starches needed?

I low carb. If I listened to what the dietitian told me, I would be seriously out of control. I have
been low carbing for about 3 years now, no problems with it at all. I don't eat most fruit,
sometimes some strawberries, or a small slice of cantaloupe, but not often. I do eat lots of green
veggies everyday though. Green peppers, cabbage, broccoli, spinach and so on. After awhile, you
really don't miss the other stuff like potatoes and thing like that. Good luck.

--
Cheri

[email hidden] wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

I am a type 2 on diet alone. I am trying an experiment for a couple of
days where I eat only vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, chicken, cheese,
fruit, and some fats/oils, and leave out all starches such as breads,
pasta, cereals, pototoes, and rice. I'm on day 3 and I've already
noticed my BG's don't spike as high after meals and generally are more
stable. I feel okay so far as well. I do not know if after say 2 or 3
weeks I can say the same though. I want to know if it is really

necessry

Quoted message said:

to have starch foods as I think they are the cause of my continuing
craving for carbs as in leaving them out now I notice I don't crave
anymore and do not need the snacks as much. Anyone done anything

similiar

Quoted message said:

with their diet and how did it go for you? I know dietitions will tell
you that you must have the starch foods but I wonder????

Margo

[email hidden] wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

I am a type 2 on diet alone. I am trying an experiment for a couple of days where I eat only
vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, chicken, cheese, fruit, and some fats/oils, and leave out all
starches such as breads, pasta, cereals, pototoes, and rice. I'm on day 3 and I've already noticed
my BG's don't spike as high after meals and generally are more stable. I feel okay so far as well.
I do not know if after say 2 or 3 weeks I can say the same though. I want to know if it is really
necessry to have starch foods as I think they are the cause of my continuing craving for carbs as
in leaving them out now I notice I don't crave anymore and do not need the snacks as much. Anyone
done anything similiar with their diet and how did it go for you? I know dietitions will tell you
that you must have the starch foods but I wonder????

Margo

We ration carbs. . .we aim for slowly-digesting carbs.

Fruits have a lot of carbs, e.g.

a. Many of us who can eat fruit can eat about 1/2 bananna

b About 3 grapes qualifies as a "diabetic snack"

But most us do very well with brown rice, wild rice, "sweet' potatoes and other low G.I. foods

(see explanation and list of G.I. values for foods at

mendosa.comgilists.htmOpen ↗

Otherwise, your comments on "starches" are appropriate. Many of us have come to the same
conclusions.

One rule-of-thumb:

The more carbs you wish to eat. . .the more meds you must take. . .the harder it is to
lose weight.

It's your life, you make the choices, not some dietician using a 1950's Handbook.

Regards
Old Al

() said:

I am a type 2 on diet alone. I am trying an experiment for a couple of days where I eat only
vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, chicken, cheese, fruit, and some fats/oils, and leave out all
starches such as breads, pasta, cereals, pototoes, and rice. I'm on day 3 and I've already noticed
my BG's don't spike as high after meals and generally are more stable. I feel okay so far as well.
I do not know if after say 2 or 3 weeks I can say the same though. I want to know if it is really
necessry to have starch foods as I think they are the cause of my continuing craving for carbs as
in leaving them out now I notice I don't crave anymore and do not need the snacks as much. Anyone
done anything similiar with their diet and how did it go for you? I know dietitions will tell you
that you must have the starch foods but I wonder????

Margo

Hi Margo In my opinion, not only are they safe to leave out, they are dangerous to bring back in any
significant quantity. I still eat them occasionally, but sparingly. I can't think of any benefit
they would give a diabetic. JMO.

Cheers Alan, T2, Oz dx May 2002, diet and exercise.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:lsVmb.9635$f7.514199@localhost...

Quoted message said:

I am a type 2 on diet alone. I am trying an experiment for a couple of days where I eat only
vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, chicken, cheese, fruit, and some fats/oils, and leave out all
starches such as breads, pasta, cereals, pototoes, and rice. I'm on day 3 and I've already noticed
my BG's don't spike as high after meals and generally are more stable. I feel okay so far as well.
I do not know if after say 2 or 3 weeks I can say the same though. I want to know if it is really
necessry to have starch foods as I think they are the cause of my continuing craving for carbs as
in leaving them out now I notice I don't crave anymore and do not need the snacks as much. Anyone
done anything similiar with their diet and how did it go for you? I know dietitions will tell you
that you must have the starch foods but I wonder????

