has anyone ever managed to kick the sugar habit?

heuchera

sacsquacco wrote: »

nicotine is even more addictive than sweeties.

Nope, I gave up ciggies relatively easily. Sugar.. I can hardly go a day without it. I have never (yet!) been able to kick the habit. But Lent is coming up..

heuchera

Feral_Moon wrote: »

It's likely practice nurses/diabetic dieticians are still giving out old advice especially when it comes to recommending that a diabetic should consume large quantities of carbohydrates and sugar in the form of fruit. If you think you're receiving incorrect advice then it's best to seek a second opinion or do some research of your own. Try to find a dietician/nutritionist that partakes in regular CPD to keep up to date with current guidelines.

I don't know what advice they are giving out, but also be aware that NHS 'nurses' often are not nurses, but health care assistants. Nurses do a degree, - HCAs have a NotVeryQualified (if that.)

COOLTRIKERCHICK

GwylimT wrote: »

Of course our body reacts to any sugar in the same way, however fructose is much sweeter than glucose, so you need less of it for something to taste sweet and you gain the benefits of the actual fruit.

Where non-dried fruit is concerned you also don't get a sugar rush as it is slowly released as your body breaks down the fruit, so you don't then end up feeling tired or hungry once the rush is over. I'm diabetic and its perfectly fine for me to eat a whole orange.

If you want to make a cake you can exchange the sugar for mashed banana, reduce the egg as well otherwise the mix will be too wet.

So for non diabetics, who want to cut back/ out sugar.. Would it be good to eat as though you are diabetic???

I am a total sugar/ sweet junky, and have puled on the pounds/ stones, so now I can't even do normal tasks without getting out if breath, or pacing myself to do it.? Its all down to stress/ comfort eating.. No excuses, no ones fault .. Except my own psychological way of dealing/ shutting out stress, and a huge drop in confidence...

[Deleted User]

Yes it damn well will be good for you to eat as if you are a diabetic because YOU will become one the way you are going if you live long enough. Your pancreas is working overtime constantly flooding your system with insulin and at some time it will call "enough " and slow right down. I managed to reach the age of 60 before I was luckily diagnosed and I was fairly slim, fit and active but had led a life of not caring too much about diet. So Cooltrikerchick just pretend you are now a diabetic and adopt our diet. It will totally transform you and is better than any of these "here today and gone tomorrow diets "

teddysmum

I agree and was diagnosed at 60, too, the dietician, at the time, saying my diet was quite good, just needing a few tweaks.


There is not a special diabetes diet; just a healthy diet.


I have been naughty,today, but have done myself some good ,too.


As it was HbA1C day, today, I treated us to a pack of Tesco's choc chip scones,which I love, but haven't touched for 6 months (since the 6.6% warning). I ate two, after my lunch of light cream cheese on Ryvita....felt full up and did not enjoy them.


They will have no effect on my next blood test, have served a craving, but now I do not want any more.


This will last, as I still can't face tomato and veg instant soup, as it caused nausea when I was last pregnant, over 30 years ago.


Another point is that type 2 diabetes is sneaky. You don't have to be obese (I'm not and my husband's diabetic friend is very thin) and may well have none of the listed symptoms. I was only diagnosed after my neurologist gave me a huge bank of blood tests while investigating an unrelated ailment.

[Deleted User]

Yes, I dont like the word "diet " to describe our more healthy way of living. It makes it seem like the Atkins or 5/2 gimmicky methods of losing weight. I dont know about you Teddysmum , but I eat to avoid...going blind, having limbs amputated, having a stroke, and all the other things associated with a pancreous not doing its job. My fairly healthy diet is ruled by fear, just like smokers who pack smoking in.
I have my yearly review and special blood test ( hBA1C ) next week. hoping to keep it somewhere near what I ve been the last 4 years.
One point from me also is that the doctors dont routinely test for diabetes. I was only found out by taking a prostate blood test, where they also check for liver function and diabetes. It needs a fasting glucose tolerance test to really diagnose diabetes properly. There are probably a large amount of undiagnosed diabetics out there, like I was for many years, risking very early deaths from strokes.

Feral_Moon

Teddysmum, you're correct in that you don't need to be obese to be diagnosed with T2 diabetes. I received that diagnosis myself almost 10 years ago, despite being "slim" and wearing size 12 clothes but my waist to hip ratio was high which indicated I was carrying internal abdominal fat and suffering metabolic X syndrome.

A few tweaks to my diet (basically cutting out sugar and low fat foods) and increased exercise has seen my HbA1c reduce from 7.6% (60mmol) to around 5% (30mmol) which I can easily maintain without resorting to medication.

[Deleted User]

Feral_Moon wrote: »

Teddysmum, you're correct in that you don't need to be obese to be diagnosed with T2 diabetes. I received that diagnosis myself almost 10 years ago, despite being "slim" and wearing size 12 clothes but my waist to hip ratio was high which indicated I was carrying internal abdominal fat and suffering metabolic X syndrome.

A few tweaks to my diet (basically cutting out sugar and low fat foods) and increased exercise has seen my HbA1c reduce from 7.6% (60mmol) to around 5% (30mmol) which I can easily maintain without resorting to medication.

You can t be type 2 then. I m on Metformin for the rest of my life I ve been told. You dont qualify as being a diabetic and getting 6 monthly and annual reviews. Are you saying that your glucose tolerance test was as high as 7.6 % and now after a diet change its back to normal. Anyone can have a blood test and show high blood sugars its only after a fasting blood test and the glucose tolerance test two hours later do they deem you a diabetic. Maybe you were borderline (pre diabetic ) and just given a diet sheet to follow. I was 8% after my tolerance test and there was no question that I m on Metformin for the rest of my life and told it would progress.

Feral_Moon

sacsquacco wrote: »

You can t be type 2 then. I m on Metformin for the rest of my life I ve been told. You dont qualify as being a diabetic and getting 6 monthly and annual reviews. Are you saying that your glucose tolerance test was as high as 7.6 % and now after a diet change its back to normal. Anyone can have a blood test and show high blood sugars its only after a fasting blood test and the glucose tolerance test two hours later do they deem you a diabetic. Maybe you were borderline (pre diabetic ) and just given a diet sheet to follow. I was 8% after my tolerance test and there was no question that I m on Metformin for the rest of my life and told it would progress.

Yes, I am T2 diabetic and yes I was on Metformin but I haven't needed medication for more than 5 years now as I control it with diet and exercise. It's not impossible. I still have my annual retinopathy screenings and HbA1c blood test.

[Deleted User]

Feral_Moon wrote: »

Yes, I am T2 diabetic and yes I was on Metformin but I haven't needed medication for more than 5 years now as I control it with diet and exercise. It's not impossible. I still have my annual retinopathy screenings and HbA1c blood test.

Thank you. Were you advised by your doctor to stop metformin ? I ve met a few people who have decided themselves that they don t need it. A man who I met ( I m a meter reader for British Gas and meet many diabetics ) was recording as high as 8.0 said it was nt high and refused Metformin. I would love to stop metformin myself as I m told its not good for the kidneys. I dont think I was much higher than you if your initial glucose tolerance test was 7.6.
I ve got my annual review next week and if my levels are similar to last time I will enquire about coming off metformin.