Struggling With What Food to Eat

By amma-65

1 min read

Last updated: September 2023

Hi, I was diagnosed in Feb of this year so I'm new to this.

Struggling with what food to eat

Right now I struggle to find things to eat that keep my blood sugars low. Breakfast time is the hardest. I have limited income so I can't buy a lot of things that are good for me.

Why Is It So Hard for Me to Eat Right?

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Apps to Help with Diabetes Management

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Margot Community Admin
Hi <inline-mention user-id="3624646" username="amma-65" class="bp-suggestions-mention"/> , It can be hard! Have you checked in with your doctor/care team or a dietitian/nutritionist to come up with a plan that helps you specifically? It can often vary by person as bodies and tolerances, such as to amount of carbs, differ by person. In addition to checking in with them, these links may help with breakfast ideas: <a href='https://type2diabetes.com/nutrition/low-carb-breakfast-ideas' target='_blank'>https://type2diabetes.com/nutrition/low-carb-breakfast-ideas</a> <a href='https://type2diabetes.com/nutrition/best-low-carb-breakfast' target='_blank'>https://type2diabetes.com/nutrition/best-low-carb-breakfast</a> Hope this helps. Keep us updated. Best, Margot, Team Member
Thomas A McAtee Jr. Moderator
Amma 65 I agree with Margot. I would check with the doctor to see if he/she has some good reccomendations as what to try out for what to eat in helping to keep lower sugar readings. Have you also looked at the various meal recipes in the sections under the menu? They have some good selections there and ingredients that you might be able to find at a very low price for breakfast etc. Personally I'll usually have some oatmeal with a sugar subsitute such as splenda and cut up an apple slices and dice them into the oatmeal. I know that prices on the oatmeal will vary often at various stores as well. But check those links out that Margot listed for you and check with your doctor and team as well for suggestions. Tom
light Member
I was diagnosed in Feb this year too. I had no idea what to do either, but a family member is a nurse and they helped. I got a copy of the diabetic exchange list and researched different calorie diabetic exchange diets (1200 cal, 1500, 1800, and different meal plans online for those amounts) and went from there. In counting carbs, I started at 45 carbs/meal and tested my sugars in the morning, before meals, and two hours after meals. I also tested different foods to see how it affected my sugars. 45 carbs/meal was too much as it kept my sugars high like 140-180. So I cut back carbs by 5 until it became more managed and stable (25 carbs per meal seems right for me). I still haven't talked to a dietitian yet, but I finally got a referral. My initial A1C was 10.5, and three months later at my check up, it was 6.5 and I did it by following the exchange list and counting carbs and my Actos alone. Some foods I found are very kind to me, as a Type 2: Dave's Killer bread THE GOOD SEED THIN SLICED does not spike my sugars and It's all the seeds in it, I think. It's not too expensive, like maybe 4$ per loaf and it is lower carb like 13 carbs per slice, (net carbs, minus fiber=10 carbs/slice)- and it lasts me about 2 weeks or three. It's really good as french toast, sandwiches. If you do any oatmeal, rolled oats or steel cut -plain old fashioned oats are best and don't buy any sweetened or flavored kind. You can get it cheaper in say Ocean State Job Lot or Walmart rather than in other Supermarkets. You're better off putting real fruit in oatmeal instead of anything instant or flavored as instant and flavored oatmeal will spike your sugars insanely high. Mission Carb Balance four tortillas are heaven sent. Buy the street tortillas, 6" rather than the wraps (smaller size rather than wraps are better for diabetics). Some people can tolerate two street tortillas. I use it for tacos, pizza. Equally not too expensive, like 4$ per pack of 12 and it lasts me 2 weeks or so. It's versatile. For pasta sauce, I use Hunt's No Sugar Added Premium Pasta sauce, it's around $1 - $1.50 per can. it has 5 carbs, no fat and it's good. That lasts me too a while, but it is budget friendly. The fruits, well, I go by what's on sale. You can find $1 - $1.49 fresh strawberries at Aldi's per quart I think, if you can catch fruits at the right time, it won't break your pocketbook, same with lettuce/spinach. The other thing I spend a little on is sweetener. I use monkfruit w erythritol. Also red tea (rooibos tea) is 3.49 and I found that when I drink at least three teas a day, my sugars are better managed like close to 88-100-110 all day long. Sugar free jello, don't go overboard, but it's a treat and carb free and a "free