I hope you are controlling with diet and exercise and not just diet. As far as starches go, not all
foods are the same. Brown rice is better for you than white rice. Whole wheat is better for you than
refined flour. I do not think it is wise to eliminate all of these foods entirely because they
contain vital nutrients.

Your numbers have come down simply because you are eating less carbs. It is carbs that raise BG. If
your numbers were too high before, you were either eating too many carbs or you need to be on meds.
Some people do low carb. This would never work for me. For one thing, I have a propensity for hypos
if I don't eat enough carbs. For another, I feel terrible on a low carb diet. And I hate most
protein foods. I also don't usually crave carbs or feel the need to snack.

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

I am a type 2 on diet alone. I am trying an experiment for a couple of days where I eat only
vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, chicken, cheese, fruit, and some fats/oils, and leave out all
starches such as breads, pasta, cereals, pototoes, and rice. I'm on day 3 and I've already noticed
my BG's don't spike as high after meals and generally are more stable. I feel okay so far as well.
I do not know if after say 2 or 3 weeks I can say the same though. I want to know if it is really
necessry to have starch foods as I think they are the cause of my continuing craving for carbs as
in leaving them out now I notice I don't crave anymore and do not need the snacks as much. Anyone
done anything similiar with their diet and how did it go for you? I know dietitions will tell you
that you must have the starch foods but I wonder????

Margo

Hi Margo,

I'm T2 diagnosed about a year ago. I take 8 mg Avandia and 2000 mg Glugophage XR daily. I also low
carb. I consume around 60 to 80 carbs per day and exercise daily - typically walk about 3 miles
every day. 60 to 80 carbs per day is not much. Typically a slice of bread is 15 carbs
- so you can get an idea. In the US it is very hard to eat this few carbs but you can if you watch
what you eat.

So to answer your question - to me it's a very simple formula - carbs=blood sugar. If you want lower
blood sugar consume fewer carbs. Now reality - even consuming no carbs does not work for some of us.
Therefore we also take medications like I described above. For some of us the meds don't work either
and we have to take insulin. I'm not at that point yet but if and when the time comes I will not
hesitate to start insulin. My goal is to keep my BG at normal levels and eliminate or reduce
diabetic complications.

Later, Jerry

() said:

I am a type 2 on diet alone. I am trying an experiment for a couple of days where I eat only
vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, chicken, cheese, fruit, and some fats/oils, and leave out all
starches such as breads, pasta, cereals, pototoes, and rice. I'm on day 3 and I've already noticed
my BG's don't spike as high after meals and generally are more stable. I feel okay so far as well.
I do not know if after say 2 or 3 weeks I can say the same though. I want to know if it is really
necessry to have starch foods as I think they are the cause of my continuing craving for carbs as
in leaving them out now I notice I don't crave anymore and do not need the snacks as much. Anyone
done anything similiar with their diet and how did it go for you? I know dietitions will tell you
that you must have the starch foods but I wonder????

Howdy Margo,

I have found that for me, as a type 2, I can pretty much keep my bg levels in line with a varied
and balanced diet. I suppose I have a bit more luck in eating carbs/starches, than a lot of the
people here. But I still watch they type and amounts that I eat, so that I do not get in the habit
of over doing it.

Personally I can eat most fruits, potatoes and pasta, just not in hugh amounts. and still have bg
level 2 hours very close to where I started before the meal, (normally in the 80 to 110 range). But
I won't have several carbs/starches in the same meal, nor will I have a day where that's all I'm
eating that day is carbs.

That old saying here in this group about becoming a skinny aerobic instructor, has a lot of merit as
far as type diabetes is concerned. Lose weight, eat right, (meaning eating in a way that best suits
you and your diabetes control), take your meds until you no longer need them, repeat.

One thing else I have found, if you set your goals for your diabetes control lower than the doctors
goals, ADA's goals, and any books goals, you will find that you may very well do a lot better. Is
this an iron clad 100% guarantee? Nope. But as you are finding out, if how you are eating is
helping you, and you are not having cravings,you are feelong better and not hungry most of the
time, you may as well keep it up for at the very least for the next 3 to 6 months and see how your
lab work turns out.

oldal4865 said:

Quoted message said:

other low G.I. foods

(see explanation and list of G.I. values for foods at

mendosa.comgilists.htmOpen ↗

The glycemic index and load are now at the following:
diabetes.about.comngilists.htmOpen ↗

Frank