Diagnosed type 2 today

lechiffre1969

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes today. My HbA1c was 126 mmol/mol. I know that is very high but I could do with some help to understand just how high and how likely it is with good exercise and diet and medicated that I can get it down to a safer level.
I've just told my family and they were very supportive and understanding.
Right now I'm feeling very numb. I would love to hear from those can could offer some words of encouragement and to prove there's light at the end of the tunnel.

thanks
 

Grant_Vicat

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,176
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Dislikes
Intolerance, selfishness, rice pudding
Hello
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes today. My HbA1c was 126 mmol/mol. I know that is very high but I could do with some help to understand just how high and how likely it is with good exercise and diet and medicated that I can get it down to a safer level.
I've just told my family and they were very supportive and understanding.
Right now I'm feeling very numb. I would love to hear from those can could offer some words of encouragement and to prove there's light at the end of the tunnel.

thanks
Hi @lechiffre1969 Welcome to the Forums. Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, which is understandably numbing. There are many (in 3 figures at least) here who show remarkable progress since diagnosis, but these three spring to mind immediately:
@bulkbiker
@JoKalsbeek
@Rachox
They all tell remarkable success stories of putting Type 2 in remission. I'm sure a Type 2 will be along before much longer. The best of luck.
 

Smileypigface

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi, and welcome - I’m fairly new here myself but just wanted to say I’ve been where you are now and there is definitely hope.

I was diagnosed on 5 October 2020 with a HBA1c of 91 - with information and advice from here, and support of my husband, I very quickly changed my way of eating to very low carb (it helped that my husband joined me in this too). My doctor prescribed metformin so I’ve been taking 1,500mg daily.

The welcome side effect has been that it’s prompted us to look much more closely at our health and have embarked on a proper effort to increase our daily step count - so we’ve really started investing time and effort into improving our general health and fitness. We both had BMIs in the obese category and have lost approximately 12kg each. Still more work needed to get our BMIs into the best shape but we are feeling good with the changes we’ve already achieved.

The big positive for me is that 3 months after diagnosis my next HBA1c was 43 - so I’m very pleased with that. I finally had my Diabetic Clinic appointment this week and the consultant was very complimentary about what I’ve achieved, recommended I drop to 1,000mg of metformin and told me to continue what I’m doing as it’s clearly working.

So, again welcome - you’ve definitely found a great source of information and support here.

Don’t despair - although I know diagnosis is a huge shock to come to terms with. You can do this.
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes today. My HbA1c was 126 mmol/mol. I know that is very high but I could do with some help to understand just how high and how likely it is with good exercise and diet and medicated that I can get it down to a safer level.
I've just told my family and they were very supportive and understanding.
Right now I'm feeling very numb. I would love to hear from those can could offer some words of encouragement and to prove there's light at the end of the tunnel.

thanks

Hi and welcome
There'll be plenty of support and info here.
The main trick to putting T2 into remission is carb cutting.. ideally as low as you feel you can go.
Many of us find that this method brings relief from high blood sugars and if we have a few extra pounds to lose (or a lot in my old self) this happens relatively easily and without hunger.
Your HbA1c is indeed quite high but some fairly simple dietary changes could start lowering it within days.
What kind of things do you like to eat?
 
Last edited:

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Well that is a very high level but the silver lining is that that means there’s lots of room to improve. Take a deep breath and know it very definitely can be helped. You might well end up healthier than you’ve been in years. Many have.

What have you been told to do about it? Any medication? Is weight loss desirable? Did you have any warning this was coming and what did you try then? Have you got a meter?

Have a look at the bottom of this post below my signature and see the links. Have a read and come back and ask lots and lots of questions. In a nutshell what you eat can have an enormous difference but it’s likely to be quite different to now or even what you expect to be told. It’s all about carbohydrates not just sugar.
 

lechiffre1969

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi, and welcome - I’m fairly new here myself but just wanted to say I’ve been where you are now and there is definitely hope.

I was diagnosed on 5 October 2020 with a HBA1c of 91 - with information and advice from here, and support of my husband, I very quickly changed my way of eating to very low carb (it helped that my husband joined me in this too). My doctor prescribed metformin so I’ve been taking 1,500mg daily.

The welcome side effect has been that it’s prompted us to look much more closely at our health and have embarked on a proper effort to increase our daily step count - so we’ve really started investing time and effort into improving our general health and fitness. We both had BMIs in the obese category and have lost approximately 12kg each. Still more work needed to get our BMIs into the best shape but we are feeling good with the changes we’ve already achieved.

The big positive for me is that 3 months after diagnosis my next HBA1c was 43 - so I’m very pleased with that. I finally had my Diabetic Clinic appointment this week and the consultant was very complimentary about what I’ve achieved, recommended I drop to 1,000mg of metformin and told me to continue what I’m doing as it’s clearly working.

So, again welcome - you’ve definitely found a great source of information and support here.

Don’t despair - although I know diagnosis is a huge shock to come to terms with. You can do this.

Those were the words I needed to hear. Thank you so much.

My wife is already on a low/no sugar and no carbs diet so we're going to do this together!

Your change over the 3 months is astonishing and gives m enormous hope.

I'm feeling so overwhelmed, especially as I'm a vegetarian, so I'm wondering how I'm going to be getting all of my protein. Thankfully, my doctor game me a copy of the "8-week blood sugar diet".

This feels like I'm on huge steep learning curve and I am glad that I've found this forum - reading through the comments gives me huge faith in the kindness and care from a group of wonderful people.

Thank you once again.
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
My wife is already on a low/no sugar and no carbs diet so we're going to do this together!

In that case you'll both be well on the way to better health.

