Questions to those who know about controlling diabetes?

Question

A family member of mine is diabetic. I am not an expert on the type of a diet diabetics should keep to maintain their health, but I do know that sugar and carbs are to be limited. I was wondering, for a type 2 diabetic, how much sugar and carbs is considered "ok" to consume daily without getting complications from doing so? I am concerned about this family member because I often see her chew "sugarless" gum which has sugar additives, and eat things like regular cookies, jam, and add sugar to tea, etc. I'm not sure how much sugar and carbs she should be limiting herself to, but her current diet seems to be way off and I'm worried for her health. When I confronted her about eating the cookies, she told me that she ate a couple and that there can't possibly be a relevant amount of sugar in a few cookies. When it comes to "sugarless" gum, she says that because it says sugarless, then she can eat it - but don't sugar additives also affect diabetes? I would appreciate some advice.

Answer 1

Sugarless gum is the least of all her and your worries. Usually 30g is about the limit of what's recommended for carbs at each of 3 meals/day and 2-3 smaller snacks. Two slices of bread is over 30g of carbs for example. I wouldn't worry about the jam so much. Sugar in tea needs to stop immediately. Either use a sugar substitute, or go w/out. I will say this about cookies: I allow myself 1 cookie a day so that I don't eat the entire package. A life of entire deprivation will not work for anyone. Unfortunately, denial is a HUGE component of this disease. So is discipline. Do you know what her sugars are running? If they're much above 130-150, she's completely out of control, and kidding herself. She can and will lose her feet, her health, her teeth and her eyesight from out of control diabetes. I've been diagnosed diabetic for the last 11 1/2 years, and it is believed I was diabetic for at least 6 years before that. I was thirty-two when diagnosed and pregnant w/ my second child. I was NOT overweight at all, and I am trained as a natural foods chef and as a massage therapist. I am told I more closely resemble a late-onset Type I diabetic. It has taken me all that time to get out of denial about my disease. I tried for many years to heal it naturopathically (that is, with diet, exercise and supplements, both vitamins, herbs and homeopathy). Didn't work. I am very, very good about taking my medicine, and usually about taking my blood sugars, when my meter isn't broken. Exercise is the missing component for me, but in my defense, as a working single mother w/ a disabled child w/ no L foot, when exactly am I supposed to be able to fit exercise in??? Back to your relative: What helps/helped me most is to keep reading the diabetic info, visiting the websites, to have family that cares (nags.), and to realize how very, very much I want to keep my feet and eyesight. I can also remember how incredibly sick I was while I was not on my medicine and trying to heal this intractible condition naturopathically. My blood sugars were in the 600-900 range, all day, every day for months. It is amazing my children and I are all still alive and well. By the way, there IS a relevant amount of sugar in a "couple of cookies", so don't let her get away with that rationalization. It's BS. Take her to a website, or buy her a calorie/carb counter and either you keep a log of what she eats or have her do so. It's amazing when we actually take a look at what we're really eating, and tell ourselves the truth about it. On a good note, she can have ALL the veggies and salsa and dill pickles she wants in the world, as well as lean forms of protein. Another good note is that if she follows a diabetic diet very carefully, she should lose weight.

Good luck to the both of you, and many blessings of health and well-being in the years to come! It is good she has someone like you in her life, she'll will need your love and care and support.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

We diabetics are addicted to sugar and carbohydrates just like an alcoholic is to alcohol. She is using the stereotyped excuses that many diabetics use to their own demise. Sugarless gum is OK. The cookies are a big No-No. Many things can be duplicated with sugar substitutes but even then the carbohydrate count is usually too high. Some people have poor results with some of the split sugars like Splenda so you have to be careful. Sounds like a class with a dietitian is in order and maybe you could go with her as a family member to make sure she doesn't manipulate what she learns to defeat the intent.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Hi! Basically everyone who is answering your question is absolutely correct. I have been a Type 2 (luckily)(pills) since 1993. It was rough at first-but then after 'accepting' it. Back in 2002, I lost my right leg above the knee-and accepted that also. They have a thing called the 'Glycemic Index' which shows how many calories, sugar content, etc. Like people said above me for instance: white bread, potato's, are bad for you. Wheat breads and other wheat products are the best. The people above me told you all the stuff that you need to know. However, blood sugar monitoring is essential. At least twice a day. 80-130 is good when you first wake up. Usually, 2 hours after lunch-less than 160 is normal.....Alcohol is bad since it turns into sugar. That's why I read the labels on everything I buy-weird but true. Saturated Fat is BAD for you. Mono saturated/Polyunsaturated are fine. Trans Fat is Bad for you. But then I ain't no saint either. I have my bottle of Coke on Sat. when I watch 'COPS'. You have to cheat some where or else you will go crazy. Your family member can chew sugarless gum (it depends on how much he/she chews though), but she needs to eat sugar free cookies. But when you look at the sugarless cookies, they are made with Alcohol sugars. I am still normal weight-can't lose or gain any weight. (164 lbs.). I could go on and on with this stuff-but you have a general idea what it is like. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBER!!! Take Care and Good Luck!

