Any thin people with Diabetes or pre diabetes out there? (eat, cost)

[city living]

Originally Posted by Mary2014

Five years ago, my dietitian recommended low fat dairy products to insure I would get enough calcium from foods. I had started strength training and wanted to stay at 119 lbs. Personal trainer considered a 1600 - 1800 calories a day sufficient to maintain my weight. However, within a month I was down to 113 lbs. That is when I went to a dietitian with my then current blood work and she developed a diet based upon my blood work results and metabolic tests. With just walking 3 miles twice a week + strength training she said I needed to consume 2300 calories a day just to be able to gain 1/2 a lb per month.

Now that I am retired and walk 5 miles a day I am sure my calorie needs my have increased to maintain at 114 lbs. I eat 6 times a day and never really feel hungry - so it is hard to eat so much more when you already feel full. ( I have been getting calories from way too many carbs.)

With the need to consume foods high in calcium and high in fiber, yet low in salt and low in carbs and crossing off all the foods I can't eat because of allergic response to many plant based proteins - it is going to be trial and error to figure out how to get enough calories to get back up to 114 lbs.

I will start by switching to dairy products with a higher fat content. I usually limit meats to chicken and fish, but, I may have to add more meat to my meal planning as well. Fruits and veggies may be healthy, but, they don't add much in the way of total calories and you feel full very quickly.

Unfortunately, some of the foods low in carbs have too much salt so it may take a while to fine tune my meal planning.

Doesn't sound like high metabolism---you sound normal, but it sounds like you are struggling to just consume at least 2300 calories per day? I also don't know why someone would tell you 1600-1800 calories would maintain your weight when you are working out---that won't even maintain weight for some people completely inactive. Haha!

Good luck. You are right, there is a lot of trial and error. Could you possibly see the dietician again for more ideas?

[Zelpha]

My grandma was diagnosed with diabetes in her 80's and she has always been a very active, tiny person, around 100 lbs. Doctor told her to modify her diet to address the diabetes, so she did.

Before my tiny, active grandma was diagnosed with diabetes, I'd always thought that disease was only for type-1 people who got it in childhood, or type-2 people whose unhealthy diets & obesity caused it.

[Mary2014]

Originally Posted by Zelpha

My grandma was diagnosed with diabetes in her 80's and she has always been a very active, tiny person, around 100 lbs. Doctor told her to modify her diet to address the diabetes, so she did.

Before my tiny, active grandma was diagnosed with diabetes, I'd always thought that disease was only for type-1 people who got it in childhood, or type-2 people whose unhealthy diets & obesity caused it.

It seems like most of the programs concerning diabetes at the hospitals, YMCA etc. are all directed at people who need to lose weight. You can't even register for the diabetes class unless your BMI is 25+.So, you don't even have an opportunity to talk to a dietitian unless it concerns losing weight.


I do realize my situation is complicated by all of the foods I can't eat due to allergies. Even the dietitian I worked with 5 years ago printed out recommended meal plans and the computer generated meal plan suggestions that contained mostly foods I can not eat.

[Scooby Snacks]

Originally Posted by CSD610

Make an appointment with a dietician and look for the book on amazon: Carb counting and meal planning


I am curious why you specified "thin people" though, diabetes is a disease that can affect anyone, it is not discriminatory.

It's harder to treat if you're skinny because weight control is a simple and often effective way of controlling blood sugar. When the person's weight is normal already, that solution is not available. Thin diabetics are more often Type I than overweight diabetics. I didn't read the whole thread OP. Are you Type I or Type II? That makes a big difference in your treatment. I will echo the sentiments of the other posters. A visit to an endocrinologist, dietician, and allergist is in order. It's also important for all three of these specialists to compare notes RE your treatment. I have epilepsy and bipolar, and because the meds for both often overlap and I have to have lab work for both, my neurologist and psychatrist want each other's medical records. It's very helpful that your doctors communicate with one another and keeps treatment and med duplication at a minimum. I hope that helped!

[SweetLittleWing]

Originally Posted by Mary2014

It seems like most of the programs concerning diabetes at the hospitals, YMCA etc. are all directed at people who need to lose weight. You can't even register for the diabetes class unless your BMI is 25+.So, you don't even have an opportunity to talk to a dietitian unless it concerns losing weight.


I do realize my situation is complicated by all of the foods I can't eat due to allergies. Even the dietitian I worked with 5 years ago printed out recommended meal plans and the computer generated meal plan suggestions that contained mostly foods I can not eat.

