Hi Ya - New Type 2

Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi there, I am a newly diagnosed Type 2. Like many of you I expect, I am feeling very overwhelmed by the diagnosis and what I have read about Diabetes. It is very scary!! I have started trying to do something about it ie: have given up smoking 8 weeks ago, have started an exercise programme, and have been trying to cut my calorie intake, although it is really hard because I have stopped smoking I just want to eat food all the time!!! I am very overweight and it has been hard to know what to do first because I know the dangers of smoking, but also the dangers of being overweight.Anyway it is good to join this Forum and know there are many others out there going through the same thing. Hope to get to know some of you soon. Best wishes to you all.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
Hi sweetiepie and welcome to the forum :)
Hearty congratulations on giving up smoking. The food craving should go soon but please don't be tempted to start smoking again because you are putting on weight, the weight can be dealt with in due course.
 

cugila

Master
Messages
10,272
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People who are touchy.......feign indignation at the slightest thing. Hypocrites, bullies and cowards.
Hi sweetiepie.
Welcome to the Forum. Have good read around and if there is anything you need to know just ask away. Yep.......we have all been there, very confusing at times. So, just to confuse you even more........here is the advice we hand out to the newly diagnosed. Might help you to get a head start on gaining control of your Diabetes..........

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.

As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.
Ken / Sue.
 
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Thanks daisy1 and cugila, for the warm welcome and I will bear your advice in mind, and for the useful information for the newly diagnosed.
 

noblehead

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
23,618
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Disrespectful people
Welcome to the forum sweetiepie! :)

Nigel
 

totsy

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,041
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
liars, animal cruelty
hya sweetiepie,
welcome to the forum :D