Diabetes (Metformin, buy, blood, plan)

[bam531]

Sorry if this thread has been posted before. Hubby went to Dr on Monday and his blood suger was 299. Dr told him to cut out starches and all sugar products and to check his level 3 times a day. She is sending his results off to be cultured. Not real sure what that means. She did not put him on any meds yet ( already has high blood pressure, high cholesterol...takes meds for those) I have a few questions.... what kind of fruit is off limits? He loves cantaloupe and grapes but we have heard that you are not supposed to eat them. Also had someone tell him to not eat any carbohydrates. Been all over the web and cannot get any staright answers. I know he is going to get real tired of broiled chicken and mixed vegetables!! Can he eat hamburger? Hotdogs? Is he allowed a baked potatoe once a week? Should food be baked?I am also having a hard time telling him he has to eat regular. Not go all day and not eat!! We both work full time jobs ( he works 10 hours a day, I work 12) what are some good recipes that are quick and easy? What are the normal limits for blood sugar? Sorry for all of the questions...this is new to us!! Any help will be appreciated!!

[Pikantari]

He should have been given a diet regimen at the drs office. Starches turn themselves into sugar. When I think of starch, I think of potatoes, pasta, corn, and lima beans, I know there are other things, oh rice.

You need to contact the drs office and get a diabetic diet sheet. They are probably trying to see if regulating his diet will help with his blood sugar. Normally that will be the first step before meds, unless they are extremely high.

[dorado0359]

It sounds like your doctor told your husband to stay away from sugars as a precautionary measure until his test results come back and he is officially diagnosed as a diabetic. Once he is officially diagnosed the doctor will probably schedule him for a series of diabetic classes at the hospital, which will include a consultation with a diatician. The diatician will then present all materials and literature, such as food groups, charts and a eating plan to your husband. The most important thing that you and your husband can do at this stage is to follow the DOCTORS ADVICE ONLY.

Because every persons diabetic situation is treated differently, I would not recommend getting advice on the proper diet from others on the internet.

[little sister]

I am a Type 2, with meds. dorado0359 is correct. The doctor will send him to learn more. I have a book with every food and the amounts to use that was given to me at the hospital. They will answer all the questions you have and the amount of food and these are easy to follow. Take one step at a time and don't worry about all the what if's. Listen to the Dr.

[yellowsnow]

100 or less is considered normal for blood sugar.

Your H will be sent to a diabetic educator for classes etc. He will be told to eat 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. He will also be told to exercise for at least 30 min daily. He will probably be told to start out walking. Diabetes can have serious consequences and I hope he takes his instructions seriously. He will probably be put on a statin like lipitor and glucophage or some metformin type drug to help him utilize the insulin he is producing. If he is overweight, he will be told to lose it pronto.

Cut out high sugar foods. First and foremost, soda and sweet tea.. Most words that end in OSE are sugars. Sucrose, fructose, etc. Sugar is bad. Fruit is high in sugar as well. If it's sweet, it's not the best food choice.

Next, the body converts other starches to sugar. This process starts in the mouth with an enzyme called maltase. This means bread, rice, pasta, and anything made with grains will be converted to sugar by the body.

On the strictest diabetic diets, all they are allowed to eat is lean meat and green veggies. It is a boring routine and most people have problems sticking to it. It's really similar to the Atkins Diet. Start doing some research on low carb, low sugar products you think he will like. Here are some I think are good:

Walden Farms bbq sauces, marinara, and alfredo
Nature Sweet fake sugar
Russell Stovers SF chocolate
coconut flour this is amazing stuff

Check out fitday.com. It is a great resource for counting/learning about carbs and sugars in foods. They hide everywhere. The American Diabetic Association also has forums with lots of information available. Their website is loaded with good stuff. This is a learning process for both of you. You will make mistakes. Start this whole process by patting yourself on the back just for being willing to change and learn. It's easier to just do nothing but the price is too high.

Here's a decent sample food day for someone who is diabetic/HBP/Hyperlipidemia:

Breakfast- Caffeine free coffee with splenda or stevia and skim milk
1 or more glasses of water
4 egg omelet made with egg whites only or egg beaters with 2 T salsa. You can add hot sauce but no added salt on anything.
2 strips turkey bacon

Snack-1 string cheese and a cut up bell pepper 2 or more glasses of water

Lunch-tuna salad with a little onion, dill relish, yellow mustard, and FF mayo
1C raw green salad
Iced tea made with splenda or stevia
1 or more glasses of water

Snack-SF yogurt and 2 or more glasses of water

Dinner-Garlic lemon chicken breast
1C raw green salad
1C green beans with Butter Buds
1 or more glasses of water
Iced tea with splenda or stevia

Snack-SF popsicle 1 or more glasses of water

It's great to drink a lot more fluids. Just as long as they don't have sugar. This diet does exactly what your doc said to do. A few days of this and his sugar will be as low as it can get without medication. Want to make it better? Exercise!


This is just meant to get you started. Read and learn. Take control of the diabetes rather than being it's victim. I hope he gets a decent educator. And lots of information! Best of luck!

[DontH8Me]

Yes, if your hubby is diagnosed he will be getting more info about how to eat than can be typed here, so I will try to answer your questions for the short term. What kind of fruit is off limits was one of your questions - cantaloupe is fine (1/2 cup is a serving), but grapes have a high gycemic index and should be avoided for now. You and your hubby will be learning a lot about portions and frequency of meals. Whoever told you to cut all carbs doesn't know what they are talking about. Vegetables are also considered carbs. There are basically three types of nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Each gram of the first two has 4 calories, and each gram of fat has 9.

