Need Advice On What To Eat

By Bron

1 min read

I got the devastating news on September 22, 2023, prescribed Sitagliptin and Doctor said don't eat sugar. I am looking for advice on what to eat. It's so hard to find food and drink without sugar. When I go out at meal time should I bring my own food? Looking for what to eat for my 3 meals per day and what do people grab for a snack?

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Lori.Foster Community Admin
Hi <inline-mention username="Bron" user-id="8660799"/>. Welcome to the community! I really wish your doctor had said more than "don't eat sugar." That is not very helpful. Can you ask your doctor for a referral to a dietician who specializes in diabetes? Most insurance companies cover the visits as long as you have a referral, though you will need to check with your provider. A new diagnosis can be very overwhelming, but we are here for you. In time, eating a diet that is low on the glycemic index will become second nature. Here is a wonderful article that can help you get started: <a href='https://type2diabetes.com/living-with-t2d/managing' target='_blank'>https://type2diabetes.com/living-with-t2d/managing</a>. By "sugar," what your doctor really means is carbohydrates, which break down into sugar when you eat them. The more processed a food is, the more quickly it will break down into sugar and do some damage. Generally, white carbohydrates, like white bread and white pasta, are more highly processed than dark food. So avoiding them is a good place to start. Look for whole grain breads and high-protein pasta. My favorite pasta is the Barilla high-protein. It's made from a mix of legumes and grains so it is not hard or chewy like whole wheat pastas. My kids have always eaten it and say they find white pasta to be flavorless. For rice, you can start by mixing white rice with brown rice. Eventually, you might find you like brown rice better. Your taste buds will adjust over time. You can start with just a few simple changes, like the shift in pastas and breads, and master those over a month or two before you make more. Another dietary change that can have a drastic effect is eliminating drinks with sugar in them. There are so many options these days that it can be fun to try out all the different varieties. There is everything from flavor waters to diet sodas. And, of course, you can always have a cool glass of ice water. For now, consider downloading an app on your phone that tells you how high or low foods are on the glycemic index. The lower the food is on that chart, the better the choice. Don't beat yourself up if you make mistakes. That's normal. You doctor can adjust your medication as you get better at managing your blood sugar levels. You've got this! Keep us posted, if you don't mind. I'll be thinking of you. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)
diabharmful Member
<inline-mention username="Bron" user-id="8660799"/> , I will try to give you a simple explanation of the root cause of the damages, sugar is hidden everywhere so, it is a daunting task and you should never feel fruatrated, when sugar is in excess in the bood stream, it combines with proteins to evenually form the root cause of all Damages, the Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) , which will eventually affect tissues, organs the cardiovascular system , etc., aside from the advice given to you above, see if you can complement with an appropriate supplement that ideally could act on the AGEs.
Diane Talbert Moderator & Contributor
Hello <inline-mention username="Bron" user-id="8660799"/> , Just following up to see how you are doing. Did you look into getting a dietician? I got diagnosed over 30 years ago and my doctor said the same thing, don't eat sugar. There is so much more to this than - don't eat sugar. We would like to hear from you and see how you are doing. Diane (Team Member)