New Member - Hi

Bel13

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November. As my gran, mum and sister were all diagnosed around my age (48) I should not have been surprised. I am on Metformin SR after being changed from normal Metformin. My sister recommended this site to me....I am currently living in Belgium and although I have access to British Doctor there is no diabetic nurse or clinic here, so the information on here will be invaluable to me.
 
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catherinecherub

Guest
Hi @Bel13 and a warm welcome to the forum.

@daisy1 will be along to post the basic information to help you.

Ask any questions you like, nothing considered silly.
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
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Cruelty towards animals.
Hello @Bel13 and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask all the questions you like and someone will be able to answer you. Not all of this will apply to Belgium of course.


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 130,000 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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Hello Bel13 and welcome to the forum :)

RRB
 

Clivethedrive

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,996
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
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Jogging
Hello bel13 big welcome to the forum,have a good read of the posts here and ask any questions you want to,::))
 

sallybee

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Lots of people
Hi Bell

Welcome to the forum. Im new too, but people seem very friendly and helpful.

Dont worry too much about not having a diabetic nurse, mine left me feeling more confused than ever!

Big hugs xxx
 
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sallybee

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Lots of people
Thank you all for your messages.

I dont seem to have made much progress in respect of changing my lifestyle. I had planned to go for a walk with my husband, but he has hurt his back and can't walk far, and as amongst other things i have a form of agoraphobia I cant go out!

I have been busy at my sewing machine though, so I dont get bored!
 
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A

Avocado Sevenfold

Guest
Thank you all for your messages.

I dont seem to have made much progress in respect of changing my lifestyle. I had planned to go for a walk with my husband, but he has hurt his back and can't walk far, and as amongst other things i have a form of agoraphobia I cant go out!

I have been busy at my sewing machine though, so I dont get bored!
Welcome to the forum :)

Check out Leslie Sansone indoor walking videos on YouTube. They are great fun!
 

Daphne917

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,320
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Thank you all for your messages.

I dont seem to have made much progress in respect of changing my lifestyle. I had planned to go for a walk with my husband, but he has hurt his back and can't walk far, and as amongst other things i have a form of agoraphobia I cant go out!

I have been busy at my sewing machine though, so I dont get bored!
Have you got room for an exercise bike, treadmill or cross trainer - during the week I leave the house at 6.45 and get back at 17.30 so don't really feel like driving to/spending time at a gym so i got a cross trainer which I can use anytime whilst watching TV or watching the birds etc in the garden.
 

noblehead

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
23,618
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
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Disrespectful people
A warm welcome to the forum Bel13:)
 

ally1

Expert
Messages
5,402
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
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liver
hello and welcome
you will get lots of help and advice here
 

Bel13

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thank you everyone, I have already learned a lot that I didn't know.
 

DeejayR

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,375
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi and welcome. Were you diagnosed here or in Belgium? What were you told at the time of diagnosis?
 

sallybee

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Lots of people
Really sorry Bell, I think i hijacked your thread, blooming computers!
 

Bel13

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi and welcome. Were you diagnosed here or in Belgium? What were you told at the time of diagnosis?
DeejayR, I was diagnosed here in Belgium, not really told a lot just the basics. A friend here was a UK Practice Nurse up until recently so she has been very helpful and my sister has been great as she has been type 2 for around 10 years.
 
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jack412

Expert
Messages
5,618
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Being both new, what helps one, will also help the other..the more questions the better :)