99% sure to be diagnosed on Monday

[FloraLB]

Right, my first week of healthy eating is over but I wanted to check what you thought of my diet so far, please be as scathing as you like!

Breakfaat: 1 tortilla with salad, cheese and low fat mayo (i'm not a breakfast person but this is yummy and I thought if I had carbs in the morning it might get me through the day!
Snack - bag of tesco kids apple and grape snack
Lunch - home made curried lentil soup ( no bread!), a peach
Tea - 2 smoked cod steaks, bag of tesco micro steam spinach, peas, broccoli and sweetcorn, 250ml(i know I went mad) low fat natural yogurt.

Any thoughts?

[Nikkig]

Hi there, glad you are coming to grips with things. There are people on the site far more experienced than I am, but if you look at the carb content of low fat against ordinary or full fat, you often find that the full fat has less carbs, but it depends on how many carbs you are aiming to have each day.

I was diagnosed in the middle of May as a type two and as well as getting my BG down to within the guidelines of this site I have lost over a stone and gone down two dress sizes (much to the despair of my OHs wallet).

I've been amazed at the wealth of knowledge of those who visit this forum and I think the best advice is to keep on testing and find out what works for you.

Best of luck!!!

[Robinredbreast]

Hi FloraLB
Just wanted you to know there are others who understand how scared you must be feeling. It's a big deal when you finally get the diagnosis. Being a bit of a control freak myself, I almost found it a relief to be told of my condition because it explained health problems and it's only then that you really seriously try to make changes to your life.
Try not to take any notice of I told you so comments - they can be really hurtful and totally unhelpful. Good for you taking the initiative to go to your Doctor and face your demons. Good luck on Monday....will be thinking of you.

Good luck to you for Monday, you will be in my thoughts. Take care with best wishes

[Kazley]

Hi FloraLB - Hope you are now recovering from what was a pretty much expected result. Im 5 years down the line with type 2 and after being diet controlled for 2 of them and in denial for the whole 5 years am now accepting I'm diabetic. Its a challenge but throw that gauntlet down - life is not a rehearsal i am completely revamping my lifestyle including my weight. Good luck

[FloraLB]

I've hit a low. I don't have my first appointment with the diabetic clinic until 7th August. I'm not on meds, have had no advice other than 'eat healthily', i'm constantly hungry and thinking about food no matter how I try and distract myself. I've no sticks left and can't afford to buy any. All i want to do is eat junk and the resistance is getting so much harder I feel i will cave soon. It doesn't help that i'm hormonal and would usually live off chocolate atm but I just want proper, filling food.

Sorry for the ramble but all my positivity has gone out the window and I just want to sit and cry.

[Mileana]

Hi Flora

Try upping the amount of fat in your diet a little bit - try almonds, nuts, avocado, cheese bites, olives if you like them. Something that you can snack on which does not have so much carbohydrate and therefore will not affect your blood sugar so much.

Good luck with it, and yes, it can be tough at times especially when your scrambling for answers and they seem so far away.

For the moment though, don't be afraid of the healthy types of fat - they will have no or minimal impact on your blood sugar unlike the carbohydrates you crave.

Try a walk to release some of that tension that comes with that time of month and if you must have chocolate, have a bite or two of a really dark one (80 percent plus).

I wish you all the best.

[MaryJ]

Hi Flora

I re-iterate everything Mileana has said, would add sugar free jelly with berries in it and cream as a nice sweet snack to stave off the monthly cravings.

It does get hard some days, if you're hungary eat more of the good stuff, don't worry at the moment about calories, just eat the stuff you know is ok for you and more often if need be.

You body will get used to expecting less of the cravy carbs and the protein and fats will keep you fuller for longer.

Keep at it,

Mary x

[FloraLB]

Argh! Where to start!

Sorry I haven't updated, i've just been a bit bemused a generally peed off.

