Recently diagnosed partner...Help!

Vims

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi guys, just here for better understanding of diabetes really. My partner (30y) was recently diagnosed(24dec) with type 2 diabetes and we still trying to get our heads round it. He was given Metformin straight after which he didn't take coz we wanted a second opinion. 7th of Jan we went and saw a Doc who said he should start taking the meds straight away so he did. 2weeks on he's been complaining of severe headaches and tiredness and didn't want to take the meds anymore coz it was starting to affect his work. Anyway we went to see a DSN today and she was appalled by the way our doc handled the whole situation. Apparently he's a type 1 diabetic and needs to start insulin injections straight away.... Doctors hey!

Anyway I'd appreciate all the help I can get here to understand how to help him deal with this.

Thanks n take care
 

daisy1

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

Sorry that your partner has just been diagnosed Type 1. Here is some information which we give to new members which will help you get started. Other members who are Type 1 will be along soon to give you more specific information. Ask all the questions you like 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 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.
 

Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi and welcome. I'm afraid too many GPs assume T2 rather than late onset T1; mine did. It's good you now have the right diagnosis. With insulin your partner will potentially have complete control. I would expect him to be on two insulins (Basal/Bolus) and if he hasn't already been started on carb-counting for the carb content of meals he should be shortly. Seek the GPs or nurses guidance and ask more question on the T1 forum. It is important to control the amount of overall carbs your partner has to avoid weight gain and excessive insulin. As long as he maintains a sensible BMI then all should be fine.
 

Vims

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Insulin
Thanks guys, much appreciated. @Daibell we just been to the hospital and he's been given Gliclazide to try before they put him on insulin
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi and welcome,

This must have been a bit of a shock for you, but once you both get your heads round it things will become a lot easier.

The key to controlling this disease is diet, with a little help from the meds, but the meds won't do it on their own. Obviously the sugary stuff needs to be avoided completely, but you need to know also that carbohydrates are the main culprits in raising blood sugars. Rice, pasta, potatoes, bread and anything made with flour need to be reduced. The less he eats the better for him. All carbs convert to glucose once inside the system, and all this glucose is what he does not want. Any calories lost due to reduced carbs can be replaced by extra fats (dairy except milk, olive oil, eggs etc.) and/or protein. He needs to find the right balance for him between low carb and extra fats/protein depending on whether he needs to lose/gain/maintain his weight.

Have a good read round this forum for ideas and then sort him out with a suitable and sustainable diet, because this is life-long, not just a few weeks. Please take some deep breaths and come back with any questions. Good luck.
 
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Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Thanks guys, much appreciated. @Daibell we just been to the hospital and he's been given Gliclazide to try before they put him on insulin
Hi. Gliclazide is well worth a try before insulin. It helped me a bit for a year or so but eventually ran out of road. Be aware if you weren't told that Glic can cause hypos if the dose is too high so measure before driving etc and you should find the right dose with some experience.
 
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