Shell shocked!

[Rachox]

Back from the GP he was lovely, took his time and answered all my questions, tablets prescribed, Metformin 500mg, I start with one daily for a week, two daily for another week then finally 3 daily. I got my form for exemption from prescription charges filled out, just need to post it. I have been referred for an eye test and foot check up. He's also referred me to a diabetes education course, which I think he said included dietitian and physio input. He offered a weight watchers type thing (can't remember the name) but I declined that at the moment as I don't think I'll like it. I don't want to share with a room of strangers and feel I can manage that aspect on my own with all the lovely advise here. He said I also qualified for gastric surgery, to which I said an emphatic No!
He didn't advocate home testing but was politely resigned to me doing it anyway, so no testing kit on prescription but I have ordered a Code Free anyway.
I have to go back in two months for a repeat blood test and review with GP.
A question about counting carbs. If I count carbs will I loose weight without counting calories?

 

[Resurgam]

I didn't have to count calories when I first started to cut carbs - in fact I needed to increase calories from the starvation level my doctor advised, as I was not losing weight - but as I was lying comatose in bed for every hour I did not have to work it was not surprising.
I have been told how dangerous low carb eating is over and over again - even though it is the only way I can eat and feel Human.
I would be losing weight if I had not developed diabetes - I know how much I could eat and lose weight, but I will have to try to do more exercise. My metabolism is fighting back.
I took Metformin and a statin for 5 weeks and now it is 5 months since I stopped and my legs and joints still scream at me when I try to move. I do still hope it will come right, as I go to a folk festival every year, in August, and not being able to stand up and play and sing will be sad - and there is so much dancing and a procession at the end with fireworks - I really don't want to miss all that.
When I did Atkins I lost half a stone in the first three days, so it is very effective - but I am so much older now.

 

[walnut_face]

Back from the GP he was lovely, took his time and answered all my questions, tablets prescribed, Metformin 500mg, I start with one daily for a week, two daily for another week then finally 3 daily. I got my form for exemption from prescription charges filled out, just need to post it. I have been referred for an eye test and foot check up. He's also referred me to a diabetes education course, which I think he said included dietitian and physio input. He offered a weight watchers type thing (can't remember the name) but I declined that at the moment as I don't think I'll like it. I don't want to share with a room of strangers and feel I can manage that aspect on my own with all the lovely advise here. He said I also qualified for gastric surgery, to which I said an emphatic No!
He didn't advocate home testing but was politely resigned to me doing it anyway, so no testing kit on prescription but I have ordered a Code Free anyway.
I have to go back in two months for a repeat blood test and review with GP.
A question about counting carbs. If I count carbs will I loose weight without counting calories?

@Rachox I picked up on the bit in bold, because,.............................a Prof. Roy Taylor headed up some research, he noticed that T2D's who had gastric surgery returned to normal fasting blood glucose levels within a week. He set out to mimick the surgery but subjecting a group of 11 T2D's to a VERY LOW CALORIE diet. More reading for you i'm afraid
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal/#overview
This has come to be known as the "Newcastle Diet" there are variation on the theme such as Dr Mosely's Blood Sugar Diet
I will tag @Pipp as she followed the Newcastle Diet with some success, also @britishpub who followed a low cal diet

 

[walnut_face]

Back from the GP he was lovely, took his time and answered all my questions, tablets prescribed, Metformin 500mg, I start with one daily for a week, two daily for another week then finally 3 daily. I got my form for exemption from prescription charges filled out, just need to post it. I have been referred for an eye test and foot check up. He's also referred me to a diabetes education course, which I think he said included dietitian and physio input. He offered a weight watchers type thing (can't remember the name) but I declined that at the moment as I don't think I'll like it. I don't want to share with a room of strangers and feel I can manage that aspect on my own with all the lovely advise here. He said I also qualified for gastric surgery, to which I said an emphatic No!
He didn't advocate home testing but was politely resigned to me doing it anyway, so no testing kit on prescription but I have ordered a Code Free anyway.
I have to go back in two months for a repeat blood test and review with GP.
A question about counting carbs. If I count carbs will I loose weight without counting calories?

