I still need to be doing more to reduce symptoms....

[Hammersgirl]

Hello,

I was diagnosed as type 2 in late April, with an HBCA1 of 8.4. Was told to go on a diet for 3 months by my doctor :'cut out sugar, diet drinks are okay, and fruit sugar is okay'. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the lack of information provided by both my doctor and the diabetes clinic nurse, so looked on this site and read about reducing carbs, so I did that as well as reducing sugar. I have lost almost a stone and dropped a clothes size but was disappointed to discover that the blood test last month resulted in an HBCA1 of 7.4. What had prompted the doctor to send me for a diabetes blood test in the first place in April was itchy, split skin and white residue (but no discharge) in the genital (vulva) area that kept recurring despite thrush treatment and Trimovate cream. Since reducing sugar in my diet the split skin has healed but I am still getting itchy skin and white residue (but it is not like thrush), particularly later in the night/the next morning after eating certain types of food such as white rice and potatoes, and I think possibly also when drinking diet drinks (although I have increased my water intake lately). When I had mentioned this to the doctor he said that potatoes would not be causing the genital issues.

Now that I have the second blood test reading of 7.4, I clearly need to be doing more to reduce my blood sugar (the diabetes clinic nurse said 'it is okay but if you could get it down to 5, that would be good'), so my questions are: should I be testing my blood sugar levels (I was told by the nurse that I do not need to test my blood) and is it likely that the chips/rice etc are causing a spike in my blood sugar and therefore causing the genital issues? I have been quite dismayed at the lack of information provided/general lack of concern on the part of the diabetic clinic nurses I have seen, and particularly that neither of them have advised to cut down on carbs - thank goodness for this website and the information it provides.

Thank you.

 

[pleinster]

Hello,

I was diagnosed as type 2 in late April, with an HBCA1 of 8.4. Was told to go on a diet for 3 months by my doctor :'cut out sugar, diet drinks are okay, and fruit sugar is okay'. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the lack of information provided by both my doctor and the diabetes clinic nurse, so looked on this site and read about reducing carbs, so I did that as well as reducing sugar. I have lost almost a stone and dropped a clothes size but was disappointed to discover that the blood test last month resulted in an HBCA1 of 7.4. What had prompted the doctor to send me for a diabetes blood test in the first place in April was itchy, split skin and white residue (but no discharge) in the genital (vulva) area that kept recurring despite thrush treatment and Trimovate cream. Since reducing sugar in my diet the split skin has healed but I am still getting itchy skin and white residue (but it is not like thrush), particularly later in the night/the next morning after eating certain types of food such as white rice and potatoes, and I think possibly also when drinking diet drinks (although I have increased my water intake lately). When I had mentioned this to the doctor he said that potatoes would not be causing the genital issues.

Now that I have the second blood test reading of 7.4, I clearly need to be doing more to reduce my blood sugar (the diabetes clinic nurse said 'it is okay but if you could get it down to 5, that would be good'), so my questions are: should I be testing my blood sugar levels (I was told by the nurse that I do not need to test my blood) and is it likely that the chips/rice etc are causing a spike in my blood sugar and therefore causing the genital issues? I have been quite dismayed at the lack of information provided/general lack of concern on the part of the diabetic clinic nurses I have seen, and particularly that neither of them have advised to cut down on carbs - thank goodness for this website and the information it provides.

Thank you.

Hi. While I can't tell you much about what may be directly causing some of these particular symptoms, I can definitely answer your question about self-testing. YES ! Get a meter and totally ignore your nurse on this one...as I am certain many hear will agree. You can only tell which foods are having a negative impact on your blood sugar as an individual by testing before and about 2-2.5 hours after eating. The levels should be fairly similar (and not more than c2mmols of a difference) unless you have been eating too many carbs. The NHS generally advise that T2s don't need to test because meters and strips cost money and they don't want to prescribe them. The only other possible reason given is that people might get stressed by bad readings. It's nonsense ! Get a meter now. Also keep a record of your readings and of what you eat and you will soon see patterns and be able to identify what may be causing issues. Further, you will feel good when you see the difference you are making. Finally - potatoes, chips, rice, pasta, bread - these are the things that are certain to increase your blood sugar the most apart from the usual sweet things. They will almost definitely spike your bs and won't help associated issues. Good luck.

 

[Wayne78]

Hello,

I was diagnosed as type 2 in late April, with an HBCA1 of 8.4. Was told to go on a diet for 3 months by my doctor :'cut out sugar, diet drinks are okay, and fruit sugar is okay'. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the lack of information provided by both my doctor and the diabetes clinic nurse, so looked on this site and read about reducing carbs, so I did that as well as reducing sugar. I have lost almost a stone and dropped a clothes size but was disappointed to discover that the blood test last month resulted in an HBCA1 of 7.4. What had prompted the doctor to send me for a diabetes blood test in the first place in April was itchy, split skin and white residue (but no discharge) in the genital (vulva) area that kept recurring despite thrush treatment and Trimovate cream. Since reducing sugar in my diet the split skin has healed but I am still getting itchy skin and white residue (but it is not like thrush), particularly later in the night/the next morning after eating certain types of food such as white rice and potatoes, and I think possibly also when drinking diet drinks (although I have increased my water intake lately). When I had mentioned this to the doctor he said that potatoes would not be causing the genital issues.

