Newly Diagnosed and Confused

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Have you had opportunity to tell her that low carb is endorsed by the nhs and there are training modules by Dr Unwin for hcp’s. I’m sure someone can give you the links to print and take in with you.
 
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IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Have you had opportunity to tell her that low carb is endorsed by the nhs and there are training modules by Dr Unwin for hcp’s. I’m sure someone can give you the links to print and take in with you.


Not as yet. I’ll try this tack on Wednesday though when I first met her she was very positive about low carb. I get the impression now she feels it’s too low carb as my blood sugars were getting fairly low - she seemed supportive when they were within normal range but last appointment couldn’t seem to agree that the medication, not too few, carbs was the problem.
 

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Not as yet. I’ll try this tack on Wednesday though when I first met her she was very positive about low carb. I get the impression now she feels it’s too low carb as my blood sugars were getting fairly low - she seemed supportive when they were within normal range but last appointment couldn’t seem to agree that the medication, not too few, carbs was the problem.
Good luck. I hope she sees some sense and you come to a decision about your medication that you are happy with, because it is your choice to make having listened to her advice (not orders)
 
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Caeseji

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Messages
658
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Diet only
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Self-fellating idiots that don't at all look at other people's views
It’s crazy right?! It’s almost like they’re scared to admit the LCHF way of eating or even LCHP way of eating can be doing you so much good - that you must eat these magical carbs, despite the fact they’ve never done you any good in the first place.

I’m back there on Wednesday..I’m not sure I can take another appointment without losing my cool. Pray for me :wacky:
Oh always praying, you can count on that one! :angelic: I just hope it does go well!

They do forget about body biology and that we are all different, I bet their own diet isn't doing them all that much good either. The point of being healthy is listening to your body when it tries to tell you something is wrong, one would think they would want to try avoid the spikes when you're on steroids not encourage them!
 

ShortStuff

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71
Just a quick update.. I had my review and my medication was not lowered as I’d wanted. I was encouraged instead to up my carbs to manage my lower BGs and given another appointment for two weeks time.

So I’m still on the 80mg BD gliclazide and now eating more carbs which has got me where? Oh higher day time and fasting BG but somehow still low evening BGs which in order to get up as ‘I mustn’t be below 8–10..’ before bed I’m having to eat silly amounts of carbs... I feel rubbish and have seen numbers in the 10s frequently this week.

I guess we’d call this little experiment a fail :( I’m so stressed with it all which I’m sure isn’t helping.

I thought a DN with half a brain was an incredibly rare find. I’m disappointed, but unsurprised, by her comments.

Long ago I told my GP I would take her advice but I would decide on my medications etc and I’m happy to take full responsibility for my decisions.
She’s been more supportive since then & knows I will not take statins, BP meds or pretty much anything if I can sort things out with diet & exercise. After my op last year she supported me trying a few different BP MEDS but we couldn’t find one that didn’t make me fall asleep & feel sick when I next saw her and I’d ditched ALL the meds I was expecting a lecture but she just said if things were going in the right direction my way then she was happy with that

The DN’s I have NO problem either ignoring or ‘setting straight’ they’re a bloody menace

You simply HAVE to do what YOU think is right - you already have more knowledge than they do!

Remember they cannot stand over you and MAKE you take anything you don’t think is right.

1.3kg is a good loss in quite a short time and it’s FABULOUS when you take into account the steroids and the usually significant weight gain they cause!

Low carb/Keto isn’t a miracle weight loss solution for me either (currently I’m in week 13 of being really good (this time!! Several years in total) and I ‘lost’ 4kg, 2 came back so overall have lost 2kg in 13 weeks! But it controls my blood sugars, so I persist and try not to get toooo brassed off that I don’t get the losses others do. I’m about to go to France for a fortnight so god alone knows what I’ll weigh when I get back. I won’t go mad, but I will eat some carbs. And drink the worlds best latte.

BUT I WILL get straight back on the wagon when I get back!!

