Weight loss tips for people with diabetes
This Discussion Forum is for discussion of weight loss tips for people with diabetes: here’s your chance to compare notes with other people about what works, and what doesn’t.
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Posted by in 05:00:09
From healthcentral Mediterranean diet:
Diabetics may do well on Mediterranean diet
By Joene Hendry
Friday, July 27, 2007; 10:27 AM
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Eating a traditional Mediterranean diet — more vegetables, fruits, and fish, and fewer animal products — does seem to ward off heart disease, an Australian study shows, and it may be especially beneficial for people with diabetes.
Mediterranean-born immigrants in Australia have lower death rates from heart disease than native-born Australians, note Dr. Linton R. Harriss, from Monash University in Melbourne, and colleagues. This prompted them to investigate dietary patterns in relation to heart-related mortality “in an ethnically diverse population.”
The study involved over 40,000 men and women, aged between 40 and 69 years, 24 percent of whom were native-born Mediterranean while the rest were native-born Australian. They were followed for ten years.
The researchers used food questionnaires to calculate participants’ intake of Mediterranean foods, vegetables, fruits, and meats. The results of the study are published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
“Those people in our study that were in the highest category of the Mediterranean foods pattern (i.e. most frequently consumed traditional Mediterranean foods) had a 30 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who were in the lowest category,” Harriss told Reuters Health.
The investigators found that a Mediterranean-style diet “may be most beneficial for persons with diabetes.”
Among the study participants with diabetes, Harriss said, “Our results suggest that the Mediterranean diet may lower mortality from ischemic heart disease.” However, because those results are based on a small sub-sample, “more research needs to be performed to investigate these findings better.”
The protective effect of a Mediterranean diet pattern against heart-related death was strongest in people who were free of heart disease at the outset. Nonetheless, “the Mediterranean foods pattern showed benefits whether we included or excluded people with a history of cardiovascular disease,” Harriss said.
SOURCE: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2007
I’m trying the Sonoma Diet — the basics only, and I like the diet.
Hey guys, back from FL, did pretty well with my eating…. I am not going to weigh for 2 weeks… I have been getting the bg’s really in good shape and figured if the weight drops GREAT if it doesnt at least I am eating right keeping blood sugar under control and walking… so somewhere along the line I HAVE to be healthier…. HA…. just got my cooking light magazine and it has PEANUT BUTTER PIE ON THE FRONT.. now how in the heck can THAT be LIGHT…. no matter how you fix it…. hmmmm gonna have to read that one…… hey hey to all of you and lets get some more writing going on here….. anyone find that sometime you just don’t want to eat at all taking the byetta?? I figure these topics kinda cross…. anyway…. post when you get a chance…
gk In IN
Judy, I’m so happy you are getting such good results. Twenty-seven and a half lbs. lost is great. I lost another 5 lbs. on Friday when the doctor weighed me. Now I’m 203. Four more pounds and I reach my next goal.
Sometimes I also experience a throat fullness also. I usually feel it several hours after a meal. I notice it happens most often eating soup so I try to have it at lunch instead of dinner. I have cherries or another fruit for a snack three hours before dinner and I notice it helps the feeling go away sooner. Maybe it could help you too. Probably eating any other alkaline foods will help too.
I’m worried about your bp. Anything under 90/60 is considered too low by my doctor. I don’t think it’s safe to wait to speak to your doctor. Are you having any symptoms? I was confused, dizzy, walked into things and very sweaty when I went too low. I was so low (66/45) the doctor threatened me with the hospital. Adding more water and salt to my diet has helped me to get it to a more normal level. Are you taking any bp meds? I’m sorry if you told me this already but I have been having senior moments all day. If you are they may need to be reduced or stopped altogether. Please check with your doctor.
As long as you exercise everyday you shouldn’t worry. I try to exercise for at least 30 minutes. Taking the stairs at work, dancing and moving more all count. You can break up the sessions into 10 minutes at a time.
I know what you mean about wishing you could test more often. My doctor would only write a prescription for once a day since my A1c is 4.8. He doesn’t see the need to test more than once a day. I’m hoping to change his mind because my bg has been going low recently. But he may not think 65-75 is too low. Since I don’t get any symptoms if I don’t test I don’t know I am going too low.