@Rachox I picked up on the bit in bold, because,.............................a Prof. Roy Taylor headed up some research, he noticed that T2D's who had gastric surgery returned to normal fasting blood glucose levels within a week. He set out to mimick the surgery but subjecting a group of 11 T2D's to a VERY LOW CALORIE diet. More reading for you i'm afraid
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal/#overview
This has come to be known as the "Newcastle Diet" there are variation on the theme such as Dr Mosely's Blood Sugar Diet
I will tag @Pipp as she followed the Newcastle Diet with some success, also @britishpub who followed a low cal diet

 

[walnut_face]

I have never counted carbs, nor calories. I find that just cutting out Bread, Beer, Pasta, Potato, and Rice the weight fell of me


Substitutes:

For Beer read Wine

Pasta = Courgetti or konjac

Rice = Grated cauliflower or konjac

Potato = Mashed cauliflower, cream cheese and garlic

Bread = Nothing....well lidl do a high protein roll or burgen linseed and soya bread


You come over as very determined to take control of this, I am certain you will succeed

 

[Rachox]

@Rachox I picked up on the bit in bold, because,.............................a Prof. Roy Taylor headed up some research, he noticed that T2D's who had gastric surgery returned to normal fasting blood glucose levels within a week. He set out to mimick the surgery but subjecting a group of 11 T2D's to a VERY LOW CALORIE diet. More reading for you i'm afraid
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal/#overview
This has come to be known as the "Newcastle Diet" there are variation on the theme such as Dr Mosely's Blood Sugar Diet
I will tag @Pipp as she followed the Newcastle Diet with some success, also @britishpub who followed a low cal diet

Thanks for the link. I'll read this but I am pretty overweight so I'll see how I go with the carb counting first.

 

[Hammer1964]

Sorry folks, more questions. Can someone post a link for a simple carb counter please? I've had scrambled egg and smoked salmon for breakfast (no toast!) I think that's ok.
Also I know diabetics get free prescriptions. Is that all prescriptions or is it just the diabetic tablets?

Yes Rachox that is all prescriptions. I have received my exemption card today, it is valid for 5 years and says on the letter that the card entitles you to all of your NHS prescriptions free of charge, the only things it does not cover is NHS wigs, NHS fabric supports and NHS dental treatments. Hope this helps.

 

[Bluetit1802]

A question about counting carbs. If I count carbs will I loose weight without counting calories?

It is necessary to count carbs initially until you get the hang of what portion sizes look like on your plate, which carbs you really can or can't tolerate, and if your numbers don't improve as much as you like. (Unless you go completely hardcore and eliminate all major carbs completely including anything made with or containing flour) A food diary will help.

You may find it necessary to count calories if you have a tendency to go overboard with the fats and protein elements of LCHF or if you go very low carb and much higher fat. It is a suck it and see situation. Fats tend to have many more calories than carbs, especially things like cheese. There is no need to do it if you are losing weight nicely with your food choices and LCHF. Just keep an eye on the scales.

I lost 4 and a half stones in about 9 months but I stuck to 1200 calories and low carb with increased fats. I counted everything and kept a rigid food diary, ate to my meter and scales. That worked for me. I haven't counted anything in a long time now as I know what I can eat, and how much - and importantly what it all looks like on my plate. I still eat to my meter. The scales are only needed once in a while.

 

[Rachox]

Yes Rachox that is all prescriptions. I have received my exemption card today, it is valid for 5 years and says on the letter that the card entitles you to all of your NHS prescriptions free of charge, the only things it does not cover is NHS wigs, NHS fabric supports and NHS dental treatments. Hope this helps.

Thank you, yes, my GP signed my form this morning, it's already to post now

 

[Rachox]

It is necessary to count carbs initially until you get the hang of what portion sizes look like on your plate, which carbs you really can or can't tolerate, and if your numbers don't improve as much as you like. (Unless you go completely hardcore and eliminate all major carbs completely including anything made with or containing flour) A food diary will help.

You may find it necessary to count calories if you have a tendency to go overboard with the fats and protein elements of LCHF or if you go very low carb and much higher fat. It is a suck it and see situation. Fats tend to have many more calories than carbs, especially things like cheese. There is no need to do it if you are losing weight nicely with your food choices and LCHF. Just keep an eye on the scales.

I lost 4 and a half stones in about 9 months but I stuck to 1200 calories and low carb with increased fats. I counted everything and kept a rigid food diary, ate to my meter and scales. That worked for me. I haven't counted anything in a long time now as I know what I can eat, and how much - and importantly what it all looks like on my plate. I still eat to my meter. The scales are only needed once in a while.

Thank you for your advise. I'm just going to start with carb counting I think, won't overdo the cheese! I was really overeating a lot so just with carb counting I'm eating less, I'll see how it goes.

