Diabetes prevention diet plan?

LolitaLove

Hi everyone

A close relative of mine (who is overweight) has been diagnosed with pre-diabetes...their blood sugar result was abnormal and they've been given 3 months to lose weight. My relative has been talking about lizard spit and chitosan...which I've researched and there's no clinical evidence (for the chitosan anyway) to prove their effectiveness.
I'm pushing my relative towards just eating properly. I know how to eat a balanced diet but wondered if anyone has any tips on a plan geared towards diabetics/preventing diabetes?
I've looked online and the only thing I can find is via Tesco. It's quite expensive so if anyone has had experience of this and would be kind enough to share I'd be very grateful!
Thanks in advance for any and all replies x

mountainofdebt

tbh I can't see how a plan that's geared to preventing diabetes would be different to that designed to lose weight.

The other thing I would say is that the person who has to lose the weight has to want to do it for themselves......anything they are pushed towards will be met with resistance

RedBern

with the little I know, weight loss is key to preventing diabetes, not going on some cranky diet. Your relative should look closely at portion control and taking exercise. If you read up at the amount of walking you have to do to use up calories, a sedentary lifestyle, which is what we have now, leads to weight gain.

Thinking back to the 50s, our parents had lifestyles which were much more active, cleaning was by hand, walking to work was the norm, or getting on a bus and having to walk some of the way.

So, help your relative reduce what he/she's eating. Have lots of fruit and veg and a brisk walk if possible. Good luck

LolitaLove

mountainofdebt wrote: »

tbh I can't see how a plan that's geared to preventing diabetes would be different to that designed to lose weight.

The other thing I would say is that the person who has to lose the weight has to want to do it for themselves......anything they are pushed towards will be met with resistance

Good advice....I've already met with that resistance, believe me, hehe. Good job I like to nag

patchwork_cat

There are a few ways of approaching this 1) would be to lose weight whilst following a plan with a low glycaemic load. Along with this adding in cinnamon and chromium ( you will need to research whether this is best via dietary sources or supplement). 2) Would be following a VLCD. If you watch Biggest Loser ( more the US one) sometimes the contestants are diabetic and a few weeks in they will be able to stop their diabetes medication.

If you google it their are a number of sites to help. Although put in insulin resistance or diabetes might get more hits.

There was a recent study, which unfortunately I can't find , which looked into this.

Here is one hit I found with DIabetes and weight loss http://www.diabetes.co.uk/Diabetes-and-Weight-Loss.html

Your relative needs to require less insulin, so eating a lower glycaemic load diet will help this.

maire1

One key change to make is a swap from refined and sugary foods. Cut out chocs, sweets, puds and replace with fruit (still sugar source but natural sugar and easier for the body to cope with). Instead of white bread, rice, pasta switch to brown/wholemeal which gives a steady, slow release of sugars instead of sharp spikes and drops.

Add plenty of fresh veg, lean protein and moderate exercise and blood glucose will become much easier to control.

I'm a type 1. My diet has never been dreadful but I did enjoy white pasta and the odd pud before diagnosis. Now I find these things are just not worth the effect they have on glucose. I follow the above In conjunction with my insulin regime and have excellent control.

Finally, if there's a chance diabetes can be avoided, seize it with both hands!

daska

You could start HERE.

If she wants a magic cure there also seems to be a growing amount of evidence for cold pressed virgin coconut oil.

And I can't find a link to it but there was a study not so long back that showed a very low carb diet could reverse pre-diabetes.

One thing I would say for a very low carb diet, it can be easier to stick to because there is no need to feel hungry. I'd recommend Gary Taube's Why We Get Fat: And What to Do about It and pay attention to the side effects that can come as the body adjusts and what to do about them.

Welshwoofs

Two words: Low carb.

The body turns carbohydrates into Glucose so they have a big impact on your blood sugar - the more refined the carbs, the bigger the impact.

If your friend just sticks to meat, fish, dairy, eggs, green vegetables and fruit and a few wholegrains that will help immensely.

Addiscomber

http://blogg.passagen.se/dahlqvistannika/?anchor=my_lowcarb_dietary_programe_in

This is an outline of how to eat low carb written by a Swedish doctor. It is aimed at people who need to lose weight and those with Type 2 Diabetes.

Mojisola

These people will help and be very supportive of anyone trying to get their sugar levels under control - https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewforum.php?f=18

jfdi

There's a DVD I have - ''Simply Raw - reversing diabetes in 30 days'' which I got for a friend. It's aimed mainly at Type2, but does feature 1 or 2 Type1 people.

It's absolutely fascinating & would need a radical overhaul of the diet we normally consume. Sadly, few in the film could keep it up but it had amazing results if they did.

It's American by the way.

Looks like you can download it - but not sure if that's 'legal' or not (I don't download stuff so not sure of the 'good' sites). I got the DVD free, so it may be possible.