- Messages
- 3
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi,
Having lurked here for a few weeks after being recommended by a supportive Type1 friend, I thought I would pop my head around the door and say 'hello'.
I'm 32. Having had high BP since it was discovered in my early 20s, a couple of years ago my Practice Nurse decided that it would be time to start medicating. I then had a number of blood tests to check for side effects from the BP medication, and by chance in Oct 2014, my glucose was found to be high (hovering around 16). My HbA1c was 103 before Christmas and 101 after and that it should ideally be under about 48.
This was all quite a shock and quite scary. At 18st on a 5'10" frame, I was clearly too heavy; and as a long commuting office-worker spending 60hrs/week sat down I knew that my activity levels were low. However there is very little history of this in my family, and I was symptom free - the nurse seemed surprised at this given the HbA1c, and my Type1 friend said 'if I had a glucose reading of 16 I'd be feeling lousy - and perhaps you are, you've just been like it so long you don't realise'. Outside of work I was also reasonably active maintaining a large veg garden and doing DIY. I also felt that my diet was quite good whilst not angelic.
The Practice Nurse recommended Metformin, and I've started this last week, although I hesitated initially.
Retinopathy was all clear, and no obvious foot nerve damage.
So, where from here?
Activity - The nurse advised me to be more active. I'm reading things about how inactivity is worse than obesity and/or smoking and so I can make changes here. I've been going out for lunchtime walks every day and some in the evenings too - and will keep up on the veg plot. This is easy to grasp - it makes sense, and I know what I have to do. Perfect.
Weight - Around the time of diagnosis, my weight started dropping from 18st and in 3-4mths plateaued at 15st 13. I'd like to think that this was down to the increased activity and the better diet, but I suspect that the Type2 played a stronger role. I've got it moving again (15st 8 now) and hope to continue. I feel lighter, fitter, and have more energy - health aside, it is well worth pursuing!
Diet - Here I'm far more confused - and posts on here suggest I'm not alone with the conflicting advice.
The DSN examined my diet and agreed that it was 'healthy', but was very high in carbs - lots of white pasta, bread, rice, potatoes (from the plot!), and portion control was an issue. I was also consuming a lot of fruit.
- The DSN said that my high carb intake was likely why my glucose was spiking, and I wonder if this is what has caused the Type-2. She advised the 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs, 1/4 veg plate. I have therefore cut carbs mainly by cutting portion sizes; replacing pasta, bread and rice with brown versions and consuming less; swapping some pasta for beans/peas/lentils as advised by the DSN.
- The nurse advised me to reduce sugar in my diet which I duly did - although there wasn't much to be removed (I'm more of a savory eater). Easily understood, even if the sources of sugar are surprising (the sugar added to a 'healthy' jar of bolognese sauce is stunning). The DSN said to reduce the fruit slightly and to spread it out throughout the day to avoid spiking glucose levels.
- The nurse also highlighted that my cholesterol was 4.8 (which whilst not terrible is over the 4 recommended for diabetics) with my LDL (bad) and Triglycerides (bad) being high, and my HDL (good) being next to nil. I looked up sources of unsaturated fat - olive oil, oily fish, almonds etc. and increased those, and looked up saturated fats and reduced those - animal fats, cream, cheese, butters, etc.
- I then read about the Glycemic Index and find that many of the substitutes recommended by the DSN which I am increasing have medium to high values (so I should be not using them either?). I then read that some people say the GI isn't important - as whilst higher figures indicate a spike it is more about what quantity you are eating - eating loads of something with a low GI can still increase glucose levels. (I'm lost).
- I then read about LCHF - recommended often on here. However, surely things like bacon are high in saturated fat - the thing I've been told to reduce! I know the idea is to increase good fats to replace carbs, but many of the recipes involve butter, cream, bacon etc. and this concerns me - a low glucose level isn't going to be much good to be if my cholesterol is soaring!
Statins - the nurse is recommending Statins, although we've agreed to wait 3mths to see if dietary changes are having an effect. To be blunt, at 32, I don't want to be on 3 different medications.
Living with Diabetes Course - I'm booked on that in about a fortnight, so will be interested to see what they say.
I did also stumble across the life expectancy figures for a Type2 and found these deeply unsettling. I am rationalising that the 10yr loss is calculated based on those who ignore the condition etc. and that if I make the right choices that I can perhaps be at the 1-2yr end of that spectrum. I'm motivated to do something about this - the challenge is often just knowing what!
Sorry for the length of this introduction. All advice welcome, and thanks for listening.