 

[bulkbiker]

I found making the dinners took way too long unless I wanted egg bread.

Not sure I recognise your low carb diet?
How is cooking eggs and bacon going to take too long?
An avocado, just eat it. What are you cooking that takes so long?

 

[Rachox]

Not sure I recognise your low carb diet?
How is cooking eggs and bacon going to take too long?
An avocado, just eat it. What are you cooking that takes so long?

I was delighted to discover that Avocados are low carb when I was googling stuff yesterday! Went straight out and bought a couple today and had one for lunch with little blobs of low fat cream cheese in the holes!

 

[Resurgam]

I was in Tesco and found frozen avocado - I have not actually tried it yet - I got too much other stuff at the same time, but the great thing about frozen is it just waits until you are ready for it - as long as you remember to put it in the freezer when you get it home......

 

[bulkbiker]

I was delighted to discover that Avocados are low carb when I was googling stuff yesterday! Went straight out and bought a couple today and had one for lunch with little blobs of low fat cream cheese in the holes!

May I ask why low fat? Far better to have full fat stuff as that makes you feel fuller (and usually has a lower carb count) than low fat.

 

[Rachox]

May I ask why low fat? Far better to have full fat stuff as that makes you feel fuller (and usually has a lower carb count) than low fat.

It's just what I had in the fridge! Need to do my next big shop taking all these new requirements into account!

 

[Teammidwife]

Is it possible to take tablets initially to get levels down to normal quickly and get a low carb diet on the go, and then maintain good levels on diet alone?

@Rachcox, hi there! I was officially diagnosed as T2 a year ago and felt shocked. I have since found out that 3 YEARS ago I had an HbA1c of 48 (48=diabetic), but had been told by the receptionist that results were normal. Nobody ever followed up in the following 3 years and I was only diagnosed when a GP did bloods when I had a slow-healing bone fracture and also a persistent chest infection. I have been on Metformin, increased from one to four per day, however my last HbA1c was 42 (prediabetic), so I am now off them and am diet-controlled. Try not to panic it's N as scary as it first seems. Good luck, Ann

Sorry folks, more questions. Can someone post a link for a simple carb counter please? I've had scrambled egg and smoked salmon for breakfast (no toast!) I think that's ok.
Also I know diabetics get free prescriptions. Is that all prescriptions or is it just the diabetic tablets?

 

[Teammidwife]

@Rachcox my GPs will not prescribe meters or strips. Working as a midwife, the specialist diabetes midwife gave me a monitor and strips. As I very recently retired, I now buy them, though a colleague who is also T2 has kindly GPs who prescribe them - all down to money! As I am now diet-controlled I am annoyed by this as it is the best way to keep my sugars low - I have no choice other than to pay for them. I would advise you to get one

 

[Bluetit1802]

I have since found out that 3 YEARS ago I had an HbA1c of 48 (48=diabetic), but had been told by the receptionist that results were normal. Nobody ever followed up in the following 3 years and I was only diagnosed when a GP did bloods when I had a slow-healing bone fracture and also a persistent chest infection.

This is a lesson for us all. I say over and over to newcomers, never ever accept a statement that your results are "normal", "fine" "OK" "nothing to worry about". Always ask for test result print outs or see if they are on line. Even if you are "normal" you may be teetering on the edge of not being normal and need to know. I am not just talking about blood glucose, but any blood tests you have for anything. So many people are caught out by this.

 

[Rachox]

This is a lesson for us all. I say over and over to newcomers, never ever accept a statement that your results are "normal", "fine" "OK" "nothing to worry about". Always ask for test result print outs or see if they are on line. Even if you are "normal" you may be teetering on the edge of not being normal and need to know. I am not just talking about blood glucose, but any blood tests you have for anything. So many people are caught out by this.

I agree, one thing that transpired at my appointment with my GP today was that a result from a blood test I had in 2013 was borderline for diabetes! I never knew that and maybe if I had known I wouldn't be where I am now

 

[Rachox]

@Rachcox my GPs will not prescribe meters or strips. Working as a midwife, the specialist diabetes midwife gave me a monitor and strips. As I very recently retired, I now buy them, though a colleague who is also T2 has kindly GPs who prescribe them - all down to money! As I am now diet-controlled I am annoyed by this as it is the best way to keep my sugars low - I have no choice other than to pay for them. I would advise you to get one

Although my GP doesn't advocate home testing he politely said I could if I wanted to, so I have a Code Free on order.