Shell shocked!

[Bluetit1802]

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.

The arrogance of the man! You don't need his permission. It is your diabetes, your money, your fingers, and will be your way of beating this condition.

 

[Rachox]

He was as I said very polite about it, I don't hold it against him! But yes I do want to do everything I can to help myself.

 

[Rachox]

Took my first Metformin this morning fingers crossed I tolerate it! I bought some bathroom scales and have lost some weight since my GPs first call regarding my blood test.
I have also got my date for my Diabetes2gether which is a three hour course with a Diabetes Specialist Nurse and a Diabetes Dietitian, which runs throughout my county, it's on Tuesday, so not long to wait.

 

[goosey39]

Good luck with your weight loss, i have a fair bit to shed too, but am doing really well at slimming world 1 stone 91/2lb off in 7 weeks

 

[Sue108]

Hi, you can gets lots of meters free but it's the strips that cost. As mentioned before the tee2 seem to be the cheapest strips but I have not used the meter . Please badger your gp for strips on prescription and I was given a meter by my gp (contour next meter).
I was diagnosed on Dec 16th 2016 at blood sugar of 27.5 and hba1c 99. Now bg approx 6 to 8.5 and hba1c 52 take sitagliptin 100mg and gliclaside 30mg slow release, (can't tolerate metformin) and trying to follow low carb , but still learning. Could not have got as low without testing. Also losing weight slowly.

 

[Rachox]

Hi, you can gets lots of meters free but it's the strips that cost. As mentioned before the tee2 seem to be the cheapest strips but I have not used the meter . Please badger your gp for strips on prescription and I was given a meter by my gp (contour next meter).
I was diagnosed on Dec 16th 2016 at blood sugar of 27.5 and hba1c 99. Now bg approx 6 to 8.5 and hba1c 52 take sitagliptin 100mg and gliclaside 30mg slow release, (can't tolerate metformin) and trying to follow low carb , but still learning. Could not have got as low without testing. Also losing weight slowly.

Thanks for your reply, I have a Code Free on order, it seems to be a popular one. My GP didn't advocate home testing but politely agreed that I should go ahead with it if it made me happy, so no chance of getting a meter provided. Good to hear you've achieved so much since diagnosis.

 

[Gaz3845]

I was diagnosed with type 2 in January
Nurse insisted I would be on medication for life
And gave me metformin and another tablet which I can't remember name of but was told it was to bring my levels down
5 months later and 2 stone lighter (regular brisk walks with dog and eating what I want but smaller portions)
I'm now off all the tablets and my glucose levels are all within the non diabetic range on a chart I was given by gp
And my last blood test was healthy (in the words of my nurse )
Not sure exactly what that means but will find out next time I see her in July

 

[britishpub]

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

Personally I have never counted a Carb in my life, nor a Calorie.

It was pretty obvious to me what foods I had to cut out from a Carbohydrate perspective in order to reduce my BG, and it was also pretty obvious that I had to eat less in order to loose weight.

So I stopped eating Bread, Potatoes, Pasta, Rice Cakes & Biscuits and anything obviously carb laden, and ate mainly meat fish and salad for quite a while and the weight fell off and my BG levels reduced quickly.

I still don't overthink my diet, and my mindset is not focused solely on my T2D or what I can't eat.

For me I needed to change my entire lifestyle for this to work, what I ate, when I ate, how much, my sleep patterns, my exercise a whole raft of things.

I don't want to say it was easy, but in many ways it was because I immediately came to terms with my diagnosis and decided straight away what I needed to change in order to get on top of it and didn't waste any time bemoaning my luck or worrying about what I would miss out on.

I haven't missed out on anything and in the process improved my life immensely.

 

[Rachox]

Personally I have never counted a Carb in my life, nor a Calorie.

It was pretty obvious to me what foods I had to cut out from a Carbohydrate perspective in order to reduce my BG, and it was also pretty obvious that I had to eat less in order to loose weight.

So I stopped eating Bread, Potatoes, Pasta, Rice Cakes & Biscuits and anything obviously carb laden, and ate mainly meat fish and salad for quite a while and the weight fell off and my BG levels reduced quickly.

I still don't overthink my diet, and my mindset is not focused solely on my T2D or what I can't eat.

For me I needed to change my entire lifestyle for this to work, what I ate, when I ate, how much, my sleep patterns, my exercise a whole raft of things.

I don't want to say it was easy, but in many ways it was because I immediately came to terms with my diagnosis and decided straight away what I needed to change in order to get on top of it and didn't waste any time bemoaning my luck or worrying about what I would miss out on.