No carbs is pretty hardcore to start with though.. do you both have an all or nothing mindset?
 

lechiffre1969

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi and welcome
There'll be plenty of support and info here.
The main trick to putting T2 into remission is carb cutting.. ideally as ow as you feel you can go.
Many of us find that this methods brings relief from high blood sugars and if we have a few extra pounds to lose (or a lot in my old self) this happens relatively easily and without hunger.
Your HbA1c is indeed quite high but some fairly simple dietary changes could start lowering it within days.
What kind of things do you like to eat?

Thank you for this. It's so very much appreciated.

I'm a vegetarian and regularly eat potatoes, bread, pasta, plant-based equivalents (e.g. Cumberland Sausages, quorn etc). I have a sweet tooth (unsurprisingly).

I am very confused by the readings:
- My report from the doc showed HbA1c IFF Standardised of 126
- My wife has a blood reader (where you take a blood reading from a finger prick) and we took it earlier and her reading was 4, mine was 26. Not sure of the differences here.

I'm sure I'm going to be reading as much as I can to build up my knowledge. The key thing is that I'm 100% committed to making a significant positive change.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grant_Vicat

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I'm a vegetarian and regularly eat potatoes, bread, pasta, plant-based equivalents (e.g. Cumberland Sausages, quorn etc). I have a sweet tooth (unsurprisingly).
Ah.. in that case a zero carb diet will be very hard (if not impossible). Really only meat and fish can be considered as no carb..

- My report from the doc showed HbA1c IFF Standardised of 126
- My wife has a blood reader (where you take a blood reading from a finger prick) and we took it earlier and her reading was 4, mine was 26. Not sure of the differences here.

Your HbA1c is an "average" of your last 2-3 months blood sugar levels
126 mmol/m equates to averages of about 19 mmol/l of finger prick testing which is very high indeed!
Your wife's 4 mmol/l is normal.
If you are seeing levels of 26 mmol/l then that's pretty bad. Do you have excess weight to lose?
 

lechiffre1969

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Ah.. in that case a zero carb diet will be very hard (if not impossible). Really only meat and fish can be considered as no carb..



Your HbA1c is an "average" of your last 2-3 months blood sugar levels
126 mmol/m equates to averages of about 19 mmol/l of finger prick testing which is very high indeed!
Your wife's 4 mmol/l is normal.
If you are seeing levels of 26 mmol/l then that's pretty bad. Do you have excess weight to lose?

When you say pretty bad... I'm sorry to ask the question but I'm feeling a little terrified ... but if I hadn't caught this I'm assuming the results would've been devastating for me? I am going to start taking my medication after a meal this evening. How quickly do you think it will take for me to be out of the 'danger zone' (assuming my 126 mmol/m is very dangerous) - that's with me taking the meds, doing the exercise and eating well?
 

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
15,811
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi @lechiffre1969 and welcome to the forum.
Thanks for the tag @Grant_Vicat .
I was diagnosed type 2 three and a half years ago with an HbA1c of 70, I was prescribed Metformin and I embarked on a low carb way of eating, initially I kept under 100g per day but gradually reduced it down to under 45g which is where I stay now. I halved my HbA1c in a few months and have remained with non diabetic readings since. The happy side effect of weight loss was welcome too. I’d like to reiterate that buying a blood glucose meter is a great help to see what your body can and can’t cope with in the way of different foods. We can advise on which meter to get. Stick around, have a read and ask any questions you have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grant_Vicat

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
@lechiffre1969 can you tell us which medication? It makes a difference to what we suggest you do next.
26 really is pretty worrying but it can improve within days. So try not to panic. It’s a long game with diabetes and now you know and can’t do something about it.

Low carb and very low carb is undoubtedly more challenging as a vegetarian as so much is based around meat and fish. Even harder if dairy and eggs are excluded as a vegan. It can be done but is definitely not the easier route. Some in here have reconsidered that choice, or maybe just add fish, on or after diagnosis as they previously chose it believing it was more healthy, unfortunately for a type 2 many of the regular vegetarian choices are anything but. Others stick with it and find ways to manage the challenge as for them it is about religion or animal morality type or some other choice they wish to maintain.

There’s a vegetarian section on these forums too that might be helpful. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/vegetarian-diet-forum.71/
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grant_Vicat

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,850
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Changing to lower carb veges should help, avoiding grain and potatoes in particular - but as others have pointed out, the things you are eating as a vegetarian are most likely those which you can't cope with.
I get frozen mixtures from the supermarket - so they give me the carb count, and use them for stir fries, and I grab frozen sweet pepper and mushrooms too when I see them as I have found that fresh is not always working out in lockdown.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lechiffre1969

OB87

Well-Known Member
Messages
334
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Some of the meat alternatives can be low carb. I'm a vegetarian and often eat them and they don't raise my blood sugars. Linda McCarthy sausages are 1g each. Quorn fillets are low carb too. You can add them to curries etc. Just watch out for the breaded/battered quorn products as they are high carb.
I didn't eat them much before I was diagnosed, usually my meals were just carbs! But I'm enjoying the variety of foods I'm eating now.

Good luck. I was only diagnosed 4 months ago but there is hope.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grant_Vicat

Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi. Can you let us know whether you have excess weight. Also have you lost weight recently without trying. That BS level is very high and could indicate you are T1 particularly if slim. Anyway, drop the carbs right down
 

VashtiB

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,283
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello and welcome,

I am another who went very low carb and by my first review (3 months) my HbA1c was well within the n normal range so it is absolutely possible. One of my children is vegan so I bought a vegan Keto cook book- there are now a lot of possibilities out there. But even better there are some threads on the forum for vegetarians so you can get ideas there.

Yes being diagnosed is devestating but there absolutely reason to hope. Finding this site changed my life and it can yours as well.

Good l.uck - post here- people are very willing to help.