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Newbie / Newly Diagnosed

bkr

bkr

Well-Known Member
Messages
163
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Being diabetic
I thought id say hello as Ive been reading the forum with interest & there are some great/helpful/caring people on here.

I was diagnosed just over a month ago & still finding my feet, its trial & error on occasion although my diet is good (always has been although the treats have been quashed for the time being until I can work myself out a bit more) with lots of greens, veg, the right types of fruit/berries etc.. no more muesli, oats instead. The elimination of sugar has been strange, but the mental clarity now due to sleeping undisturbed all night is fantastic. Its made me wonder how much the sugar has been blurring me, even through the day - its like living in another world, there's those that can buy & eat everything in the supermarket, and there's me(us/who now studies everything before I buy it!)

My blood sugar was quite high on diagnosis, accidental really during a bloke check up at the doc's - its come down lots since the metformin use, and stricter diet. Ive never been overweight, but this doesnt always matter Im told - it can just happen through my genetics. A bit frustrating but no point stewing on it, best to tackle head on I think.

Onwards & forwards, best regards :)
 
Hello bkr and welcome to the forum :)

Glad to hear you are getting on well. Here is the information we give to new members which I hope you will find useful. Ask all the questions you need to and someone will be able to 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.
 
Hi and welcome. Don't forget it's all carbs that matter and not just sugar. Muesli without added sugar is fine and often contains mostly oats. Oats can spike blood sugar but good in sensible quantities. Do get hold of a meter if you haven't already got one. Yes, you can get diabetes even if never overweight due to genetics but be aware that some T2s are mis-daignosed Late onset T1s so may then progress more rapidly thru various meds but hopefully you will be OK for a good while
 
Thanks Daisy, some good information there - its all good too! I think it'll take a while to digest (all the info from the medical folk I see, and bits on here), as its gone from nothing to a mass influx of complicated do's & dont's :/ -

Thanks Daibell, you're right - I try to keep tabs on those too. Its reassuring that my levels are coming down, Im told its not overnight & a good bike ride the other day was promising when I checked in the morning.

Im a bit scared about the T2's being misdiagnosed T1's info, I cant stop thinking about that now :/ will have to bring that up at my next checkup & keep my fingers crossed in between.

Thanks again, best regards :)
 
Hi. I didn't want to scare you ref Late onset T1 (LADA) but it can be better to know of the possibility rather than go thru high blood sugar that can't be brought down and wondering why. Don't assume you will go thru that route but if despite low-carbs and tablets you find blood sugar just gets worse then be aware of the possibilities. The medication route is similar but faster and might well end up with insulin but don't let that worry you. I've been on it for 2 years and it's not a problem and gives you complete control
 
Hey! Welcome, your amongst the best and most caring groups on the net . Keep asking questions and you will be given good sound advice that really works ,
 
Thank you Clive, there are some very wise folk on here & I enjoy reading what people are upto & how they're finding life on the other side of things :) - its still a minefield, I guess in some ways Im scared of the answers to some questions as there my be worrying truths in the replies (or not) as we're all different with what we're going through yet there are great parallels too.

Thanks Daibell, I agree - its best to know what the possibilities are, its just very scary being only diagnosed with type 2 to then find I could be something more, or different somehow. The reality of it all is pretty intense, and a constant worry - but I hope that calms in time, I suppose it was a shock for everyone on here, their first diagnosis.
 
Hi BKR, Yes it is scary, I was diagnosed on the 22 september 2014.

Having listened to the doctor telling me about all the complications and absolutely insisting that I would not have any chance of reversing T2,
I came out of the surgery stunned to say the least. Head down, confussed, had even a few tears.

Used to feel invinciple was devistated, but have had to face it, things start to come together and providing you are positive it won't be too bad. In fact Iv'e never ate so well and never felt so fit so has been some good come out of it. It will take a little time but eventually lots of things will start to make sense.

Also this is the best place to be to get the correct info
 
Crikey, thats about 7 days before me. We're in similar boats arent we.

I do have down days where I need to have a word with myself, but Ive so much in my life to be thankful for - making diabetes a small negative among lots of positives.

Im grateful for the diagnosis mainly for getting full nights sleeps a lot more often than I was - being aware of the need to look after myself in good time, and generally feeling a lot calmer in myself - sans sugar has changed everything, although there are some frowns when I go shopping, I miss some of the naughty things :/

You're right about the feeling well, the clarity is tremendous now I come to think of it - and getting back out on the bike more regularly does have an effect on my levels which makes me feel good about everything.
 