I cook double the food that I need so I can freeze half of it for another day. On weekends I cook several different dishes and this really helps to make it easy for me on days when I can’t cook. I put the date on the container so I use it up before it goes bad. I keep a week’s worth of meals for both my husband and myself in the freezer. Another plus is that we can choose different meals and still eat together. I wish I had thought of this years ago.
Aren’t the changes just great? I used to binge on junk food and now they don’t even interest me. Life is so much nicer without that old monkey on my back. I never want to feel like that again.
I do believe the force is with us. I hope it continues with us forever.
Annie
Gary, Welcome back! You were very missed. There are low fat versions of peanut butter available in the supermarket. Almost any recipe can be made with less calories and fat. Let us know if you make it. I’d be interested to know how it tastes. My husband loves peanut butter and would love for me to make the pie for him. And yes, I often don’t feel like eating when I take Byetta. Sometimes I only take the dinner dose because I wake up so full and have trouble eating without the spit. With it on board I know I couldn’t eat. My numbers stay good with or without Byetta but I need to take it because my appetite gets out of hand without it.
So Gary, how was the trip? Did you have a good time with your parents? Did they notice how well you are doing?
Annie
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,
Annie, congrats on 5 more pounds… GREAT JOB!!!!
I did have a nice visit with mom she is a really neat lady…. good to be back though…. still doing my byetta 10 twice a day and metaformin at lunch… bg’s are coming down really nicely… even hit 90′s a couple times… NO weight loss…. none at all… it is VERY discouraging as I read what has happened for most people.. oh I am REALLY happy for you and them…. just wish maybe some would kick in my way… I know I am eating less and much more healthier…. so how can the weight NOT start to come off… ok enough whining…. I am doing the right things… maybe I just need longer to adjust…. renewed vigor is what I am all about… I have gotten to enjoy my physical exercise… walking…. and I have been religeous in my injections and pills… and my bg’s ARE coming down…. NOW…. with all of that… maybe it is time to concentrate more on weight…. I think that is the key to a lot of this diabetes stuff anyway…. I think you have found less weight and more control and more control of the disease…. we will see… I wont weigh until a week from Monday…. lets hope something happens…. positive GK here….!!!! Thanks Annie
G in IN
Gary, I’m glad you had a nice visit with your mom. Please don’t be discouraged because you aren’t losing weight. The scale can be so discouraging if we let it. I take my measurements every week and find I usually see the numbers go down before the scale does. And remember geri hasn’t lost weight recently but has gone down another clothes size. Just keep up the great work you have been doing. You have come so far. It will pay off in the long run. Make sure you are eating enough calories. If you don’t eat enough your body will go into starvation mode. My doctor said I must eat 1200 calories and a man should eat more I’m sure. Have you seen a nutritionist? In the beginning I went a few times a week. Now I go once a year to make sure I’m still eating the correct amount of food for me. My needs change as I lose weight. Be patient and know we are all hoping you see a difference soon. Keep us informed of your progress. Annie
bcb from Va – I’m new to the blog and wanted to jump in with a few comments. Weight loss is seemingly a lost cause for me – at 235 for several years and don’t seem to have the ambition to do anything about it. But – read a site this A.M. about an Alkaline diet – anyone else try this? Also, I have an eating disorder – I eat to eat, not to respond to hunger pangs. Any suggestions as to how to beat this? I’ve read many of your posts and am encouraged by just the reading. Thank you – bcb
BCB: Many people here swear by the alkaline diet. You can find much discussion about it on another island in Dr. Bill’s forums – Meals, Eating, and Nutrition. The link is listed in column #4 to the right. Check out past discussions by clicking both “current” and “previous” – especially page #6. I think the book most read is called Alkalize or Die. Oh, and welcome!
HELP!!!!!! Does anyone know of a recipe book that is diabetes friendly with recipes for 1 or 2 servings (not 4, 6, 8,…). I live alone, work long hours, cook only simple fast meals, and try to walk 30 minutes each day.
I try to keep my carbs at each meal to around 35 gr. I try to eat healthy unrefined foods when possible. My daily calories are about 1300. I eat out frequently with many substitutions to menu items.
cindy
Doc.,
I went on the Weight Watchers diet without byetta or Allie and am losing weight about 1-1/2 tp 2 ;lbs per week. Other comments made that you are not eating enough are good advice. On W/W you will get a lot more to eat and still lose weight. It is a healthy diet.