Wow, that's bull. Your frame is very close to mine.

When my father was diagnosed, a Dr buddy (from the US) told me that the thin patients were usually the first to pass. Most because they insisted they were not fat, this is a fat people disease and they simply continued what they did that got them to diabetes2 in the first place. the disease doesn't care about pant size. The fact you are not even eligible for classes is disgusting.

-full fat is good. Your body needs fats to use minerals properly. It doesn't have the same starches and sugars added like the low fat versions to make them more creamy and palatable.
-biggest, get a meter and eat to your meter. the "tighter" control the better. Anything you want, that doesn't spike you. Wild swings are terrible for your body.

When my father took the class he was told low fat, high fiber blah blah blah. The shreddies and skim milk (measured/weighed) he was told to eat didn't seem to be too horrible at their advised check two hours later he went from a near normal to about 12. but one hour post he went from 6 to 22 (108 to 396!). I requested he check earlier as well (which caught that HUGE spike) and eat what he wanted so long as his meter kept closer to the 5.5 mark (100 for US peeps).

My mother was scared he'd lose more weight, strict "low carb" is weight loss, right?, but he has more of my build so he ended up (like me) losing what fat he had and putting on muscle. lower carb, higher fat for me really did wonders for body composition. Still thin, but more muscle and my blood work, and his both improved greatly (for me, minerals. I was lacking. him blood sugar and cholesterol). At his checks now the dr's keep telling him he's being "too strict" as his numbers now are healthier then many half his age. He also had high cholesterol as well.... which is why he didn't "eat to his meter" for a period as every complete meal that kept his glucose lower he was worried of a heart attack. (butter, whole eggs, cream, cheese, meats) plus lots of low carb veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, endive, spinach, chard, celeriac etc etc etc etc (there are so so many options)

Here, the cheapest strips are to be had at costco. about 30 bucks less then the same at WM for us when we were blowing through them like crazy for a diabetic cat. Father in a different province noticed the same price differences.

[in_newengland]

I struggle with food allergies too so I know how hard it is. It's not fair that you can't get into the classes because you're not fat too. But again, you can make gravy without adding salt. I never add salt to anything. If someone wants salt they can add it themselves when they are eating. Gravy should not be out of the question--just try it. You can also eat slices of roast beef without adding any salt. Slice and eat.

Higher in fiber and lower in calcium? Just steam some vegetables for the fiber. Eat some fruit for the fiber. That doesn't mean you can't eat meat and gravy too. Calcium you can get from full fat milk and cream, even cheese. You are really lucky you are not allergic to dairy products. You can also easily buy calcium citrate tablets, I have to because of my dairy allergy. Sometimes we just can't get all of our nutrients from foods.

If you can't eat avocado, that's not a big deal. You said you could eat peanut butter so eat some on a spoon for healthy fats and more calories. Keep track of all the calories you eat in one day and keep going.

You need the fats in your diet or else you won't absorb fat soluble nutrients like vitamin D and E. First thing I would do is dump the low fat milk and get some real milk and start drinking that. Then I'd buy some good cream and pour some over a bowl of peaches to get calcium and fiber all in one.

It's not simple to plan meals this way but a lot of people have to learn to deal with special diets and you sound like a smart person who can do it too. My aunt and uncle were thin and developed type II in their early 90s--one eventually died from a fall, the other eventually died from a heart attack. It does happen to thin people but just because the medical profession seems to ignore this fact, doesn't mean that you can't find a way to eat right for your particular needs.

Originally Posted by Mary2014

This is what makes meal planning so difficult - I can't eat avocado or guacamole due to allergies.


And I have to lower my salt intake - so, such things as gravy is absolutely out of the question.


Unfortunately, I can't look at just lowering carbs. Meals have to also be much lower in salt, higher in fiber and higher in calcium.


Each person has given me one or two ideas for modifying my eating habits and I promise I will look into them to see if they will work for me based on the multiple criteria each food must meet.

[Mary2014]

Just an update and to let you all know I am taking your comments to heart.


I did get a Relion Prime meter and accessories to track my glucose levels. Walmart actually had the meter on sale for only $9!


