Every person who is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is encouraged to modify their diet in order to help control their diabetes.??Some of those people are sent to a dietician or certified diabetes educator (CDE) while others are left to find the information on their own.??The best way to control your diabetes is to limit the amount of carbohydrates you consume, and yet we are told over and over again that we should be eating more than seems logical.
When I was first diagnosed over 7 years ago, the American Diabetes Association website recommended that people with diabetes consume approximately 45 grams of carbohydrates at each meal.??Since then they have changed their focus more towards individualizing a meal plan and working with your doctor/dietician to find a target that works for you.??I like that shift but the recommendation for amount of carbs has basically remained the same.??Here is a quote from the ADA website:??“If you haven’t set up an individualized meal plan yet, we suggest including about 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate per meal to start. If you follow that recommendation, you would be eating a total of 135 to 180 grams of carbohydrates throughout the day. However, some people may need more and some people may need less, so set up a plan that works for you soon!”??I’ve heard similar information from CDEs at a recent conference: eat whole grains; cereals and breads with lots of fiber.
I have a serious concern about how diet is portrayed in the medical/dietary community.??There is too much emphasis put on the idea that we people with type 2 diabetes can eat anything in moderation.??I have also touted that idea but I have always paid attention to what my meter tells me and adjusted accordingly.??My concern is that there are too many people “out there” who don’t pay attention to their meters or don’t bother to adjust and are simply going by what they read online or are told by a CDE.
When I’ve mentioned that I eat very little in the way of grains I’ve been told that whole grains are good for us and we should be eating them.??Really??Even if a modest bowl of unsweetened oatmeal shoots my glucose up over 200???Even if a sandwich made with whole wheat bread spikes my glucose past something reasonable???I should still eat it???I don’t think so.
So here’s the conundrum: carbohydrates cause our blood glucose to rise and yet we are constantly bombarded with the idea that we should eat more.?Whole grains are our friends! (Despite the fact that they can be evil).??We must eat a “balanced diet”, regardless of whether or not some of the components totally muck up our glucose control.??No freakin wonder people are confused!??What about the idea of getting our carbs from leafy, non-starchy vegetables???Why is it always thrown out there that we should eat grains and potatoes???I don’t get it.??It’s plain to me that we can’t eat just anything, even in moderation.??It’s time to put on our big girl panties and realize that we have to give up certain foods.??Deal with it.
So what do we do? If your meter doesn’t like a certain food, then?stop eating it!??Don’t continue to eat cereal or bread if it spikes your glucose, no matter what your CDE says.??Discuss it with them and try to come up with a plan that isn’t just “increase your meds”.??Wake up and take charge!??Don’t be a sheep!??Your health is too important for you to not take an active role.?You may not have a medical degree or nutrition training, but you certainly are in the front lines in your fight to control your diabetes.??Don’t hesitate to speak up.??Don’t hesitate to experiment.??It’s?your health.
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