Diet woes with Type 2 Diabetes. Too many conflicting diets.

We are each unique in what kind of health related issues that we experience, as well as how our own body has its own needs and responses. (How many times have we heard that!) Here is information that can apply to everyone of us from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Featured topics include General Nutrition, Diabetes, Digestive Diseases, Chronic Kidney Disease, and a link to more diet and nutrition information. You can find a wide range of nutrition information for diabetes and CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease).

- If you click on this link you will be taken to NIH
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diet-nutrition
I have bookmarked this site for myself! I encourage you to do the same. I invite you to share something that you learned that you feel will be helpful to you, because that is how we can support each other. Who wants to go first?

@denny2019, @dorisena, @trishanna, Do you have anything you would be comfortable to add to the conversation?

I have a friend who is using turmeric/curcumin and says it has helped her. I have read about it and see no ill effects, so I may try that. Her sister uses it also and both have had good results. It's not 100% but relief to be able to get around. Have you ever used that? It sounds harmless enough since it's used in curry, and it has good reviews.
Carol

I have been taking turmeric for some time and don't know if it has made a difference or I am getting better with the pain from my last surgery. My shoulders don't hurt much during the day and I am no longer running to get the IceyHot for relief. So it is an easy home remedy for pain in my view. I have been reading about the CBD stuff out which claims to have no marijuana in it, but I am not accepting that idea because I know, from growing all kind of plants on the farm, that the amount of nutrients or chemicals in a plant vary depending on the weather and growth of the plant. I wouldn't trust the potency of any plant grown item, even sage, or parsley, or other commonly used herbs in the kitchen. With oregano, I just dump a lot in because I like the flavor. I never measure.
Perhaps if I grew the marijuana myself and observed the growth and then tested it, I might change my mind. But I am not going to do that, of course.
I take meds prescribed by my doctor which have side effects and I argue with him about that. We need to be careful if we want to be sure we are avoiding problems for the future. I am not that miserable, yet. Dorisena

@retiredteacher I have not used turmeric, does your friend drink it or put it on food? I have made golden milk that uses turmeric.

I did find some relief for sore shins from a CBD cream that I bought at Whole Foods. I had walked for too long on the treadmill. Per my transplant team, I should not ingest CBD but it is OK to use it topically.
JK

@contentandwell JK, it's a capsule taken twice a day. There are many brands. She told me what to look for so I would get what her dr. recommended when she started taking it. She says it does help her and her sister. As soon as I get to the pharmacy, I'm going to give it a try.
Carol

Thanks, I am glad to know more about CBD. My friend insists it is safe and she has no knowledge but word of mouth to go by. I am not going to trust her opinion when she has not used it herself and is not in a position to know the facts. Dorisena

When it comes to neurological deficits, I have studied much for many years since my mother had her debilitating stroke and my husband went downhill with obvious dementia which was never diagnosed or treated. I would rather do exercise for my brain than worry about losing it. So I keep at the Soduku puzzles every day and if I can get through them, it is a good day whether or not my bank book gets balanced. I don't get out enough to overdraw my accounts. And I gave up wine because of the diabetes. It is good that I like math because I think exercise is good for the brain. Dorisena

@retiredteacher I will look into that. I think a little in milk is fine for me but when you get to a larger amount as in capsules I definitely feel the need to check with transplant.
JK

Diabetes can be very serious if not regulated properly. The main culprit is sugar. I am a RN and work in a hospital where the dietitian gives the diabetics a regular diet only in smaller portions. Make sure you have a small snack in between meals. There should be a diabetic clinic in your hospital where they educate you on the names of different sugars to be aware of. You need some sugar for energy but you have to look at the labels on foods to see how much carbs or sugar is in a serving. Gaining weight is not good, exercising at your own rate can really help with your sugars labels. The less insulin you need the better for your overall health. Hope this helps some.

Take some time and update your home recipes so that they conform to good fats (like olive oil), add in another serving of green vegetables to the meal, remove or use a sugar substitute (not aspartame), buy the ketchup without the high fructose corn syrup, reduce the amount of meat you add to stir fries, spaghetti, etc. If you like breaded meats, use olive oil instead of egg/milk. Small changes can have large effects. The Diabetic D-Tour, Weight Watchers cook books and Terry Wahls may have good ideas you can incorporate without creating an entirely new diet. I found Hero Dinners: Complete One-Pan Meals That Save the Day at the library and there were several recipes there that we have incorporated. I took a pre-diabetic course and it was enlightening and even lost weight on it: the knowledge really lasted.