Newly diagnosed ?

[michaelhypno]

Hi

A year ago I was diagnosed with an impaired glucose tolerance.
I recently had a blood test.
The reading showed 7.3. and my Dr told me I am now probably diabetic type 2 but ordered a second blood test to confirm.
I was phoned by the GPs reception a few days later and told I need to see the practice nurse. After asking she told me my read was again 7.3 but couldn’t give me an appointment with the nurse for 13 days. This is now about a week away.
I have been proactive changing my diet and I have purchased a meter.

I used the meter for the first time first thing this morning before eating and got a reading of 6.7.
My question is how often should I use the meter and when?
Also what is a “normal Reading or what should I be aiming for?

I do feel tired and thirsty and a little down in the dumps

I would be really grateful for any advice

Thanks

Michael

 

[Gappy]

A quick hello, I haven't got a meter so can't answer that but do know you'll get plenty of good advice in the morning

 

[daisy1]

Hi Michael and welcome to the forum. You did a good thing buying a meter and starting testing. Here is some information which has been prepared by our friends Ken and Sue, former monitors, for new members and contains advice on when to test, levels you should aim for and diet. The levels quoted in here are the NICE recommendations and are maximum levels. If you can get your levels towards the lower end of these brackets it is better. Ask as many questions as you like as someone always has an answer.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, 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.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

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!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

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

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......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 at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. 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.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.

 

[michaelhypno]

Thank you that is really helpful

Michael

 

[SugarPop]

Hello I am newly diagnosed, just this week - feeling ok about it. But hate to think of cutting down on my chocolate intake. Do most people have a blood test machine thing to check now and again their blood sugar or is it best to leave that to the nurse? I bought one to monitor mine and it was 5.1. Down from 8.5 when I had the fasting test a few weeks ago!! Anyway - hope to chat to you all sometime? Thanks Grace x

 

[daisy1]

Hi Grace and welcome to the forum You did the right thing to buy yourself testing equipment as that is the only way you can look after yourself properly. One important thing you can do is to test before a meal then two hours afterwards to see which foods are suitable for you. If the levels are similar then what you have eaten is OK for you. If not, you will have to change the amount you eat of that particular food or not eat it again. Everyone is different so what suits one person may not suit you. If you haven't done so already, read the information that I posted above which will explain a lot of things to you. Here is a link to the updated version of this information as this is an old thread.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17088#p155405

If you have any questions go ahead and ask as there is always someone who will have an answer for you.