Newly diagnosed and feeling very alone!

Amyp84

Member
Messages
23
Hi all, I was diagnosed last week, after having tests for high blood pressure. A year ago my GP told me I was prediabetic but not to worry (I’d had a baby a few months prior and put on a lot of weight) because when the weight ‘falls off’ it’ll sort itself out. I told her the weight wouldn’t ‘fall off’, that it’s been increasingly difficult over the past few years to lose weight. But nothing was done about it. In fact a dietician told me I should eat more.

So skip back to last couple of weeks, I had bloods done due to the high BP and it showed my hba1c level was indicative of diabetes at 50. I got told this via text message. I eventually managed to get a telephone consultation with a GP a few days later who has put me on BP medication (otherwise they’d ignored the high BP completely!) and said I need another blood test in 2 weeks for both issues but that they don’t usually treat it at first. I was given no information whatsoever. I feel totally lost, panicked and scared. And none of my family seem bothered either. Am I being OTT? Do I need to get a monitor? How do I change my diet? Everything I’ve read up seems so conflicting. I’m 36 and have a little boy who’s almost 2. I have to get a grip on this. Any advice extremely welcome. Sorry for the long post!
 

Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi. It's very common for GPs to give very little help or advice when first diagnosed. Your reading of 50 is actually only just diabetic so don't panic. If you can reduce the carbs in your diet it may bring you back down below 46. Fats, Proteins, veg and non-tropical fruit are fine. If needed at your next blood test the GP may prescribe Metformin tablets which many of us have. It's a very safe drug but doesn't have dramatic effects but every little helps. BTW you may want to get your own BP meter and do tests at home. My nurse accepts those and averages them. Many surgeries don't do the BP test properly and the white-coat syndrome doesn't help. You may also want to get your own glucose meter and test strips so you know how your BS is going.
 

Amyp84

Member
Messages
23
Hi thanks for replying. I do have my own bp monitor and am thinking I want to get a glucose one too so I can see how I’m doing.

I looked up my level and saw it’s only just in the diabetic bracket but my GP told me my level had been steadily increasing over time (no one had ever told me that before!) even though I’ve lost a stone during lockdown which I put down to stress because I didn’t change anything. So I suppose I’m just concerned it’s going to keep going up regardless. I also have an adrenal adenoma and am waiting for results of one of the hormone levels associated with that so lots going on ☺️
 

ianf0ster

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,400
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
exercise, phone calls
Hi there.
There are 2 bits of information I can add which may help you:
1. Jo's superb nutritional thing which can be found here The Nutritional Thingy. | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community

2. There are 2 popular BG meters with cheap(er) test strips - this is important since most of us need to test before and the n 2hrs after each meal at first until we know how the foods affect us.
They are:
The Spirit Health TEE2
and the SD Gluco Navii
 

Amyp84

Member
Messages
23
That’s very helpful thank you so much for the meter advice and the blog. Makes me feel a bit less of a big fat overweight failure!
 

Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi thanks for replying. I do have my own bp monitor and am thinking I want to get a glucose one too so I can see how I’m doing.

I looked up my level and saw it’s only just in the diabetic bracket but my GP told me my level had been steadily increasing over time (no one had ever told me that before!) even though I’ve lost a stone during lockdown which I put down to stress because I didn’t change anything. So I suppose I’m just concerned it’s going to keep going up regardless. I also have an adrenal adenoma and am waiting for results of one of the hormone levels associated with that so lots going on ☺️
Hi again. Bear in mind that losing weight unexpectedly and if you are already not overweight you could be late onset T1 (LADA) and not T2. See how you go but if you continue to lose weight and have rising BS do ask for the two tests GAD and C-Peptide.
 