Andy
Hi, I like to know what brand of Jerky do you buy. There are so many loaded with preservatives and salt. Thanks
Pat in ID , Hi, try simply cottage cheese or Dannon Light & Fit yogurt Has 60 cal, 10-11carbs depending on flavor 0 fat. I also have for a snake a protein shake with Westsoy unsweetened soymilk. Good Luck
Judy Byetta5 2x, Fortamet1000 2x, Amaryl 1g 1x, Regarding snakes..make sure you have your salads late afternoon, the fiber will make you feel full. Good luck
Hi Everyone, I know we all need our snakes throughout the day. So here is a few I like. Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt low in cal 60, 0 fat, 10-11 carbs depending on flavor. Also you might want to mix that up with a bit of cottage cheese. Protein powder (low in carbs) with Westsoy unsweetened soy milk and a bit of cod liver oil and flax seed; It is a great snake. Also, if you like veg and like celery, great snake and low in carbs, and easy to take with you.
bcb, I eat a more alkaline diet to help keep the heartburn away because of too many meds, most notably byetta, for over a year now and swear by it. I don’t eat this way for weight loss altho since it requires to eat lots of raw veggies and less protein it may help in that too. I read the book “Alkalize or Die” by Theodore Boody and it may help answer your questions about it. Hope this helps and welcome to the blog.
Lila, “Snakes”? Yuck. Personally, I’d prefer either snacks or shakes!
Your typo is so funny that I’m going to leave it as it is…
Bill the deletemonster.
SMM,isnt that alli stuff expensive though im not sure if it really work or not
Doc, Byetta10 (2x) Glucaphage 500/50 (2x)
Check out underwood devilled ham and deviled chicken the chicken has 2 carbs for the whole can. try making two sandwiches from whole wheat bread total carb intake 42 carbs wash this down with flavored water no additional carbs.
deviled ham has 2 carbs for the can comes in at 40 grams for 2 nice sized sandwiches. I use spenda in tea and coffee and can not tell any diffrence to sugar with 2 cups tea with splenda in one and sugar in the other i get it right 50 percent of the time so 0 diffrence.
in between meals i have a pure protein bar chocolate deluxed purchased at walmarts. 17 grams of carbs sometimes i will have 2 as a treat. you can wash these down with propel. snacks look on the candies isle for candies with splenda usually twice the price of the full sugar version they usually run under 30 grams many less. on big problem and miss conception is less food = mor weight loss and is not true if you eat too little your bodie reverts too starvation mode you liver start breaking your food down that you do eat and converts it to energy or in this case sugar. not all can handle my diet meal 70 gr ams or less usually 30 0r so snacks up too 30 grams three times a day my insulin is completely controled by diet. I started at 279 lbs at 6’3″. in 2 and 1?2 weeks I have droped 18 LBs. walking is very important walk or use a treadmill work yourself up to 4 or 5 miles a day at a fast walk a slow pace does not burn enough calories and sugar and do not run. Doing this increases metabolizim for the entire day. if not very muscular try 30 min of weight traing every 2 days work up too 1 hour twice a week this will build muscel and increase metabolizm to build muscel and reduce fat you need to increase protien i recomend a whey powder that you mix in a blender the protied can be purchase at most vitiman stores, Gnc, vitamins shoppe and so on. dring plenty of fluids. I went for drinking 12 sodas a day to none. good luck. Variety is the key read lables and change things up.
GK,
Yep that works great. I always ask for a box when the food gets delivered to the table. I’ve had alot of people say it was a great idea. Bet they are doing it now. BONUS! You’ll have lunch for tomorrow too.
Here is an idea that I do. If we order pizza I’ll take out a few pieces then wrap the rest and stick in the freezer. That really stops the pizza from calling to me from the kitchen. I dont hear it as well when its frozen lol
Doc, Byetta10 (2x) Glucaphage 500/50 (2x),
It appears to me that you are eating too many carbs…..
Skip all that bread and watch your BS go down….!
You will also lose faster and easier if you restrict carbs….
FER
Hi, I’m new. Just found this website. I’m type 2 diabetic. Since I was diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago, I’ve gained weight continually. Nothing I do seems to work. I’ve tried every diet in the book and nothing works for me. Before I became a diabetic, I had no trouble losing weight. Now it seems impossible.
