Newly diagnosed

[lilcricket]

Hi all,

Just got the call this afternoon from the doctors with my blood test results and that, as suspected, I am diabetic likely Type 2. He's going to be doing another round of bloods next week to confirm that (and other things), but did say that with this initial result that would generally be enough to diagnose it. He's also going to talk to me about medication next week as well, which suggests to me that it's sufficiently bad that I won't be able to control it with just diet and exercise. I asked what the result was, and it was 15.3 (from my fasted blood test) but I don't really understand the measurements at the moment as there seems to be a few different ones.

Everything feels very overwhelming at the moment, there's so much information everywhere and I'm not sure what to do. I'm veering in between feeling quite down and upset to feeling like I can deal with this and I can tackle this. I'm also dreading having to tell my family as well, though I'm not sure why, maybe just because that will make it feel more real.

On the plus side, in case this was the result of the blood test I have been eating low carb the past couple of days - whether it's low carb enough or not I don't know, but I guess that's something.

Sorry, I'm not sure why I'm posting or what I'm asking for here - I suppose I'm just saying hello and that I'll likely be hanging around here for a while to soak up all the information and good advice.

 

[Antje77]

Sorry, I'm not sure why I'm posting or what I'm asking for here - I suppose I'm just saying hello and that I'll likely be hanging around here for a while to soak up all the information and good advice.

Hello, and welcome!
Yes, hang around for a bit and read whatever looks interesting to you.

And then post again with your questions.

Everything feels very overwhelming at the moment, there's so much information everywhere and I'm not sure what to do. I'm veering in between feeling quite down and upset to feeling like I can deal with this and I can tackle this.

Diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's perfectly fine to mainly feel overwhelmed right now, it takes time, both to get used to having a diagnosis and to work out how best to manage your condition.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

He's also going to talk to me about medication next week as well, which suggests to me that it's sufficiently bad that I won't be able to control it with just diet and exercise.

To quote Gershwin, "It ain't necessarily so". Tackling T2 with diet (and exercise, when possible), is relatively rarely advised. It entirely depends on your GP what they're going to advise, really, as one will throw metformin at a person just barely over the diabetic threshold, and another might tell someone to hit the treadmill when they really do need significantly more advice and help than that. So don't for a moment think, at this point, that you're some sort of hopeless case, okay? Lots of people on here have started with very, very high levels, and got theirs down through just some adjustments in their diet. I mean, I was diagnosed with an 18 mmol/l, and the day afterwards I made a curve: checked my blood sugars every hour, on the hour, and I maxed out at 22 mmol/l. Not having eaten anything special, in my opinion.... But it was just something my body couldn't cope with. (Cheese sandwiches, as it happened. My last ever.). I hate to think what my blood sugars would've looked like if I'd tested a piece of cake, or somesuch. So, I was one of the high ones. And when I was tested again two months later, I was in the prediabetic range. Few weeks later, my numbers were non-diabetic, and have remained that way. Just by cutting carbs. (At this point I was too unwell to exercise. That didn't come until later, then I finally had the energy to build up some muscle tone). So... Cut the carbs, get your numbers back down, and you'll feel a whole lot better. In all likelihood Metformin'll be the first thing you'll be prescribed, but you could ask for three months' grace period. Try diet, and have a re-test of your HbA1c. Then decide whether or not to go the medicinal route. I couldn't tolerate metformin, but when diet worked I didn't look back. (I was temporarily put on gliclazide, but didn't need it as it turned out, so was taken off again in no time at all).

So basically, when you feel like the internet is throwing an avalanche of contradicting, overwhelming information at you, breathe and realise all it boils down to is this: Practically all carbs are converted to glucose once ingested. So not just sugars, but starches too. Ditch potatoes, bread and other grain products, rice, pasta, cereals, corn, fruit (save for berries, those are usually okay in moderation) and most root veg, and just up the above-ground, leafy green veg, meat, fish, poultry, cheeses, butter (yep!), and eggs. There's more here if you're interested https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html This basically kept me in remission for the past 7 years or so. No fancy expensive meal packages or programs, just.... Fewer carbs. Testing with a self-funded meter what was working for me and what wasn't. It really was that simple. And it can be that simple for you too. I know being just diagnosed is a scary place to be, but please, please sit there and realise you have a SAY in all this. How you tackle the diabetes, what medication you take, what diet you opt for.... Some'll go a diet route, some will decide meds fit their life better... It is entirely up to you. This is what worked for me though. And many others. It's something you can try, but no-one's going to bash your head in if you want to try something different. This is your body, your diagnosis... Your choice.

Good luck eh.
Jo

 

[CatsFive]

It is very overwhelming - look at many of the other posts here. A year on I still resent my diagnosis, but I still made the changes to diet & exercise I needed to make, and I wasn't put on medication. However my GP is not your GP, and my test results are probably not your test results.