MCG.
Having lurked here for a few weeks after being recommended by a supportive Type1 friend, I thought I would pop my head around the door and say 'hello'.
I'm 32. Having had high BP since it was discovered in my early 20s, a couple of years ago my Practice Nurse decided that it would be time to start medicating. I then had a number of blood tests to check for side effects from the BP medication, and by chance in Oct 2014, my glucose was found to be high (hovering around 16). My HbA1c was 103 before Christmas and 101 after and that it should ideally be under about 48.
This was all quite a shock and quite scary. At 18st on a 5'10" frame, I was clearly too heavy; and as a long commuting office-worker spending 60hrs/week sat down I knew that my activity levels were low. However there is very little history of this in my family, and I was symptom free - the nurse seemed surprised at this given the HbA1c, and my Type1 friend said 'if I had a glucose reading of 16 I'd be feeling lousy - and perhaps you are, you've just been like it so long you don't realise'. Outside of work I was also reasonably active maintaining a large veg garden and doing DIY. I also felt that my diet was quite good whilst not angelic.
The Practice Nurse recommended Metformin, and I've started this last week, although I hesitated initially.
Retinopathy was all clear, and no obvious foot nerve damage.
So, where from here?
Activity - The nurse advised me to be more active. I'm reading things about how inactivity is worse than obesity and/or smoking and so I can make changes here. I've been going out for lunchtime walks every day and some in the evenings too - and will keep up on the veg plot. This is easy to grasp - it makes sense, and I know what I have to do. Perfect.
Weight - Around the time of diagnosis, my weight started dropping from 18st and in 3-4mths plateaued at 15st 13. I'd like to think that this was down to the increased activity and the better diet, but I suspect that the Type2 played a stronger role. I've got it moving again (15st 8 now) and hope to continue. I feel lighter, fitter, and have more energy - health aside, it is well worth pursuing!
Diet - Here I'm far more confused - and posts on here suggest I'm not alone with the conflicting advice.
The DSN examined my diet and agreed that it was 'healthy', but was very high in carbs - lots of white pasta, bread, rice, potatoes (from the plot!), and portion control was an issue. I was also consuming a lot of fruit.
- The DSN said that my high carb intake was likely why my glucose was spiking, and I wonder if this is what has caused the Type-2. She advised the 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs, 1/4 veg plate. I have therefore cut carbs mainly by cutting portion sizes; replacing pasta, bread and rice with brown versions and consuming less; swapping some pasta for beans/peas/lentils as advised by the DSN.
- The nurse advised me to reduce sugar in my diet which I duly did - although there wasn't much to be removed (I'm more of a savory eater). Easily understood, even if the sources of sugar are surprising (the sugar added to a 'healthy' jar of bolognese sauce is stunning). The DSN said to reduce the fruit slightly and to spread it out throughout the day to avoid spiking glucose levels.
- The nurse also highlighted that my cholesterol was 4.8 (which whilst not terrible is over the 4 recommended for diabetics) with my LDL (bad) and Triglycerides (bad) being high, and my HDL (good) being next to nil. I looked up sources of unsaturated fat - olive oil, oily fish, almonds etc. and increased those, and looked up saturated fats and reduced those - animal fats, cream, cheese, butters, etc.
- I then read about the Glycemic Index and find that many of the substitutes recommended by the DSN which I am increasing have medium to high values (so I should be not using them either?). I then read that some people say the GI isn't important - as whilst higher figures indicate a spike it is more about what quantity you are eating - eating loads of something with a low GI can still increase glucose levels. (I'm lost).
- I then read about LCHF - recommended often on here. However, surely things like bacon are high in saturated fat - the thing I've been told to reduce! I know the idea is to increase good fats to replace carbs, but many of the recipes involve butter, cream, bacon etc. and this concerns me - a low glucose level isn't going to be much good to be if my cholesterol is soaring!
Statins - the nurse is recommending Statins, although we've agreed to wait 3mths to see if dietary changes are having an effect. To be blunt, at 32, I don't want to be on 3 different medications.
Living with Diabetes Course - I'm booked on that in about a fortnight, so will be interested to see what they say.
I did also stumble across the life expectancy figures for a Type2 and found these deeply unsettling. I am rationalising that the 10yr loss is calculated based on those who ignore the condition etc. and that if I make the right choices that I can perhaps be at the 1-2yr end of that spectrum. I'm motivated to do something about this - the challenge is often just knowing what!
Sorry for the length of this introduction. All advice welcome, and thanks for listening.
MCG.
