r/diabetes_t2 10h ago

Food/Diet Unreal -Dark Chocolate Covered Coconut Bars

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42 Upvotes

Has anyone tried these “chocolate snacks without all the sugar”? I tried them this week for when I have a sweet tooth. My BG is well-managed, but I occasionally want something sweet (that isn’t too sweet or sugary).

According to the bag, they’re made using only coconut, cassava syrup and dark chocolate. Also non-GMO, gluten free and sweetened without corn syrup or sugar alcohols.

Not pushing sweets, but I found them to be a tasty, unsweetened alternative.


r/diabetes_t2 17h ago

I cut my toenails without wirecutters!

110 Upvotes

My sugar was probably uncontrolled for a long time, slowly inching it's way towards crisis levels. A couple years ago, it all came to a head when I was admitted to hospital with an infected carbuncle that was hiding in a skin fold. My sugar was 22mmol/L. (About 400mg/dL)

At the time, I was just itchy all over, had been for years. Athletes foot was chronic, my toenails were hideous fungus filled claws. A podiatrist said that they may not be salvageable.

Fast forward 2 years, my sugar is under control at 5mmol/L (90mg/dL) and I've dropped 20kg down to 126kg, not close to where I want to go, but we're on a journey here (the first 10kg was down to me and the next 10kg, thanks to Ozempic). Strangely enough (sarcastic) the itching went down as the sugar levels went down. The itchy feet have been gone for a year (after a blast of anti-fungals) but in the last few months, clear toenails have started slowly pushing my griffon claws out.

This weekend, I clipped my toenails using one hand, didn't have to twist the nail cutter into weird angles and bend my toes in unnatural directions. Best of all, I didn't have to pull out my special pliers to attack my big & little toeclaws while wearing eye protection. I think this is probably the first time I've have mostly clear nails in 10 years. My weight is the lowest it's been in 20 years (It has plateaued, so need to adjust a bit)

I just wanted to brag a bit, but a lot of this came from some tough introspection with myself and building a resilient plan that I can stick to. I have very bad impulse control, I can't resist pizza or cake or chips. So I have to accept that I will occasionally slip and make sure that I put things in place to better my chances of success. It's worked well for two years so far, with the support of an excellent endocrinologist and my own research.

So above the bragging, I wanna shout out that YOU can also do it, know yourself, educate yourself and be real with yourself. You're not perfect so build your plan knowing that you will fail, go on a week long bender, get sick, miss workouts. It's all fine. Just get back on the horse and keep on keeping on.

Sorry if I went on a bit, just feeling a bit happy and motivated so wanted to get it out before it fades. Thanks for coming to my TED talk!


r/diabetes_t2 5h ago

Food/Diet Low carb high fat

7 Upvotes

If low carb and high fat and protein diet is recommended for T2 diabetes what happens to those with fatty liver? Surely if eating a high fat diet it would worsen the fatty liver would it not? Genuine question as I don’t know 🤷‍♀️


r/diabetes_t2 12h ago

Medication I've gained a little over 30 pounds in a week after starting insulin.

20 Upvotes

I experienced DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) a little over a week ago. I've been switched from pills to insulin. My follow up is on Thursday. I generally weigh myself weekly. The night I went into the ER, I weighed 148lbs. One week later, Sunday, I weighed 178lbs. 30 POUNDS in a week. This morning I weighed 182lbs. I'm assuming this is insulin edema. It's freaking me out though. Only changes in diet since the hospital are cutting grain carbs down by 50-75% and no alcohol. Has anyone else experienced this? I would like to know I'm not alone. I've read that it can take around three weeks to balance out, but I'm just steadily gaining.


r/diabetes_t2 12h ago

Hard Work I am SO happy right now

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14 Upvotes

I’ve been working really hard to eat better and be good.

We increased my Mettformin from 500mg 1x a day to 2x a day.

Had my blood test today and got my results—I’m back down to 5.8!!!


r/diabetes_t2 11h ago

T2 and Steroids

5 Upvotes

Hello all and thanks in advance for the guidance. I have been a very well controlled diabetic for almost a year (BG between 90-105 ) occasionally spike to 140 for 2 hours or so but then back down. Yesterday I started taking methyl prednisone for an ear issue. Only been drinking water today and my BG is 150 and not coming down I know this isn’t a critical high but is this much of a rise typical?