Be strong, be in control of your own health don’t let people who are less well informed than you push you into doing things that aren’t good for you!! (Eating more carbs to counter the glic is pure madness)
 

ShortStuff

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Messages
71
I was only trying to find a BP med I could take as she was concerned about protecting my kidneys as the stay in hospital had made my BP & BG really high. Otherwise I wouldn’t have considered it at all. But as I said, when I just ditched them all she was more supportive than I’d expected her to be. As I said to her I’d rather take the chance of dying than spending every day feeling like death.
 

IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Good luck. I hope she sees some sense and you come to a decision about your medication that you are happy with, because it is your choice to make having listened to her advice (not orders)

Well, I’m open to having the talk on Wednesday and seeing where it leads but I’m also a lot more confident to reduce the meds accordingly even if that’s not her advice.

I had my first true hypo last night. I had a great day food wise, ate low carb, saw steady blood glucose average around 5.6. Took the meds as prescribed... and then bam! Post tea time glic and evening meal reading... 3.4 :(

Had to use the emergency lucozade which saw an increase to 4.2 then still had to follow up with carbs and the highest I got to was 6.6 pre bed. So I need to avoid this happening again.
 

IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Oh always praying, you can count on that one! :angelic: I just hope it does go well!

They do forget about body biology and that we are all different, I bet their own diet isn't doing them all that much good either. The point of being healthy is listening to your body when it tries to tell you something is wrong, one would think they would want to try avoid the spikes when you're on steroids not encourage them!

Exactly. I need to figure this out long term as my body isn’t going to miraculously change overnight. I need to get to a place of steady BGL with the steroids being considered but these wild fluctuations are not good at all.

And the worrying thing is.. first true hypo last night and no symptoms. So that’s gotta stop.

Fingers crossed she sees sense on Wednesday :)
 

IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I thought a DN with half a brain was an incredibly rare find. I’m disappointed, but unsurprised, by her comments.

Long ago I told my GP I would take her advice but I would decide on my medications etc and I’m happy to take full responsibility for my decisions.
She’s been more supportive since then & knows I will not take statins, BP meds or pretty much anything if I can sort things out with diet & exercise. After my op last year she supported me trying a few different BP MEDS but we couldn’t find one that didn’t make me fall asleep & feel sick when I next saw her and I’d ditched ALL the meds I was expecting a lecture but she just said if things were going in the right direction my way then she was happy with that

The DN’s I have NO problem either ignoring or ‘setting straight’ they’re a bloody menace

You simply HAVE to do what YOU think is right - you already have more knowledge than they do!

Remember they cannot stand over you and MAKE you take anything you don’t think is right.

1.3kg is a good loss in quite a short time and it’s FABULOUS when you take into account the steroids and the usually significant weight gain they cause!

Low carb/Keto isn’t a miracle weight loss solution for me either (currently I’m in week 13 of being really good (this time!! Several years in total) and I ‘lost’ 4kg, 2 came back so overall have lost 2kg in 13 weeks! But it controls my blood sugars, so I persist and try not to get toooo brassed off that I don’t get the losses others do. I’m about to go to France for a fortnight so god alone knows what I’ll weigh when I get back. I won’t go mad, but I will eat some carbs. And drink the worlds best latte.

BUT I WILL get straight back on the wagon when I get back!!

Be strong, be in control of your own health don’t let people who are less well informed than you push you into doing things that aren’t good for you!! (Eating more carbs to counter the glic is pure madness)


I just hate being the ‘awkward’ patient but unless I advocate for my own health no one else will.

You’ve done so well in managing your diabetes and that is the main aim. Hopefully the weight loss will be a happy side effect but ultimately not having the awful symptoms both high and lows cause plus avoiding the long term complications of diabetes is worth the dietary changes.

I’ve now lost 3.7kg since I started this journey and stayed the same weight this week so I’ll take it :) That’s roughly 1kg per week even on high dose steroids :)
 

IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hurrah!

We have common sense at last :) I had my appointment this am.

