I'm no expert, but I'd stay with eggs and avoid cereals, also breads. Carbs will make your sugar spike, so think about more protein and fewer starches and try to avoid anything with sugar in it (and there's sugar in more things than you would think -- you're going to have to learn to read labels, so now is a good time to start). Most non-diabetics eat a high-carb diet, and the carb spikes are the reason for your sleepiness. Of course, that's just in the interim -- your endo should point you to a nutritionist or diabetic ed counselor for serious education. Good luck!

Welcome Sheri! I agree with Orphan Annie. I eat eggs every morning, or even the eggbeaters or egg whites. I have toast with it also or yogurt? I dont eat cereal either. I was told to have a protein and a carb at every meal and snack. So many different snacks... great ideas if you go back to the posts on here. I love the miracle muffins, which I might have in the morning or for a snack.. low to no carbs and I put margarine on it with some cheese. Celery and peanut butter is great, or with salsa or with BOTH.. cheese and low carb crackers, lean meat for supper, lots of veggies and again a carb. Most diabetics cant eat potatos, but I can and it doesnt bother me. Start a journal of what you eat, what your bs is and it will help show you what foods make your sugars go up or down. I agree, a diabetic councilor will really help you.

Hi Sheri!

The good news is...there is a plethora of information out there to help diabetics manage their disease.

First and foremost, you need to learn to count carbs. Do some research on Glycemic Index and Load. This will help you understand the difference betweeen good carbs and bad carbs. (Simple and Complex)

Also, plan out a regular exercise routine for you. Keeping active is one of the best ways to keep your blood glucose down.

And drink lots of water! Giving up soda is the best gift you can give yourself. Even diet. :)

This is just beginning for you. Alot of diabetes management is trial and error. Finding what works and what doesn't. It is a definitely lifestyle change, but it can be a good one! You will be so much healthier for it!

Try to hook up with a support group at your local hospital or ADA chapter. Also, see if you can get an appoitnment with a dietician and diabetes educator. They will be invaluable to your success.

Sorry, I am diabetic, not PRE diabetic and I was told just recently that I do NOT have to count carbs!! You have to have a balanced diet and know what is right for you. Everyone is different. Testing alot in the beginning and writing what you eat and what your bs is, will best tell you what you can eat. I was worried when Sockfuzz told me I had to count carbs, because I had never been told I had to in any diabetic clinic groups, or individual sessions with dieticians or diabetic nurses. I went to the kidney clinic and spoke to the diabetic nurse there as well as my doctor and my endocronologists. You need both carbs and proteins at every meal. You know yourself, by your bs if you are having too many carbs. I have controlled my bs and I do NOT count carbs. Please make sure of your information Socks, before you send it.

Goldi here is the information on carb counting from YOUR Canadian Diabetes Association.

http://www.diabetes.ca/about-diabetes/nutrition/carbohydrate-counting/

Americans all count carbs. It simply is the most accurate way to control diabetes.

If your doctor tells you otherwise then you have to make the choice. But I think if you did a little more research, you would find that not counting carbs is causing you to live a life of food depravation and needless frustration.

When a diabetic uses blood glucose readings along with carbohydrate sliding scales, they remain more balanced and face fewer lows and highs.

It is most typical for a diabetic to receive a long acting insulin once or twice a day, and then to compensate with MDI of short acting insuling during the daytime.

This allows the body to function as closely as possible to normal insulin dispersion.

It is most typical for a diabetic to receive a long acting insulin once or twice a day, and then to compensate with MDI of short acting insuling during the daytime.
This is what you wrote, Socks.. Long acting once or twice a day? I take short acting three times a day and a long acting at bedtime. It is not just my doctor who says I dont have to count carbs... it is my dietician, my diabetic nurse, my kidney nurse and my diabetic clinic nurse. Like I have told you before, I am not frustrated with any food choices and I enjoy a variety of different foods. I know how much carbs I need at a meal, and obviously with an AIC of 6.1, I am doing fine and know what I am doing. At least that is what my professionals say.

i'm a bad person !!! - I never count carbs - with all my 'knowledge' I pretty much know how many carbs are on my plate and guesstimate. We all know what to eat and what not to eat so what's the sense of counting. I try to eat 15 carbs a meal - that is if I can count to 15. Unless you are mentally ill you know not to have a sandwich with a baked potato on the side.

EXACTLY Arline.. that is what I am trying to say to Socks.. if you are experienced, you dont have to count carbs.. you just know and my bs and AIC proves it.

Hi again,

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I have had a lot going on and have not felt well. Also, I just went to my endo and he is still saying pre-diabetes, but at the end of the day, I still need to monitor my BS and count my carbs and eat a carb with a protein at each meal and snack. He also put me on Metformin 500 mg. one each morning with breakfast for a week and then go to two a day, one with breakfast, one with dinner. So far my blood sugar has been 250 plus. I'm hoping that by adding the additional pill next week, it will come down.

I also have a guilty pleasure of enjoying 2 small vanilla cookies with my coffee every morning. I know that isn't a good thing and was wondering if there are any good "diabetic" or low carb cookies out there that I can eat instead. Each cookie has 11 carbs, which isn't a good thing. :0) I tried to do a search for cookies, but found it confusing and thought I'd ask you directly instead.

Thank you so much! It is nice to be able to come here and share information and learn and not feel alone.

Hugs,
Sheri

Thank you so much for your responses to my questions. I really do appreciate it!

Sheri good to hear from you.

There is nothing wrong with having carbs in your diet. It is unrealistic to expect to eliminate them all. Plus it isn't healthy. You need carbs as part of a healthy diet.

That said, if you still have a sweet tooth, try some of the diabetic products out there. Your grocery store should have a section for "sugar free". Or try a specialy foods, organic foods or whole foods store like Trader Joes. Some bakeries also carry sugar free products. Although I think you will find that if you make your own, you will enjoy them more and find them tastier.

Substituting sugar in recipes with things like honey, stevia, 100% fruit juices will make a difference for you.

Hi Sheri,
Welcome to the club no one to belong to!
It takes awhile to to see what you can eat and shouldn't eat.
I follow something called Sugar Busters because it works for me and I add a few carbs so I don't get too tired. It is pretty much no whites or anything made with flour which is pretty much white rice, potatoes, white bread, white pasta. All the good stuff we likeWhen you count carbs you can allow for most things sometime for a treat during the day or week what ever your plan is.
Today they have quite a few whole wheat pastas, whole wheat crackers some good some not so good. At least they are trying and more and more foods are becoming available to diabetics.
Like Orphan Annies said when you eat to many carbs you just want to go to sleep because it raises your BS.
You will start to read about all this and life will get easier for you as to what you can do and not do.
I always suggest going to a library for a day and reading. Write down what you need to remember and keep going. Much cheaper then buying 20 books Lol.
Good luck to you..

Sunnie, sugar busters is a great resource! I found it interesting in their plan that green banana's are ok but ripened are not. I had never heard that before. But the sugar content definitely does go up as they ripen. But if you eat them green you can still get the vitamin and mineral benefit. BTW did you all know that banana's are actually an herb, not a fruit! Weird huh?