• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

First meeting with DN

bigsi1984

bigsi1984

Well-Known Member
Messages
88
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hey guys!

I've posted a few times since joining but I was only diagnosed by my doctor at the end of April and had to wait until yesterday to see the DN.

About three weeks prior to my diagnosis I had started to make some changes; light exercise, eating what was in the cupboard or fridge rather than ordering takeaway, that kind of thing. At 28 stone having spent a couple of years eating constant takeaways this was a hard change.

My Hba1c was 84 after my first blood test and the doctor told me my blood was in a diabetic state. When I asked if that means I'm diabetic she sort of went a bit wishy washy and said probably but you should see the diabetic nurse. I explained I'd made some changes in the month running up to this appointment and asked if I could likely get the Hba1c number down. She said not likely but sent me to do a fasting blood test the next week. That Hba1c came back as 78. Alarm bells! So that number could change!?!

A quick Google led me here and to tons of information. I'd like to say thanks to everyone that posts, it's made such a huge difference to me. I bought a glucose monitor, joined the gym and drastically changed my eating habits.

4 weeks later and I'm 18 lbs lighter, walking 3-4 miles a day and hitting the gym every other day. Very happy!

So yesterday I went to see the DN and I was dreading it because I'd read quite a lot about them not supporting home testing or low carb eating. I needn't have been though, she was great! After a good chat (she uses this site too) I walked out with her agreeing that I don't need the metformin as long as I'm happy and making progress AND a prescription for strips and lancets. Result!

I know on some level this is daft because I've spent a lot of years trying and failing at losing weight and changing my lifestyle but this diagnosis seems like a blessing in disguise. I haven't felt so motivated in years and I've got a real spring in my step.

I'm gonna smash this diabetes and hopefully I can help or inspire some people on this forum. It's never too late to make a change!
 
You've started on the best path you may ever take. Just carry on striding down it.. we'll be here to help you if you fall off but with the great attitude you have I don't see that happening. Well done!
 
Hi @bigsi1984 welcome to the forum. Looks like you are already sorting some things out. I will tag @daisy1 for the welcome pack. Have you tried the Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) eating regime? There is a thread on the forum if you want more info. What are your Bg readings? I started LCHF a month ago and do 18/6 fasting, no food after 20.00 - 14.00 next day, only having black tea, coffee, water and vitamin water as needed during fast. I also have >15 - 20% carbs. First month I have lost 8.4kg and reduced my Bg from 16,6 to 7.0 average over 7 days. I have never felt hungry on this way of eating. You are in the right place for help, advice and support. Any questions just ask. Good luck :)
 
Get yourself the mySugr app. Record your readings and your food. After around a week it will give you an estimated HbA1c number. It makes it easier to read your rises after eating. Too high can indicate too bigger portion.

Starting off, I found I suffered carb withdrawal. Twice I fell face first into a plate of crumpets. Another time I ate half a packet of ryvitas. the meter emphasized what this did to my bs.

I made plenty of mistakes. You will too as you learn. Treat everything as a learning experience. We are here to support you. You are doing great.
 
xfieldok said:
Get yourself the mySugr app. Record your readings and your food. After around a week it will give you an estimated HbA1c number. It makes it easier to read your rises after eating. Too high can indicate too bigger portion.

Starting off, I found I suffered carb withdrawal. Twice I fell face first into a plate of crumpets. Another time I ate half a packet of ryvitas. the meter emphasized what this did to my bs.

I made plenty of mistakes. You will too as you learn. Treat everything as a learning experience. We are here to support you. You are doing great.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I've got mysugr. It's the best! I upgraded and now I snap pictures of every meal too. My resonated Hba1c is 42.1 right now. Although I habe no idea if that's accurate. I've done two full weeks of testing 6-8 times a day.

In the first week or so I had a pizza and a burger king. I was gutted at how high the numbers jumped!
 
Last edited:
Terrytiddy said:
Hi @bigsi1984 welcome to the forum. Looks like you are already sorting some things out. I will tag @daisy1 for the welcome pack. Have you tried the Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) eating regime? There is a thread on the forum if you want more info. What are your Bg readings? I started LCHF a month ago and do 18/6 fasting, no food after 20.00 - 14.00 next day, only having black tea, coffee, water and vitamin water as needed during fast. I also have >15 - 20% carbs. First month I have lost 8.4kg and reduced my Bg from 16,6 to 7.0 average over 7 days. I have never felt hungry on this way of eating. You are in the right place for help, advice and support. Any questions just ask. Good luck :)
Click to expand...

Thanks. Sounds like you've done great. I haven't looked at LCHF in detail. My typical diet at the minute is as follows:

Breakfast: 2 egg omelette with cheese or ham or mushroom and some bacon.

Lunch: Tuna or mackerel salad or a eat smart chicken dinner from Morrison's.

Dinner: Chicken and cheese lettuce wrap or fry up or chicken with paprika and garlic mix in a soft wholemeal tortilla.

I eat almonds after every meal or if I'm peckish and I have a kiddy sized apple and a packed lunch sized cathedral city cheese block as a snack mid afternoon.

The metre really helped me initially to get rid of anything causing a spike. I took up drinking black Earl Grey tea too. Lovely.
 
