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I have a proper brain ache!

other half cooks/deals with the food

Nearly forgot this bit, which isn't always easy. In theory, shouldn't be an issue, but it all depends. In our house we haven't touched anything out of a packet i.e. processed, for years and we start with fresh ingredients. We don't really eat anything exotic or complicated but curries, lasagne, Italian Meat balls, shepherds pie, proper Sunday roast etc. are still available in our house I just cut out the rice/potato/pasta/bread. That keeps my carbs down to roughly 40 gms per day and there was a time when I could even tolerate a slice of toast or two at the weekend.
 
Hi,

I've done my reading, research, food diary etc - and seriously, I thought I was a fairly healthy eater but apparently not! Now I just feel overwhelmed :( my appointment with the doc/practice nurse is on Tuesday and whilst I have questions for them, equally, I feel underprepared.

I feel very angry that I've been borderline for so long with no interest from the healthcare professional, despite 16+ months of blood tests to try and find the cause of my excessive exhaustion, at some point someone should have decided to prevent me from getting into the fully diabetic range rather than just leaving it to happen! Again I'm going to say that I am very angry about that.

I've requested online access to my records to help access blood results etc.
The PN has apparently made a referral for me to haematology re my high Ferritin.
I have a BG meter (Bayer Contour) already but it's not on the recommended list I can find via the CCG guidelines (True Result Twist or Wave sense Jazz - already have the former but really do not like it) so I doubt I'll get test strips supported but I think I'll do a period of "eat to the meter" to get my diet and weight under control.
I missed my last retinopathy appointment so expecting a comment or two about that.
I had an ultrasound on my liver at some point in the last 6 months *my memory fails me* which came back with the NAFL label.

Worst case scenario ... venesection for the ferritin issue, meds for diabetes, focussed weightloss (would love to do LCHF but other half cooks/deals with the food and we're currently butting heads over it).

Questions:
The last two appointments I've had a mildly higher blood pressure - is it worth getting a home kit (seeing as I'm having to make big lifestyle changes)?
As I now have blood glucose issues, high ferritin, low vitD, is it worth asking to be referred to an endocrinologist?

I thought I was exhausted before all of this - now I feel ... does the above make sense to anyone else? Are my questions worth asking?

Some agreement or direction opposite would really be appreciated right now. I have massive work stress (business merger), supposed to writing my MSc dissertation etc and not sure my head even knows where to take this diagnosis!


you should always take your own questions seriously.. noone else do fight for you... be happy that many of your troubles can be cured like low vitamin D levels, almost everyone suffers from low vitamin D in the northern hemisphere because most people do not work outside and do not stay in the sun much.. and then one need to take supplements or eat salmon or herring every day, which most people also do not do..., if you find it hard to find proper foods for you as a type 2 diabetic, then slice a cheese in sticks and take those with you for lunch with some nuts or an avocado... or a LIDL high protein roll... which only contains very little carbs.


actually I share your anger, it seems I have been pre-diabetic for more than a year before my diagnosis, but no-one bothered to tell me... so stupid , why on earth did they take the blood sampple for then in the first place... at that time I might have been able to avoid getting fullblown type 2 diabetes if I had only known about it... by the way I felt exhausted all the time too, it went away by going low carb and low calories initially and at that time also doing intermittent fasting...it helped med get my insuline levels down in a normal range so it was possible for me to lose weight... I think I have to be more strict again concerning intermittent fasting because the weight keeps creeping on again.

I almost only eat chicken meat as I also used to be high in iron/ferritin.... and being too high is also damaging

well about blood pressure many people do get a raised blood pressure when being at their doctor, out of worry and because of being more tense than usual, so it can be a good thing to measure ones blood glucose at home and find out if it is only raised at the GP...
 
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uhm that looks delicious ...I need to try that I miss lasagne very much and pasta
A couple of lower carb solutions to the lasagna and other pasta problem are broiled or pan fried eggplant (aubergine) or zucchini (courgette). Both quite yum. I often also soak tofu-skin bows in boiling water and untie them to get very thin lasagna-like sheets to put on top before finishing in the oven.
 
Yes, I can quite see why you feel angry! A huge number of people here have had similar bad experiences, at least one woman almost died because of an extreme form of this negligence and was able to claim damages! In a very mild way, it happened to me too.
This happened to me too AND it was an endocrinologist phlebotomist!
 
Have you tried the Slim range of no-carb imitation pasta and rice? Sadly, no lasagne yet, but I really like their fettucine and penne. The rice is OK too. Lots of discussion about this konjac stuff on the forums. People either love it (like me, I eat it every day!) or loathe it. On offer at Holland & Barratt just now.

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/eat-water-slim-pasta-fettucini-60007573

yes I have tried the spagetti, but it is hard to find here in Denmark still, and being a single mother most of our food is for both of us....my daughter not being diabetic and very slim still..I try to avoid the pasta when she makes pasta...
 
Have you tried the Slim range of no-carb imitation pasta and rice? Sadly, no lasagne yet, but I really like their fettucine and penne. The rice is OK too. Lots of discussion about this konjac stuff on the forums. People either love it (like me, I eat it every day!) or loathe it. On offer at Holland & Barratt just now.

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/eat-water-slim-pasta-fettucini-60007573
That looks really good. might have to try them. Thanks!
 
yes I have tried the spagetti, but it is hard to find here in Denmark still, and being a single mother most of our food is for both of us....my daughter not being diabetic and very slim still..I try to avoid the pasta when she makes pasta...
I hadn't realised you are in Denmark. If you could get hold of the slim pasta, it would not be hard to have that yourself while your daughter ate real spaghetti, as it doesn't need cooking, just rinsing and warming up. In that way some people on the Forums do like to eat nearly the same as their families, but avoiding the carbs. But I'm afraid that even here, and at a reduced price, it is still rather expensive. It must be very difficult to eat low carb, cook for someone else with different needs, and economise at the same time.
 
That looks really good. might have to try them. Thanks!
I think the Slim range is made to a different recipe from the more basic (and cheaper) konjac noodles and is a better imitation of normal pasta and rice. It is a life-saver for me, as I am extremely carb sensitive and I have to ration even the low carb vegetables. So no courgetti for me, but the Slim pasta fills in that empty place on my plate! And gives me some much needed fibre as well. I am trying to GAIN weight, so I add lots of grated cheese and butter to my pasta. I don't think I could eat all that without the plain pasta to go with it.
 
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