DH just been diagnosed with diabetes

In January this year I was told I was pre-diabetic. Nurse gave me i nformation on low-carb diet. TBH, I read it all and KNEW that there was no way I could totally cut out bread, pasta, rice, potatoes.
So, put myself on a normal low calorie diet. One have used over many decades and KNOW the calorific value of the sort of foods I eat, without needing to look them up.
Did change to Nimble bread and kept other carbs low, but still part of my diet.
Of course, those with Type 1 Diabetes cannot sort it out so simply with life-style and eating changes, but for type 2 we can.
Over three months I lost just over a stone in weight (which I needed), my last blood tests took me back out of the pre-diabetic range,,
Due to my mobility issues, exercise is NOT something I can do, so just have to deny myself sugar etc.

Basmati much better than risotto too.

Alcohol and especially beer, is an issue too. And of course all 'sodas'.

Remember it is not just about obvious sugars- but carbs/starches too, that turn into sugar and fat if can't be absorbed properly. Need to study the Glyceamic index of foods.

For instance, due to starch content, new potatoes have a much lower Glyceamic index than older potatoes. Washing cooked pasta, al dente, and re-heating, the same.

Gingster I have been diabetic for many years, like your husband I have a very sweet tooth.I would recommend a book called carbs and cals, it gives the carbohydrate values of many foods and also has photos of the different portion sizes which I found so helpful.Another thing I found useful when trying to stabilise my bloods was to test my blood several times a day.
It is a tricky condition as you have to think about every morsel of food you eat but it is manageable.

I count carbs and allow myself a certain number each day.This varies depending on height and weight.If we are eating out or having a celebratory meal, I will adjust what I eat for the rest of the day so I can still enjoy a meal out.

I wish your husband well, like I say it is a manageable condition, it just takes a bit of getting used to.

Thankyou you all . Some very good advice on here and I will look into the various links.

My DH also had a diagnosis 2 years ago. We did a lot of research and found that a low carb diet was best. We cut out rice and potatoes and all foods with added sugar. He eats less fruit, mainly berries now, porridge or home made muesli for breakfast, seeded bread or oat cakes and mainly soya yogurt and sugar free jelly for dessert. He lost 35 pounds in weight and after the first three months his blood sugar was back in the normal range and has remained so. At the first meeting with the diabetes nurse she had a prescription ready for him but he said he wanted to try controlling it through diet as our sister-in-law had done, she said well try for three months then we’ll review it and he was able to do it. I have supported him by eating and buying the same foods as him. Now he has lost the weight and his blood sugar is back in the normal range he has the odd treat at weekends but tests his blood every Sunday. We are also fans of Michael Mosley and have followed his fasting advice to lose weight. There is also a very useful programme The Truth About Carbs which is on You Tube and may be on BBC iPlayer.

My DH was diagnosed with Type 2 a few years ago. He wasn't, and never had been, even a pound overweight. However he loves puddings and cakes etc.
He has it under control now. He is on meds and still eats the same things he did before apart from the sweet stuff. He still eats cheese, chips etc but only has a biscuit or cake occasionally.
You can get cook books with recipes for diabetics. Good luck.

It can !

I was diagnosed T2 just over 5 years ago. Did Michael Mosleys ‘ Reverse your diabetes in 8 weeks ‘. Lost 2 and a half stone and have never looked back. Eat low-carb as much as possible. No meds. GP only ever says “ no further action necessary “. It can be done

Very glad to hear your success stories. I worked with visually impaired adults at the RNIB in the late 80's, and several students had lost their sight through mismanagement of diabetes - as well as suffering with toe loss. One poor girl only had her big toe left on one foot, she had a very uncomfortable prothesis.

My DH had type 2 for years . He ( we!) reversed it!! No sugar , no rice , no potatoes, he loved the baked potatoes but only ate the skin, no pasta. Minimal fruit. Reversing it took a few years but was successful. His blood sugar levels have been in the normal range for a very long time. He now has a fairly normal diet, will have cake occasionally, back on carbs too - within reason. It was well worth the effort. Your DH and you must be determined and relentless in your endeavours to beat this. Remember too that even small amounts of alcohol are high in sugar.
Type 1 on the other hand is a very different story , as my 10 year old grandchild would tell you, diognosed at 3 years of age. Of course will be insulin dependant for the rest of life and sadly irreversible. No sign of a cute yet , it is a 24 hour job monitoring sugar levels. Blood sugar either too high or too low , either way demands intervention. Type 2 must be taken seriously but with perseverance it can be managed , and with good management, exercise and no alcohol reversed!! I wish your DH well and sincerely hope he is willing to make sacrifices to help himself, the long term effects of type 2 can be serious. Good luck , be determined and don't give up - may take a very long time but in many cases it can be overcome.