Your husband should not eat more than 15 net grams of carbs per meal or snack. He should not go for longer than three hours without eating either. He can eat a sweet potato with a meal that includes leafy greens and a lean protein, but should avoid white potatoes (the higher fiber content of sweet potatoes lowers their glycemic index vs. the regular potato which can make his blood sugar shoot up very quickly).

I wouldn't recommend his eating "mixed vegetables" if it's the kind that has peas, carrots and corn - all three have a high sugar content. Vegetables should be spinach, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, and the like.

If he is in the habit of going all day without eating he will have to change this pronto. Pack him his meals and snacks for the whole day in a small cooler so they will be ready to go when his feeding times roll around. Snack suggestions would be: 1 piece of string cheese and 5 triscuits; 3 oz of turkey breast with 1 slice of whole grain bread (not whole wheat - GRAIN), 2 tbsp peanut butter with 15 wheat thins. The trick is to always include a protein in every meal to slow down the absorption of the carbs. Since he's got high blood pressure, I am guessing you have already learned how to watch the sodium intake. This applies for diabetics too BIG TIME.

Normal limits of blood sugar are different for people who are and are not diabetic. Fasting rate (taken in the morning before anything has been consumed) should be under 110 for a diabetic. Your doctor will tell you how long to wait after a meal to read his sugar level. I had to measure 1 hour after a meal, and I was supposed to be under 140.

My disclaimer - always follow the advice of your physician. I have first hand experience because I had gestational diabetes, and not long after my daughter was born my dad went through everything your hubby did (high blood pressure, 300+ blood sugar, etc.). Because of the counseling and pamphlets I received during my pregnancy, I was able to teach my parents on how to feed my dad for life. He has lost 60 lbs and feels 20 years younger. His sugar has normalized and doesn't look like he'll ever need to be insulin injecting if he continues on his path. As a result of lowering his blood sugar and weight, he has also the added benefit of lower blood pressure (yay!).

I think we all know that hamburgers and hot dogs are already off limits for someone with high cholesterol - these are saturated fat, and the buns are highly verboten for someone watching their blood sugar. It would be best if your hubby did not eat these at all. A good substitute would be a nice grilled chicken breast - or filet of fish. Let me know what kind of cooking your hubby likes and I can PM you some recipes that would work for his diet.

Good luck - and don't let your hubby think this is the end of all the fun. It's just time to re-learn the whole nourishment process, and with all the counseling provided he will adjust well.

[bam531]

Thank you everyone for the info! Was really surprised to hear about the mixed vegatables!! Was even more shocked when I went to the drug store and found out how much testing strips are!! Have a call into the Dr's office for a prescription for the strips and that way insurance will help out. Hubby's level was 167 this morning so it is coming down some. Mine was 88, he wants to switch, but I said " No, thank you!!" He actually ate lunch today ( first real meal he has eaten, because he is scared) and it was a baked porkchop and green beans. Not sure when Dr will call back, the only thing she gave him was a 1,800 calorie diet sheet to go by. Thinking maybe about joining Weight Watchers and see if they can help too. Hope he gets sugar regulated soon so he can enjoy more of the food he likes ( and mine doesn't bottom out from not eating sugar). We are really a mixed matched pair...he has high blood pressure, mine runs low, ( found out today that our son's girlfriend is pregnant 10 months before the wedding...so mine may actually get higher) he has high cholesterol, mine is fine, he has high blood sugar, mine runs low. Never a dull moment!! Keep those suggestions coming...need all the help we can get!!

[mm_mary73]

This link is to the American Diabetes Association: Type 2 Diabetes: Conditions, Treatments, Resources - American Diabetes Association
This diagnosis is NOT a death knell, but a wake-up to change your lifestyle and dietary habits. Weight Watchers is great. When you talk to your PCP, ask if there are any diabetic classes offered at your local hospital and get a referral.
Nutritionists / dieticians / diabetic educators are great as well; these professionals often work with endocrinologists. A positive for you as well - once you both start eating healthier, you'll have the stamina to keep up with that new grandchild ;-D

[southernlady5464]

Your husband has a metabolic condition called Syndrome X (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columnnn/nn971022.html - broken link)(the triad of high blood sugar, high lipids and high bp) that in women is also known as PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).

One of the SINGLE best locations for info is this site: David Mendosa: A Writer on the Web as far as diet, information, etc. David Mendosa writes for the American Diabetes Association on a free lance basis.

Another site to peruse is this one: Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. A Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars. Official Web Site
You can read the most important chapter online without buying the book: Read It Online! (it is 7 pages long) Dr. Bernstein is a type I diabetic who started his life as a mechanical engineer, developed diabetes and went back to school and became an endo. He has had type I since 1946. He believes in using the low carb method but not the Atkins method. There is a difference.

The biggest thing is to use let the meter tell your husband what to do.

I can eat potatoes because my meter says I am not sensitive to them but I can't eat rice.

Let the meter do the work and testing only 3 times a day is NOT enough for good control. Liz

[mm_mary73]

Please use extreme caution when posting diagnoses about people you do not know anything about. It is dangerous and foolhardy.