Diabetes and Diet

My eye doctor today told me that my vision problems are due to diabetes.  I told him that I have never been diagnosed with diabetes by a medical doctor.  I had fasting labs done a few months ago because of hypothyroid.  My blood glucose at that time was 102mg/dl.  Is that high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes? I already have another appointment for fasting labs next month.  

I thought I would get a jump start on changing my eating habits but I can't figure out what I can eat.  Everytime I try to follow one of the diets in a magazine or on a website I end up with headaches that last for days. You see, I have multiple food allergies and everything that is supposedly "good" for me, I'm allergic to.  For instance, I'm allergic to 5 of the 7 grains, most fruits and vegetables.  I 've asked my PCP for a referral to someone who can help me with diet issues before but she just brushed me off.  I'm in an HMO, so maybe it's not a covered service.  So does anyone know where I can find a diet I can actually follow without getting sicker?

[Totie]

Look into your insurance and see if they will pay for a diet nurtionist.

Some insurances do, it would be considered like a wellness program.

They may be able to tell you what you should or should not be eating, etc. etc..

[Dian58]

I forgot to add that for the past 30 years I've gotten migraines whenever I've used artificial sweeteners.  I bought some Splenda because I thought it was a different kind of artificial sweetener.  I used it in my tea this morning and I can feel the headache coming on.  Also my cheeks and jaws are hurting, something that happens when I eat something I'm allergic to, so I guess the Splenda is out.  Can honey be used as a sugar substitute by diabetics?  I've also read about stevia but I've never seen it in the stores.  What is it?

[WaveRider]

Here's my 2 cents; For short periods fad diets work for a few people and fail with everyone else. The Glycemic Index [GI] has shown to be the guide for proper eating. Considering your food allergies you will have pick through the GI to find your right choices, and something I don't believe a nutritionist nor a dietitian can do better than yourself. http://www.glycemicindex.com/ .  

"My blood glucose at that time was 102mg/dl.  Is that high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes?
This is usually considered borderline diabetes. By borderline I mean the same blood sample can result in a ± [plus/minus] swing of 5 mg/dl either way. So your 102 could have been a 97 mg/dl making you normal. But, the fact is you're still teetering on borderline diabetes. Glucose levels are:
Normal is 70-99 mg/dl
prediabetes 100-122 mg/dl
type 2 diabetes above 124 mg/dl

So what should you do? The best test is called an A1c [HbA1c or hemoglobin A1c]. The A1c measures the average amount of glucose in your blood stream going back 3 months. Why go back 3 months? In short, new red blood cells live on average 3 months. Excess glucose binds to these new red cells until they die off. The A1c captures this and your results are presented in % [percentile]. Some labs say <7% while others have <6% [< = less than] being normal. Here's a link explaining the test http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003640.htm

Controlling and managing your glucose can be accomplished with proper foods, maintaining weight, stress management, proper amount of sleep, and moderate exercise.  Ask your doctor for good reliable home glucose test meter such as the Johnson & Johnson One Touch system. Test right before meals to get a baseline measurement and 2-3 hours after a meal when glucose in foods you're eaten reach their highest level in your blood stream. The latter is the best indicator of what foods do to your levels. Reduce or avoid those that do, increase those that do not. Pretty simple.

[WaveRider]

Our post crossed paths. Splenda [succralose] is sugar based but with an atom removed so it doesn't get absorbed in your intestines. Stevia is derived from a plant leaf and used in asian foods. It has an artificial sweetness flavor that some people enjoy while others dislike. Both are way better than aspartame.

Honey is definitely a no-no as it contains natural sugar: 1 Tbsp has 16 grams of sugar. Every 7 grams is equal to one heaping Tbsp of refined sugar. Google a food with the word nutrition following to get the sugar contents. ie; honey nutrition.

When consuming natural sugars [fruits] eat them with other foods to slow the absorption of glucose entering the body.

[Dian58]

Thanks for your help.