I’m taking avandaryl and have gained since I started this med about a year ago. Does anyone else have this same experience with this med.
Thanks,
Kit0228
Kit0228: That is the Catch 22 of most diabetes meds. As one poster said, the doctor tells you to lose weight and then hands you some meds that make you gain weight or at the very least make you starving. What’s wrong with this picture? Certainly, the weight loss tips discussed here can help and so can exercise, but many people struggle. One person said he ate a rigid low calorie diet for years and still failed. (He was on insulin.) A few diabetes meds don’t contribute to weight gain – like Byetta, Januvia, metformin. Maybe it is time to complain to the doctor or at least ask to consider alternatives? You would still have to eat right and exercise, but at least you’d have a good chance.
Have been on Byetta for 4 months. Lost 44 pounds. From 228 down to 184. Have 15 more to go. I have tried every diet imaginable! Before and after being diagnosed as a Type2. The hardest thing was giving up the foods that taste good and that I like. Now I eat conservatively but eat anything I want. The key is limit the amount. The hardest thing for me to do is to STOP when I am full. If it tastes good then I just want to keep eating. Most of the time I found myself eating without regard to whether or not I was hungry. One major change in my eating habits is that I put my fork down between mouthfuls, chew my food until it’s gone and only then do I pick up my fork and get the next bite ready. Then when I am full I stop! Sometimes that means 1/4 of a hamburger and 4 french fries. I try to eat more veggies and the Byetta keeps my BG in check.
Excersize by aerobic walking with a DVD average 4 days a week. Walk Your Blood Sugar Down or Walk Your Weight Down.
Hank- Byetta 10×2,
Hank, you just described my worst problem… I can take the byetta and metaformin as prescribed, but understanding the “full” feeling… I am a loser at that… HA…. I just keep eating…. and them am miserable… I am really really trying to know when I am full….. and put the fork down… small victories, I have been good at walking everyday, I walk 25 to 40 minutes every morning, and 3 or 4 evenenings also…. now I just need to control eating… I did find that byetta works better with carbs, I was trying South Beach with NO carbs and felt miserable… and was fighting the byetta, it works better for me if I do eat carbs… my goal is what you said, SLOW DOWN…. and S T O P ….. when I feel full…. it really is something I need to learn..and I know that sounds dumb… thanks for posting…
GK in IN
Hey were are Annie and Judy???? you guys are GREAT support have been checking to see if I find any signs of you….
GK
GK, I think you’ve done a great job so far by making one big change in your lifestyle, walking every day. Quit calling yourself a loser because if you are one then I am one too, and I’m not a loser. I DO NOT get the full feeling and can eat right through it if I don’t pay attention. For the past 9 months I have been chewing each mouth full 20 times before swallowing in an effort to slow down and to help the alkaline balance in my diet. It really does help and I seem to be able to stop easier. I hope this might help you too. Be proud of what you have accomplished so far, you are exercising consistently and I think your numbers are coming down, if I’m remembering right. Way to go Gary.
GK,
Most of us come from an era where our parents ‘pressured’ us to clean our plates. “If you don’t finish all your dinner then you won’t get dessert!” Finishing everything on our plate was good and not eating all you were given was bad. With an upbringing like that we feel guilty for leaving food on the plate. It’s more an emotional need than a physical hunger. Many times I am full but continue eating. Reason has a tough battle against conditioning.
Start with a smaller plate. Order 1/2 an order or, as I read in an earlier comment, tell the waitperson to put 1/2 of your order in a ‘go box’ before bringing it to the table. I know that if I don’t want any potatoes, for example, but they bring them by mistake… I eat them! I have just so much will power and then I give in to lusts, (if you will), and upbringing.
Byetta helps but just suppressing my appetite is only part of the battle. I eat when I’m tired, eat when I’m upset, eat when I’m not upset, eat when I’m bored, etc. Thoses are the habits that I need to break and Byetta doesn’t help there.