There is lots of information about low carb eating on this site. Enough visible content without signing up if like me you prefer not to pay. Good luck! it works if you stick to it.
www.dietdoctor.com/

I have diabetes type 2 and DGS has diabetes type 1 ....he phones me to discuss things if he is worried.Different diabetes of course but both need to carb control.
I bought a ‘carb and calorie counter’ book online ( supported by Diabetes UK ,can’t remember the authors but look on Amazon.)
It’s not just a matter of cutting out sweets and chocolate, it’s all carbs and managing a good all round diet, that has enough carbs for energy but lower than your past everyday diet.
Losing weight for diabetes type 2 is good.

I've been pre-diabetic for many years now. It was first highlighted when I had the glucose test and the result came back impaired. It's remained like this but doesn't appear to be any worse after annual blood tests.
What has reduced is the kidney test and cholesterol remains low and steady which is probably why the pre-diabetic situation hasn't increased.

I've never stuck to any particular diet but I don't eat many sweets throughout each year. No alcohol and no fizzy drinks.

and www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2017/09/type2diabetesisreversible/:

Apologies, that appears to be the wrong link Alzheimers strikes again. And here I was thinking I was going to have a good day!

Further to help from my live- in IT guru - try this

www.you.co.uk/professor-roy-taylor-life-without-diabetes-diet/

ginster you may find this link informative and helpful. I went low carb and reversed my diabetes a few years ago now. It was easy as a (retired medic I realised what complications I wished to avoid!)

mol.im/a9538879

Thankyou all for your advice. It does seem a bit daunting at the moment and DH is difficult to manage with his sweet tooth.

Just a matter of changing eating habits but I know it isn’t going to be easy.

Whitewavemark - oh no I thought we would both be losing loads of weight!!!!!!!

Also exercise! Not a problem with my DH as he goes out twice a day with the dog for an hour each time.

I was pre diabetic and went all out to combat it and won.
I ate all homemade foods and anything that did come from a packet/jar / can was carefully scrutinized. If the the label read carbohydrates more than 10 g per 100g were sugar then they were not for me.
It worked!
The amount of hidden sugars is amazing. But you need glasses when shopping and beware things that you’d least expect.
Also I found when eating regularly I wasn’t looking to snack on the sweet things between so much and a square of dark chocolate now and again fixed the cravings.

My closest friend was diagnosed with type 1 two years ago she was very poorly and ended up in hospital in and out of comas for a couple of weeks but after coming out she listened to all advise, connected completely with the diabetic nurse and is so well and looks really good with vitality and fitness

A cold or more recently the vaccine jab completely knocked her off her feet for a couple of weeks but she is back to herself now but she has complied with everything advised her and the NHS support and help she’s had has been wonderful I really admire her tenacity

She now has an NHS ‘thingy’ on her arm and they know from their computers if she goes up or down which doesn’t really happen unless there is an outside health influence so she doesn’t have to do the finger pricking business any more She does inject three times a day but is so used to it now that it doesn’t bother her at all
Your husband with Type 2 could reverse it with a good diet and exercise but he does have to listen and do what he is told, to put it in a nutshell
My sons close friend many years ago decided he would not alter his lifestyle, he continued to drink ‘with the boys’ and died at a very young age in his 30 s
Good luck I hope he listens and takes all advice onboard

My DH was diagnosed pre diabetic and I moved heaven and hell to get his blood sugar down.

Tbh it proved surprisingly easy and continues to be so.

Initially I looked at every carb that entered our bodies and cut them. So say for 3 months no rice, no bread, no potato or pasta and of course no sugar. I cut out all tropical fruit and cut down on other fruit. I also cut out all processed food, except perhaps bacon and sausages -

It really is a matter of planning. Once it got down to a reasonable level I reintroduced rice, potato, pastry etc. DH monitors his blood sugar levels once a month and if it remains normal then fine if not cut down for a while again.

Every so often we have a pudding. But rarely. They are rare treats now, but all the more delicious for it?

Best of luck.

You would think that we have lost a good deal of weight wouldn’t you? Not one ounce, which really peeved me!

You couldn’t do much better than follow the Keto diet if you find it too difficult to diy.

DH was pre diabetic about two years ago, the surgery provided excellent information and he had an individual advisor who provided nutrition and exercise advice, it was really successful in lowering his levels and they monitored him regularly. There is excellent support available, take it all is my advice

When my OH was diagnosed as Type 2 we tackled it together. Yes, there's loads of advice on the internet and some great recipe books are available too but without the right attitude and making a real effort nothing will work.
Eating less and moving more became our catch phrase in a way. We stopped buying biscuits and sweet treats, I rarely bake now although we have a treat occasionally.
Our Practice Nurse who is also a Diabetic Nurse Specialist was very supportive and recommended an online support group.
With the right mind-set, wise meal planning and savvy shopping Diabetes can be managed.