Hi. I am diabetic. I am planning of leaving a WFPB
whole foods plant based plan I've been on for one year.

For many diabetic/diabetes reasons and after researching low carb
diet nutrition food programs and lifestyles, I'm ready to change.

In phase three of The Atkins Diet, grains are introduced.
Ultimately, what/which grains will be allowed?
. . . . . and in which forms?
whole grains? multi-grain? cereal? pasta? breads? oat meal?

Does it matter if pasta and breads are made
from whole grains or white flour?

Does carb counting for grains in phases 3&4 affect things?
Will we be able to eat pizza or spaghetti or any sandwiches . . . . . ?

Of course, moderation and minimum and limited are rules
to abide by. I know this. But, what will be allowed?

For your goals as a diabetic, I would not not even think about those phases of Atkins yet. To keep BG low, many have to stay around 20g TC and grains are never re-introduced. You may find as I did that wheat in particular causes other problems like joint inflammation, and when you get rid of all grains you will never want to reintroduce them. I'd take it one step at a time, get off all meds first. That may take a while as you have been diabetic for 15 years and have not had good control. Then when you have achieved your goals, you can start testing to add those foods. You have complete control to determine what will work for YOU...your BG meter. It doesn't measure insulin, but it is a method to find out what foods may be added back later.


Maybe it would help you wrap your head around this if you look at our yummy LC recipes. A zillion pizza recipes...on a base of meat, chicken, "pizza quiche", wheat belly crust (almond flour, cheese etc) and just as many recipes to make "pasta"..spiralizer zucchinis or Zoodles, lasagna with all vegetable sheets, etc.

What Janet said.

With T2 diabetes I always say I combine Atkins with "eating to my meter." Induction and early OWL are the stages where I'll need to stay if I want to keep medication to a minimum - those grains aren't ever coming back. If they do, in my experience I'll be right back in the high med/high BG cycle where I was and that will eventually kill me. Your mileage may vary; only your meter can tell you that.

So really we are doing two different things at once: first, we are seeking good BG control, and secondary to that, we are trying to lose weight. Luckily those goals are not in conflict and we can accomplish both with the same LC diet, but it might help mentally to remind yourself of the dual purposes of cutting out carbs.

Ditto on what Janet said. I was a baker; made all our bread from the best "healthy whole grains" I could buy.

But since I dropped ALL grains, including oats and rice, I find that my body had just been tolerating, not appreciating, all those grains over the years.

My right index finger is my canary in the coal mine. Inadvertently get some grains, especially wheat, and within an hour it will become swollen and painful.

But...one step at a time....

JEH100, Julia R and MickiSue; Thanks again.
I'm strongly going after the Wheat Belly program you suggested.
Makes a lot of sense. I'll add Atkins' rules as best I can.

Me, too. Tho I also made a lot of dessert breads. It was difficult to make the switch to no grains at all, but that's best for me.

I've kept my big KitchenAid mixer only because it has the attachment for grinding meat. Making lc bunny burger is messy, but oh so good!