My first diabetic clinic appointment was 7th Aug, so over a month after diagnosis. I was told this would be good as all the team would be there and I would see them all. I thought it was a long time to wait in limbo but what do I know. First off, I got my feet checked, all fine thankfully. Next was the nurse, not so fine. Now I'm not expecting to be mollycoddled but not once did she ask how I felt about it, how I was getting on etc, just launched at me that I was too fat and my cholesterol was too high (5.1). I gave her my sheet of my glucose readings I had been taking at least twice a day and she told me off that I didn't need to be doing them so much, I said it was just to see what I could eat and she said the dietitian would tell me that... I did get a new meter through. She told me that she wasn;t going to recommend any meds yet and I was to see her again in 2 months.

Glad to get out of there the next stop was the dietitian. This was the bit I was dreading most but she was lovely and understanding and far more approachable. She said most of the changes I did were good, did recommend having more carbs but she didn't go on about it. She said she would want to see me again in 3 months and it was likely if I lost weight it would go into 'remission'. I came out of there feeling more positive and asked who was next to see. That was it. There was no doctor or no retinal screening that I was told would be there. Felt very disappointed as I had psyched myself up to get my eyes checked (I don't like drops and people near my eyes!) and a bit let down.

Move on to Saturday, I logged into the online appointment maker just to see if anything had been set and my appointment was there for 4th December. So much for the 2 and 3 months. I know it can be positive that i'm not an urgent case but again I feel i'm not being treated properly and a bit abandonned. Oh, and I just realised the other day I will have the joy of a 'flu and pneumonia jab for the first time around then too. Joy!

Other than this, my weight loss has stopped really. Lost 1/2 stone in total but i'm eating too much meat and I don't think it's helping. I have been bad with the carbs, having too much cous cous and making my bm shoot up (not that i'm still testing it, Nurse...) but very little sugary stuff, which i'm proud of. I'm trying to get an exercise bike but I really can't afford it and proper food (the cost of this really is crippling me). On a plus note a jacket I got in April that didn't meet on me now does so that cheered me up!

[MaryJ]

Hi FloralB

Welcome back, you had a bit of a mixed appt but a couple of things jump out

1- the retinal screening isn't usually done until a few months after diagnosis as high blood sugar will affect the result and once you've got your level under control any prescription given to you would be useless.

2- the weight loss stall - try upping the fats rather than the protein and definately NOT the carbs. You can't afford to do high/normal fat or protein and higher carbs. Not only will your BG benefit you'll find your weightloss will restart.

If money is an issue at the moment to buy an exercise bike I'd suggest going for a walk if you can. Anything is better than nothing.

Mary x

[joycegill]

Have a look on this page (and then follow the leads) for simple but very useful low carb information http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/lcdfaq1.htm?nl=1

I have lost about 30lb + over the last few months (still got a long way to go) and have come off my insulin and now I am just on Metformin due to this way of eating. Good luck.

[iainf1]

Don't worry about the flu jab - you won't feel a thing and it will be over in two or three seconds. You probably won't feel the pneumo jab either - ask for it in the other arm if that isn't offered - and you may find your arm is a bit tender for a couple of days after. Some people don't have any after effects at all so don't get stressed about it. It is a one-off so you shouldn't need it again, but it is important you have the flu jab every year. Boots have started offering it already and charging £12.99 but I checked with my surgery today and they haven't got a stocks in yet, although the 'season' doesn't start until October.

[FloraLB]

Hi all, back again with what I hope will be a positive post for once!

Thank you Iain for the post and PM. I will definitely get the jabs just a little apprehensive.

Got called in last week to get bloods done. Went to see the diabetic doctor last night and she said I deserved a gold star

My Hba1c has come down from 80 to 50 (can someone please put this into English for me?!) and my cholesterol is down from 5.1 to 3.9. I've also lost 19lb since diagnosis and the reduction of carbs and a little more exercise is paying off, although I seem to be losing it from my face and not my tum and bum as I would like!

Only problem is my blood pressure. She took it 3 times and lowest was 140/96. I have had problems with it in the past but my job is pretty stressful (only a lowly minion though!) and I have financial problems also preying on my mind.

Thank you to everyone for your help and support!