Give Peas a Chance
In the week or so since that diabetes diagnosis, things have changed. I’ve already mentioned getting back on the bike, and I’m pleased with how that’s going – half an hour now, including some high intensity bits – and putting a bit more oomph into my regular walks.
Two things have changed the way I look at things, though. One was a comment on Diabetes.org,uk about restricting free sugars (ie added sugars) to less than 30g per day. I’ve taken this to heart and am more conscious of checking labels. This has had a direct consequence for the likes of biscuits – a single Tunnocks Dark Chocolate Caramel Wafer is around 10% of the daily free sugar allowance, so I’ve only had one in the past week. Otherwise my daily free sugar intake has dropped to near-zero.
The second thing I did, which paid dividends, was to put out a request on Twitter for advice from others in the same position. I had one person send me a list of recipes, which I haven’t tried yet but intend to, and I had a reply from Rob Chapman, with whom I exchange occasional tweets. (This is Rob, lead singer for a time with the Glaxo Babies). Rob’s advice (edited here) was,
Cut right down on the carbs esp bread cakes pasta spuds. Try and have a couple of carb free days a week. Exercise regularly too. Eat fruit in the morning, not in the evening. Try and avoid eating at all after about 6-7 pm. The key is moderation, no need to go mad extreme over anything.
My response, so far, has been to switch my breakfast to porridge made with oat milk with added fruit and a teaspoon of homemade jam (that’s my other free sugar in the day), snack on nuts and apples, and have as close to a carb-free lunch as possible. I aim to switch to the two carb-free days a week soon.
I have my first visit to the diabetic clinic at our local GP practice next week, and I’m hoping that by then there will have been some measurable change in my weight and glucose levels.
Music? Why not. From the funniest band I ever accidentally saw live in a folk club.
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