Confused?!?! Please advise.

mimo

Active Member
Messages
40
I visited my diabetic nurses this week for my A1C results. She advised me that it is 7.2. Bearing in mine my last one was 10.5. With this in mind she still wanted me to get it lower. I advised that I was finding this difficult at the moment as I was feeling hungry all the time. She advised to drink more water. Fair point but bearing in mind I was told to do this 3 years ago by a nurse who didn't listen to all my other symptoms and get me tested for diabetes, I know that drinking more water is not going to help.
So I have another appointment with the specialist diabetic nurse from the hospital and my nurse has suggested that I might just have to come to terms with my pancreas giving up and that insulin might be the next step. With a A1C of 7.2?!? It just doesn't seem right. Please advise me on your experiences and if this is a good A1C level as I am lost. Am type 2, on metformin 1500mg and gliclazide x2 30mg. I look forward to hearing from my fellow diabetic friends.
 

carraway

Well-Known Member
Messages
977
Type of diabetes
Prefer not to say
Treatment type
Other
Hi

I think her idea of drinking more water was because you said you were hungry all the time. Drinking water will make you feel more full. Or at least take the edge off your appetite.


What sort of things do you eat? There really shouldn't be any need to feel hungry while ringing your blood glucose levels down with diet.
I'm sure you will get some filling food suggestions if we get a few clues about what you currently eat.
Do you have any extra weight to lose or can you increase exercise?

Cara
 

2131tom

Well-Known Member
Messages
279
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,

If it helps, drinking more water is working for me, but I find I'm drinking quite a bit more - sometimes 6 pints a day. It takes the edge off my hunger and I suspect has had other health benefits too.

I used to eat for England until I was diagnosed T2 in September. Immediately cutting out sugar and sugary food, bread, rice, pasta etc, (basically considerably lowering my carb intake), in favour of more vegetables, proteins, cheese and oily fish has had several effects. It's reduced my appetite by miles - I don't want lots of food or large portion sizes - has stopped the sugar cravings I always had 30 mins after a meal, and caused me to lose quite a bit of weight.

Tom.
 
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BramHall456

Active Member
Messages
43
Hi mimo, you are just about the same as me 7.5.I have been asking the same questions but my fellow diabetics, T2, dont seem to come up with any replys.imon 1000mg morn and 1000mg evening mealav day plus 40 mg galitz.morning.I drink water and tea.and wee alot first thing in the morning.plus feel tiered, fed up, eyes feel sleepy.and no energy.interested to hear what your nurse has to say im struggling to get below 7.5 my carbs are porridge in thre morning two slices wholemeal or grain bread salad sandwich, yogert lunch. Veg fish or meat, fruit for evening meal. Usually end up at 10mmols two hours later on test. Some times 6.3 before bed and 7.5 before breakfast.blowed if I can find out if this is not bad.my doctor is hopeless and not co operative. Diabeties uk and other diabetic nurses and consultants will not comment,they say im not their patient. I think you will find more help from the foram folk. The medical profesion. Most of the time have conflicting views. So to any body else out there how do we get our hba1c s down.

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Garr

Well-Known Member
Messages
360
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
BramHall456 said:
Hi mimo, you are just about the same as me 7.5.I have been asking the same questions but my fellow diabetics, T2, dont seem to come up with any replys.imon 1000mg morn and 1000mg evening mealav day plus 40 mg galitz.morning.I drink water and tea.and wee alot first thing in the morning.plus feel tiered, fed up, eyes feel sleepy.and no energy.interested to hear what your nurse has to say im struggling to get below 7.5 my carbs are porridge in thre morning two slices wholemeal or grain bread salad sandwich, yogert lunch. Veg fish or meat, fruit for evening meal. Usually end up at 10mmols two hours later on test. Some times 6.3 before bed and 7.5 before breakfast.blowed if I can find out if this is not bad.my doctor is hopeless and not co operative. Diabeties uk and other diabetic nurses and consultants will not comment,they say im not their patient. I think you will find more help from the foram folk. The medical profesion. Most of the time have conflicting views. So to any body else out there how do we get our hba1c s down.

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I'm type1 so I'm certainly no expert, but, the way I understand it is that t2 is mainly down to insulin resistance, if you eat carbohydrates ( and to a much lesser extent protein) the pancreas has to pump out more and more insulin to try and overcome the resistance and after a while it gets a wee bit tired and starts to putt, putt. The only ways I have heard to give your pancreas a break is to reduce your carbs as low as you can so the pancreas doesn't have to work so hard and to exercise regularly to improve your insulin sensitivity. The other advantage to low carb is that it promotes fat loss which in turn improves insulin sensitivity. But low carb doesn't suit everyone as its mainly veg, dairy and meat and it can be hard to find alternatives to porridge, potatoes, pasta, bread and fruit. If you manage to lower the carb intake and exercise more then your HbA1c should come down. Failing all that then I guess medication would be the only way to go. If any t2s disagree please feel free......Just my humble and limited knowledge :)
 
