Brief Answer:
Diet

Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your challenges with diet in diabetes.

HEALTHFUL EATING (also called MNT = Medical Nutrition Therapy) has proven to reduce HbA1c and result in cost savings

Please see a DIETITIAN at least once to get an Individualized plan based on your nutrition needs, personal and cultural preferences, health literacy and access to healthful foods

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

1 Eat a variety of NUTRIENT dense foods in appropriate PORTION sizes, in order to achieve and maintain the following 4 goals:

TARGET 1 body weight, 2 blood glucose, 3 blood pressure and 4 cholesterol

And also to delay/ prevent diabetic complications.

It is important to maintain the pleasure of eating while making practical food choices.

2 Try to REPLACE refined carbohydrates (like muffins, pastries, cookies, sugary cereals) and added sugars with
Whole grains like whole wheat bread and roti and brown rice
Legumes (dal)
Vegetables and
Fruits

3 AVOID sugar sweetened beverages (ie pepsi, coke, thums up, fanta, limca etc ) and sucrose (table sugar) containing foods (examples are frosted cornflakes, chocolate milk, sweetened fruit juice s and drinks, sweetened yoghurt and ice cream, popular dessert items like jalebi, rasgulla, chocolate mousse)

4     Learn from a dietitan how to include Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs) and long chain omega 3 fatty acids (fatty fish, nuts and seeds) in your daily intake.

5      Alcohol is best avoided but if you must, then moderation is key. (one drink per day for women and two for men)

6     Sodium is to restricted to less than 2300 mg a day and even less if you have high blood pressure

7     Vitamins , minerals , herbs, spices, anti oxidant (vitamin E and C and carotene) or omega 3 dietary supplements have shown no benefit.

if you have high cholesterol levels in your blood (HYPERLIPIDEMIA or DYSLIPIDEMIA), ask the Dietitian how to reduce
SATURATED FAT (BEEF, MUTTON, LAMB, PORK, CHICKEN WITH SKIN, WHOLE MILK, CREAM, BUTTER, CHEESE, ICE CREAM, FRIED AND BAKED FOODS)
, TRANS FAT ( Doughnuts, cookies, crackers, muffins, pies and cakes )
and CHOLESTEROL
And increase
Omega 3 fatty acids (NUTS, SEEDS AND Oily fish LIKE – salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and trout ),
viscous fiber (BLACK BEANS, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, turnips, apricots, mangoes, oranges, legumes and oat bran)

and plant stanols/sterols (grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds)


There could be medical reasons for inability to lose weight such as thyroid problems. So blood tests are helpful
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:

CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
TSH (checks your thyroid)
12 hour Fasting Lipid profile
Urine albumin to Creatinine Ratio (early sign of diabetes affecting the kidney)
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
Correct diagnosis and treatment requires the opportunity to examine the patient so you must see an endocrinologist in-person.

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Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Work closely with a dietitian to ensure a healthful balanced diet for life

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