Diabetes and Diet

I’m a little unsure of the difference in how sugars and carbs break down. I believe that sugars break down quickly hence the "sugar low" a little while afterwards. Then carbs turn into sugars a little while later?

I failed my one hour test by 18 points. They tell you to eat a breakfast just not anything high in sugar. I had a bowl of Very low sugar cereal but it’s actually higher in carbs than a few of the slightly more sugary ones.

It was about two hours after the cereal that they did the blood draw, is that about the same time that I’d be getting a sugar boost in my system due to the digesting carbs?

I passed a 3 hour test at 22 weeks but still needed to be retested at 28. I’m just surprised that I failed by so much and want to know if the carbs may have been the cause or if I should be worried about having GD?
Any advice on how sugars break down would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Highly processed sugars and carbs get absorbed real quick. That’s why they tell you to eat complex whole wheat products. Also, look for things high in fiber, that will counteract some of the carbs.

For your next test, suggest eating some eggs with one slice of lightly buttered whole wheat toast. If you want cereal, then try cereals like Fiber One.

Any suggestions?

Carla,
I would suggest doing 30 minutes of cardio in the morning, walking, running, treadmill, stationary bike, etc. Do at least 30 minutes of strength training. Eat a good lunch in which can insist of, Chicken breast, fish, tuna, rice, beans, fruits, vegetables. Eat a healthy snack two hours later. Eat a light dinner. Remember to drink plenty of water through out the day. I would suggest that you stay away from soda, juices, or coffee. Don’t eat after 7:00pm. If you do this you will see major results within 4 weeks. In August of 2007 I was weighing 215 and I stand at 5’7. Today I weigh 160 pounds and this happened because I followed this plan. Have a great day!

Any suggestions?

Carla,
I would suggest doing 30 minutes of cardio in the morning, walking, running, treadmill, stationary bike, etc. Do at least 30 minutes of strength training. Eat a good lunch in which can insist of, Chicken breast, fish, tuna, rice, beans, fruits, vegetables. Eat a healthy snack two hours later. Eat a light dinner. Remember to drink plenty of water through out the day. I would suggest that you stay away from soda, juices, or coffee. Don’t eat after 7:00pm. If you do this you will see major results within 4 weeks. In August of 2007 I was weighing 215 and I stand at 5’7. Today I weigh 160 pounds and this happened because I followed this plan. Have a great day!

Please answer only if you are an expert or have experience with diabetes (no "I think" please): My grandmother has type 2 – she is in her 80′s. She loves grilled cheese sandwiches when they go out for dinner but grandfather thinks the cheese raises her blood sugar. I think it might be the carbs in the bread.

My question is this: can she have cheddar cheese? Is wheat bread good for her? (I thought carbs were bad). What do you think could be causing this problem / are there any food she should definatly stay away from? Any help would be great, as she is getting to the point where she doesn’t want to eat anything. thanks so much!
I want to thank you all for your answer! It will be hard to pick the best!

Many great answers ahead of mine. Take note of them.
One thing I didn’t see addressed there is the fat/carbohydrate BALANCE. Diabetics need to try to eat HEALTHY, as I’m sure you’re aware. That means no more that 20% of our calories should come from fat, and most from COMPLEX carbs.

My mother is 85. She and her friends sometimes eat one main meal, and very small snacks till bed. So something like a grilled cheese has not one, but two problems. First, the amount of calories from fat is way out of balance to the carbs. Second, the type of carbs, even in ‘wheat’ bread, unless it’s homemade, is still a simple carb, not a complex one, and converts to glucose very fast, spiking blood sugar.
In addition, at 80, there’s probably not a good BALANCE between her diet and exercise, which will compound the problem.

I’d suggest going to a lunch with true complex carbs–a tasty one is stir fry, no noodles, meat as a condiment, and short on soy sauce. Or perhaps half a grilled cheese with a green salad, and low fat dressing. Just SOME way to balance the fat/carb ratio and achieve a slower glucose uptake. To that end, I’d also recommend a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon daily, as it is a natural glucose regulator.

That having been said, the grand dame is an octogenarian, and deserves to live well and with dignity. Best of luck.

I know that I should ask a nutritionist, but I dont think I can afford one. Im really confused.

i am a diet controlled diabetic for 2+ years. i had a nutritionist help after first diagnosis.they use a formula involving your weight, sex, fasting BG, etc… to find out . being a male at 250 pound i was allowed 75 grams of carbs per meal and 30 per snack. that seems to be working for me.
My advise would be to check your glucose before eating, write down the carbs you ate and measure again in 2 hours. if its up, remember not to eat as many carbs and when you find what works for you stick to it. weather its 50 carb 40 o r whatever. Good luck…………

Try to stay within 60 grams carbs. I will save 15 carbs from breakfast, lunch & dinner to use as between meal snacks. But the number of carbs per meal will vary with the daily total caloric intake your dietician/nutritionist has recommended.