Yes, I saw that - it was a wonderful boost, to think that a change could be possible. All down to a layer of fat that may be encasing the pancreas & limiting its function. Unsure how much weight this carries but would love to find out.
 
bkr said:
Yes, I saw that - it was a wonderful boost, to think that a change could be possible. All down to a layer of fat that may be encasing the pancreas & limiting its function. Unsure how much weight this carries but would love to find out.
Click to expand...

Welcome aboard

It is bewildering when first diagnosed, but with work, effort, advice and a degree of calm thrown in for good measure, it will work out OK

Cheers Mike
 
Thank you Mike, I appreciate that, bless you :)
 
Hi bkr, we are all in the same boat here so to speak .. I see you are able to eat oats .... lucky you .. they send my sugar way to high to eat now :(
Best advice I could give is get yourself a meter .. the codefree ones from homehealth online are the cheapest for testing strips .. and as you work out what foods will work for you a lot of test strips are used .. The advice you get in these forums is often the oppicate of what your Dr or DBN will give you.. Just remember they don't have DB .. we do and pass on what works .. unlike the medical world that pass on info that the government tell them to.
Low Carb High Fat works for lots of us here as carbs turn to sugar, so low carb works .. the high fat part is not as heavy as it sounds . I just swapped all my low fat foods for normal fat versions. low fat food is often packed with sugar !!!!!!
But what ever diet you choose .. the meter is the only way to see if your on the right track.
 
Thanks, you're right there-it isnt them that has to go through the day to day, with all the obstacles.

I have oats now, but used to have swiss muesli, as that was alwys deemed 'healthy' - I was shocked at the sugar content, after diagnosis the supermarket becomes a different shopping experience doesnt it!

My levels are coming down, and I now have a meter to check whats what, its fab - it could be easy to become obsessed with using and testing, altho the medical centre said that I neednt check every day. Some days ill feel ive been well behaved and the reading wont be as low as Id hoped, that gets me down a bit. I think deep down Im hoping for a revelation, but im only into my second month.

Just out of interest what do you folk eat through the day to feel full,yet keep your levels in a good place?
 
bkr said:
Just out of interest what do you folk eat through the day to feel full,yet keep your levels in a good place?
Click to expand...

Berries (blueberries anyway) with thick cream, an avocado, maybe a lamb chop. perhaps some turkey breast meat or a quick stir fry of chicken and zucchini and mushrooms. No spikes in any of that for me at least.

Just ban outright any white bread (and many associated bread products) or pasta or (many) canned soups and watch the carb counting. Also keep up the water intake :)
 
bkr said:
Thanks, you're right there-it isnt them that has to go through the day to day, with all the obstacles.

I have oats now, but used to have swiss muesli, as that was alwys deemed 'healthy' - I was shocked at the sugar content, after diagnosis the supermarket becomes a different shopping experience doesnt it!

My levels are coming down, and I now have a meter to check whats what, its fab - it could be easy to become obsessed with using and testing, altho the medical centre said that I neednt check every day. Some days ill feel ive been well behaved and the reading wont be as low as Id hoped, that gets me down a bit. I think deep down Im hoping for a revelation, but im only into my second month.

Just out of interest what do you folk eat through the day to feel full,yet keep your levels in a good place?
Click to expand...

Hi BKR,
Apart from being directed to the Yogurt & Berries for Brekfast or eggs in some form or other plus bacon mushrooms for breakfast lunch & dinners for me are more interesting maybe not to your taste.

For lunch I have 2 Ryvita or Ryvita Cripsbread, with Full Fat Philli Cheese, at least 3 weekdays I have Mackeral sometimes pepered sometimes Piri Piri, I like warm, 1 minute in the Micro. 1 fillet cut in half on top of the Ryvita's, everybody to there own but I love it. The other 2 days I would have ham on the Ryvita still with the Philidelphia. Plus always a sliced tomatoe and 10/12 olives. Fresh from Tescos. I have sometimes had Sardines on 1 slice of toast.

Dinner could be anything in the meat range, Lamb, Pork, Steak, 85% meat sausages, chicken, plus home currys and soups, all with at least 3 veg, and an accasional Jacket potatoe small. Again a lot of fish from Cod, Salmon, Tuna Steak, whole trout (they were £ 1.50 each in tesco just recently). Have Mayo on most meals.

Don't have sweets, but snaking on nuts and 80% chocolate, a piece at a time.

Neil
 
Hi See Mike mentioned the Avocardo, yep thats at least 2 a week for me at lunchtimes mainly. Never had zucchini like to know what it is.

Neil
 
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