I remember feeling very overwhelmed by new diets. I would get frustrated and give up. One thing that really helped me was making my breakfast and lunch pretty much the same every day. It might sound boring, but it really helped me. Dr Oz suggests doing this. I also found some recipes I could make easily in a crock pot and I rotate those. After awhile I added more recipes that are easy. The spark people website is a great resourse for recipes.
At first I used a lot of the weight watchers, lean cuisine type meals for lunches. It wasn't perfect, but made it possible to stick with it. I've tweaked it along the way, always trying to get closer to a whole foods diet. I didn't go to a doctor when I was at my high weight, but I'm pretty positive I was pre-diabetic. My Mom died of complications from type 2 diabetes so it runs in the family.
I feel so much better with the weight off. You can do it too, just don't let yourself get overwhelmed. Keep it as simple as you can to start. You don't have to make it perfect at first, just keep improving along the way.
Exercise is really important for those with diabetic issues. I started with walking, very slowly at first.
I really feel for you. I've been there and remember that overwhelmed/ just want to give up feeling. Please don't give up. It will only get worse if you do.

Hey guys! I have an update. I'm also not feeling so angry. Sorry about that earlier. :o

I saw the dietician on Monday. I'm on 1800 cals a day. I'm essentially counting carbs and calories. She gave me 45carbs for breakfast (since it's always my smallest meal), 60 for lunch and 75 for dinner. I also have three snack times at 15 carbs each.

I'm having trouble with it because I'm always hungry. Like now, at 9:15, i had put a cup of frozen peaches and a fat free vanilla yogurt cup into the blender and that's what I had for breakfast. It filled me for a bit, but not for long. I've been hungry for a while but I'm trying to wait until at least noon for lunch. It's 11:52 now. It's hard to think of 15 carb snacks that are filling. I guess my question is "what can I eat for snacks or breakfast or even to supplement my lunch that's low carb AND filling?"

I will say it again, the best way to keep your insulin levels constant, is to make sure you have an adequate amount of protein with every meal.

If you make a smoothie, try making it with greek yogurt (non fat is ok), that has a high amount of protein and a lower amount of carbs. So many yogurts have tons of carbs and sugars. Go for one where the protein and carb ratio is equal, or there is more protein than carbs.

For more foods, try that approach---higher amount of protein over carbs.

this is coming from a person that on a normal diet with a high amount of carbs is always hungry, but on a lower (but not atkins) level of carbs has very little actual hunger.

I do not have diabetes and I understand everyone's needs are different. but as a person that used to be constantly hungry even after eating high caloric/high carb foods, I have found a complete difference in my hunger levels when I really watch the carbs and especially watch the refined carbs.

the only foods that i eat that are higher in carbs and have little to no protein are various fruits and veggies.

My snacks tend to be more protein/fat oriented than carb oriented. A few almonds, a hard-cooked egg, a string cheese, some beef jerky... The protein and fat will satisfy more than a slice of toast (15 carbs) might.

But then, I'm not doing low-fat at all. I'm also aiming for 1800 calories, and usually hit it easily without hunger. I add butter or coconut oil to my veggies, and use full-fat dressing on my salads. But then, I'm also a bit higher in my carbs than you are. I'm usually looking at one serving (15 g) of carb for breakfast and two each for lunch and dinner. I usually end up around 100 g of carb a day. So I make up those "lost" carb calories with satisfying fat calories. Fat doesn't affect blood glucose like carbs do, nor affect your kidneys like too much protein can.

Talk with your dietitian and see if she can give you some snack ideas that will fit into your plan.

I also found this thread on Diabetes Daily boards that specifically asks for 15 carb snack suggestions. See if they might be useful to you.

Here's another list, compiled from many folks with D.

Actually, I'll just post the Google search I did. :D

http://www.google.com/search?q=15+ca...ient=firefox-a

Hope this helps!

Here's a collection of 28 days of 1800 example plan:

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/...ntid=100230639

Here's chart ones (scroll down to red links in middle on left):

http://diabeticgourmet.com/Food_and_...Meal_Planning/


I'm with the previous poster -- protein at every meal, eat every 4 hours.

A.

Yeah, I have more carbs than you. I can have 75 just for dinner alone and you say you do 100 for an entire day? I don't know if I could do that. I love my carbs :hug:

Thanks for all the links. I'm going through them now. I'm surprised that 100calorie packs are on there. I don't imagine those are very filling though.

Yes, I wonder about the lower fat. For sure, if you don't have enough healthy fats thats going to affect hunger a lot. Thats why peanut butter is good, and other nuts for snacks if you don't have allergies. they have some carbs, but the protein and fat and nicely balanced for you.
SO a full fat yogurt in that smoothie might help more, and some whey protein powder and just a slice or two of peach may be much more satisfying for you without adding a lot of extra calories.
Also, plan the snack mid morning so you aren't so hungry by lunchtime.

good luck. You will get there and find the right tools.

75 carbs in one meal, is a lot of carbs. Sometimes online programs that show calories and carbs and protein counts can be really helpful in seeing healthy versus unhealthy carbs.

a meal with a good amount of protein, lots of green veggies, and a measured amount of brown rice or whole wheat pasta (usually no more than 1 cup), would usually be under 75 carbs per meal, though you would feel super full and satiated.

Like other posters, i am not focused on the fat intake right now.

The 100 calorie packs are tempting, and I was tempted to get a lower calorie ice cream, but it turns out that most of the 100 calories were coming from sugar! (remember, I think it is 16 calories per teaspoon of sugar, so if sugar is the 2nd ingredient in a product of 100 calories, how many teaspoons of sugar would that be, and more importantly, would that 100 calorie snack make you feel very hungry later on where you may end up overeating because your insulin is out of whack?)

Another pre-diabetic here
 

My A1C came in at 6.2. Glucose was 124 and 123. So Tuesday I have an appointment to see my Doctor to go over my bloodwork. I also have extrememly high cholesterol and a problem with high blood pressure.

Oh boy, it's going to be a fun appointment. Not! :(

I started doing WW Core 2 1/2 weeks ago. I have lost 8 1/2 pounds so far.

Also, do pre-diabetics need to test their blood sugar at home?

My doc hasn't told me too, yet (but I haven't been able to take the D classes yet, either). But I wanted to know what was going on in my bg after meals and in the morning, so I did some research and found an inexpensive one at Walmart (ReliOn brand). It's been eye-opening.

I figure when I take the actual class, and have a follow-up with the doc, I'll know more about what she expects -- whether to test or not, and when. But for now at least I have some idea of what's going on.

welcome, its great that you have lost some weight too.

Just to add--prediabetics do not need to test their blood sugar at home.

The important thing is to follow the food guidelines from your dietitian. Don't try to second-guess what you should be eating. And, try to get some physical activity, like walking at an even pace. It's not necessary to start doing big workouts--but it does help to use your muscles. This can really help with blood sugar control.

Good luck!
Jay

Great to know!

I'm sorry, I cannot agree with this. If I followed my dietitians advice, I would be constantly spiking my blood sugars.
By testing at home, I was able to figure out which foods spiked my sugar. I was able to modify my diet in ways that worked for me.
The point of a diagnosis of pre-diabetes is to work seriously to prevent the onset of diabetes before permanent damage is done. I don't think you can do that without knowledge.
I do agree with exercise! I have picked mine up a lot and am very pleased with my increased fitness.