So overwhelming

Munkey

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12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
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Most things!
Hi everyone names munkey newly diagnosed t2 and so overwhelmed by the amount of info I'm having to run through this meat processor I call a brain I mean hypers hypos mmol .meters test strips glucose carbs vs low carbs the list goes on and on I'm not sure where to start with it all any tips for a newbie?
 

this is too difficult two

Well-Known Member
Messages
852
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
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Diet only
Hi Munkey. I was diagnosed in February and assumed I would soon be dead. (Bravery issue) I am now fine as far as diabetes is concerned. Tell us a bit about your self if you don't mind, it will help people to get an idea of you condition. How old are you? how heavy? what do you eat? What was your HbA1c result? Have you been given any medication?
 

logindetails

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Neuropathy :-(
Hi Munkey and welcome to the forum. Take it slow no need to rush into things and end up with an information overdose as well as diabetes :D
 
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Brunneria

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Type 2
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Hi Munkey, and welcome!

Don't worry - it does all become clear eventually, I promise.
Just take it slow, read a bit, digest it, ask questions, read a bit more.

In a couple of weeks you will feel much less overwhelmed.
 
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kimbo1962

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1,293
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Tablets (oral)
Hello munkey- you are feeling just how most of us do at diagnosis, but you have come to the right place! Have a good read, ask questions and make yourself at home! I came here totally shocked and unsure, now I'm empowered and in control of my journey!
 
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Munkey

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
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Most things!
So yeah to respond to this is too difficult two
I'm in my early fourties weigh in at 84kgs don't drink or smoke cycle ten miles a day and am madly in love with long distance walking. eat a reasonably good diet.. my h1 last count was at 7.6 percent it's just come out of nowhere and smacked me about the head as I was adopted I have no family history to go by. I've been put on metaformin I don't want to be tied to medication and I'm shocked and confused as I didn't think I fitted the bill for being at risk of diabetes.
 
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this is too difficult two

Well-Known Member
Messages
852
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
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You actually missed out the important part ( to me anyway) so much for me being subtle. What does your healthy diet consist of?
 

Munkey

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Most things!
Erm eat a lot of nuts oats salads mostly white meats and try and stay away from proccessed foods I cook most things from fresh and don't drink pop or Cordial this is why Its so hard to accept,! I'm putting it down to my body taking a intense dislike to me,,
 
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Munkey

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Most things!
Brown rice Spuds yeah but try and replace them with sweet-potato where I can and pasta by the boat load as a matter fact I'm sure I have shares in Italys durum wheat production no sugar never liked it! Eat a fair amount of bread but stay away from the demon white side of it
 

this is too difficult two

Well-Known Member
Messages
852
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Brown rice Spuds yeah but try and replace them with sweet-potato where I can and pasta by the boat load as a matter fact I'm sure I have shares in Italys durum wheat production no sugar never liked it! Eat a fair amount of bread but stay away from the demon white side of it
There is your problem then. That stuff is all poison.
 
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Munkey

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Most things!
So me thinking I'm eating well is all just a elaborate ruse? Back to the drawing board on the old diet it is. .. thanks for the heads up I'm just going to go and weep softly in the corner whilst I digest this information a little further!
 
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Nyxks

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Messages
292
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Insulin
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Discrimination based on gender, age, medical conditions, etc.
So me thinking I'm eating well is all just a elaborate ruse? Back to the drawing board on the old diet it is. .. thanks for the heads up I'm just going to go and weep softly in the corner whilst I digest this information a little further!

Hun, potatoes and rice are NOT poison they are not on everyones list of approved foods to be able to eat without a glucose spike, but you have to lean what spikes you and what doesn't - which is only learned though trial and error of doing so. But yes eating as fresh as possible and staying away from the processed stuff isn't a bad thing on oh so many levels.

I don't do potatoes because I can't do nightshades, but rice is a staple in my meal plan and with minimal spiking with the amount that I tend to eat (half a cup on average). I also eat a lot of fresh veggies but I stay away from animal sources of protein/fat (not my idea of a food source) I find tofu and other sources work just fine for myself.

The book Diabetes for Dummies isn't a bad starter book for many, might not fit the bill fully but its a decent start for many people it does seem.
The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed is also a decent book to go though (you can get it on ebook format) didn't find it helpful in regards to T1 but since its a T2 book the info is good though not sure how accurate it is for those outside of north america.
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
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Tablets (oral)
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Cruelty towards animals.
Hi Munkey and welcome to the forum :)

You don't have to read this straight away if you have had enough of information for the time being but I am putting this on your thread for you to look at when you feel like it. This is the information we give to new members. Ask questions when you need to and someone will help.

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 over 100,000 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.
 
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noblehead

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All will become more clearer in time Munkey, hopefully @daisy will be along soon with her advice to new members of the forum.

:)..................she beat me to it.
 
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Brunneria

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There is your problem then. That stuff is all poison.
Couldn't agree more.

Guys, please!

Telling poor Munkey that he's eating 'poison' when he's already confused, is not helpful!

I know what you mean - calling high carbohydrate foods 'poison' because they do cause high blood glucose for some people - but other people (some type 2s and type 1s on insulin) can eat high carb foods, especially in small portions. No need to make such melodramatic statements. And if you ARE going to say things like that, at least EXPLAIN why.

@Munkey , the truth is that when we eat carbs like bread, pasta, potato, rice and sugar, they are all digested into glucose. And it is glucose that sends our blood glucose high and can cause problems for diabetics. Brown rice, pasta and bread digest a little more slowly, but they still end up raising our blood glucose. It just takes a little longer.

The guys are calling it 'poison' because if you eat too many carbs, for too long, and your blood glucose is too high, for too long, then the diabetic complications start.

So the best, simplest advice we can give, especially if you are overloaded, is to cut down on all those foods. Fill up on veg, meat, fish, cheese, eggs, quorn, tofu, so you don't feel hungry.

Portion size is key. If you cut your carb sizes by half, to start with, then that is a very good start!

In time, you may want to take more steps to controlling your diet, but one step at a time is a good idea. :)
 
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CollieBoy

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2,974
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Diet only
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Hi carb Foods
@Munkey
It probably isn't a good idea to say "this is poison" and cut it ALL out and try to survive on nothing:woot:.Rather it is better to examine your diet, and say that This is potentially a bad Idea.. and so on...
Then test your BG before & at 2 hours after that food to build up a model of how various foods act on YOU.
Once you build a successful model of your food/body system don't forget to periodically revise the model as we do change over time(hopefully for the better)
 
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