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Nicole T
Diagnosed as Type 2 at age 52. Looking back through my Patient Access test results, I can see a test logging me as pre-diabetic 10 years ago, but I don't recall this being highlighted to me by my GP.
From the day of diagnosis, I cut out chocolate, and immediately stopped waking up with an extremely dry mouth and desperate for the toilet. When I found this site and discovered low carb / higher fat, I cut most carbs out of my diet, and I've seen a remarkable improvement in my blood sugar levels. They are already consistently within the pre-diabetic range, and spend much of their time in the non-diabetic one.
To avoid confusion: I'm a trans woman. Living full time in this gender role since July 2019. Pronouns are she/her (and he/him irritates me immensely) but from a medical perspective, I'm anatomically male wherever that is relevant. I was self-medding with hormones until recently, and I'm on the Leeds GIC waiting list to eventually do it properly. But since hormones tend to increase appetite, I've decided to put them on hold until I've got a proper handle on my new diet.
From the day of diagnosis, I cut out chocolate, and immediately stopped waking up with an extremely dry mouth and desperate for the toilet. When I found this site and discovered low carb / higher fat, I cut most carbs out of my diet, and I've seen a remarkable improvement in my blood sugar levels. They are already consistently within the pre-diabetic range, and spend much of their time in the non-diabetic one.
To avoid confusion: I'm a trans woman. Living full time in this gender role since July 2019. Pronouns are she/her (and he/him irritates me immensely) but from a medical perspective, I'm anatomically male wherever that is relevant. I was self-medding with hormones until recently, and I'm on the Leeds GIC waiting list to eventually do it properly. But since hormones tend to increase appetite, I've decided to put them on hold until I've got a proper handle on my new diet.
- Birthday
- Jun 1, 1968 (Age: 57)
- Location
- Cheshire
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Medication
- None. Offered Metformin but declined. Nurse is happy with me managing it through diet.
- Exercise
- Taken up cycling again about a month before diagnosis. Using an e-bike, but mostly using the motor only on steeper hills. I also have a recumbent exercise bike for when the weather is rubbish, but I'd rather be out seeing places.
- Likes
- Sci-fi and comedy. Better still when someone does a decent job of combining the two (Hitchhikers Guide, Red Dwarf, Galaxy Quest etc.) Going through a second teenage, since I kind of missed out on the first one. So nights out clubbing are good fun. Camping, but only of the tin tent variety.
- Occupation
- Software developer
Signature
July 2020: HbA1c = 76 mmol/mol. BP 144/80. 100Kg. (Original diagnosis) BMI > 30 = 'obese.'
November 2020: HbA1c = 39 mmol/mol. BP unchecked. 94Kg. (Libre estimate actually got my HbA1c spot on.) BMI < 30 = Now just 'overweight.'
Drastic carb cutting / mild weight loss / occasional exercise. Tried metformin 500mg for a week, but it didn't really agree with me and only dropped my average between 0.2 and 0.5mmol/l. Otherwise, no meds. I might go back on a low dose as an appetite suppressant to lose more weight, though.
November 2020: HbA1c = 39 mmol/mol. BP unchecked. 94Kg. (Libre estimate actually got my HbA1c spot on.) BMI < 30 = Now just 'overweight.'
Drastic carb cutting / mild weight loss / occasional exercise. Tried metformin 500mg for a week, but it didn't really agree with me and only dropped my average between 0.2 and 0.5mmol/l. Otherwise, no meds. I might go back on a low dose as an appetite suppressant to lose more weight, though.
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