Some background information about me - diagnosed in 2012 type 2 after visit to docs with low abdominal/bladder pain, HbA1c was 10%, cholesterol was 5.9, HDL 0.67, weight 88.4kgs, BMI 29.8, started off on 4 x 500mg metformin, 20mg amvistatin, 40mg fluoxetine, was refered by diabetic nurse to the x-pert programme, Jan 2014 HbA1c 67mmol/mol, Apr 2014 70mmol/mol, November 2014 65mmol/mol. medication changed in June 2014 to 4 x500mg metformin, 1 x 100mg sitagliptin, 1x20mg atorvastatin, 40mg fluoxetine. Between June 2014 and November 2014 gained 12lbs in weight, In 2013 after routine retanopathy screen was told I have background retinopathy and same again this year. I also have mild copd, severe tinnitus in my right ear and 40% earing loss, quite bad arthritis in my right elbow. After my last check up, I asked about victoza but was told It was not time to go on that yet and put on 1000mg slow release metformin twice per day.
I bought a freestyle freedom lite glucose meter back in 2012 after reading a article on this website, mainly because test results were not being passed to me by my GP, noticed early on that the test I did first thing in the morning before eating or drinking is usually high average around 8.5mmol with high spikes around 15mmol. I am on a diet at the moment using Almased powder ( I saw this advertised on this website as suitable for diabetics) in place of my breakfast and lunchtime meals and trying to eat smaller sensible meals of a evening, the early results have been good I have lost six pounds in just over two weeks, my post lunch time BG has been around 6.5 and as low as 4.5 which I haven't seen since being diagnosed.
One thing I have noticed that since taking sitagliptin I frequently have to get up in the night to go to the toilet?
I am hoping that the weight loss continues as it plays a major part in my depression at the moment, this is because I have been separated for three years now and totally alone during that time, I don't have any friends outside of work, mainly because I don't like the way I look so would not expect anyone else to like me if I don't like myself, to be honest I hate being alone and miss the closeness of a relationship, my other goal is to give up smoking I stared two weeks ago and finally managed to stop yesterday at 4pm and haven't had one since.
As far as food goes, if I am behaving myself I stick to vegetables, chicken, salad, beans and low fat foods, I stopped drinking sugary drinks back in 2012 and drink only no added or sugar free drinks now, I have been told that I do not drink enough water, never have liked just drinking straight water, I only drink alcohol occasionally and then only vodka, I don't eat much red meat anymore, and have replaced it with tinned tuna. In a bad period when my depression is bad I will eat anything and everything, not take medication and smoke more.
Apologies to the forum moderator for taking up a lot of space here was not sure where to post this
Robin