Newly diagnosed diabetic

I am looking for a website similar to Calorie Count that diabetics might use. I thought this would be a good place to find out if any of you know of such a website. I am a long-time Calorie-Count user, so I came here first and created a profile for my husband so I can at least track his calorie level and fats/carbs/protein %'s. I have a very limited knowledge of how to live with this disease, but am willing to learn. We are both so new to this and are still trying to work within the guidelines given to us by his physicians.

My husband was diagnosed as diabetic last week with damage that culminated in his losing his great toe and part of the metatarsal behind it and the tip of the metatarsal on the fourth toe of the same foot. He has to stay off of his feet for at least the next two weeks.

I would really appreciate any help on this subject.

Have you went on the ada website? They have a lot of tips and I think websites for food plans. I know the meal plan I am on is similar to meal plans set for diabetic though higher in calories for weight gain. It is an exchange meal plan with a combo of protein/fat/carbs at each meal and snack to keep blood sugar level. Can you see a nutritionist for a few sessions to help you? I really think though an exchange mp is very well suited. I would ask your doc though too cause you want to make sure it fits your typ and issues.

Thank you, Hope, I will look into the ADA website today.  Right now I am on my way to pick up a walker to make it easier for Don to get around.  He doesn't do too well with crutches!  Thanks for the tips.

♥Peggy <*)))><{ ♥ 

I definitely second the recommendation of reading the ADA website.  The boards there are also great resources for help.  If you call the ADA (1-800-DIABETES) and they will send you lots of free information.

Has your husband been referred to Diabetes Education Classes?  If not, definitely ask the doctor for a referral (insurance will pay for some or all of it).  The classes I took included individual sessions with a dietician to help me develop a meal plan I could live with forever.  The classes include a spouse or family member so you can go with him.

I was diagnosed last December and have used this site since then.  I print my food log for several days and the analysis to take when I see the RD (Registered dietician) and it's very easy for her to see where we need to tweak my meal plan.

Two books that were of great help to me are:

Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy by Hope Warshaw (it's an ADA book)

The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Gretchen Becker

Lisa

I'm diabetic, as well.

There are some great diabetic cookbooks out there, I found one for my crock pot/slow cooker that has some nifty ideas.

Does your husband take pills? insulin? Has he been told how many carbs he should have with a meal or for a snack?

I aim to limit my calories from carbohydrates to 50% to keep my blood sugar stable ... and I aim for low-glycemic, slow-burning carbs (non-starchy veggies and whole grains.)

=^,,^= MOLLY

these are a couple of sites that have useful information and might be helpful on different strategies. (Also why lose one problem just to gain another?)  http://www.gicare.com/index.htm  (changing ones diet can have some drastic side affects for some- this site might give you ideas to counteract possible long term problems in a non damaging way.)

http://www.mendosa.com/index.html  This is an excellent resource if you plan to use the web to research current and previous diabetic recommendations.

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/Da vid_Spero

sometimes someonelses coping give insight to ones own problems

Myself I have some doubts about ADA, mainly on their reluctance to check out the usefulness of the Glycemic Index.   One would think they would be more enthused to check it  as a great possibility that applies to some diabetics who are NOT doing that well on ADA's recommendations if nothing else.  Too hide bound? you will have to decide for yourself.

Are you really measuring your food properly? Buy a scale with grams -smaller measure and also an international scientific standard so it makes looking things up easier- less conversion to oz or whatever.  It's surprising how many people are actually guessing rather than KNOWING. ( one assumes packed foods and their weights are fairly accurate -like with the microwavable frozen meals)  It is very upsetting to realize how  inaccurate volume measures can be with stuff that "settles" during shipment.  There is enough inaccuracies with deciding what foods listed is actually what you ate( for example whole milk 's butterfat content may be listed differently from country to country - and if you have whole a lot of whole milk in your diet, the calories can add-up if you are using the wrong milk calorie estimate.) with out errors YOU make by not weighing EVERYTHING.  Ask for a good food scale for Christmas. Good electronic ones runs between $20 to $40.  Well worth the price if you are serious about counting calories.  (you could always donate it to someone will a real need for a scale due to medical problems requiring them to watch their diet if you find you are no longer useing the scale. It will NEVER be a worthless present)

Electronic ones with a Tare(zeroing) function would be the best. You will be using it every day,so get good quality. It is the ONLY way to know you are not guessing. Knowing that cheese will add 300 calories may mean you eat less of it or savour every crumb since another you would rather use the 300 calories of another helping for something else, say 200 for ice cream and 100 for chocolate sauce..   I have found by measuring everything one gets to have an idea how much every portion of food will add up and as a result when away from food scales I'm in better control. The other nice thing - it DOES allow you treats and favourites - just add its calories into your diet, and compensate with healthier foods (add an extra carrot, chose a bigger pear, have whole grain rather than white bread, etc).  Knowing you can eat that treat as long as you make up for it by eating healthier the next few days will allow better self control- after all it is not what you eat THAT day that counts as much as what you eat over time that determines  weight or what damage your sugers make permanently. check out http://www.salterhousewares.com/to get an idea of what top quality kitchen scales can be like. the easier you make it for yourself to count calories, the more you are likely to do inaccurately rather than guess. the tare function makes for ease- less adding and subtracting to make for errors.

