Diagnosed last Friday.....

[essexgary]

Hello everyone.

I am Gary from Essex (hence essexgary). I got diagnosed last Friday evening by my doctor and have just undergone another lot of blood tests yesterday prior to seeing the Diabetic Nurse at my practice on the 15th December.

Not sure what type of Diabetes I have as I was not told... I do know that I have a problem with my liver though (but again, not sure exactly what).

Anyway, reasoning behind going to docs in first place was that I was weeing a hell of a lot in the night and was constantly thirsty. I had had a diabetes test about 5 or 6 years ago which came back clear but was enough to give me a kick up the bum to loose weight, which I did. in total I lost about 3 st, but as the years rolled by the weight went back on to 15st 4lb.

Oh. I am 49 years old. 50 in April and am 5ft 10in tall

Anyway. have just literally booked an appointment to see the doctor who specialises in diabetes for next Wednesday (hopefully bloods are back) so I can find out more info about everything. and then see the nurse on Thursday for everything else.....

This is all a bit mind-blowing and I don't think it has sunk in yet. I know I have to sort myself out and I am currently doing that having started a GI diet (that's the diet where I lost 3 st) and have so far lost about 2-3lbs. A long way to go but hopefully I will get there. Think what's worrying me the most is do I self test or not and who decides that for me????

Thank you for reading
Gary

 

[walnut_face]

Hi and welcome @essexgary t a place you didn't want to be, I will ask @daisy1 who will post some great information. Have a good read and ask as many questions as you want. Unlike your Turkey, Diabetes isn't just for Xmas
Having said that it isn't as scary as you might think

 

[Squire Fulwood]

..who decides that for me????

You do.

 

[Resurgam]

Hello Gary - I have far more weight to lose, and I'm a lot older and shorter than you - but I am not downhearted - at least I will get to eat the turkey and sprouts at Christmas if not the potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. I have found that getting firstly the diagnosis of type 2 and then a glucose tester concentrates the mind wonderfully.
I hope that you can find a useful doctor and get sorted out quickly.

 

[daisy1]

@essexgary

Hello Gary and welcome to the forum You've certainly been doing well so far. Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. It contains advice on carbs and levels and includes a link to the Low Carb Program which you could join. I think it is essential to get testing equipment so you can see what different foods do to your levels. The SD Codefree meter is a good one to use as the strips are cheaper. Someone will come along to give you the discount codes for buying the strips. Ask as many questions as you need to 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 well over 220,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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 blood glucose 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.

 

[Freema]

welcome essexgary

 

[Hiitsme]

Hi and welcome @essexgary
I found testing a really helpful tool showing me what my body could manage and what was better avoided. I was one of those really fortunate people who was given a meter and test strips on prescription. Once under control I was told I only needed to test a couple of times a week hence I bought the sdcodefree as that has the cheapest strips.
I bought direst from Homehealth
http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/
You need to say you're diabetic then you don't pay VAT and in UK we use mmol/L
The discount codes for bulk buying are
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833

 

[catapillar]

Not sure what type of Diabetes I have as I was not told... I do know that I have a problem with my liver though (but again, not sure exactly what).

Unless you have been sent home with a supply of insulin and test strips or admitted to hospital for management under the diabetic consultant (which you haven't, it sounds like you have been sent home with nothing and are being managed by your GP) you are being treated as a type 2 diabetic.

 

[MikePea]

Welcome Essexgary The lack of action by your medical team says Type 2. You already know about essential weight loss. You are well on the way to control. Food is the key and testing will keep you on the straight and narrow. Exercise will greatly help your weight loss (if you can). Just walking helps. Start low and gradually increase the distance and or effort. Medication may be given or not.
I just keep walking now, without meds.
Watch this site for lots of advice from the horses mouth. It will not all be right as every body is not the same. But at least you will be among friends who also live with T2.

 

[Energize]

Well done for finding this forum, Gary, as you will find lots of friendly advice from very experienced and knowledgeable members.

When you go to see the nurse and/or doctor, you will undoubtedly be told that, as Type 2/Prediabetic, you don't need to test and, regarding diet, keep eating carbs !!! Totally bad advice, in my (and many others) opinion. So, the best thing you can do to help yourself is to buy yourself a glucometer (link in a post above) and check immediately before, then 2 hours after, the first bite of a meal. This will show you how your body is coping with the foods you eat. Daisy1's post (above) is brilliant information and you will discover most of the members here tend towards a Low Carb diet and also Higher Fat. This LCHF diet has led to much improved glucose levels, to the point that I have now (recently) been able to stop insulin-promoting medications and so am just taking Metformin for diabetes now. It seems I don't tolerate carbs at all well but, I have to say my cholestrol ratios are much improved with this diet.

It's your body and everyone's different, of course. It's your choice as to how you control, or not, your glucose levels as it will be you that may, or may not, suffer any longer-term complications due to poorly controlled diabetes.

So, as @Squire Fulwood posted - it's your responsibility (to test, or not to test) - regardless of what the 'professionals' have to say about it

Good luck on your journey. I'm sure you'll do well

 

[callyandy]

Welcome @essexgary , all of the advice above is brilliant and well tested by people who live with diabetes. The best move you've made so far is joining this forum. Keep reading and posting. I'm sure you'll do well. Good luck

 

[essexgary]

Thank you very much for all the info everyone. gonna go off and have a read of it all and digest it.........