I remember a video that I saw in my Diabetes Management Class. A women is interviewed after her husband died of complications from diabetes. She said she was angry because he knew enough to manage his illness but he chose not to and now she was alone. I keep thinking about that and it helps me win more often in my constant battle with food.
geri in co:Byetta 10,Glucophage XR-1000mg 2xdaily, gluctrol xl 3-2.5 mg daily, ,
Hey Geri,
yep my numbers have come down…. and I really am doing good at the walking, you are right… one thing at a time…. I am working on trying to slow down with eating…. I taught school for 35 years and with 20 min for lunch you learn to eat fast!!!! I just retired so I can now slow down, I just need to remind myself… I go the first of Oct to Dr so will see how my numbers are doing…
thanks for your posts … much appreciated…
GK in nice and COOL IN today!!!
Hank- Byetta 10×2,
Hank, what you just wrote I could have written… I eat to celebrate, commiserate,fight boredom, etc, and I too was a clean your plate child.. and still am… you are right if it is there, I will eat it.. I am fighting the exact battles you speak of…
I like the smaller plate thing, and I vow the next restaurant meal I am going to ask for half the meal…. we eat out 4 to 5 times a week and restaurants are my downfall.. although I can proudly say I have been ordering salads a LOT more than I used to…..
Thanks for the posting…. much appreciated, and to find someone who is the exact same place…
talk to you later!!
GK in wonderfully COOL IN
GK, I’m still here. Thanks for noticing I wasn’t posting. Sorry I’ve been off the blog for so long but I’ve experienced another setback. I doing much better and hope to get back to normal soon.
You might want to use salad plates to put a smaller sized meal on if you don’t know when to stop eating. Try eating very slowly (at least 20 minutes) then stop eating even if food is left on the plate. Wait a few minutes and see if you are still hungry. It takes 20 minutes to feel full and eating this way may help you to stop eating before you get sick. I used this strategy when I first started the 10 pen and it helped me to pay attention to my tummy.
When eating out I order the appetizer and fill up on salad. Be careful with the salad dressing and croutons because they add many calories and fat. Try to stay away from the bread basket. I usually take one slice and ask the wait person to take the rest away. Of course, my husband takes 4 or more pieces but it doesn’t seem to bother me. How many calories, fat and carbs are you eating? Maybe you can eat more often but smaller meals. I eat 4 times a day and try to reach 1200 calories. I’m down to 197 lbs. but am losing very slowly now. Let me know how I can help.
I’m so far behind reading the posts that I gave up trying to read it all. I will be reading more often now and will try to post when I think I can help.
Annie
Annie! Nice to see your name again…and you broke the 200 lb barrier! That is so cool. I do hope you are feeling lots better now and the setback is over.
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,Annie, are ok??? what setback did you have? I hope you are allright now and on track!!!! Thanks for the post….. I am going to try the salad plate thing, and I am going to have waitstaff bring me HALF of my dinner……. I really am going to try it….
I am so glad to have you back on here… keep posting!!!
GK in wonderfully cool IN
toneylee,thanks for the welcome back. I am recovering and hope to be back to normal soon. To help me become stronger the doctor suggested I join a gym. I start working with a personal trainer tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. Since they’re open 24/7 I can easily find time to exercise. It’s time I began taking exercise seriously.
GK,don’t worry I’m recovering nicely. I was having many symptoms that caused my doctor to worry about my health. Dizziness, walking into things, losing the top portion of my view, and several falls to name just a few. He sent me to a neurologist and cardiologist for many tests. Happily all my symptoms were cause by low B12, B6 and Folic Acid. Once I get all my B12 injections I should be as good as before. I’m taking a combination pill called Folbic for the B12, B56 and Folic Acid. I may have to continue the pill for a long time. This kind of decrease builds slowly over the years and is only found by a blood test. It’s not a test that is given on yearly check-ups so if anyone has symptoms they should ask their doctor for a test.
Let me know how the eating goes. Make little changes and it won’t be too bad. I’m losing much slower now but I have lost 11 lbs in 2 months. I joined a gym and hope it will help me lose more.
Keep up all the good changes you have already made such as your daily walks. Let me know if I can help.
Annie
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,
Annie, they sympotoms sound really significant, and I am glad it was solved with meds and inections…. I really have never heard of that but now will retain the info…. for future use, I wonder if weight loss has anything to do with the depletion of those vitamins from your system?