After much discussion, she agreed the gliclazide needed to stop but with a caveat - that I would continue to monitor fasting, pre and post meal plus before bed and as long as my blood glucose stayed between 4-8 then keep off the glic, if I started seeing double figures then reintroduce glic in the AM when I take my steroids then monitor from there.

I feel like it’s a win and I totally agree the steroids do spike my sugars so maybe I will need the AM glic but let’s see!

I felt much more listened today :)
 
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ianf0ster

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,399
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
exercise, phone calls
Hurrah!

We have common sense at last :) I had my appointment this am.

After much discussion, she agreed the gliclazide needed to stop but with a caveat - that I would continue to monitor fasting, pre and post meal plus before bed and as long as my blood glucose stayed between 4-8 then keep off the glic, if I started seeing double figures then reintroduce glic in the AM when I take my steroids then monitor from there.

I feel like it’s a win and I totally agree the steroids do spike my sugars so maybe I will need the AM glic but let’s see!

I felt much more listened today :)

Yay a win at last, perhaps a small win, but still a win!
 

IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
So my first day drug free and keeping my carbs around 30-40g so not Keto.. just low carb and the results are in - pleased as punch with myself. Bearing still on the steroids

Fasting/Pre Breakfast: 4.3
Post: 5.2
Pre Lunch: 5.3
Post: 5.9
Pre dinner: 5.6
Post: 6.2

I feel like it’s a huge achievement. I can’t believe how positive I feel.. I was expecting a post steroid high after breakfast.

And my meals today were so tasty! :)
 
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ianf0ster

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,399
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
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exercise, phone calls
So my first day drug free and keeping my carbs around 30-40g so not Keto.. just low carb and the results are in - pleased as punch with myself. Bearing still on the steroids

Fasting/Pre Breakfast: 4.3
Post: 5.2
Pre Lunch: 5.3
Post: 5.9
Pre dinner: 5.6
Post: 6.2

I feel like it’s a huge achievement. I can’t believe how positive I feel.. I was expecting a post steroid high after breakfast.

And my meals today were so tasty! :)

Congratulations! That just shows what the right diet combined with the right medication and right dosage can do for you.
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
So my first day drug free and keeping my carbs around 30-40g so not Keto.. just low carb and the results are in - pleased as punch with myself. Bearing still on the steroids

Fasting/Pre Breakfast: 4.3
Post: 5.2
Pre Lunch: 5.3
Post: 5.9
Pre dinner: 5.6
Post: 6.2

I feel like it’s a huge achievement. I can’t believe how positive I feel.. I was expecting a post steroid high after breakfast.

And my meals today were so tasty! :)
Proud of you .. well done!
 

IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Thanks both! Very similar readings today - now to keep it going so I can get that HbA1c down :) I’m so surprised I’m getting such good BG numbers without the glic and still taking the steroids though they have been titrated down since I first started my journey (they’ve been reduced every two weeks so far but I’m not yet at maintenance dose)


And big thank you to all support from everyone, all the advice and even just listening to my frustrations. You’ve all been fab and I’m so glad I found this site :)
 

IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

Just thought I’d check in. Still going without any meds for diabetes and finding I’m not having to check my sugars so frequently now. I tend to stick to the same foods that I’ve tested with multiple times as I know they work for me and I keep within around 40g carbs per day.

Over the last two weeks my highest blood glucose has been 6.2 with an average of 4.8 according to my app. It would seem I’m managing okay. Only disappointment has been weight loss and my DN has been supportive (finally) but she has said that I need to concentrate on BG being good and not throw in the towel as weight loss is not occurring.

I wonder if the lack of weight loss is steroid related or perhaps I’m eating too much fat - although I know it’s LCHF but I wonder how much is too much?

I haven’t gained any weight though so I guess that’s something and I have had a couple of ‘blips’ where I’ve gone over my self imposed carb limit. It’s not easy but it’s working.