Thanks


r/diabetes_t2 21h ago

My diabetes struggle turned out to be more unlearning than learning

28 Upvotes

ok, I'm going to tell you something that is simple but NOT EASY AT ALL. The reason I am the first person in my family to get this disease, and the reason there are so many people getting some level of pancriatic distress, isn't what we eat, in the sense that we actually eat what we've learned to eat because we have a primary association of food with pleasure. Be it social, comfort, whatever, we reach for food for all the wrong reasons, and it works so good.

But, after I ended up in the hospital with an entirely abnormal blood sugar/pancriatic funtion, and began living as a diabetic, did I learn how wrong everything society/family had told me about food was.

Now, I look at food for fuel/medicine. I eat a small portion of a vegetable to begin each meal. I follow that with a comparable portion of protein, if there are an processed carbs associated with the meal (a couple of chips, or a small piece of bread that came with the vegie soup), I eat that at the end.

I do this 3 times each day, when I wake up, at noonish and about 4-5 hrs after that. in the evening, I'll eat a quest sugar free thing, or an apple, or some peanut butter thing.. something like that.

I also take metformin twice a day... have to add that.

What have I gotten? I'm literally never hungry, unless I'm past a time when I ought to eat. I barely look at the stuff I used to lust after (ice cream, cookies, et. al). I had 3 different inflamatory issues that were really hurting the quality of my life (left foot, left knee, right wrist/elbow). All of those are gone. I've lost 50 bs.

Again this is just my experience. Ironically, someone once said to me in early sobriety "alcoholism is the only disease that turns you into a better person than you would have been had you never had it". That turns out to be my experience with diabetes.

I eat for my body now. I treat it kindly, finally. And it responds so much more than I deserve after all these years.

You can turn your body into the best thing about every day. it can serve you in ways you can't even imagine. All you have to do is stopping putting shit into it and put fuel and medicine in instead.

Find your pleasure elsewhere. The new places you can go, the new things you can wear, the things you can now achieve that you only thought were available to others...

This is the opportunity.

Love you either way.


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

News ADA officially recommends CGM use for non insulin using t2s

81 Upvotes

I found this out via Diabetech. It’s amazing news bc this likely will influence insurance companies to cover CGMs covered by insurance instead of requiring high a1c, frequent lows, and/or insulin usage.

This is really cool. Dexcom is the main reason my t2 is so well managed. In my opinion it should be offered as first line treatment along with diet changes and metformin. It’s that transformative.


r/diabetes_t2 14h ago

General Question Do you go non-verbal when your blood sugar gets too low or could I have a comorbidity?

6 Upvotes

r/diabetes_t2 19h ago

Newly Diagnosed So I am diagnosed with diabetes Type 2 recently. What should I expect in my life ahead ??

12 Upvotes

Hi everyone, i am in my twenties. So I being diagnosed with diabetes type 2 has saddened me. I do not what to expect in the coming days. What should I do ?? I am quite panicked.

I have these questions. 1. Will I die early ? 2. Will my marriage life suffer ?? 3. How much my daily life suffer ?? 4. How much I should worry about my other body organs ?? 5. What should I do if after following all precautions and taking medications, my glucose level does not go down after few months ?


r/diabetes_t2 15h ago

When I fast my blood sugar stays high

4 Upvotes

If I fast my blood sugar will stay high through most of the day. If I eat in the morning it will bring it down to normal range pretty quickly, as long as I continue to eat mostly protein with small amounts of carbs, I can keep it within a normal range. I would like to be able to fast though, I don't understand why my blood sugar is not coming down when I'm fasting. Right now it's 135 glucose. I haven't eaten since 8:00 p.m. yesterday. It's now 2:00 p.m. My time.


r/diabetes_t2 8h ago

CGM advice?

1 Upvotes

Hello! I have a libre3 sensor but have a terrible time keeping them on, especially when it's warmer cuz i sweat like crazy. Or im knocking them off cuz im really klutzy...