Some people say that mySugr is pretty accurate. I started entering data on 1 April. I had an unexpected HbA1c test earlier this month. mySugr suggested it was around 39, the HbA1c was 35. My next HbA1c is due end of July so I will see then if it is in sync.
 
xfieldok said:
Some people say that mySugr is pretty accurate. I started entering data on 1 April. I had an unexpected HbA1c test earlier this month. mySugr suggested it was around 39, the HbA1c was 35. My next HbA1c is due end of July so I will see then if it is in sync.
Click to expand...

That's great. I hope it is, for both of us.
 
Rachox said:
Hi bigs, MySugr estimates have been good for me too, as follows:
Sept ‘17 Lab result 36 MySugr 34.4
Dec. ‘17 Lab result 33 MySugr 33.9
Feb. ‘18 Lab result 35 MySugr 34.0
Click to expand...

Excited now! Haha
 
MySugr 28 HBA1C 34
However got meter after I had changed my diet. I’m hoping the next test will be closer. Also may not have put all results in
 
bigsi1984 said:
Thanks. I've got mysugr. It's the best! I upgraded and now I snap pictures of every meal too. My resonated Hba1c is 42.1 right now. Although I habe no idea if that's accurate. I've done two full weeks of testing 6-8 times a day.
Click to expand...

rab5 said:
MySugr 28 HBA1C 34
However got meter after I had changed my diet. I’m hoping the next test will be closer. Also may not have put all results in
Click to expand...

I think to be fair you’ll need to wait until you have twelve weeks of readings input into MySugr for it to be close, as the ‘real’ HbA1c will be averaging the excess sugar stuck to your red cells over twelve weeks. All of my MySugr estimates above had a full twelve weeks of data.
 
Rachox said:
I think to be fair you’ll need to wait until you have twelve weeks of readings input into MySugr for it to be close, as the ‘real’ HbA1c will be averaging the excess sugar stuck to your red cells over twelve weeks. All of my MySugr estimates above had a full twelve weeks of data.
Click to expand...

Show off
 
bigsi1984 said:
Hey guys!

I've posted a few times since joining but I was only diagnosed by my doctor at the end of April and had to wait until yesterday to see the DN.

About three weeks prior to my diagnosis I had started to make some changes; light exercise, eating what was in the cupboard or fridge rather than ordering takeaway, that kind of thing. At 28 stone having spent a couple of years eating constant takeaways this was a hard change.

My Hba1c was 84 after my first blood test and the doctor told me my blood was in a diabetic state. When I asked if that means I'm diabetic she sort of went a bit wishy washy and said probably but you should see the diabetic nurse. I explained I'd made some changes in the month running up to this appointment and asked if I could likely get the Hba1c number down. She said not likely but sent me to do a fasting blood test the next week. That Hba1c came back as 78. Alarm bells! So that number could change!?!

A quick Google led me here and to tons of information. I'd like to say thanks to everyone that posts, it's made such a huge difference to me. I bought a glucose monitor, joined the gym and drastically changed my eating habits.

4 weeks later and I'm 18 lbs lighter, walking 3-4 miles a day and hitting the gym every other day. Very happy!

So yesterday I went to see the DN and I was dreading it because I'd read quite a lot about them not supporting home testing or low carb eating. I needn't have been though, she was great! After a good chat (she uses this site too) I walked out with her agreeing that I don't need the metformin as long as I'm happy and making progress AND a prescription for strips and lancets. Result!

I know on some level this is daft because I've spent a lot of years trying and failing at losing weight and changing my lifestyle but this diagnosis seems like a blessing in disguise. I haven't felt so motivated in years and I've got a real spring in my step.

I'm gonna smash this diabetes and hopefully I can help or inspire some people on this forum. It's never too late to make a change!
Click to expand...

A big well done from me, on the progress so far, and kuds to your nurse for using this site.

Keep going and learn the possible.
 
bigsi1984 said:
Thanks. Sounds like you've done great. I haven't looked at LCHF in detail. My typical diet at the minute is as follows:

Breakfast: 2 egg omelette with cheese or ham or mushroom and some bacon.

Lunch: Tuna or mackerel salad or a eat smart chicken dinner from Morrison's.

Dinner: Chicken and cheese lettuce wrap or fry up or chicken with paprika and garlic mix in a soft wholemeal tortilla.

I eat almonds after every meal or if I'm peckish and I have a kiddy sized apple and a packed lunch sized cathedral city cheese block as a snack mid afternoon.

The metre really helped me initially to get rid of anything causing a spike. I took up drinking black Earl Grey tea too. Lovely.
Click to expand...

Congratulations on embarking on this important journey of Earl Grey consumption.

Oh yes and all the other stuff, too. Well done! Good to hear such a positive attitude.
 
Rachox said:
Hi bigs, MySugr estimates have been good for me too, as follows:
Sept ‘17 Lab result 36 MySugr 34.4
Dec. ‘17 Lab result 33 MySugr 33.9
Feb. ‘18 Lab result 35 MySugr 34.0
Click to expand...
I’m hoping mySugr is on track for me to, it currently has me at 5.3% :happy: my next blood test is next Thursday morning
 

Attachments

  • C628ECCD-DE32-496D-92D9-E833AEAB5774.png
    C628ECCD-DE32-496D-92D9-E833AEAB5774.png
    669.2 KB · Views: 413
Back
Top