Diabetic and hungry all the time.

[cheeseisthebest]

Feel completely clueless, recently diagnosed, told to control through diet but no real guidance. I'm trying to up protein, eggs, yoghurt, meat, fish, etc but I feel starving all the time. Like a real horrible shaky hunger that I've not felt since being pregnant. What am I doing wrong? I've quit sugar which is a challenge at this time of year!

The problem will be that you've cut sugar, you can actually get withdrawal symptoms from it and it takes approximately 1week to get your body used to a keto or high protein diet which it looks like you're doing.

Are you getting enough fat or are you going for lean protein and 0% fat yoghurts?

You should also make sure you're getting some carbs, green veg like asparagus, green beans, brocolli are good for adding bulk to a meal and are low carb while not being 'no carb'.

I quit bread, pasta, rice, potatoes along with most sugary & sweet food including fruit. My energy levels went through the roof as my body was no longer struggling to deal with glucose. Over the last 7 months I've dropped to borderline not diabetic/ pre-diabetic HBa1C levels.

Take a look at books by the Caldesi's www.caldesi.com/about/giancarlos-story/. They have developed a healthy eating approach which fills you up.

Can you eat nuts? I find a few nuts are a surprisingly filling snack that dont spike my bood sugar. But please do check they are ok for pre diabetics.

Also up healthy fats not just protein as they can make you feel fuller too.

Are you drinking enough?

Yeh drinking lots of water.

Yeh I can eat nuts.

It's so horrible feeling hungry and just feeling unsure what to eat.

Are you testing your sugar levels, they're not low are they

Talk to your GP, they can check your bloods to see what’s going on, and refer you to a dietician to help you find an eating plan that works for you.

Thank you. I have no idea what my sugar levels are, only my hbac1 level.

Try sweet potatoes, Ive just told my diabetic daughter about them after reading up on them. They fill you up like normal potatoes but have a much lower GI count so wont make your blood sugars go up as high, plus they have loads of other vitamins & good stuff in than normal potatoes

Horrible shaky hunger - sounds like it could be hypos. You need to get a finger pricker so you can monitor it.

Thank you. Do I get a finger pricker from my doctors?

You can ask your surgery for one; if they won't you can buy them online or in pharmacies
I've felt similar with hyperglycaemia tbf.

If you are newly diagnosed and have been told to control it with diet then I presume it is type 2. This does not cause hypos (low blood sugars) unless you have been given medication especially insulin’s that may reduce your sugars. So do not worry that your sugars are dangerously low. There is lots of work showing that a low carb way of eating can put diabetes in remission for some newly diagnosed people. Have a google of Prof Roy Taylor Newcastlefor more information.

@cheeseisthebest what was your HbA1c level?

Have they started you on any meds? They might be taking your blood sugars a bit low.

How long have you been doing this diet for? In my experience the way you are feeling is your body withdrawing from reliance on the fast energy it is used to getting from carbs.

Agree nuts are a great snack to take the edge off in this phase.

Once your body gets used to burning fat from the foods you are eating rather than carbs you'll feel much better.

Could you borrow Michael Moseley's Fast 800 books from the library? They explain this really well.

Good luck OP.

Thank you. Level was 48. Not on any medication.

Can you speak to the diabetic midwives? I struggled with this at the beginning as I was too scared to eat, but did get the hang of it after a while. The gestational diabetes website is a good one to look at for ideas.

But you do need to speak to midwives about getting a monitor - you should be monitoring 1hr after each meal!

Thanks, I'm not pregnant??

I agree it's the sugar withdrawal. You will get over it. Good diabetic snack is apple slices and peanut butter. Or nuts (almonds are better than peanuts/cashews). Better still, once you get over this hunger, is fasting between meals. This will help you lose weight and that will help the diabetes. I think 48 is borderline, which is why you control this with diet/exercise rather than medication.

There are some good cook books on Amazon for type 2 diabetes.

Aren't apples full of sugar?

48 is the lowest level that is diagnosed as diabetic. Good job it has been picked up so early. Diet doctor website also has lots of delicious low carb recipes, good luck. The Roy Taylor work suggests losing 15kg is enough to prompt remission. His book Life without Diabetes is a good read

Thank you