Really struggling. Type2
- Thread starter Tina321
- Start Date
Totto
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi @Tina321, I find diet is my major tool for controlling diabetes and I sort of understand where you come from as most of my family in several generations are/were diabetic. You can't fight genes, just learn to live with it and it's manageable.
So what do you eat? If you could share a typical day we can help you with suggestions how to improve BG through diet.
So what do you eat? If you could share a typical day we can help you with suggestions how to improve BG through diet.
ButtterflyLady
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- Acceptance of health treatment claims that are not adequately supported by evidence. I dislike it when people sell ineffective and even harmful alternative health products to exploit the desperation of people with chronic illness.
I will tag @daisy1 so she can post her newbies info. You are not a failure or dramatic, Tina. The fact that you are coming on here asking for help is a great sign! It shows you are taking your health seriously. Try not to beat yourself up, it doesn't help. Think positive: we live at a time in history where more is known about diabetes than ever before. Taking pills is not a sign of failure, it's just what your body needs at this time. You are giving it what it needs.
daisy1
Legend
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@Tina321
Hello Tina and welcome to the forum
Here is the information, which has been mentioned above, that we give to new members and I hope you will find this useful. Ask all the questions you like and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
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 150,000 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 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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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.
Hello Tina and welcome to the forum
Here is the information, which has been mentioned above, that we give to new members and I hope you will find this useful. Ask all the questions you like and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
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 150,000 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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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.
- Messages
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Today I start again. Thank you all once again for you hugs , advice, care and encouragement . I'm going to Wales to walk up a mountain where I will leave the negative thoughts I have and begin again the life style changes I need to make to care for my self.
I have eaten 3x small slices of Sukrin bread and 2 poached eggs. 1 coffee with cream ... Yummy = carbs so far 5.9
I have eaten 3x small slices of Sukrin bread and 2 poached eggs. 1 coffee with cream ... Yummy = carbs so far 5.9
Fayefaye1429
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- Pump
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Well I did it, I'm so pleased with myself. What. A difference a day makes. Thank you for your care once again I was at an all time low but hopefully back on the saddle . I can't believe my bloods wend down to 6.6 ! It was back up to 10.4 tonight but I'm so pleased I got it down. Thank you Faye Faye and 4 rat bags for your encouragement tonight it means a lot .
Liam1955
Master
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Hi. I've had type 2 for 15 years, for 10 years I was on Metformin and had it increased over the years, my blood sugars and HBA1C were in normal range. During this 10 year period I looked after my mum (also type 2) she had Alzheimer's - she died suddenly in 2010 and I went through a bad stage in my life, I ate what I wanted and just took no interest in my Diabetes. It was my GP who told me a year ago I would end up having diabetic complications and possibly having a Heart attack. I'd put on 3 stone (14st 4lbs). It's been hard this last year, got put on Insulin, still take 4 x 500mg Metformin and started on Dapagliflozin in May. I've only lost 1 stone, and 2 inches of my waist line, got my HBA1C down to 71, I test my blood sugars every day and watch what I eat. Diabetes is part of you and you are in control of it. I know how hard it is, but you can (and I do) have treats as my reward for being good during the week. You will start to feel better and positive. Good luck.
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- Type of diabetes
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Hey my BS has stayed around 10 all day which is brilliant for me at the moment. I also feel much better. Do you think the higher it goes the worse you feel in yourself ?
Liam 1955 thank you for sharing and for your encouragement , that's exactly how I've been feeling and have are what I wanted and not going for check ups but I'm on it now and focused. I think if I loose about 6 lb that will help too. I'm going to give it a go and try this time not to beat it as I feel such a failure when I can't rather try and enjoy what I can eat and change my thought process when I start resenting what I can't eat ! If that makes sense .
Liam 1955 thank you for sharing and for your encouragement , that's exactly how I've been feeling and have are what I wanted and not going for check ups but I'm on it now and focused. I think if I loose about 6 lb that will help too. I'm going to give it a go and try this time not to beat it as I feel such a failure when I can't rather try and enjoy what I can eat and change my thought process when I start resenting what I can't eat ! If that makes sense .
4ratbags
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,334
- Type of diabetes
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Yes it does make sense, sometimes you get so focussed on everything you cant eat that you forget all the nice stuff you can eat. I find that I miss the convenience of what I used to eat but I am slowly getting organised. I have plenty of sugar free, low carb baking in the freezer and I enjoy my meals so much I lick the plate clean. If my BS goes high I cant breathe properly, I get a headache and I feel really ******. Congrats on the 10's. Keep up the positive thinking.
- Messages
- 46
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Yippee-do-dah my bloods this morning are 7.6 
they haven't been this low for ages . My bloods are always at its highest first thing in the morning and I read on here last night some one wrote about early morning phenomena and to try a few nuts at bed time . So last night I had about 4 small Brazil nuts at bed time , do you think it was this that did the trick ? I'm going to do the same tonight ! I also think my Mountain walk was the best thing I did for a long time . Going for a long walk today to keep it up ! Or should I say down 
I've also been sticking to LcHf and not hungry at all.
Omg I feel so much better, I am back on it
they haven't been this low for ages . My bloods are always at its highest first thing in the morning and I read on here last night some one wrote about early morning phenomena and to try a few nuts at bed time . So last night I had about 4 small Brazil nuts at bed time , do you think it was this that did the trick ? I'm going to do the same tonight ! I also think my Mountain walk was the best thing I did for a long time . Going for a long walk today to keep it up ! Or should I say down 
I've also been sticking to LcHf and not hungry at all.
Omg I feel so much better, I am back on it
Alisonjane10
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Great work hun. Delighted for you. X You WILL get through this, I have no doubt. X
Alisonjane10
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- Bullies, discrimination of any kind, bad manners, parents who let their kids run amok & spoil things for everyone else, unkind spiteful people, being a clumsy clod, toast crumbs in the bed, cold feet!!
Hi @Tina321. You've achieved a great deal in a relatively short period of time. That's something to be proud of. When I was diagnosed early this year, my blood glucose was up in the high 20's. I was started on Metformin & Gliclazide 180mg twice a day. I wasn't keen on taking the Gliclazide, but on reflection, it did help bring my BG down. Alongside eating sensibly, primarily low carb, I was able to lose weight. I was worried that being on Gliclazide would make me gain weight. Thankfully, that didn't happen. Now my dose of Gliclazide is only 20mg, & I should be off it completely very soon. Losing weight, following lchf for 3/4 months & walking everywhere has given me the freedom to relax a little with the foods I eat. I now use portion control & eat to my meter to maintain my BG at the optimum level for me (I like to be at or around 5.0.) I eat whatever I want, but ONLY the portion size that prevents my BG spiking. It works for me, & is a lifestyle I can maintain. I know I couldn't have got my BG under control with medication alone. I've no doubt that following lchf upon diagnosis ultimately helped me regain control & stabilise my blood glucose. So, I'm a fan of lchf....I just choose to manage my Diabetes in a different way. It's still low carb though, but it's a diet I can stick to without getting bored or feeling deprived. Everyone finds their own balance. As I'm sure you will too. You're certainly on the right road & I applaud you for the hard work you are so obviously putting into managing your Diabetes. Just a little side note: research has shown that the best therapeutic effect when prescribed Gliclazide is to take it 20-30 minutes before your meal. I was never told that when I was prescribed it. I found it out by doing my own research about my medication online. Enjoy your break in Wales, and I send you my very best wishes. Good health. X
Absolutely@smoggydad 69 . Sorry I can't help with answers but wanted to say hello. You must be from middlesbrough?
