Hello Newbie here.

[horselady]

Hi All

Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with T2, I had no symptoms, I walk my dogs and as my forum name will give you a clue I own and look after my horse, and ride my horse most days. I went to the doctors after been very stressed at work (ICT manager) they took a blood test and I was called back the day after and told I had Type 2. I have been given tablet medication, a meter and then sent away due to go back tomorrow. My readings have all dropped down and are good I have altered my diet after much research on the internet which has both been helpful and given me nightmares. I have lost around 8lb in weight not touched any wine, cakes biscuits etc. I do know that as a quite controlling person I will get my head round all this and manage it well I hope. But at the moment I feel a bit lost I don't know any one with the condition which would be help me to talk to. For 54 years I have been fit and healthy never taken a pill in my life. I did put weight on after giving up smoking many years ago but have always been active on a daily basis. So any advice would be a great help. I think I can cope with the physical side of dealing with this but I am mentally not doing well, while keeping busy and doing the things I enjoy I keep it under wraps but left alone to think about things I can work myself up into a right old stress head.
Off a long walk and then to see to the horse make tea for me and the other half, will check in later Many thanks for taking time out to read this.

 

[lunarlinda]

Welcome Horselady. You've done the right thing joining this forum You'll get support, help, advise, a laugh and play games if you wish. The advise will sometimes, (almost always) go against conventional thinking, but as these opinions here are based on experience, I think you'll soon come round to knowing what advise is worth listening to and what is claptrap. The people on here are a FAB bunch, ask anything and you will get some pretty good responses. If you need a shoulder to cry on, you will be lifted to the sky with the Love that is given on here.
Good luck xx

 

[Kat100]

Hello horse lady, it's a welcome from me as well...
It is really early days for you yet, and this health problem is a big shock to deal with...not sure people ever really except it...
Talk laugh cry , express all the emotions you need to....I do, not really on this site , but I come here because I can pick up suggestions to consider and share some of my experiences...

We are all different here, there are different diets that people follow, and you are made welcome and you can ask questions and chat away as much as you wish....

That's the problem with this illness, it can just come out of the blue, some people don't have any symptoms .....we just don't always really know all about how our body works....:/

Keep checking in , keep enjoying life and in time you will find a diet or eating routine which works for you...

Your horses sound a great, a lovely way of dealing with stress, it can be very stressful, share those feelings, better than keeping it all to yourself ...
There will always be someone here to offer support ...

Nice to meet you, take care ...Kat

 

[Daibell]

Hi and welcome. You are not alone as you will find by looking at this forum. Most of us would say to have a low-carb diet to help with both weight loss and blood sugar reduction. Do ask any questions you may have

 

[daisy1]

Hi Horselady and welcome to the forum

Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will it useful. Ask as many questions as you need to and there will be plenty of answers.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 70,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

 

[totsy]

Hi and welcome
i too am a horse person

 

[lunarlinda]

neigh

 

[Lizzy5172]

Hi and welcome

 

[Judie Elizabeth]

Welcome !

Reading your post was interesting for me. I was diagnosed Diabetic 6 yrs ago with uncertainty as to whether I was T1 or 2. I am T2 but like you held no weight and was active. I guess reading between the lines you are saying I don't fit the stereo type for T2. I for one can relate to that ! Now I am on insulin after lots of misinformation over the years. I feel better than I did when first diagnosed.

I think it is great that right from the beginning you have taken on your diet ! It is no easy task but from what you have said I believe your strong character will see you through.

Best wishes

Judie


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[this is too difficult]

Hi horselady. Welcome to the forum. The first thing to do is get a blood glucose monitor. Find out which foods raise your blood sugar level and avoid them.