Sugar free?

He's probably been diagnosed with borderline Type 2 diabetes - which sometimes doesn't need treatment with pills.  However it's important that he gets good advice about diet - changes to diet can make a real difference, and even bring blood sugar levels down to normal.   Obviously the first thing is to cut down on added sugar - but that's not the only thing he can do.  I think he needs to go back to where his diagnosis was made, and ask for further guidance - it is important that he gets good advice.

There are plenty of books out there - just google 'book for Type 2 diabetes' and you'll get all types - but I'm not sure how good the advice is, in any of them!  Basically he should 'eat healthily' - but that is interpreted differently by everyone you speak to!

Diabetes Uk does give quite detailed advice about food in the "living with Diabetes" section. There is a big range of food advice ranging from types of food, portions and carb counting etc It depends on what type of diabetes someone has and the severity.  A GP should be able to print out diet and food advice sheets. As EasyT says an appointment with a dietician can be useful.

One of the problems is that the NHS produces guidlines suggesting basing meals around startchy food - preferably with a leaning to those with a low glycemic index. Diabetes UK suggest that this is not a good idea and particularly so for those with type 2 diabetes. 

No main UK group seem to offer simple advice such as 5 medium slices whole meal bread a day or so many grammes of cereal. 100g of potato or pasta equivelants etc.

For me I had no great problems but would reiterate the value of seeing a diatician. They can usually provide reasonable guidance.  

Good luck with the Trifle!  I would like to say that I have been Low Carb for some years and the forum with my particular brand was amazing in that many many people with diabetes had amazing results with their blood sugar levels going right down.  It seems that the "low/no sugar" products can confuse the body quite badly and should be avoided where possible.  Obviously Christmas is an exception to the rule - but I definitely prefer my food as natural as possible without added chemicals.  It is interesting that since the fads of low fat and low sugar hit the world - obesity has risen and risen.     Lets stick to natural and not too much! 

So  much  of  the  advice  given  to "Diabetics"  is  in  the  nature  of  General  advice,  but  we  are  all  individuals  and  as  such  need  the  information  tailored  to  suit  us  and  our  particular  life  style.

There  is  little  point  telling, say,   a  tree  feller  to  take  more  exercise  or  to  cut  down  on  the  'Carbs' nor  telling  a  full  time  'Carer'   to  get  out  for  long  walks.

So  the  advice  to  get  a  decent  length  two-way  talk  with  the  Dietician  must  be  the  place  for  anybody  to  start,  surely

As  for  portion  sizes,  thats  a  mine  field  I'm  too  old  to  try  to  cross 

Brian  Type  2  ( NIDD)  since  circa  1990

{  Purely  personal  note  :--  The  dietician  I  had  at  the  start  of  my  journey,  was  approx  45 years  old  perhaps  and  could  easily  hide  behind  a  ball-point  refill  !  At  this  time  of  the  year  she  smiled  and  said ( I kid  you  not )  :-  Don't  stint  yourself  at  Christmas,  you  can  have  A  mince pie  you  know  !!   }

Oh dear Brian, I can imagine how you felt! My friend's husband has Type 1 and we've often had meals with them that had to be calculated to keep everything ticking over properly. In some ways they've had a very healthy diet over the years but it can be restricting. I hope you'll enjoy this years mince with gusto!  

I would suggest talking to a nutritionist, definitely not a dietation in our local hospital! A friend wasn't fancying food no appetite etc and got sent to dietation. Advise given eat high calorie food, cheese, hot chocolate with the full works, it'll sort itself out . Local nutritionist far more help, sadly had to pay to see her, but results amazing. 

Natural is best, as Pippah45 suggests. More vegetable than fruit, lots of nuts and seeds. As no diet has been recommended I'd suggest its borderline, ?syndrome x? And an eating change plus exercise could make a huge difference, but agree so guidance needed.

We have a friend in his 70s who is type 2, he doesn't take anything for it YET! but trying to get him to take it serious is hard work. He knows that he has to reduce his weight but he will just not give up things like chips, crisps, whiskey, cream cakes. All his food is either fried or roasted and the fat from the meat is poured over the meal. When we have tried to point out that its not healthy he always comes back with' I eat 2 oranges a day' it really islike talking to a brick wall. Not only does he have type 2 but heart problems, high blood pressure etc. I think even the health services have had enough of him 

I have been type one diabetic for 40 years, I can honestly say it has never restricted my life, no-one has ever had to calculate a meal for me.  Lots of people seem to enjoy making a drama out of a crisis.  Cut out added sugar and be sensible with natural sugar, learn to say no when you have had enough and you will learn your blood sugar levels.  It's Christmas so enjoy it, don't make yourself ill by over indulging but at the same time don't make others around you fret over it.  There are lots of good NHS people out there happy to help you understand your treatment, ask for help & take it.  Diabetes is not a death sentence so don't treat it like one.

TG,  the  day  after  I  was  diagnosed  the  Doc sent  me  to  Leighton  Hospital,  Crewe  for  Blood  tests  and  the  first  Clerical   Testing  Staffer  person  I  saw  was  the  wife  of  my  footballing  mate,  so  she  bunged  me  to  the  head  of  the  queue  ,  and  I  saw  her  there  regularly  'til  the  Testing  Service  was  out-shopped  to  the  G.P.s  surgery.

6  months  ago  I  saw  that  mate  trudging  with  sticks  to  the  corner  shop.  I  spoke  &  he  told  me  he  had  lost  two  toes  as  a  result  of  his  uncontrolled  type 2,  and  that  it  had  killed  his  lady  a  year  earlier  !

It  seems  you  can  have  all  the  available  knowledge  &  back-up  to  hand  but  you  have  to  use  your  own  wit  &  wisdom  to  look  after  yourself,  'cos  they  won't  be  around  to  take  the  bad  stuff  off  your  plate  or  out  of  your  fridge  !

A  little  more  light  hearted  but  same theme  --  I  did  all  the  work  around  food  etc  for  years  for  myself  &  my father  until  he  died,  so  I've  got  the  skill  if  not  always  the  will !  I  always  have  my  Single  Mince  Pie  at  Christmas  as  per  instructions  but  I  also  comply  with  the  old  adage  :-  One  Mince  Pie  In  Each  House  I  Visit  { Purely  for  Luck  Of  Course }.  I  do  of  course  get  the  required  exercise  from  chasing  off  them  pesky  Carollers     !

B