Newly diagnosed - VERY confused!

I know this is a troubling time for you so I am going to refer you to the official website of the American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/ You need the best info you can get. There is a lot of free help out there for those sufferring from diabetes; also consult your doctor for referrals. I hope all works out for your family.

Hi Raven7317, I'm unsure about the carb/sugar part but I'll share with you what I know. My mother was a diabetic patient too, and to have it controlled she used to drink blended bitter-gourd(only small types 2-3). If you can't take the bitter part, mix with some oranges and apples to add taste (do not add sugar). I'm very sure, your next appointment with doctor will be amazing to know the sugar count dropped! Remember, to maintain the weekly bitter-gourd juice and keep it at 2 if you've been taking 3 at earlier stage. Good Luck and Take care!

I am a type 2 diabetic and it's not hard to keep your blood sugar down, it just takes a lot of understanding about what you can and can not eat to keep it regulated. First thing is understanding this disease, what it can do to your body and how to prevent the bad things from happening. Knowledge is the key. I see you have visited the Diabetic Association to read up on this disease, good for you, you are going in the right direction. I have a squidoo lens that sums up what you have learned and how to treat this disease. I also have a squidoo lens that has a lot of great tasting recipes you can use. As for carbs, there are two types, the fast digested carbs that make your blood sugar rise and the carbs that are none-digestive or slow to digest that keep your blood sugar level. As for the count, if a package says it has 30g carbs and 5g of fiber then the true amount would be 30g-5g=25g of carbs. Don't count the sugar as this will be in the carb count. The sugar is not the enemy, but the worthless carbs are. He should be eating about 5 to 6 times a day. 3 small meals and 2 to 3 snacks. If you want to try some of my recipes go here http://squidoo.com/low_carb_recipes If you want to read more about type 2 diabetes go here http://www.squidoo.com/sixapart/Diabetes Wishing you happiness and good health Kowgirl

Let us hope that your DH has type II. Type I is harder to control. If it is type I, he will probably need insulin. What age are we talking about here? My dad was a type II for a long time. My mom used to take excellent care of him and watched what he ate like a hawk. She used to make a fist and say that was a "portion size" and that dad could not have more than that much in a serving. Any diabetic really needs to stay away from foods with refined sugar as much as possible. A lot of things have natural sugar like fruits, for instance, and is is okay to eat but in small portions and in moderation. The sugars to stay away from are the refined sugars like, cookies, cakes, candy, etc. As far as carbs go, they do increase your blood sugar but can be consumed in moderation. Diabetes is best controlled with eating several small meals during the day that are well balanced and tend to have no sugar and less carbs. Pasta is a carb. Your DH is kind of an usual situation in that he has to gain weight. Most diabetics have the opposite problem in that they need to lose weight. Your DH will have to do a very delicate balancing act between eating enough calories to gain weight and not elevating his blood sugar. Perhaps a protein shake (without sugar) would be helpful between meals. If he was diagnosed in the hospital, ask to see a dietition who can help you choose the right foods. If not, there are many sites on the internet that can help. I wish you and your DH the best in this situation. It is very important to get his blood sugar under control and at stable levels. This will ensure a better healthier future for him. If he has the strength, exercise would also be good for him to build up his muscles again. If not, then may be you can do some physical therapy with him, moving his arms and legs, etc.

Try to drink ampalaya tea or take ampala capsule to help to normalize your blood sugar . And have time to exercise everyday walking or jogging .