11 pounds in 2 months is over a pound a week and that is REALLY GOOD!!! Keep it up…. just went for Chinese buffet for dinner… one plate half full… and I didnt eat all of that.. also started witha big salad…. ate slower and gave the byetta a chance to kick in….. IT WORKED!!!
So glad to hear you are doing better, and very glad to see you back on here…. your experiences are very valuable for others…. keep sharing….
GK
GK, the doctors think it happened because I wasn’t eating enough food so I didn’t get enough vitamins or minerals. It takes years for the loss to show up. I think we are at greater risk because Byetta helps many of us to eat small amounts of food. But too small isn’t good. Make sure you eating plan is healthy and includes all food groups. If you eat too little you can gain weight because you go into survival mode. Remember when I regained 21 lbs?
To make the Chinese buffet healthy and filling the next time you go try to add lots of vegetables and little rice. Steamed is best and you can add it to any dish. I love broccoli, string beans and mushrooms. Onions, green peppers, red peppers and chinese mixed vegetables are also great choices.
I’m proud you think I have valuable experiences. I’m happy to post to anyone who wants my help but remember I’m not a doctor, just a grandma. Always check with your doctor first before changing anything.
Annie
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,
Hey Annie, that is one thing I thought the medical stuff might have been caused by in your case, not getting the vitamins and nutrients from food because you were not eating enough….. interesting and I am GLAD it is being straightenedout for you…
Do you know if Weight Watchers is compatible with being diabetic???? I have been thinking of joining…. just curious….
Thanks,
GK
GK, I think Weight Watchers is a good diet but you still have to keep track of you carbs. I belonged to it many years ago and lost some weight but regained it all back and more when I went off of it. I think you have to make permanent changes to lose and keep it off. Will you be going to meetings? If you will be then I think you should discuss it with them. They need to know you have diabetes and need to make life changes. Good luck, I hope it works for you. Remember to be patient and give it time to work.
Annie
GK, Hi. WW is a great program. It teaches you to eat healthy by incorporating fruits, veggies, dairy and healthy oils into your diet. But as Annie said, you do have to watch your carbs. It was a little confusing to me at first. I read posts on their forum about being able to eat a McDonalds ice cream cone for only 3 points. I thought great I would try one of those until I looked up how many carbs are in it. I just do it online. It is nice because you can post what you eat everyday. It keeps you accountable.
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,
I am going to wait on WW until my Oct 1 Doc appt, I see cardiologist tomorrow and will see how that system is doing….. HA…. what you have told me Annie is true, I don’t know that I am losing but clothes feel different and I sure move better, (all that walking) HA…
thanks
GK
Gary, I hope everything is ok. Are you having heart problems or is this just a check-up? Good luck tomorrow. If you believe WW’s can help you I think you should go for it. Just remember you have to make lasting changes. That’s one of the reasons I refuse to diet. I’m sure you are losing inches if your clothes are getting loose. Keep up the great work. Please let us know how the cardio appointment goes. Annie
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Hi everyone. Where did you all go? I guess everyone is having good luck losing all the weight they need to lose. Mine is at a standstill but I am still losing inches and wearing a smaller size. I would love to hear how you all are doing. Annie
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,Hi Annie, could you give me your daily diet guide and how many carbs, fat, calories you eat. I am trying to loose 70 lbs and I have been on byetta for 27 days. I had good hunger control the first 7-9 days but nothing now. No side effects except a little constapation and gas. I start on the 10 on monday and I hope that will give me better controll thanks Judy in Houston
Judy, I can give you a sample of my day’s eating but remember it works for me but may not work for you. Everyone is different and they have their own special needs. It has taken me a very long time to find out what works for me but changes all the time. That’s why I keep up my diary after 1 and 1/2 years.
For breakfast I often have:
2 egg whites added to onions, green peppers and cooked in a non stick skillet.
1/2 cup orange juice
small whole wheat pita with 2 tsp. of fat free spread
coffee with 2 ounces of skim milk
small apple
The total count comes to – 284 calories, 2g of fat, 55g carb, 6g fiber,14g protein.
For Lunch I often have:
Large salad – romaine lettuce, baby spinach, small tomato, 4 cucumber slices, 2 slided onion rings, 15 baby carrots, 2 slices of green pepper, with 3 oz. of grilled chicken breast.
Small Banana
1 cup skim milk with sugar free chocolate syrup
The total count was – 496 calories, 6g fat, 74g carb, 12g fiber, 43g protein.
