Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert food into glucose, a sugar that the body uses for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the blood, and can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes and organ damage...

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laurabp 04/01/2014

I don't know about the rest of you, but grocery shopping has become a different experience for me since I was diagnosed in November of last year. I was in the store today and feeling kind of sad as I totally passed by the desserts like Little Debbie oatmeal pies (one of my favorites), the Easter cookies, bulky rolls, canned pasta, and various ethnic foods like matzohs, rice mixes, etc. I have to watch my sodium as well as my carbs, and lately I have felt like there is nothing left I can eat! I did, however find some frozen blueberries which turned out to be delicious, but whichI would never have bought before the diabetes because I would have bought the muffins instead. I also got some better quality turkey lunchmeat with lower sodium and more taste, a new frozen vegetable mix, and a package of walnuts without any salt. A 1/4 C of these nuts makes a good filling snack in place of a bag of chips. So I guess I did all right, as everything I got tasted great, but it was hard to walk by all those foods I used to eat and think I will never be able to have them again because just one slip and I will totally give in to eating the old way again - that's the kind of person I am. I am beginning to get the picture of what it must be like for alcoholics. The good news is I am doing this and just want to remind myself that I have a lot of company out there - you people! Right?

MsBlank1 04/01/2014

I'm right there with you laurabp.
I'm not really into candy, cakes, cookies....but pasta, pizza, frozen panni and dinners loaded with carbs and sodium, mashed potatoes, and garlic breads.....all a thing of the past.
I loved peanut butter too and it's still not so bad....but I changed to cashew/almond butter instead (cost a fortune) as the carb count is lower=eat a little more.
I feel commercials are just as bad as walking through the stores....no escape.
I treat myself to atkins bars....they added their version of M&M's which I only eat when I'm going into hypo and I'm not near my regular "safe" foods.
Oh Well........just muddling through like you.

Buttercup-Kitty 04/01/2014

Hi Everybody...Meow,

I'm constantly having to tweek my diet. I read every label, and it now takes twice as long in the grocery store. But, I feel better as I'm now eating better and really thinking about what I eat.

Right now, as I have to overcome steroid-induced high sugar, I'm not eating pasta or rice. I eat a few sliced potatoes...no mashed or fried...and I eat very thin bread or very low crackers.

Takes a few meals to get used to the changes, but it's s l o w l y paying off. Also, I got lazy with portions, so I have to watch my cups & handfuls.

Hope this helps.
Purr,
=^.,.^=

deleted_user 04/02/2014

OMG, I can relate. I'm going grocerie shopping tomorrow It's hard seeing all of the temptation floating around. I have to admit that it's much easier if I go shopping alone, rather than take my family along because my kids are constantly throwing things in the basket and my husband is no better, he's always putting things high in fat & sugar in the basket, but then expects me to be calm when he trows in a 21 pack of pepsi....I've already made up my mind on this issue, tomorrow I'm going alone, and I will not buy anything that i'm not supposed to have and as for the rest of the family they'll just have to adjust...There's plenty of alternatives to high sodium, fat, and sugar.

mzizgayle 04/02/2014

my first time in the grocery store years ago was priceless. I always shopped heart healthy for my hubby and I ate that also, but once I had to start watching carbs ( since heart healthy may not be diabetic healthy), I got so frustrated picking up things, putting them back, that I almost walked out of the store leaving the grocery cart LOL. But then thought that was stupid, I was letting the disease control so back in the store and got my cart, hoping no body watched me do this LOL...

Awkward soul since you are doing the shopping, you can control what you are buying, took my hubby a while to realize he wasn't getting everything he wanted.

laurabp 04/02/2014

Thanks for the support everyone! Glad to know I am not alone looking stupid in the store at times. Yes, we CAN do this!

