What to Eat?!

When I was first diagnosed with high blood sugar a dozen years ago, my first endocrinologist (diabetes specialist) sent me for nutritional counseling and suggested I eat more vegetables, fewer desserts, and walk 45 minutes - or 10,000 steps - a day. I also began the daily ritual of testing my fasting glucose levels before eating my first meal of the day.

In the ensuing years, I've continued to monitor my eating and test my blood. I've read books on dozens of approaches that may help control insulin resistance, which type 2 diabetes is sometimes called.

"Eat Protein!"

For a few years, I read nutritional labels to make sure every snack included 10 grams of protein and every meal contained 20 grams. I also read that every snack should be a protein snack (not a carb-heavy one, like a cinnamon bun!) but recently I read that too much protein is bad... What is now considered "too much" protein? Is it the massive amounts of powdered protein that body builders consume? I try to keep my foods "natural" and "real"!

Vegan Diet?!

A few months ago, another diabetes specialist sent to a nutritional counselor who recommended a vegan diet - no meat, eggs or dairy... Just vegetables... I tried it and consumed lots of homemade vegetable bean soup. The first time I tried it for three days, I had impressive results. My blood sugar levels dropped dramatically. The second and third times, there was little or no change in my daily fasting glucose readings...

What happened? Was I not committed enough?!

Unfortunately, because type 2 diabetes (or insulin resistance) is affected by food, I tend to blame myself a lot. All my eating experiments have taught me that that I really can't stick to an eating style that doesn't include the foods I enjoy. Also, those I eat with (usually my family) have to go along with my food choices, or the plan won't work for long.

Having read books with opposing ideas, I know that researchers aren't completely clear about what makes up a healthy diet, especially for those of us predisposed to insulin resistance. But I do think that my first doctor - now long retired - was right when he suggested more veggies and 10,000 steps a day. I'm glad that warm weather is here so that I can go out walking again!