scared - what can I do?

[dmcd11]

I have been diagnosed with type 2 and am waiting to go on a training day to tell me how to manage it. I have an appt with my diabetes nurse in a few weeks. I thought I was doing ok, as I have a list that my Dr gave me and I have been mainly sticking to that apart from the occassional chocolate.
My problem is that I have been having lots of sweats and Im always hungry (altho I would like to lose weight, I havent lost anything)
I end up eating large amounts of food from the list that the diabetic nurse gave me
for example tonight I had three plates of homemade chicken dinner within an hour :-(
I still wasnt full
I feel tired a lot and get exhausted easily
I have taken my blood sugar and it is 3.7 tonight
I read you have to take something with sugar in if that happens so I ate a small kit kat.......is that right?
in the morning when I wake my blood sugar is about 5.1 - 6.1
I am very confused and scared when I eat incase I'm doing something wrong
I also feel like my feet and hands get colder more easily and I feel very thirsty, especially during the night.......I dont sleep with the sweats
finally, my big worry is that last time the diabetic nurse wanted to put me on a tablet and statins but I dont want to go on tablets unless I really need them.........do I? I had hoped, that if I could lose weight (I am 14st8lbs and 5.5ft ie counted as obese) that my blood sugar reading would be good/no need for tablets. I feel that I may be doing all the wrong things. Can anyone help put me straight please/any advice from someone like me. thanks

 

[tree-peony]

Hi dmc

I'm afraid I can't help as I am by no means an expert, but I wanted to say "hello and welcome" and I'm certain that someone much more knowledgeable than me will be along shortly!

I have to say that your blood glucose (BG) readings seems very low for someone who is supposed to be Type 2? Are you on any medication at all?

 

[mrawfell]

Firstly easier said than done, relax. I know diabetes is a serious potentially fatal, by a very unpleasant route.I am T2 diagnosed two years ago.Your figures look fine, if I was down to 3.7, I would go to my doctor saying "Why is it so low ? ". My FBS is between 5 and 6, and my HBA1c around 5.9.
So keep up the good work, you seem to be doing fine.

 

[daisy1]

Hi dmcd11 and welcome to the forum
Here is the information we give to new members and I think you will find it answers many of your questions. Anything else, just ask, 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 30,000 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 ... rains.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

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.
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Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.

 

[wellwell1212]

"I have been diagnosed with type 2 and am waiting to go on a training day to tell me how to manage it."

Wow a training day Bet you don't live in North Wilts :lol:

Excuse my cynicism but, I would have loved some formal training on T2. If it was for this site, I'd know next to nada.

 

[Ann19]

[quote="wellwell1212"

Wow a training day Bet you don't live in North Wilts :lol:

Excuse my cynicism but, I would have loved some formal training on T2. If it was for this site, I'd know next to nada.[/quote]

If it is anything like the 'training' that most of us type2 have had then you've not missed anything!! :shock: :lol:

Ann

 

[Paul1976]

If it's DESMOND then obviously it's your choice to go but if I had my time again I would not have attended and you'll learn so much MORE on this forum!(The amazing turnarounds in peoples BG's and weight,if needed,speak for themselves) :wink: I still can't bring myself to talk of the Horrors and appalling advice I witnessed when I attended! :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi dmcd11,

that fasting reading looks fine - do you know the numbers they gave you when you were diagnosed?

A thirst is normally a symptom of your levels being high. As for hunger, have you cut down on your carbohydrate intake? It'll take a few days to get used to a new diet and if you're cutting down on your carbs but not replacing it with protein and fat then you're going to feel hungry.

What's in the 'chicken dinner' - out of interest?

It sounds like you have a meter, which is excellent - if you have enough strips then perhaps you could do a bit of intensive testing - take a day and take a reading before each meal, then at +1 hr and +2 hrs. Write down EVERYTHING you eat, preferably with the weights of things - ie. 1 weetabix, 30g cooked white Rice etc.. With this and your readings alongside you'll have a much better idea of what's going on.

You can post the results on here and we'll help you interpret what's going on.

S

 

[DavideB]

Hello dmcd11

WOW Training...... I was diagnosed in Italy and the doctor said.. "you are fat you need to lose weight" That was my training....

I am no expert: but when I came on here they said ASK ASK ASK and to be honest the help has been great, even just to cheer you up or advise...

 

[dmcd11]

thank you all for your advice. I do feel supported here and its so nice to have access to the forum.