No plans to retest my HbA1c yet - they’re waiting until my steroids are at the lowest dose as this can impact the result apparently. Originally it was 55, though pre steroids it was 36. My specialist remains confident this is steroid induced diabetes, my GP thinks it’s type 2 - who knows?

My specialist has said that they want to start immunosuppressives long term and I’ll come off the steroids completely, she feels once we make that transition a simple fasting glucose blood test will identify whether I am genuinely diabetic and a follow up HbA1c three months later will confirm it.

I guess if it is steroid induced then I must be predisposed to type 2 diabetes and I carry on with my LCHF lifestyle to prevent any further complications down the line.
 

ianf0ster

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,399
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
exercise, phone calls
Hi all,

Just thought I’d check in. Still going without any meds for diabetes and finding I’m not having to check my sugars so frequently now. I tend to stick to the same foods that I’ve tested with multiple times as I know they work for me and I keep within around 40g carbs per day.

Over the last two weeks my highest blood glucose has been 6.2 with an average of 4.8 according to my app. It would seem I’m managing okay. Only disappointment has been weight loss and my DN has been supportive (finally) but she has said that I need to concentrate on BG being good and not throw in the towel as weight loss is not occurring.

I wonder if the lack of weight loss is steroid related or perhaps I’m eating too much fat - although I know it’s LCHF but I wonder how much is too much?

I haven’t gained any weight though so I guess that’s something and I have had a couple of ‘blips’ where I’ve gone over my self imposed carb limit. It’s not easy but it’s working.

No plans to retest my HbA1c yet - they’re waiting until my steroids are at the lowest dose as this can impact the result apparently. Originally it was 55, though pre steroids it was 36. My specialist remains confident this is steroid induced diabetes, my GP thinks it’s type 2 - who knows?

My specialist has said that they want to start immunosuppressives long term and I’ll come off the steroids completely, she feels once we make that transition a simple fasting glucose blood test will identify whether I am genuinely diabetic and a follow up HbA1c three months later will confirm it.

I guess if it is steroid induced then I must be predisposed to type 2 diabetes and I carry on with my LCHF lifestyle to prevent any further complications down the line.

Hi,
I would expect that everybody in here would agree with your DN that BG reduction is more important right now than weight loss - especially since you are still on steroids.

Well done, I am envious of those BG levels !
Ian
 
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IBEX82

Well-Known Member
Messages
274
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,
I would expect that everybody in here would agree with your DN that BG reduction is more important right now than weight loss - especially since you are still on stroids.

Well done, I am envious of those BG levels !
Ian

Yes, I have to see the bigger picture and you’re right. I suppose it’s easy to get disheartened when you hear everyone on LCHF has this massive weight loss.

Thank you re: the BG levels - it’s still very much early days so something I need to keep up. I have been lucky though as my fasting BG has always been low and I’m told this is usually the most stubborn level to reduce.

I have introduced daily intermittent fasting but I’m building up to 16:8 - I have to have tea with milk.. I can’t be doing with cream in tea and too much coffee gives me palpitations so I end up breaking my fast too early.. I managed 14 hours from teatime yesterday - it’s a start :)
 
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Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I have been lucky though as my fasting BG has always been low and I’m told this is usually the most stubborn level to reduce.

I have to have tea with milk.. I can’t be doing with cream in tea and too much coffee gives me palpitations

You sound like me. My FBG has always been low, even on diagnosis - but since rigorous testing and wearing a Libre I discovered I am what is known as a "foot on the floor" person as regards this. My liver starts dumping glucose after I have been out of bed and pottering about for a while. I tried skipping breakfast for ages and had an 18 hour fast until lunch time, then evening meal 6 hours after that. I then tried a decaff coffee with double cream first thing, and that worked better. I now have one soft boiled egg first thing, followed by my obligatory cuppa. This works much better.

I also detest creamy tea. I drink several mugs of tea a day with a dash of skimmed milk (people will recoil in horror about this, but the difference in carbs is negligible)

Coffee also gives me palpitations, so I drink it rarely and only decaff.