food". The exchange list has a free foods listed, like romaine, spinach, cucumbers and these have become my staples (all listed here). Frozen veggies are fine, and if you buy store brand not brand name, it's more affordable. Here is a diabetic exchange list: <a href='https://diabetesed.net/page/_files/THE-DIABETIC-EXCHANGE-LIST.pdf' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://diabetesed.net/page/_files/THE-DIABETIC-EXCHANGE-LIST.pdf</a> and another that helps <a href='http://nutritrac.elseviermultimedia.us/Personalprofile/webroot/pdf/cyf_1265037248.pdf' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>http://nutritrac.elseviermultimedia.us/Personalprofile/webroot/pdf/cyf_1265037248.pdf</a> - these will help you portion foods- and I mean, ANY foods that you are currently buying. Check with your doctor also, of course, as suggested by others. My income isn't that great either, but I found these things helped me.
1. Kelly Dabel, RD Community Admin
 Thanks so much for your replies Light. It's great to hear your story and what's been helpful to you. So appreciate you sharing. I love Dave's bread too! Wishing you continued success. Best, Kelly, Community Moderator
light Member
Also, when I researched calorie diets by the exchange list I found these: 1200 Calorie diet by exchange list <a href='https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/1200CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/1200CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf</a> 1500 calorie diet by exhchange list <a href='https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/1500CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/1500CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf</a> 1800 calorie diet by exchange list <a href='https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/1800CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/1800CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf</a> 2000 calorie diet by exchange list <a href='https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/2000CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://www.novomedlink.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novomedlink/resources/generaldocuments/2000CalorieMealPlan_EG.pdf</a> And these were my blueprints starting out. I tried the 1800, then 1500, but again, my sugars were too high on either of those diets. So I went to the 1200. By the way, I've also dropped 38 pounds in 3-4 months by using the exchange list, and I am rarely hungry between meals. My weight is now in the normal range for my height. The good thing about the exchange list, is that say if you don't want oatmeal and you want say All Bran, you can simply switch the portion so it would mean exchanging by using the exchange list: 1/2 cup of oatmeal for 1/3 cup of All Bran. Those two portions have the same carb count, 15 carbs, which makes the exchange list so easy. Want toast? No problem, check the exchange list for the kind of bread you have, and switch it. The bread I listed before (Dave's killer bread, the good seed, it would be one slice that is less than 15 carbs). Going by the meal plans I listed above, kept my diet relatively balanced. I thought my doctor would be upset because I chose my own calories, and carb count, but when I had my check up, he said I "did phenomenal"... I also use myfitnesspal and mysugr apps to monitor myself. It helps, really.
susannev59 Member
I'm also struggling with food. I stopped bread, pasta, soda. I'm lactose so I can't have any ice cream or milk so I have everything fat free. I'm going to start seeing a nutritionist. I always wanted a diabetic friend to get ideas from
1. Samuel Taylor Moderator
 We appreciate you reaching out, Susannev59. It's good to hear that you are going to start seeing a nutritionist, that will be a great place to get good food advice. This community is incredibly friendly and would love to chat anytime. We have lot's of great recipes as well that are geared towards accommodating different diabetic dietary managements. Keep us posted on how you're doing and let us know if you have questions. -Samuel, community moderator
marie76 Member
Hi, I was just diagnosed a month ago and having a similar struggle. Good luck
lillypoo Member
I sympathize. It can be hard, especially having to watch our carbs. I have eggs with a little cheese every morning for breakfast. They are filling and relatively inexpensive. I have a piece of toast or fruit with my eggs. We also eat eggs for supper at least once a week. Beans are really cheap and good for you, especially with a serving of rice. Fruits and veggies can be expensive, so I try to buy them when they are on sale. We shop the day old meat section of the grocery store. I hope these ideas help. Good luck.

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