Answer 6

^I'm giving you the basis for a healthy eating plan, she needs to make an appointment with a nutritionist, she needs to make a list of what she's eating and bring it with her, that way they can go over her diet and make suggestions and some changes where necessary that she can live with. She needs to watch her carbohydrate intake she can discuss this with her doctor or nutritionist she needs to know how many carbs she can have per meal or snack, this can vary from person to person. It's better to eat 5 or 6 smalls a day to help keep your glucose (sugar) stable .


Whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and poultry. Stay away from the white stuff as much as possible, sugar, white bread, white potatoes, white flour, white rice etc. eat fresh fruit instead of juice. The less processed and closer to nature the food the better. Whole grain breads, whole grain wheat flour, brown rice and sweet potatoes are healthier choices. Exercise is also important

Your family member should have a good team working with her including, an endocrinologist, diabetes teacher, as well as a nutritionist. Of course she needs to take her medications and her glucose (blood sugar) as prescribed by her doctor.

Her doctor should do these blood tests, kidney function, and an A1C every three months as well as general blood work. An A1C test gives your average glucose levels for the past three months. Having her eyes examined is very important and dental, diabetes have to take good care of their teeth and gums as well.

She is allowed some sugar, but in moderation, as well as other foods. The sugar in sugar free gum is sugar alcohol and does not metabolize like regular sugar, so she can chew sugar free gum. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Ok here it is. Eveything has sugar in it. There are things at the store such as sugarless whatever. that does not mean sugarless hardly anything does not have sugar to a point. or maybe it has salt. which is bad for diabetics cause it will cause the high blood pressure to go up. but this is it. its your intake of the stuff. if she really craves sweets the best thing for her is peanut butter and jelly. it does stop the craving and its good. peanut butter not diabetic ones. they are the same one is higher cost. i have checked. i have also checked jellies and jams. the best taking ones are generally less sugar in most cases. yep, its true. the diabetic jellies are horrible and cost more has more sugar also. she should eat 3 oz of meat a serving. she can eat as many veggies and she can eat. leaving out or eating very little corn. anything with starch. starch is potaoes, rice. you can have abit of these but maybe a table spoon. if her blood is controled she just has to watch the amounts. she can eat anything really but its the amount. shes joking to say that cookies areok they arenot. if she ate 6 small meals a day would be the best way to go. i am contolled and it took retiring. my blood looks very normal on scales if you saw only that not medications i take. i have a speciliat watching me its the best way to go. you have to take your blood sugars 4 x day. it has to be 100 or less otherwise bugs the heart,livier lungs etc. You should eat lots of fruit during the day. say eat a toast and cup coffee if you like all in it use equal. that is sugar for you. anything you want more sweet us that. then 2 hours later have a fruit (apple, orange, plum etc) then noon you have lunch. eat a slice of bread and one slice cold cut or whatever and maybe celery carrots etc.) then you go about 2pm eat something else. could be chips small bag. then you eat supper 5pm salad, even dressing you can have rgular. and something 3oz meat grilled boiled or anything not fried. eat very little fried anything . then at nite have something to eat crackers cheeze and stuff like that. but not to stuffyourself. but read your blood with blood machine lots and if she has high sugar especially read it 3am in the morning that is when the most trouble comes and if its high or low you can fix it with sugar (2 tsp) and orance jucie will bring it up orlower not sure what to do then. good luck

Answer 9

Ah, Yes!! the concerned little know nothing diabetes advisor!!!

Yes, I meant that as a derrogatory term.

I have had people snatch my cookie from my tongue!! I despise them and all others who would control what I eat.

Perhaps your family member needs the boost a cookie will give her?? When my sugar levels drop, I will drink a regular coke!! I will eat a regular candy bar!!

Sugar does not bother me as much as white flour or rices do. I never eat bananas or oranges. but my cookies are often replaced by busy bodies with such things.

Quit worrying a dead horse!! If you had the diabetes and someone kept removing your sugar bowl, you would tell them to go fly, Let your family member manage her own dietary requirements.

Most of us make adjustments to our food plans to include the occasional cookie, bowl of regular ice cream, and real sugar in our tea!!

I just got my daughter into her own apartment after being in my house advising me on my food plan most of the summer. What a relief!!! She kept trying to feed me high pasta things with no sweets at all! And my granddaughter kept saying that her other grand couldn't have his chocolate that he loved because he is diabetic!!

DO NOT TAKE MY BITE OF DARK CHOCOLATE AWAY FROM ME!!!

Answer 10

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