Now that I have the second blood test reading of 7.4, I clearly need to be doing more to reduce my blood sugar (the diabetes clinic nurse said 'it is okay but if you could get it down to 5, that would be good'), so my questions are: should I be testing my blood sugar levels (I was told by the nurse that I do not need to test my blood) and is it likely that the chips/rice etc are causing a spike in my blood sugar and therefore causing the genital issues? I have been quite dismayed at the lack of information provided/general lack of concern on the part of the diabetic clinic nurses I have seen, and particularly that neither of them have advised to cut down on carbs - thank goodness for this website and the information it provides.

Thank you.

If it is possible you should add some exercise to your daily routine,even a little brisk walk for 30 minutes minimal or some type of physical activity based on your condition physically. Ensure you speak with your GP before embarking on any physical status.

 

[Resurgam]

I'd advise that you stop eating high carb foods - they would certainly spike my blood glucose if I ever ate them again.
I stick mainly to low carb foods, containing 10 percent carbs or less, and greatly restrict amounts of foods slightly higher in carbs, to the extent that I get normal numbers in blood tests.
If you eat foods which cause spikes in BG then all your bodily fluids become sweet and can provide a suitable medium for fungal or bacterial growth. I used to get sore underarms, with discolouration, which has now cleared up completely.

 

[AM1874]

Hi @Hammersgirl .. and welcome
You have certainly made a good move coming here. Since joining this forum, the folks here have given me so much info, advice and support that I am now much more confident about the journey ahead. So ask your questions and be assured that you will receive the answers that you need. It can all seem uphill to start with but, in my experience, it gets easier .. very quickly.

You are already aware the there is a lot of conflicting and sometimes confusing information around .. but the key point to take on board is that managing and controlling your diabetes (or pre-diabetes) through exercise, diet and testing your blood glucose seems to be the best way forward for many people. For me, committing to an LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) lifestyle and testing 3-5 times a day seems to be working and you'll find that there is a wealth of info, relevant advice and positive support about LCHF on the forum ..

I have tagged @daisy1 for you and I suggest that you read up on the valuable material that she will soon be sending you. I think that you might also find the discussion on the Low Carb Diet forum helpful .. together with the following Diet Doctor websites, which will give you all the info that you need about carb levels and about what and what not to eat ...
Low Carb Intro and Information and Low Carbs in 60 Seconds

It is a priority that you get yourself a test meter and, for this, the following websites might help:
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/
for the SD Codefree meter, which costs £12.98 or:
http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-blood-glucose-meter/
who distribute the TEE 2 meter, which is free.
I have both which I alternate for comparative purposes and I have never found any significant difference between them.

The costs of testing comes down to the ongoing charges for test strips and lancets. Make sure that you tick the appropriate box on the on-line order form and you won't pay VAT on your meter or strips.
For the SD Codefree, the strips are £7.69 for a pack of 50 and there are discount codes available for bulk purchases:
5 packs x 50 use code: 264086 .. cost is £29.49
10 packs x 50 use code: 975833 .. cost is £58.98
For the TEE 2, the strips are £7.75 for a pack of 50 .. but there are no discount codes currently available

I'm testing 3-5 times a day which works out at around £10 to £12 per month for either of the two packages above but, more importantly, I now know what my BG levels are .. and I can now manage them

Hope this helps

 

[Goonergal]

Hi @Hammersgirl and welcome. You've received good advice above and I'll just chip in to say that investing in a meter will be the best thing you do - it will give you the information you need to manage this condition. Your dietary changes have already made a difference - maybe not as much as you hoped, but armed with information I'm sure you'll get to where you want to be.

 

[daisy1]

@Hammersgirl

Hello and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. The Low Carb Program should be useful to you too. Ask more questions when you need to and someone will be able to help.


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 well over 250,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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 blood glucose 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.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.

 

[Bluetit1802]

When I had mentioned this to the doctor he said that potatoes would not be causing the genital issues.

is it likely that the chips/rice etc are causing a spike in my blood sugar and therefore causing the genital issues?

Your doctor was wrong to say the potatoes aren't the cause of your issues because, in a round about way, they probably are. They are causing you to have higher than acceptable blood sugar levels, which in turn may be the cause. You hit the nail on the head when you ask if it is the chips/rice etc causing the problems. They are certainly making your blood sweeter. Potatoes, rice, bread, pasta and breakfast cereals are all culprits, along with fruit. Most fruits are high in sugar. It may be fruit sugar, but it is still sugar! The best fruits to eat are strawberries and raspberries but in small quantities eaten as part of a meal rather than a stand alone snack. (with plain yogurt or cream)

Please get a meter and start testing what these foods are doing to you. When you get one we can help you use it to the best advantage.

Good luck, and ask questions when you have some.

 

[letstalk1]

Stop the carbs , do low carb alot of things will clear up.

 

[Hammersgirl]

Thank you for all your replies; they are useful and friendly. I bought an SD Code meter and my evening meal today is the first testing I have carried out. I deliberately chose a meal of sausage in batter with chips: before eating, the level was 7.0 mmol and 2 hours later the level was 12.6 mmol. I had already been omitting potatoes from my diet this week, so this reading is clearly confirming that they are a problem for me.

 

[Resurgam]

Having the battered sausage might have helped hike up the reading too.
I hope that you soon drop down from that high reading. I was having readings of 7 after meals, so these days I have relaxed a little bit, I still avoid potatoes rice grains, but I am eating more fruit - tempted by the two apple trees sinking under the weight of fruit in the garden, but that is after 10 months of low carb and normal readings.
Things do seem to get better, it is just a matter of getting a grip on the amount of carbs so as to start to lower BG levels. The longer I could keep steady levels the easier it became to keep them like that and the less impact carbs had.