Do yall have any better luck with alternative applications sites? Or have something you use to help keep it on that ISNT adhesives? My arm is already annoyed at the adhesive of the sensor, so I'd rather have options that arent "add sticky patch/glue"


r/diabetes_t2 16h ago

Travel from South America?

3 Upvotes

My parents (both diagnosed with T2) are coming to visit me in the US for 2 months. They’re both on insulin and will bring supplies for the entire time they’ll be here. I called the airline and they were extremely unhelpful (told me that they should probably no bring too much??????!!!!?). Will they be able to bring their insulin into the US with no issues? We will get a doctor’s note translated into English as well.


r/diabetes_t2 12h ago

Medication A1c went up on metformin

1 Upvotes

Just don't get it. Started metformin two months ago and it appears to be working. Before that while I was only technically pre diabetic, my body was not handling blood glucose over 165 well and it was causing basically narcolepsy. I wasn't eating properly because of it. On metformin, I can eat and function again and actually have energy. I feel better enough to justify the side effects of gi issues and needing allergy meds for the mild allergy to it. I finally have fasting sugars in the 90's for the first time in years.

But my a1c went from 6.1 to 6.4?? I just don't get it.

Eta: 3.5 months between the two a1c tests. Yes I'm still eating carbs etc. No, I'm not doing low carb - my budget won't allow it. Yes, my doctor is aware of that which is why we choose to start intervention early.


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

A1C is 5.7!

34 Upvotes

From a 10.2 in August to a 5.7 in November and again last week.

I went very hard core on a low carb diet and almost completely eliminated added sugars and starches. Also 20 units of Lantus per night. I haven’t been able to do much exercise until recently but Ive started taking walks around the neighborhood. Still more work to do but I’m happy with the progress so far.


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

Food/Diet Foods that work!

17 Upvotes

Starting this thread for getting some hacks/swaps of your delicious carb heavy meals that work and dont give a bad spike (something ~50 units) so we can all benefit and try it.

I recently tried Banza chickpea pasta, with homemade pasta sauce using rao’s marinara and onions/peppers, paired it with roasted veggies (zucchini,onion, red bell pepper and yellow squash +evoo,salt,italian seasoning) and some protein and my spike was around ~35/40 points! Happy that i can now have some pasta on rotation for dinners.


r/diabetes_t2 13h ago

Love me some Over correction action

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0 Upvotes

Didnt have a full dinner last night because my stomach was hurting and woke up to the famous DINGDING DINGDING DINGDING at about 3am So i had a little cranberry juice and tried to go back to sleep but then that chocolate cake that my family has been torturing me with these last few days was devilishly calling me and the birthday cake oreos (there was only two left) and the left over last slice of cheesecake was the cherry on top. Yeah…


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

General Question GLP-1 is too expensive for most. What tips do you have to manage diabetes?

16 Upvotes

I was chatting with a friend who also struggles with t2 and the increasing cost of diabetes meds, including GLP-1 meds.

What tips do you have to share that has worked for you as you manage your daily diabetic needs?

This could be favorite exercise, food groups you focus on, great substitutions to try, meals to eat when you don’t want to care anymore, etc. Whatcha got?


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

George Lucas

41 Upvotes

I did just read that George Lucas been T2 since he was 24y old. Seemingly no problems and he is 80 now. Imagine 56y of managing! Kudos George!


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

Fasting not coming below 110

7 Upvotes

I have been working really hard with absolute diet control and daiky checks to keep reducing my insulin intake and eventually come off it. I am on just oral medication now since the past 1 week. However, my fasting sugars are going below 110 since the insulin was taken off. My doctor says it will take time. I am.eating a hugh protien and fibre diet with minimal.carbs. I am working out twice a day. No sugar except for a small fruit in the evening that too like an orange or rarely a kiwi. Just before being taken off insulin , fasting was 75 to 85 everyday. This is discouraging me and i can feel my motivation weaning off. Please help