I know you said you have used CC but from experience I know how useful accuracy in calorie counting can be.  My husband was recently diagnosed diabetic- he was happy that been accurate was working well for him to change food habits - At 1 to 2 lbs a week and 120 yet to go , encouragement its working from the start is very useful. Its important he feels he can have treats- A diet without favourites is not another unpleasant medical reminder with every mouthful.  It help him postpone the treat to when he really wants it ,and the knowledge he CAN indulge more often once he reaches his weight goal is a great incentive to reach the goal faster.

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to respond to me.

morninggirl, thanks for the book recommendations.  I will check them out.  

Molly, Don is taking pills and insulin right now.  I don't know if that will change when he has been eating properly for a while or not.  They told him 4-5 servings of carbs for main meals and 1-2 servings for a snack.   I found a guide on the Eating Well website that explains how many grams of carbs equals a serving and that has been helpful.  I have been using the CC food logs and analysis to track his meals every day.  It sure is a wonderful tool!  Molly, I saw you on the CCC postings.  The next time you are there, would you please tell everyone that I would like them to be praying for Don, for healing for his foot and for his whole body?  I have not had the time to get there to ask.  Thanks!

nsgardener, thanks for the site info.  I started eating myself according to the GI a long time ago, so I am familiar with that and am implementing what I know into Don's diet.  He teases me that now he is eating like I eat!  Also, I am very familiar with a good scale.  That is one of the tools that I used over the past two years to lose all of the weight that I did.  I agree about the packaging, weighing everything is the key!  My sister (not by birth) was diagnosed as diabetic a few years ago and has encouraged me to include some of Don's favorites in his diet once in a while.  She says that it has been much easier for her to eat a little something that she loves once in a while rather than to totally abstain.  I agree with that and am doing my best.  Right now we are concentrating on getting Don's carbs right, his fiber up and leaving his fat intake pretty much alone for now.  I know we will need to tweak that later.  I am Don's dietitian right now until we can get signed up for the classes.  His first appointment with his new primary care physician is on the 30th of December and we will ask him to prescribe the classes.  By grandmother (age 92)  has been diabetic for 23 years and she highly recommended the classes, too.  I know we will learn a lot.  In the meantime, I am getting as much information as I can from as many sources as I can and running them by Grandma and my sister since they take very good care of themselves and their diabetes. I know we can get through this initial panic and learn to live well in spite of this disease.  

Thank you all for sharing with me.  I really appreciate all of you taking the time to do this.  Please feel free to pass along any helpful information that you can think of.  You may message me or post it here.  Thanks again!

♥ Peggy ♫ 

I just wanted to add one quick thing I work for a ophthalomogist in Texas and I really just wanted to say please get his eyes checked. Diabetes can really do a number on his eyes. I know that his doctor probably told him that but please make sure he does it.

 

I wish the best for you and your husband!

Thank you, trytobehealthy. Getting his eyes checked is part of his post-surgery game plan. I know his bifocals quit working for him for a few days and he started using just my reading glasses. Now the bifocals are working for him again. I don't know what that means, exactly, but I know that we are supposed to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist in the next month or so and get him checked out. Don has been real good about doing what the Doc has told him so far, and since he is housebound right now I know he will want to get out and do this as soon as he can. Thanks again for the reminder.

♥ Peggy ♫

Edit:  Oops!  I sent this from Don's.  I haven't created a profile for him really, I am just using the site to track his diet.  I need to keep mine separate because I am still logging my calories, too.   

I didn't have this issue, but I know that it's very common for people to have issues with changes in their vision as they're bringing their blood sugar levels down.  Most doctors wait to refer to the opthamologist for the diabetic eye exam until the blood sugars are stabilized. 

On the glycemic index issue, the glycemic index is one tool but as someone with diabetes you can't trust that it's accurate for your body.  For example, an apple has a GI of 40, a banana has a GI of 51, strawberries have a GI of 40, and watermelon has a GI of 80.  WIth my lunch I can have a full serving of strawberries or watermelon and my 2 hour after meal readings will be great, a full serving of banana (4 oz) and my 2 hour readings are good, a full serving of apple and my 2 hour reading is higher than I like.  If I just looked at the GI, I would think the apple is a better food choice for me.  But based on my testing, I know that the apple is the least desirable choice FOR ME. 

morninggirl5  good info about GI.  I suspect, there is a great varation in individual response (and with apples- possibly it even varies with variety)

I wouldn't bother much with the GI index, your not likely to find it in the store.

You need to make sure you take in AT LEAST 130g carbs and 100g protein a day, otherwise you may end up in ketoacidosis. What medications are you on? Depending on your meds, you may end up measuring foods one way or another. I am insulin dependent, I use Lantus and Humalog both.

I am not going to go into great deal about the complications of diabetes, though I know them vary well - being female you are going to have a few added problems as well.

Carbs are going to have the greatest affect on your sugar, protein and fats are going to slow that affect down - slow your metabolism down. The best results I have found overall are for a low carb and protein diet.

Go with lean meats, Promise has a great 5cal butter, Kroger sells a Lite White or Wheat Bread - 2 slices equals the values of most other 1 slice brands.

Sugar Free candies are not sugar free!

Hamburger Buns are your enemy!

Smoking raises your sugar.

Exercise lowers your sugar.

Carry KFC honey packets in a glucose monitor strips container and let a few drops dissolve on your tongue - or carry around sweet tarts (eat 5 of them) to raise your blood sugar when you are bottoming out.

The USDA recommends a daily limit of 40 grams of added sugar.

The Canadian FDA and the American Diabetes Association recommend a maximum daily limit of 60 grams of added sugar.

The British FDA recommends a maximum daily limit of 85 grams of added sugar.

The average safe limit is about 62 grams of sugar.