I think 15.3 will be a blood glucose reading. Another important value is your HbA1c, which gives an indication of how much glucose has been in your blood for the past 90 days or so. Glucose binds to red blood cells, they live for about 90 days, so the test gives an indication of average glucose over that time.

The general thrust of diet advice here is low carbs. However there are some items you clearly don't need, though you might want them. Sugar (white or brown), honey, all kinds of syrup, things with lots of '-ose' ingredients. Sugar names all end in '-ose' and metabolise to glucose. Personally I'd avoid diet drinks as well as whilst they don't contain sugar they are still sweet and keep you used to sweet things. Meusli bars are another - check the label. Cakes. Sweeties. And, sadly, beer. You get the picture.

My own approach was a mix of low carbs - I more or less cut out rice, pasta, potatoes & bread - and low GI. I actually started more with low GI, which lead to low carbs. So, I eat some things that other people here can't and/or won't eat. But you are just at the beginning. It took me a year to face up to joining the forum rather than just browsing it from time to time, you have come straight here and joined!

 

[Outlier]

My bloods were similar on diagnosis, and both the GP and the DN gave me rooty-toot for not wanting to continue the insulin the hospital had put me on while I was in for something else (without my permission). "Metformin isn't going to TOUCH those levels!" said DN.

It didn't have to. I achieved pre-diabetic results on a keto diet and carefully phased out the 2 x Metformin a day to nothing over a very few months. I am now in remission. If you try this, be aware that the body initially seeks homeostasis and that blood readings may be all over the place for a short while. Keep working towards your goal and you will find things much easier than you anticipate now. And use this Board - I have learned so much from here, and continue to do so. We are all here to help and support.

 

[lilcricket]

Thanks everyone for your lovely replies, and advice - just reading through them makes me feel a lot better about the whole situation.

I think 15.3 will be a blood glucose reading. Another important value is your HbA1c, which gives an indication of how much glucose has been in your blood for the past 90 days or so.

Thank you, I'll make a note to ask my doctor about HbA1c at my appointment next week.

My advice is to get a meter because although I'm new I know that foods that affect other people have virtually no effect on me

Thanks! I've ordered a GlucoNavii glucose meter so hopefully that will arrive soon and I can start to understand where my blood sugar is at and how certain foods affect it. I don't quite understand what is good or bad in terms of blood sugar levels yet but I'll do a bit more google searching - just another thing I need to wrap my brain around at the moment.

In all likelihood Metformin'll be the first thing you'll be prescribed, but you could ask for three months' grace period. Try diet, and have a re-test of your HbA1c. Then decide whether or not to go the medicinal route.

Thanks I'll look this up and I'll have a chat with my doctor and have a discussion about maybe trying out controlling it with diet and exercise for a while first. I don't like the idea of having to be on medication long term so ideally if I can manage this through diet that would be good, however of course I'll do whatever is going to be best for my health, so we'll see.

I achieved pre-diabetic results on a keto diet

I've started looking into a keto diet. I've just been avoiding carbs for the past few days and tracking them using myfitnesspal, though my carb levels so far have still been too high for keto I think. But maybe this is something I can work towards to.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi,

Can I just remind people that our new member is currently diet managed T2. Further irrelevant, confusing cross posting advice will be strictly moderated..

As per our forum rules here.. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/community-ethos-forum-rules.50278/

Thanx in advance.

 

[MrsA2]

@lilcricket dont panic, and don't rush. Type 2 takes a long time to develop and won't be fixed overnight. You aren't going to lose a limb or an eye immediately, (or ever!) So just take time to learn, to research and to adjust.

 

[plantae]

Hi,

Can I just remind people that our new member is currently diet managed T2. Further irrelevant, confusing cross posting advice will be strictly moderated..

As per our forum rules here.. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/community-ethos-forum-rules.50278/

Thanx in advance.

myfitnesspal is unreliable unless you enter all your foods manually because their database is full of incorrect information, which, granted, is not a huge chore because you only have to do it once. This is not "cross posting". I log my diet as well and it's what I see

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Thanks I'll look this up and I'll have a chat with my doctor and have a discussion about maybe trying out controlling it with diet and exercise for a while first. I don't like the idea of having to be on medication long term so ideally if I can manage this through diet that would be good, however of course I'll do whatever is going to be best for my health, so we'll see.

Well... Yes. Going for what's best for your health seems like a good plan, haha. Seriously though, and just so you know... You CAN come off metformin. It's not a lifelong thing, per se. I was on it for a bit, turned out not to tolerate it, went the dietary route instead once I found that was an option. If you feel better starting the met, and you see changes in your blood sugars because of your diet, you can always stop. It's not a one way street, you can adjust things as you go along. T2 didn't come on overnight, and you don't have to decide how to deal with it in the blink of an eye either. Take your time, do your research, discuss with medical types (and not just random folks on the interwebs, haha) find out what you feel works for you. In the end, it has to be sustainable, and it won't be unless you feel a-okay with what you're doing.

Good luck!
Jo