing some cooking. Last week, I cooked some of the
fish fellets we like. As well as a baked potato each, and some mixed
veggies. Instead of having sour cream and butter on the potato, I had put
olive oil on it, with a few other seasonings. They were really good.

However, doing all this made me pretty tired.


Any thoughts and advice are much appreciated. You all are always so nice,
and kind to me. I really do appreciate it. I appreciate the advice. I try to
make use of it the best that I can. I know I still have quite a ways to go,
to get to where I want to be.

Also, my primary care doctor's office has a diabetes educator that I am
going to start seeing. My first appointment with her will be on the 26th of
this month. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm not sure how often I will
be able to see her. But I should find out after this appointment.


Thank you to all who read this. It's not the most organized. But my thoughts
were kind of all over the place.


I hope you all are well, and safe.


Thank you,


Terri


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