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New type 2

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Culry247

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Just seen diabetes nurse today who confirmed diagnosed as type 2 diabetic given readings within treatment range. Will be using diet and exercise rather than tablets as only just over treatment line and would rather try that to begin with.

HBa1c: 48 approx. 3 weeks ago (fasting sugar 7.3), Hba1c last week 49 (lost 10lb since high BG level picked up 4 weeks ago as I have dropped all sugars and controlling carbs - maybe not well enough though!!)

I am 44, female and now weigh 12st 6lb (quite a bit of muscle - at my fittest, in my 20's, when swimming and walking every day weighed 11st 2lb - I guess 11.5st my goal now, so a stone to lose). Have a history of hyperthyroidism (normalised with block and replace so off meds for approx. 7 years). Family members with type 1 and type 2.

Diet has helped so far, as brain/thinking feel a lot clearer and skin healing up where as before it wasn't. Am hoping this starts to reflect in the blood results! To be honest was really spiralling downward before dropped sugars, etc - viruses, rashes, total brain fog - so while still 'not right' I feel a lot better!

Nurse says I am not really the standard type 2 as I feel lows when I need to eat (though probably not that low really) and highs/headaches when have had too much carbs/any sugar.

Dietician appointment, then reviewed in a few months.

Did discuss LADA but nurse felt that at these levels treatment would be the same so no need - I am happy with this at current levels and will see what extra carb control and exercise can do.

I welcome any helpful comments or pointers.
 
Hello and welcome Culry. I'll tag @daisy1 for you and she will send you helpful information which will be of use You will find lots of support and encouragement here. Good luck
 
Hi and welcome @Culry247. Your weight and readings were about the same as mine at diagnosis four weeks ago, but I am male and 64.
If my scales are accurate I have gone from 12st 4lbs to 11st 10 lbs today. I have cut down on sugar and carbs, given up beer and eaten more fish and veg, and started walking for at least an hour every day. I expect to e below HBa1c 47 at my next test in November. My goal is to get to 11st by then.
You have done well to lose 10 lbs in 4 weeks. I'm sure you will reach your target. Well done!
 
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Well done on loosing the weight and feeling so much better so keep on doing what your are it's working
 
Well done so far with your achievements so far....you came to the right place for help, advice and support :)
 
Culry247 said:
Just seen diabetes nurse today who confirmed diagnosed as type 2 diabetic given readings within treatment range. Will be using diet and exercise rather than tablets as only just over treatment line and would rather try that to begin with.

HBa1c: 48 approx. 3 weeks ago (fasting sugar 7.3), Hba1c last week 49 (lost 10lb since high BG level picked up 4 weeks ago as I have dropped all sugars and controlling carbs - maybe not well enough though!!)

I am 44, female and now weigh 12st 6lb (quite a bit of muscle - at my fittest, in my 20's, when swimming and walking every day weighed 11st 2lb - I guess 11.5st my goal now, so a stone to lose). Have a history of hyperthyroidism (normalised with block and replace so off meds for approx. 7 years). Family members with type 1 and type 2.

Diet has helped so far, as brain/thinking feel a lot clearer and skin healing up where as before it wasn't. Am hoping this starts to reflect in the blood results! To be honest was really spiralling downward before dropped sugars, etc - viruses, rashes, total brain fog - so while still 'not right' I feel a lot better!

Nurse says I am not really the standard type 2 as I feel lows when I need to eat (though probably not that low really) and highs/headaches when have had too much carbs/any sugar.

Dietician appointment, then reviewed in a few months.

Did discuss LADA but nurse felt that at these levels treatment would be the same so no need - I am happy with this at current levels and will see what extra carb control and exercise can do.

I welcome any helpful comments or pointers.
Click to expand...
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal.htm
 
@Culry247

Hello and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helps you. It is important to cut down the carbs and this will improve your levels and help you to lose weight. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will answer.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
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