Just diagnosed with pre diabetes (blood, plan, diet, require)

[Rickcin]

I’m retired thin and fairly active and have always had a good healthy diet but never restricted my carbs. I obviously always enjoyed pasta and breads but never really had an urge for sugar, sweets or desserts.

What is the easiest way for me to get this under control. Is there a good simple app that I could put on my iPhone that will help guide on healthy meals or count the carbs that I consume each day? Thanks

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by Rickcin

I’m retired thin and fairly active and have always had a good healthy diet but never restricted my carbs. I obviously always enjoyed pasta and breads but never really had an urge for sugar, sweets or desserts.

What is the easiest way for me to get this under control. Is there a good simple app that I could put on my iPhone that will help guide on healthy meals or count the carbs that I consume each day? Thanks

I've been "pre" for about a decade. 1) I bought a glucose meter so I could see what does/does not spike my glucose, 2) generally, I divide the fiber into the carbs and if it is less than 5, I can eat it, 3) I use monk sugar instead of regular as it does not spike my glucose, 4) no potatoes or white rice, smaller portions of whole wheat pasta.

I've seen your meals, you guys will do fine once you make some minor adjustments!

[Rickcin]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

I've been "pre" for about a decade. 1) I bought a glucose meter so I could see what does/does not spike my glucose, 2) generally, I divide the fiber into the carbs and if it is less than 5, I can eat it, 3) I use monk sugar instead of regular as it does not spike my glucose, 4) no potatoes or white rice, smaller portions of whole wheat pasta.

I've seen your meals, you guys will do fine once you make some minor adjustments!

Yes, you have seen almost all of our meals! I have been having some bagels lately and I’m always snacking on peanut butter filled salted pretzel cubes. I will cut down dramatically on the carbs but hope I can still have some toast, potatoes or rice in moderation and start eating more fish.

One of my friends who has struggled with diabetes in the past said to jut keep carb intake below 90 each day and that will do it. Not sure how true or simple that is but I will start watching and paying attention to what I eat. I never have in the past.

Thanks so much for your response, it’s greatly appreciated ❗️

[Mikala43]

I would strongly encourage you to get a blood glucose meter. Then you can see what does affect you.

I found I cut out too much stuff I didn't have to, and by testing with the meter, I could eat more things than I was.

Little tweaks may help too, eat your potatoes last, etc.

I miss bagels. I used to do them with a goat cheese, fresh thyme, lemon, with tomatoes, onions, and fresh basil.... but I digress...

[mojo101]

eat more bitter melon

[oldgardener]

Eat to your meter so you can see what your food choices do to your blood sugar.


I've used MyFitnessPal for many years to count carbs.

[leastprime]

Get a meter with a inexpensive strips. Correlate to your mood and feelings.
Wife prepares for me bitter melon, eggplant weekly and I'll have at least one serving of either a day. I have no idea if these foods work.

[guidoLaMoto]

Originally Posted by Rickcin

I’m retired thin and fairly active and have always had a good healthy diet but never restricted my carbs. I obviously always enjoyed pasta and breads but never really had an urge for sugar, sweets or desserts.

What is the easiest way for me to get this under control. Is there a good simple app that I could put on my iPhone that will help guide on healthy meals or count the carbs that I consume each day? Thanks

First, let's verify the diagnosis--On what criteria was it based? (I personally think the distinction between diabetes and "pre-diabetes" is a logical fallacy...Was the mother of three "pre-pregnant" at age 10? Was the alcoholic vagrant sleeping under the viaduct "pre-alcoholic" at age 12?

Diabetes is a complex genetic situation that requires eating an excess (a relative term dependant on each individual) amount of carbs to the point that it results in an elevated BS (defined arbitrarily as >140mg%).

The fad has been to differentiate between those with a random BS >140 but a normal fasting BS as pre-diabetic, while those with fasting BS over 140 as diabetic...To show the logical fallacy in using the distinction beweent the two diagnses, if you present with a fasting BS of, say, 200, and you start a diet and your fasting BS comes down to 110, but a post-prandial BS is still 160, have you gone back from "diabetes" to "pre-diabetes?" -- or is it just well treated diabetes?

Back to your original question-- treatment must be individualized. Everyone is different.-- By trial and error, you reduce your carb intake to the point that fasting BS gets below 120-ish....Don't worry about random or 2 hr post-prandial BS-- That's where the problem is for T2 diabetics, and many cannot use diet to get that down--It's the average BS (measured by HbA1c) that counts in the long run in terms of developing complications.

The "thin diabetic" can present a problem i treatment. Can you cut down the carb intake without losing too much weight, a problem in itself?

[leastprime]

Originally Posted by mojo101

eat more bitter melon

How much?

[villabella22201]

Originally Posted by mojo101

eat more bitter melon

Yes, worked wonders for my BG numbers.