Joyssis 04/03/2014

I know how you feel. My doctor called two weeks ago to tell me my A1C test shows that my diabetes is out of control. So I've been trying to do better. Since I've been in pain all the time that last few years from fibro, RA, OA and lumbar spondylolysis, I had put diabetes on the back burner as I could only handle so much. My weakness is bread and pasta and I was eating so much of both plus sweets. I've been trying to eat more veggies and fruits but I'm missing my French fries, fried potatoes, and toasted white bread with jelly. I'm an old country cook and trying to find diabetic friendly recipes has been annoying--almost all of the recipes look like something to made in a gourmet kitchen! We'll figure it out though because we have to. I wish you the best in beating this blasted disease!

sweetnettie 04/03/2014

I feel everyones pain, but there are other alternatives.I like peanut butter and I by the Jiffy whips and it has less calores 140 per serving and 6 carbs. a little indulgenece is ok everynow and then I too have tried the Atkin shakes and they are fabulous 160 calories, 0 sodium I think and 2-6 carbis depending on which flavor you get. Keep up the good work!! We can do it. For potatoes try the Alexia brand in the frozen section aisle, this may help.

deleted_user 04/05/2014

for me it is pop tarts. It is the one thing I can be proud of. I have not touched a pop tart since I was diagnosed 7 years ago. 60 carbs in one tart. jeez.

Buttercup-Kitty 04/06/2014

Meow,

It takes time to change life long eating habits. To go from convenient fast food to having-to-cook-it-myself is difficult. Reading EVERY label in the store is boring. Remembering the food "rules" is a chore. Watching friends/family eat foods I use to be able to eat is hard. Checking blood sugar 4xs day is tedious. Taking 2 shots a day is--on some days--extremely hard to do. Finding substitutes for favorite foods is time consuming. Talking about this disease--even with people who also have to battle the demon--is tiring.

I love to be able to rant about this menace to those who understand the abrupt changes to what was a normal existence.

Thank you all for your encouragement/advice.

Purr,
=^.,.^=

MsBlank1 04/06/2014

vent on Buttercup.....
I had to give up pasta and pizza....quick meals for me. I've done the dreamfield pasta, but can only have half a cup, but was still hungry an hour later.
My mom is diabetic, but can eat everything except ice cream and cake...but does anyways once in awhile.
We eat out at least once a week and I have to limit our eating places....no more Chinese, no Mexican, and no pizza as they make me feel really sick and make my numbers sky rocket. My poor mom doesn't complain, but I know she'd LOVE to eat Chinese, pizza, and Mexican once in awhile. I told my daughter to take her to those places when she visits.

I miss certain foods, but I don't have a choice for the most part....*sigh.
At least I got 52 years of eating whatever I wanted. However, I like feeling better and I want to keep my eyesight, limbs, and kidneys for as long as possible seeing as I'm only 53. My daughter gets married in September and I want to see her walk down the isle and dance. Can't do that if I'm blind. Plus who will take care of my mom if I'm blind....I took her car away and she needs my help....I'm all she has left.
So many hard choices....I'm hoping there is no diabetes where I am going after this life (no calories either...lol).

deleted_user 04/06/2014

Hi I really struggle with breads and cakes/muffins. I love the texture more than the taste. Its a comfort thing I think. I have found though when I boil potatoes (I love potatoes) for the family I boil them with the skins on. I have found when I eat the skins with a little bit of shredded cheeze or ricotta, my sugars don't flare to astrominical numbers. There must be very little carbs in the skins. Also someone suggested cooking califlower as an option and this has also worked for me.

laurabp 04/07/2014

Thanks for all your ideas and comments everyone!

deleted_user 07/22/2014

I have to treat the grocery store like a big drug store. For me, all those processed foods raise my numbers, sap my energy, make me feel toxic, and keep me craving. Do I miss some of those foods? At times I do, but I can't mess with them.

Congrats, laurabp, you are doing this!

jody0385 07/23/2014

I feel your pain. I just got put on insulin last August (after having type 2 for 17 years) and that changed my entire diet from being on oral meds to the insulin. But what I can say is simply this we can still have our "goodies" but it's all about portion. The little deb snacks... Maybe you just get 1/4 of a cookie give the rest to someone else. Pasta and pizza, just a small portion, put lots of lean meat, chicken, salad, low carb veggies on your plate next to the small serving of that pasta. We can still get the taste and I know for me its not always about having a plate full of pasta so much as it is about enjoying the taste of it. So even if I just get a few bites of it, it still gives me that happy place. I usually save it for last so I can savor it and keep the taste in my mouth longer.. hehe

But don't deprive yourself totally of your goodies. Doing that spells disaster. Just use awesome portion control. It has worked for me and think it would be a great solution for all of us struggling with great tasting food vs not our favorites lol

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