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Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,850
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
At your age and in your circumstances I got a very similar attitude and my concerns were brushed aside. Just do as you are told - they said and you'll find that we are right and you are wrong - well - no they were not.
At least you have the diagnosis so there is no doubt about it.
Hopefully you will find that reducing carbohydrate will sort out all the problems in one go.
I can't cope with heavy carbs, grains, potatoes and other starchy food, high sugar fruits, all went off my menu and I found that my weight dropped easily.
Why a diet similar in composition to those used to fatten animals should be considered for a slimming regime for Humans is beyond anything I can understand.
 
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Onlinecaroline

Well-Known Member
Messages
160
I could have written your post a month ago but with a higher hbac1 test.

I’m 33 and was diagnosed after a blood pressure check. I had lost about a stone and a bit through lockdown and put it down to hill walking but really I’m not sure. I asked to try diet and exercise rather than go in meds due to a family history of very badly managed diabetes. I’ve cut my carbs to under 20g a day and although it’s not been easy, it is getting much easier as the days go. I use a carb manager app, I don’t worry about calories for now and I’ve stopped eating breakfast to cut down my eating window. Hopefully with a little carb reduction your levels will come down.
 
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Amyp84

Member
Messages
23
I could have written your post a month ago but with a higher hbac1 test.

I’m 33 and was diagnosed after a blood pressure check. I had lost about a stone and a bit through lockdown and put it down to hill walking but really I’m not sure. I asked to try diet and exercise rather than go in meds due to a family history of very badly managed diabetes. I’ve cut my carbs to under 20g a day and although it’s not been easy, it is getting much easier as the days go. I use a carb manager app, I don’t worry about calories for now and I’ve stopped eating breakfast to cut down my eating window. Hopefully with a little carb reduction your levels will come down.

thanks for the encouragement I’m not a massive carb eater anyway, I’ve changed my diet for the last 3 days and finding it pretty easy so far. As long as I’ve got the right food in the fridge I think I’ll be ok.
 

Amyp84

Member
Messages
23
At your age and in your circumstances I got a very similar attitude and my concerns were brushed aside. Just do as you are told - they said and you'll find that we are right and you are wrong - well - no they were not.
At least you have the diagnosis so there is no doubt about it.
Hopefully you will find that reducing carbohydrate will sort out all the problems in one go.
I can't cope with heavy carbs, grains, potatoes and other starchy food, high sugar fruits, all went off my menu and I found that my weight dropped easily.
Why a diet similar in composition to those used to fatten animals should be considered for a slimming regime for Humans is beyond anything I can understand.
Well I’m going to do what I’m doing for a bit and see what next bloods say!
 

KK123

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,967
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
thanks for the encouragement I’m not a massive carb eater anyway, I’ve changed my diet for the last 3 days and finding it pretty easy so far. As long as I’ve got the right food in the fridge I think I’ll be ok.

Hi Amy, would you mind giving us an example of a typical days food? It really helps just in case there is anything in there that could cause problems. x
 

Amyp84

Member
Messages
23
Hi Amy, would you mind giving us an example of a typical days food? It really helps just in case there is anything in there that could cause problems. x
Well I’ve just started a low carb diet so are you meaning before or now? I’ve actually asked another waitron on here about the glucose readings I’ve had so far.

1st Feb - teatime Before food 6.4 2hr After food 4.9
Meal - roast chicken, sprouts, sugar snap peas, broccoli, gravy.
2nd Feb - morning BF 6.6 2hr AF 4.8
Meal - 2 x bacon 2 x poached eggs mushrooms
2nd Feb - Before lunch 6.1
 

KK123

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,967
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Well I’ve just started a low carb diet so are you meaning before or now? I’ve actually asked another waitron on here about the glucose readings I’ve had so far.

1st Feb - teatime Before food 6.4 2hr After food 4.9
Meal - roast chicken, sprouts, sugar snap peas, broccoli, gravy.
2nd Feb - morning BF 6.6 2hr AF 4.8
Meal - 2 x bacon 2 x poached eggs mushrooms
2nd Feb - Before lunch 6.1

I meant now, thank you. Meals look great. x