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hanadr

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Guys
I have to eat almost no carbs to keep my BG in the range I've set myself [below 5 fasting and below 6 at the end of the day. I take 1 x 500mg Metformin SR in the morning and another at bedtime.]
I couldn't get away with eating ANY normal bread, although I do sometimes have a slice of Livlife [4 carbs] or a slice of Burgen soya and linseed [12 carbs]. I avoid old potatoes, but do have a couple of little new ones with my main meal of the day. I've discovered I can't handle noodles or other pasta or more than the smallest portion of fruits. I eat LOADS of vegetables. A lot of them raw. I usually keep a box of home made coleslaw in the fridge. Makes a good low carb snack. I also use Xylitol as a substi5ute for sugar in baking. I bake treats for the family and taste a TINY bit myself.
I'm not hungry any more, because I've got used to it all over about 8 years.
It's something you do get used to.
When Iwas a child the carby snacks that are common nowadays were very rare treats. I may have had crisps once a month or even less and sweets were a small bag once a week. [after they came off the ration o course.] As often as not, my younger brother would steal my sweets. Since he was/ and still is, my mother's favourite, he was never stopped from doing so. My preferred snack was a piece of cheese and still is.Take away food and ready meals hardly existed, so of course Inever got used to having them. I was probaably a teenager before I even tasted a burger [at a Wimpey bar}
So for our family it's still good wholesome home cooked food, from basic ingredients.
Hana
 

mimo

Active Member
Messages
40
Thanks very much for all your comments. It was nice to read them and see that others are perhaps feeling the same thing.
I think my problem at the moment is I have hit a huge lull. When I was first diagnosed I was so goo, lost 3stone and felt great. I have found the strict regime hard to keep up. Exercising 30mins 5 days a week and eating 1500 a day. My diet was advised by NHS nutritionist.
Since having a few stresses in my life, moving to a new place and job things have slipped and I want to get back to better ways. I just keep getting conflicting views from my nurse and other advice out there. I am seeing the hospital diabetic nurse in the new year so will make a list of questions for her.
I guess my main worry is having to change from tablets to insulin. Have any of you out there made the change and how has it been for you? I guess am just in a little diabetic dip at the moment and trying to pull myself out of it.
I also have another personal problems that I have no interest in sex. Can't pluck up the courage to speak to my GP about it so a huge strain on my relationship.
Sorry to spill all but I have no where else to vent where I know people will understand.

Thanks folks for listening.
Xx
 

dawnmc

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,431
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
I think a low carb diet would help you mimo, have a look at Jenny Rhuls 'blood sugar 101'. Gives diet advice she's a type 2 diabetic.
 

oz_1

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hey I am in Sydney Australia and just been diagnose with t2 .... I start with a count of 10.5 in Late October now I am on average of 7 and some times down to 5.5.
All I do is eat lots of dark green vegetables, lots of fish I use Extra virgin olive oil.
I use peeper and small amount of chilly for seasoning.
I test myself in the morning mid day and before I go sleep to ensure I am managing myself correctly and be able to make adjustments to my food as I go.
I keep no diet at all I eat everything but no fat small carbs every 2 days and hell is helping me a lot
I suggest dark green vegetables, steam corn, some chicken or small amount of meat (no fat) lots of fish ...salmon and tuna (you can do a nice tuna salad with avocado) - use tuna in a can ,,,,

[Email address removed, please don't share your contact info in public]
 
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oz_1

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all ... another thing to consider is Mate de Coca from Peru and Acai tablets or drink do a search on Acai from Brasil and Mate de Coca tea

Oz_1
 

PhilT

Well-Known Member
Messages
94
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Diet only
Get hold of Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book. He advocates that diabetics should have the same blood sugar as normal people.

Metformin can only achieve a limited change to HbA1c about 1 to 1.5 old style units. If that isn't enough then DrB advocates use of insulin over the other pharma options, Metformin and low carb eating being his tools of choice.

The logic is that a failing pancreas can be assisted by insulin injections, rather than flogged to death by drugs.
 

luceeloo

Well-Known Member
Messages
677
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi mimo, you are just about the same as me 7.5.I have been asking the same questions but my fellow diabetics, T2, dont seem to come up with any replys.imon 1000mg morn and 1000mg evening mealav day plus 40 mg galitz.morning.I drink water and tea.and wee alot first thing in the morning.plus feel tiered, fed up, eyes feel sleepy.and no energy.interested to hear what your nurse has to say im struggling to get below 7.5 my carbs are porridge in thre morning two slices wholemeal or grain bread salad sandwich, yogert lunch. Veg fish or meat, fruit for evening meal. Usually end up at 10mmols two hours later on test. Some times 6.3 before bed and 7.5 before breakfast.blowed if I can find out if this is not bad.my doctor is hopeless and not co operative. Diabeties uk and other diabetic nurses and consultants will not comment,they say im not their patient. I think you will find more help from the foram folk. The medical profesion. Most of the time have conflicting views. So to any body else out there how do we get our hba1c s down.

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I had porridge for the first time in 5 months last week. It was sort of an experiment to see how my body would tolerate it. I couldn't face eggs / bacon, didn't have any of my usual greek yoghurt in, and had no livlife bread. I had one small bowl of scots oats made with skimmed milk, and my blood sugar was 11.5 over 4 hours later. With one of my usual low-carb breakfasts I would expect to have a blood sugar of 5.5 after the same length of time.
So for me, porridge is a no-no and I would advise any other type 2 looking to reduce hba1c to cut out the porridge. Have you tried making porridge with other grains? I've tried flax-seed. It's strange, but when sweetened a little it isn't too bad.
I also can't do bread. I can do livlife just about, but two slices of anything else would give me a spike. I generally eat more green veggies and salad instead of eating bread with a meal.