I haven't missed out on anything and in the process improved my life immensely.

Thank you for your reply, and good to hear of your achievements.
This is all probably the kick up the bum I needed really. As soon as my GP suggested I may have diabetes I stopped all the junk in my diet (chocolate, crisps, chips etc …). I'm the kind of person that needs structure to achieve things so, new bathroom scales, a bg meter and counting carbs is my starting point. I don't have enough will power to do it by gut instinct like you have, I'd stray too easily!

 

[Rachox]

My Code Free just arrived!
Setting up was easy. Then nervously did my first test, 2 hours after a white coffee (no sugar) and two scrambled eggs. So pleased with the result! I am right in thinking this is good, aren't I?

 

[Freema]

going down in the right direction... a meter is essential, I now consider mine my partner

 

[Teammidwife]

@Rachcox I am sorry to hear you had a similar experience as me ie not being told you were borderline or prediabetic in 2013. When I informed the nurse she said she would bring it up and that receptionists would NOT Be allowed to give results. Guess what? At my very next blood test, the receptionist gave me a verbal result on the phone! I insisted that I would ring the next day and speak to the nurse! Like others on the forum, I feel as type 2, we have to find information for ourselves, buy our own equipment and challenge information/decisions given to us by our GP or nurse. I hope you're feeling more reassured about your diagnosis x

 

[Teammidwife]

My Code Free just arrived!
Setting up was easy. Then nervously did my first test, 2 hours after a white coffee (no sugar) and two scrambled eggs. So pleased with the result! I am right in thinking this is good, aren't I?

Below 8.5 two hours after eating - going in the right direction

 

[Rachox]

@Rachcox I am sorry to hear you had a similar experience as me ie not being told you were borderline or prediabetic in 2013. When I informed the nurse she said she would bring it up and that receptionists would NOT Be allowed to give results. Guess what? At my very next blood test, the receptionist gave me a verbal result on the phone! I insisted that I would ring the next day and speak to the nurse! Like others on the forum, I feel as type 2, we have to find information for ourselves, buy our own equipment and challenge information/decisions given to us by our GP or nurse. I hope you're feeling more reassured about your diagnosis x

Yes I feel I need to follow this up. I think I must have had blood tests in the years between 2013 and now, at least the last 2 years in connection with my BP. What's the betting they weren't good either. I'm cross thinking this may have been spotted earlier.

 

[leslie10152]

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.

It seems strange to me that the gp does not advocate home testing. How do you keep track of your bgl's without it?

 

[Rachox]

It seems strange to me that the gp does not advocate home testing. How do you keep track of your bgl's without it?

God only knows

 

[leslie10152]

God only knows

I hope you get this sorted quickly.

 

[Rachox]

I hope you get this sorted quickly.

Don't worry I've just gone ahead and bought a Code Free!

 

[Ultramum]

Took my first Metformin this morning fingers crossed I tolerate it! I bought some bathroom scales and have lost some weight since my GPs first call regarding my blood test.
I have also got my date for my Diabetes2gether which is a three hour course with a Diabetes Specialist Nurse and a Diabetes Dietitian, which runs throughout my county, it's on Tuesday, so not long to wait.

Hi

You may find that the three hour course majors on the 'Eatwell ' plate - this will suggest carbs at every meal. I followed this plan for over ten years and my diabetes has gradually got worse and my medication increased.

Many on this forum advocate to eat low carbs and it has worked for me over the last few months. BG levels are down and I have reduced medication slightly.

You probably have two choices when you go on the course - ask awkward questions about how eating carbs will help to lower your blood sugar levels when the carbohydrates are converted into glucose (which is what diabetes is basically about .. ) or nod, smile sweetly and go home and cut the carbs that affect your BG levels.

Forewarned is forearmed.

 

[slinkimalinki]

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.

I use My Fitness Pal to track my carbs, protein and fats. Unfortunately it will set you a calorie/kilojoule count for the day as well that you can't change, but I just ignore that. Somedays I go over their suggested kilojoules, somedays under. When I go under it always tells me I am not eating enough blah blah blah, but for me, as long as my carbs are low, that's all I am concerned about.

You do get to set your own carb, protein and fat levels which is great. You can search their database or add your own foods, which I tend to do as all foods here in australia have that info readily available, so I know it's accurate.

I currently aim for 30g carbs, 93g fat and 60g protein, but most days I am under those goals.