Dinner – 1 cup lowfat cottage cheese mixed into
1/2 cup fat free sour cream
1 cup mixed fruit – apple, peach. plum cut into chunks
Large Pita
The total count was – 479 calories, 4g fat, 76g carb, 7g fiber, 38 protein.
Snack – 1 ounce almonds – 164 calories, 14g fat, 6g carb, 4g fiber, 6g protein.
The day totaled – 1423 calories, 26g fat, 211g carb, 29g fiber, 101g protein.
Remember this works for me but you should see a nutritionist to find the right amounts for you. I eat different foods and amounts each meal depending on how hungry or full I am. I never go over 1500 calories, 30g fat, 300g carb, 40 fiber and 140g protein. I also work out every day either at the gym or home. Some days I can’t get enough food and other days I’m too full to eat enough.
For constipation I added extra liquids and fiber. For gas I used Tums. Good luck with the 10 pen. Annie
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,Thanks for the info Annie, I will use this as a guide line for my diet. I am still on the 5 pen because the 10 was to much for me , it dropped my bg to low, but the new 5 pen I have been on for 3 days now is working a lot better than the first one I got from the docs office. I am having more hunger controll now. Mabe I will loose some wieght now. Thanks
Judy, if you eat healthy foods you should be ok. Just remember to eat enough calories and keep track of everything you put into your mouth. Make sure your diet is ok with your doctor if you don’t see a dietitian for advice. The list I gave you was just for one day and I eat different foods everyday so I won’t become bored. Having enough vegetables, fruit and protein is very important to your health. My doctor told me to never eat less than 1200 calories and try to get closer to 1500. If you weigh over 300 lbs. go closer to 1800 calories. Let me know how you are doing. I also take a multi vitamin so I am assured I get enough of them in my diet. Annie
Annie in New York, byetta 5 x2, 1000mg Metformin er x2, and other asst non diabetes meds,Thank you for the information on your diet, I am not sure it will work for me right now until I get more used to the byetta because I need more carbs to keep bg from dropping too much. Good Luck
Judy, when I first began Byetta 10 I had to eat a minimum of 30g of carbs but found when I ate more than 60g and even more than 90 my bg would go down too low. Since my bg was under control I had to make sure not to eat too many carbs or I would go as low as the 20′s. It was trial and error until I learned the right amount of carbs to eat for meals and snacks. Keeping a food diary really helped me find the correct amount to eat. As I lost weight and went back to Byetta 5 I found I could eat high or low carb and still remain in control. Everyone is different so you need to find what works for you. How low are you dropping? Is it dangerously low or just too low for you? I’m fine in the 40′s – 50′s but start to get sick below the 40′s. Others on this blog get sick when they go into the 80′s – 90′s. Continue to keep track and I’m sure you’ll be able to find the correct number of carbs you need for each meal and snack. Good luck. Annie
Hi everyone, I have made some deep mental changes. My salad are 1/2 the size of what I Used to eat. My breakfast plate is a lunch sandwich plate, and dinner is meat and a small salad, or meat and a veggie. I eat Strum’s low carb oatmeal, Low carb hood milk. I eat Atkins bar rarly for quick snacks. Other snacks are my decaf coffee an vanilla sf syrup w/ 1 tbls 1/2 and lots of green tea. I eat activia cheese and very low 3carb Dannon yogurt and sf jello. I eat veggies of all kind except carrots, and corn and potatoes and 0 fruit. I eat slowly and sit back and relaz, meals are no longer a hurry-up and get the dishes done thing. Its strange my BS weren’t real high before and they haven’t changeed much with the byetta aboard. I have had one big problem all along after exercising 45 min, my BS go up 20ish points, and hangs there. I have decided to cutting it to 30mins and eat breakfast 1 hr before. And see if at the time of beginning digestion and the 30 min mark alowing the liver to do its job. I will let u know if this helps. My diabetes in the last two month has become exhausting and so very lonely. I have had it since I was 16, 35 yrs ago, and it hasn’t really been a problem til now. I never bothered educating myself about the disease itself, I just found Lowcarbing and studied Nutrition. This has become a new world for me. I know if I went off this kind of eating, Byetta wouldn’t keep me from gaining a ton.