Newly diagnosed T2D at 51 years old

[TulipsandButterflies]

Hi,
I have just been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes so will be lurking this board for ideas on a better diet. I am a terrible sweet tooth (cake/chocolate) so it’s no surprise really and I feel bad about it. I am going through a long divorce and had other things going on in my life over the last 2-3 years so I think my comfort has been sweet things for a bit too long. I’m not particularly overweight (a bit around the middle) but my mum (RIP) and older brothers had it too.
I have to see the diabetic nurse in a couple of weeks. I’ve already stopped the cake and chocolate. I’m eating carrots! I’m having more salad and stir fry with things like grilled chicken and tuna.
If anyone can give me a list of things I can freely snack on that’d be great.
The nurse said my level is 49 and normal is 42 so not sure what the significance of that is.
I’m going to search for another job too as my current role, of 2.5 years, is office based (which I haven’t done before), and is very hard work! My stress levels have increased due to an unmanageable workload and dealing with problems and staff morale so it has had a negative effect on me. I think this has contributed to the above!
The nurse also said my blood pressure was slightly high. Again, stress of the job!!
I am 51 and female.
Hoping I can reverse this.
Meal ideas most welcome . I hate cooking.

Oh, I have been extremely thirsty and peeing more for about 3 years so it’s likely I have been tinkering being diabetic for a while. Thirst was more at night but now all day too! I thought it was menopause as I have also been going through that too!

Levels last year were in the pre diabetic range.

After a short period of grieving for all my favourite foods. I was actually quite distraught about the whole thing. Like you, I concentrated on what I could eat. I brought my hba1c down to not diabetic within a year, starting from about 67.

Things I found useful:
Jason Fung, diabetic code + YouTube
Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) - one of the UK diabetes forums talks about this but also YouTube
16:8 restricted time eating
Blood glucose meter + testing before and 2 hours after first bite - to see how foods affected me (e.g. plain white rice is no go for me, special fried rice okay occasionally) unfortunately NHS mostly won't prescribe so self funded.
Diabetes app to log food and blood glucose levels - you can do this in a notebook if that works better for you.

I won't lie it probably helped that I was diagnosed just before COVID so temptations were mostly removed. But using all the above brought my hba1c and fasting glucose down to the level where I can now eat some of my favourite foods again, although I still have to learn moderation. I'm just waiting on the free trial of a continuous glucose monitor to make myself be more mindful again about what I'm eating.

It'll take you a while to really get the hang of it because there is just so much information (differing views too), so just start with one aspect - whichever sounds easiest for you.

I think I’d like to still eat my favourite foods but not until I’m back within normal range and I must only have them in moderation. My downfall has been those large chocolate bars for £1 in the supermarkets. Big fail! I have stopped this now and have stopped eating chocolate all together.
My hba1c level was 49 so just into the diabetic range. I’m hoping I can drop it below this within a few months. I think I will
as I know I was piggy with cakes and chocolate. Chocolate muffin most days etc.! I’m eating more salads and have cut out pasta and bread too.

I have also taken out swimming membership so that’ll force me to go swimming more often. And. I’m about to go for a long walk!!

I see the diabetes nurse on the 28th so see what she says!

I get really thirsty though! I honestly thought it was menopause symptoms.

49 is only just in the diabetic range so it should be fairly easy to get down a couple of points if you go easy on the carbs and chocolate. Good luck.

You are only just diabetic so can probably reverse. I reverses mine but have failed into a chocolate hole again.

I meant fallen into

That’s what I’m hoping for. I just need to watch what I’m eating!

Chocolate is so addictive!!

I find that ONE piece of Lindt 70% dark satisfies all my chocolate cravings ! Used to have tea and cake every afternoon - now have tea and handful of cashew nuts . Yummy.

I’ll try some of that 70% chocolate 🍫

See if you can get on an EMPOWER course or whatever your local Health authority provides. I did one on Friday and it validated what i have been doing. My Ha1bc was 106 and now 41 so not even in prediabetic range but i am still in diabetic. as i am on insulin but only a low dose now. i have halved my dose of insulin. I am also on metformin. I should have done the course a year ago when i was first diagnosed, but i slipped through the cracks. Everyone else on the course were only weeks/month into their diagnosis
I stick to low sugar ie try to keep to under 25g a day of added sugars, but dont bother with low carb the advice is 130 to 150 gms a day of carbs
swapped to wholegrains , sweet potato more than ordinary potatoes, brown rice and grains and pasta etc
no juice or sweetened drinks etc but i have found some really good flavored sparkling waters or add bitters to sparkling water

Have a look at the Gestational Diabetes UK website. The diet you have to follow for it really helps with type2 as it's basically the same - glucose intolerance/insulin resistance.
There are some amazing v low carb and zero carb recipes and snack ideas on there.
Eat small thing six times a day instead of three big meals.
Drink lots of water.
Good luck! You've just reminded me that I really must get my HBA1C done.

I’ve just bought some 70% Lindt chocolate and tried it. It’s quite nice and I can tolerate it (a square a day) better than the 85% one I got from Lidl (yuk).

Following as just been told I'm pre-diabetic