Should I listen to the diabetic nutritionist?

chipsmommy · 10-22-2006, 08:46 PM

I met with my doctor's diabetic nutritionist last week. She said, first of all, that I was "very fastidious" in my record keeping. Like that was odd.

Then she went through her dietary schpiel. The gist of it was, she wants me to eat more carbs/starchy foods. She said that a meal of chicken and green beans, or a big salad with some steak, will cause my body to go into "starvation mode" without 1-3 servings per meal of carbs.

According to her, I am forcing my liver to create sugar, by not taking in enough dietary sugar.

So, she told me that I must (ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT FAIL) have 4 ounces of juice every morning before I work out, and then at each of my three meals I MUST get at the very least one serving of starch. Not carrots, because according to her they are as non-starchy as salad or broccoli. She means oatmeal, or bread, or sweet potatoes, or something like that.

So, I have been doing this for the past couple of days. And since making the changes she insists will lower my blood sugar, my sugar levels are consistenly 10-15 points higher than they had been--totally eliminating the benefits of the Byetta I'm taking.

I am also hungrier.

To me, that says that I should ignore her advice, eat the way that makes MY blood sugar levels stay slightly lower, and the way that makes me not want to eat a lot.

Am I wrong to just write off the opinions of this professional recommended by my doctor?

flyfisher · 10-22-2006, 09:32 PM

No, give it time...Try what she says and keep records of what you eat, when you eat and how much you eat along with your glucose readings. When you meet with her again, show her how wrong she is. Are you testing your glucose levels two hours after you eat? That is how long it takes for your glucose level to be back down to normal. This is what i eat daily: I eat yogurt and a piece of fruit for breakfast, I eat a sandwich with delightfully light bread, carrots and low fat ranch dip and a piece of fruit, supper is usually a low fat hamburger, dijionnaise, low fat cheese, piece of fruit and 1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw veggies, then a snack of popcorn before bedtime or two cookies. I spread out my fruits and veggies throughout the day with each meal. Sometimes I eat an extra piece of fruit if I feel like I need it.

She is right, if you don't eat enough starch, your body will go into starvation mode. You have to eat healthy and enough to get your body turned around. Yes, you need to eat starch, and fat with every meal. The fat levels out the starch and keeps it from dropping suddenly. Just give it time...Don't over eat on the starches. Did she explain what a serving of starch is? 15grams of starch is a serving of starch, rather it is bread, fruit or whatever. hth

chipsmommy · 10-22-2006, 09:49 PM

And, yes, she was very clear on just what a "serving" is.

At least my "fastidious" recordkeeping will be useful to us, both...

flyfisher · 10-23-2006, 01:14 AM

What is your fasting glucose level?

chipsmommy · 10-23-2006, 06:07 AM

Before, it was in the mid-90s, most mornings. Now, it is around 105-115.

witchgrl · 10-24-2006, 01:45 AM

I'd go with what works for you. I found that the ADA diet is way too high in carbs and my blood sugar would not get into normal range on it. They are using an outdated food pyramid. You should have carbs but in moderation and foods such as carrots, peas, corn and winter squash are very starchy. If I have one of those as a veggie then I count that as my carb serving and add another veggie such as salad, green beans etc.

flyfisher · 10-24-2006, 02:56 AM

On the ADA exchanges, those are considered as starches, not veggies...Also potatoes are also considered as starches...They are marked off the starch exchange, not the veggie exchange. They've updated their exchanges and I learned from the new way. Only nonstarchy veggies are marked off the veg exchange. I hope this helps.

chipsmommy · 10-25-2006, 03:25 AM

OK, I was starting to feel really frustrated with the diabetic nutritionist. My blood sugar is high. I am hungry. I feel fat...

You guessed it, my period arrived today. It's actually EARLY, instead of one of my normal "6-10 week" cycles. And now my blood sugar is back in the range to which I've become accustomed.

At this point, I'm thinking it was the period that was messing me up, and maybe the dietary advice is actually helping. Because, normally, I gain weight in the week or so before my period. This week, I am actually down a little.

So, I take it back. I'll do what she tells me. I won't look at her cross-eyed. Pass the sweet potato!

flyfisher · 11-02-2006, 04:09 AM

I am glad to hear it is working for you. I hope it continues to work. It is hard to stick too sometimes, but it does work. I lost 40 pounds last year and have kept them off. I haven't eaten like I am suppose and I haven't been exercising like I am suppose too lately, so I haven't lost anymore weight. My endo isn't going to be too happy with me when I see him in December. Oh well, thats how it goes...I just don't want to get back on it right now and I don't feel too well. When I don't eat and exercise, my joints hurt and I am very fatigued...Good luck

verrelisse · 11-03-2006, 12:33 AM

When I was first diagnosed, I went to the Joslin Diabetes Clinic in Boston for four days, to get a customized plan from some of the best specialists in the world. The diet plan they made for me allowed for 60g carbohydrates for breakfast. SIXTY! That's insane! But the rest of the day, I still have to have carbs with each meal... same as your dietician reccomended (sweet potatoes are my FAVORITE. I have a recipe for baked sweet potato french fries somewhere... FABULOUS) and when I follow my diet to a T (which is rare these days, I'll admit. I'm a bad diabetic!) and excersize at least 30 min./day my sugars are perfect. BTW, your period DEFINATELY could be what affected your readings. Hormones tend to do that!

GL!

hanshab · 11-08-2006, 12:07 AM

My dietician said that you need 120 grams of carbs daily just for normal brain function. Her plan for me allows for 130-150 grams per day, for a total of 8-10 servings. The plan is 2 servings at breakfast, 2 at lunch, 3 at dinner, and up to 3 1 serving snacks through out the day. I asked if I should adjust my carb servings depending on what my BS reading was (made sense to me) and she said absolutely NOT. She said that if I follow my plan and my BS are still too high, then the medication needs to be adjusted instead. Good luck to you.