Help--what can I eat?

Type 1 and LADA New to Type 1 Diabetes
1

I just learned today I am diabetic. I ignored the warning signs and I am paying for it. Nevermind the guilt I feel I am perplexed as to what I can and cannot eat. There seems to be a lot of contradictory info online. What should I avoid? I love to eat meat. Can I still? Are fruits okay? I know to stay away from processed foods and I suppose fried foods. Are potatoes out? I love potatoes, esp mashed potatoes with gravy. Is rice out? Veggies I suppose are okay, just not the starchy ones? What, if any, kind of bread should I eat? I am really worried and confused. Curt

2

Have you figured out what type diabetec you are? I was DX over the holiday’s and was worried about what I could eat. So I ate only protien until I got further education. I’m type 1.5 and I’m still trying to find the right foods to eat. I’m sure you will find tons of advice on here.
Cheers

3

I still eat the things I normally eat, but if it is starchy or full of carbs or sugar, i limit myself. everything in moderation.

4

You can still eat anything you want,just watch the portion sizes.Meat has protein in it,very little carbohydrate value.Foods you should avoid are sugary snacks, for example:cookies,chocolate,candy,cake with icing.Fruits are okay,but you won’t be able to eat as much as you want.Did you get the diabetes food exchange chart.It tells you how many food exchanges are in certain foods.For example,1/2 cup of rice=1 starch exchange.Try to get alot of fiber.Fiber slows down the digestion of food.Some vegetables have so little carbohydrate in them that they don’t count like cucumbers,broccoli,cauliflower,head lettuce.With gravy it’s the fat content you have to be careful with,especially if you need to lose a few.You have to count carbohydrates to get better control of what you eat.I hope this helps.

5

My replies, in the order of your questions:

  1. The obvious things like chocolate cake and non-diet sodas, juices, and just about anything else with high amounts of simple sugars like dextrose, glucose, sucrose, etc…

  2. Yes.

  3. Yes, in moderation. I eat 2-3 pieces of fruit per day and it gives me literally no trouble at all. Some fruits, like grapes, fall into the “difficult” category. Test and see what works for you. Berry fruit is generally high in fiber and lower in sugar.

  4. No, potatoes are not out. Just watch the portion size and be aware that they tend to raise your blood glucose quickly and over a relatively long duration. I love mashed potatoes with gravy too, and I eat them a couple of times a month.

  5. Rice is mostly out. Some may disagree, but the only time I eat it is with sushi when the net amount I consume is relatively low and it is the only carb in the meal.

  6. Most veggies are fine. Some won’t affect your blood glucose much at all, like celery, pickles, and olives. However, many vegetables taste like crap.

  7. Avoid squaw bread and other breads with high sugar/carbohydrate values. When you do eat bread, limit yourself rather heavily and realize it can raise blood glucose quickly, almost as quickly as something sweet in many cases.

Bonus answer for the question you didn’t ask: Beware the pizza monster! Dude will totally f---- you up.