I started an Excel spread sheet to list items I routinely eat, that includes calorie count, fat, protein, carbs, fiber, potassium and calcium for each item. This way I can mix and match combinations to insure I stay under the recommended amount of salt and carbs while insuring I am getting enough fiber, calcium and potassium each day. (FYI, just because my total calorie intake goes up does NOT mean the allowable amount of salt per day increases. The allowable salt is the same whether I consume 2000 calories or 2500 calories a day.) I did not realize how much salt is in cheese! So adding more full fat cheese to my meals, I look at other items I consume that I can switch out to a similar product with lower amounts of salt. So, this strategy should allow me more low in carb foods that are higher in salt as well.


I did start with a personal trainer today to insure I do strength training and do the exercises correctly. He did mention, to eat something with carbs about 1 hour before exercising to minimize weight loss. He also mentioned that my eating small meals 6 to 8 times a day is actually speeding up my metabolism and causing me to lose weight. He suggested I try consuming the same amount of calories, but, eating less frequently.


I do realize that many of you must eat "low" carb diets to control your diabetes. What I did not realize until I actually looked at the amount of carbs and salt in the processed foods I was consuming was how many carbs I was actually eating every day! It was way more than daily recommendations for a non diabetics. So, my first goal is to get down to/ below the "normal" carbs recommendations and see what kind of impact it has on my glucose levels. Doing so should also get me down to much lower salt in my diet.


And I did cut my walking down today from 5 miles to 1 mile - but, only because it is 35 degrees outside and along the beach the wind is 25+ miles an hour today!


Thanks everyone who responded to this thread - it has been very helpful.

[mojo101]

what about egg white,eggs are so cheap these days,throw way the eggyolk .

[Jill_Schramm]

Originally Posted by Mary2014

Pre diabetic and my doctor wants me to cut back on carbs and salt. I can/did cut back on carbs, but, three weeks ago I was 5'6" and 114 lbs. My weight has dropped to 110 lbs.


I need to consume about 2300 calories a day to gain a 1/2 lb a month! I am trying to figure out how to increase my calories while reducing carbs and salt in my meal planning. I had been using foods like bagels and crackers to keep my daily calorie intake up. (I don't consume obviously high sugar foods like soda, candy, donuts.) I need to replace with foods that are high calorie, but, low carb and low salt.


To complicate things - I have allergies. I can't eat nuts, seeds, beans, hummus, Avocado, watermelon, celery and a few other things that are "good fats". Some of these foods I can't eat due to very bad tree pollen allergies. It seems that many high calorie plant based proteins mimic tree pollen and I get a cross reactive response. Tree nuts can cause anaphylactic response -so I need to avoid at all cost. One bright spot is that I can eat peanut butter and dry roasted unsalted peanuts as it seems that the processing of this one particular nut does something to change the makeup of the protein and it is safe for me to consume.


I have started replacing simple carbs with some foods that are complex carbs to lower spikes in glucose - but, I need to get back up to 114 pounds minimum ASAP. I am having real difficulty finding foods I can eat to gain weight.


It seems all of the meal planning for diabetics/pre diabetics is based upon losing weight and exercising. (I walk 5 miles a day - so I get plenty of exercise.) How do thin diabetics go about gaining weight on a low carb diet?


Any suggestions?

This is a really good question. As a thin person with almost the same stats as you (5’6” and currently 113lbs) I have been wondering the same thing. I don’t have prediabetes yet, but am on the cusp as my fasting blood sugar is usually right at 100. I have chronic pancreatitis and so have to greatly limit both my fat and fiber intake. This essentially means that I am forced into having a high carb diet. Just yesterday I think I made a small step in the right direction by replace my lunchtime nonfat tuna sandwich on white bread (baguette) with a nonfat homemade tuna-potato salad. Potatoes, especially cold potatoes are healthier than white bread (lower glycemic index). I am also eating multiple small meals a day, instead of one huge meal. I am also trying to make each small meal as actual meal with all the food groups (no more unbalanced snacking).Also, If I need to eat simple carbs, I try to eat them right before or after I exercise. Also, I have decided to stop worrying about being too thin. I like the way I look and feel, so I am just going to accept where I am now instead of forcing myself to gain a couple of pounds so that I am no longer official underweight.

Why do you feel like you need to get back to 114 ASAP? Can you take it more slowly? First start by stopping the weight loss, then gradually try to gain back?

[Jill_Schramm]

Originally Posted by CSD610

Make an appointment with a dietician and look for the book on amazon: Carb counting and meal planning


I am curious why you specified "thin people" though, diabetes is a disease that can affect anyone, it is not discriminatory.

Actually, being overweight puts one at a much higher risk of type II diabetes. I thought this was common knowledge. So, yes, the disease does actually “discriminate.”