If you’ve just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one of the first things you might be worried about is food.
You’re likely to be faced with what seems like an endless list of new tasks. Medical appointments, taking medication, stopping smoking, being more active and eating a healthy, balanced diet – it can all seem so daunting and overwhelming. With so much to take in at once and all the myths about diabetes and food that you’ll probably hear, it can be hard to know what to do.
There is no such thing as a special diet exclusively for people with type 2 diabetes. No two people with diabetes are the same. So there isn’t a one-size-fits-all way of eating for everyone with diabetes.
It’s best to avoid foods labelled ‘diabetic’ or ‘suitable for diabetics’
Try and make changes to your food choices that are realistic and achievable so you’ll stick with them. This will be different for everyone, depending on what you eat now and the goals you want to achieve. Here are some examples of goals – think about yours and write them down if that helps:
- ‘I want to reach my target blood sugar level’
- ‘I want to reduce my cholesterol levels (blood fats)’
- ‘I want good blood pressure’
- ‘I want to be a healthy weight’
- ‘I want to be in diabetes remission’.
You’re more likely to achieve your goals if you get some support – whether that’s from your healthcare team, your family and friends or other people with diabetes. There are millions of people with type 2 diabetes wondering what they can eat – you’re not alone in this.
If you’re overweight, finding a way to lose weight has huge benefits. It can help you manage your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. And there’s strong evidence to suggest that losing extra weight can put your type 2 diabetes into remission. We know this is more likely nearer to you being diagnosed, so find out everything you can about remission and speak to your healthcare team about it.
All the support programmes listed below are FREE- if you’re having trouble deciding which is best for you please contact the surgery to discuss with a member of the health care team- this could be one of our doctors, practice nurses, pharmacists or health care assistants we’re all here to help you on your weight loss journey.
NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme
The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission has three-phases over one year – all at no cost to you:
1. You’ll follow a low calorie diet for 12 weeks – your choice of soups, shakes, and bars totalling 800-900 calories per day
2. You’ll gradually replace these products with healthy, tasty meals over six weeks
3. You’ll receive ongoing support for the last 8 months to help you maintain your weight loss.
Our trained Coaches will support you with easy-to-use tools and techniques to lose weight and keep it off. Each of the 21 in-person or app-based ‘sessions’ focuses on a new topic about nutrition, physical activity, or lifestyle change.
You’ll be given the meal replacement products and a range of high-quality resources including Workbooks, a Lifestyle logbook, recipes, a pedometer, and a year’s access to the EXi physical activity app premium version for – ALL FREE. If you choose the digital service also get access to our app.
DESMOND
Our Newly Diagnosed and Foundation programme is group-based education which aims to support people with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and work with them to self-manage their condition.
A digital-version of the programme is available on our MyDESMOND platform, click here to found out more.
NHS England Digital Weight Management Programme
The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme could help you if you are living with obesity and also have diabetes, high blood pressure, or both. If this is you, you could benefit from this 12-week programme. It’s free and easily available via a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
- You must be 18 or over.
- You must have a BMI greater than 30. The BMI threshold will be lowered to 27.5 for people from black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds, as we know people from these ethnic backgrounds are at an increased risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes at a lower BMI.
- You must have diabetes, high blood pressure, or both.
- You must have a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.
Contact the surgery or your local pharmacist today to find out how the programme could benefit you.
Healthy Living for People with Type 2 Diabetes
Healthy Living is a free, online NHS programme that supports people to live well with type 2 diabetes.
It includes information and advice about:
- type 2 diabetes
- eating well
- becoming more active
- how to look after your body and mind
- other NHS services and support
- living with diabetes, including driving, working and travelling
You can use the Healthy Living programme whenever suits you, and for as long as you need – there is no limit to access so you can learn at your own pace. It can also be used alongside any other diabetes programmes or education you may be taking part in.
My Way Diabetes Greater Manchester
Helping you manage your diabetes, for free. Recommended and funded by NHS Greater Manchester.
As well as lots of simple advice on healthy lifestyle, the website also offers free online courses, aiming to give you all the information you need about what type 2 diabetes is, what it might mean for your health and what you can do to manage it.
You can also download the brand new MyWay Diabetes app.
Which allows you to:
- Access your NHS diabetes data
- Understand your results
- Set your diabetes goals
- Learn how to manage your diabetes best
More Life- tier 3 weight loss support
Our programmes are FREE for adults living in Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Rochdale, Tameside and Glossop or registered with a local GP and meet the following criteria:
- Have a BMI of 40Kg/m² or above
- Have a BMI of 35Kg/m² or above and co-morbidities (e.g. Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Infertility and Depression if specialist advice is needed regarding overall patient management)
Be Well- find your own happy
Be Well is here to help you find a way to live and feel well whatever twists and turns life brings. We can even help you get on top of work, family and money worries. When you come to Be Well, you’ll be assessed by one of our trained coaches. They’ll talk to you about the help you need and the goals you want to achieve, and set you up with the most appropriate person in the team to get you to where you want to be.
When a medical approach isn’t enough to help you find a way to live and feel well – you can be invited to come to us by a wide range of groups and organisations in your community as well as by local health, housing and advice workers.
Eating with diabetes
Diabetes UK- Start here for the key information you need to make healthy food choices for a balanced diet.
