Hi I was recently diagnosed with diabetes and generally told to come back in 3 months for my sugars checking. I mentioned to my gp my family history with diabetes but they generally didn't seem interested. My mum was diagnosed at 49 years went straight onto insulin so I think it may have been diabetes 1. She had lower leg amputation at 51 due to ulceration and died at 52 of heart attack. Her sister was also diabetic for most of her life.she passed away in her 30s. I'm now worried that I should be medicated and I m not.
Worried
- Thread starter Sarahmally
- Start Date
rom35
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 431
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi, welcome to forum.
Can you provide us with some data from diagnosis? HbA1C, FBG and so on.
There is a chance, that you can control your diabetes withou medicaments, but more info is needed.
The link https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.26870/
can be useful.
Can you provide us with some data from diagnosis? HbA1C, FBG and so on.
There is a chance, that you can control your diabetes withou medicaments, but more info is needed.
The link https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.26870/
can be useful.
Hello and welcome to the forum @Sarahmally
If you can provide us some information about your diagnosis that would be appreciated, I understand that your in shock with the diagnosis and like you I find that some health care professionals don't care which is troublesome. I'm sorry to hear about your mother and aunt, but type 2 is a very manageable condition. An example would be @rom35 who manages diabetes with diet only and has a brilliant score of 39
If you can provide us some information about your diagnosis that would be appreciated, I understand that your in shock with the diagnosis and like you I find that some health care professionals don't care which is troublesome. I'm sorry to hear about your mother and aunt, but type 2 is a very manageable condition. An example would be @rom35 who manages diabetes with diet only and has a brilliant score of 39
@Sarahmally Your probably like me in the sense that you've been borderline for awhile and just crossed over from prediabetes to diabetes because if your score was higher then they would have started you on metformin.
Have they assigned you a diabetic nurse at your surgery? any upcoming follow up appointments?
Have they assigned you a diabetic nurse at your surgery? any upcoming follow up appointments?
rom35
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 431
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Please ask him for the data. Without it you are blind and cannot do the right steps for controlling your diabetes.
In any case start LCHF diet asap, buy a glucometer with enough strips and start to have your diabetes under control.
- Messages
- 15,970
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi Sarah and welcome. First I’ll tag in @daisy1 for an info posting.
Now the HbA1c test is a clever test which assesses the amount of excess glucose stuck to your red blood cells, which live for up to 12 weeks, hence the 3 month test.
Have you been given any advice at all? Assuming you’re type 2 then most of us Type 2s reduce our carbohydrate intake aswell as obvious sugars, as carbohydrates turn to sugar too. We also perform home testing to establish which foods are best for us.
Now the HbA1c test is a clever test which assesses the amount of excess glucose stuck to your red blood cells, which live for up to 12 weeks, hence the 3 month test.
Have you been given any advice at all? Assuming you’re type 2 then most of us Type 2s reduce our carbohydrate intake aswell as obvious sugars, as carbohydrates turn to sugar too. We also perform home testing to establish which foods are best for us.
Hi thanks all for your advice. I'm currently looking at Amazon for a testing kit. I've been unwell since Xmas really and have just finished my forth course of antibiotics for tonsillitis. Just gone back to work this week but its tiring as im up at 3am so eating is difficult.Tablets have now left my mouth sore and I'm often waking with a dry mouth which I can't tell if it is a symptom of tablets or diabetes. I've been told my vitamin d level is low so on tablets for that. Hopefully I will start picking up.soon. x
I've had some leaflets and just got my retinal clinic appointment through. Also I have a invite for Desmond.
- Messages
- 15,970
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
A lot of us buy the SD Code Free monitor. There is indeed a starter pack on Amazon around £12. To stock up with testing strips it’s more economical to get them direct from Home Health. Here’s a link:
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-test-strips/
And here’s some discount codes. If you use the ten pack one it’ll save you around £17. Also check the box to say you’re diabetic and you’ll save the VAT
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833
You can use the codes over and over again
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-test-strips/
And here’s some discount codes. If you use the ten pack one it’ll save you around £17. Also check the box to say you’re diabetic and you’ll save the VAT
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833
You can use the codes over and over again
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
@Sarahmally
Hello Sarah and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want 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 235,000 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:
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 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
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 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello Sarah and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want 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 235,000 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
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 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
- 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 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Just used my kit for first time. Was surprised how easy it was. Reading of 8.3 before eating .am I right in thinking I should test now two hrs after eating xx
xfieldok
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 4,182
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
2 hours after the first bite.
Also keep a food diary, it is vital to find out what food causes spikes.
Also keep a food diary, it is vital to find out what food causes spikes.