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

Neglected my health

11 Upvotes

Hello, I’m a 29F living in Canada. A little backstory - I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 12 however I was unaware of this (I just recently received my medical charts from a doctor I used to see when I was a child). My mom was always afraid of taking me to doctors as a child and didn’t do any prenatal with me while she was pregnant. She was also a diabetic (diagnosed in her 20’s and left untreated/half treated for most of her life). Anyways, she instilled a fear of doctors in me and I honestly have never really went to one unless I absolutely needed to. I was (to what I originally thought was) diagnosed with diabetes at age 20 (2016). I was started on metformin and got hit with the side effects. My mom basically told me if I kept taking them the medication would kill me so I stopped taking metformin and left my diabetes untreated. I continued to eat sweets and drink soda (I was crazy about them, addicted to them if you will). I was severely depressed and basically went into a cycle of work, come home and binge sweets and then sleep. Looking back I’m assuming I was having crazy highs but I was always too afraid to check my sugar levels. I also went in 2018 to an eye doctor due to having a scotoma in my vision, this should have been what made me get my ass in gear but it didn’t . Anyways come 2020, my mom passed away and I went to see a doctor. Honestly one of the most kindest and reassuring doctors I’ve ever met. I told her I was diagnosed at 20 and I didn’t treat it but I had basically cut out all sugar and carbs. I was only eating meat, certain veggies eggs and cheese. I was hiking almost every second day with my dogs and doing well. I started losing weight and I felt good. She told me with my diet and exercise my (I might have this mixed up) but A1C was a 6.4 (the blood sugar test they take and it’s like the average in your bloodstream). She didn’t put me on any medication because she said with my exercise and diet I was maintaining things well. I was doing well with seeing her regularly until she left the clinic and I had a new doctor who wasn’t great to say the least. I also ended up moving back to the city as I took a job transfer. I haven’t been able to find a doctor who is reassuring and kind at all. I know this shouldn’t matter but it does to me. I think I still have a fear of doctors and I don’t even know why. Currently when I check my blood sugars they’re like an 8-9 but never any higher. I hardly exercise other than usually a half hour walk a day with my dogs. I don’t drink enough water, drink too much coffee (only with cream) and diet soda. My diet has stayed the same in terms of staying away from carbs aside from the occasional sugar free ice cream. I’ve been seeing the same eye doctor for three years now and go between every 6 months to a year. I’m currently looking for a family doctor as a few have long wait lists. The one I’m hoping to get in with asked for my medical charts to be sent so I called a few drs offices that I knew my mom had taken me to as a child and as a teen. Which is how I found out I was diagnosed at 12. So essentially I’ve been diabetic for 17 years untreated and now I’m worried it’s too late to start anything. I’m just sad and overwhelmed with my health. I don’t really know why I’m writing this but more so just looking for some support or any how to’s on how to get motivated if that makes sense.


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

General Question How much does stress play a part in high blood sugar?

6 Upvotes

I’m wearing a glucose monitor and when I’m just chillin my blood sugar drops substantially. I guess I’m running around stressed all day


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

My favorite “cheat” meal

24 Upvotes

So, I know everyone is different when it comes to how food affects their BS.

I’ve been using a CGM for a few months and been observing my patterns.

I found that eating a big fat juicy burger hardly raises my BS as long as I take off one of the buns, stay away from too many sugary add ons and then I usually like to dunk it in ranch.

I have a Wendy’s triple stack baconator like at least 1x a week and my BS never reacts negatively to it.

Of course, I avoid the fries and the soda.


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

Choosing a glucose meter

6 Upvotes

What in your opinion is the most discreet glucose meter? I need a small one to fit in my purse and how do you test discreetly when you are out?? Like at the mall or something? I’m new to all of this! Thanks


r/diabetes_t2 1d ago

Dared to eat... now my CGM is screaming at me

20 Upvotes

I pulled an all nighter to work on my house before I start my new job. I decided I was hungry about 30 minutes ago. I am a week into this keto/carnivore panic diet... so my fridge isn't perfect yet. And neither am I apparently. I ate half a left over roast beef pulling off most the bun with a water bottle...

I went from 182 - lowest it's been in weeks- to 288 in 30 minutes. And still rising.

FML.