Hello

batgirl2708

Member
Messages
21
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi everyone, Im Zoë, just a short introduction. Was diagnosed T2 last month with hbac1 of 56, told by the receptionist at my doctors surgery... saw a nurse a week later and other than a leaflet and being told not to eat too much sugar I have been left to it until my next blood test in December.. I have a diabetes education session (DESMOND) next month. I have bought myself a monitor but dont really know what I'm looking for with it lol (or even if I'm supposed to be using it as the nurse never mentioned checking sugars). I know at 17st8 I need to lose weight but what diet is best?
 

mike gibson

Active Member
Messages
41
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello @batgirl2708

I’m similar to yourself in being recently diagnosed but still waiting to see the diabetic nurse..I’ve cut out all biscuits and sweet things and working hard to reduce carb intake, aiming for no more than 150g per day...in a few short days I’m feeling less tired with more energy and not as thirsty as I was pre diagnoses.. still waiting on BG meter coming so unable to measure during the day but hopefully these small measures are taking me in the right direction...as for best diet I haven’t a clue but I’ve soon realised that counting your carbs is a massive part of controlling diabetes...

Good luck
 
T

tony n

Guest
Hi everyone, Im Zoë, just a short introduction. Was diagnosed T2 last month with hbac1 of 56, told by the receptionist at my doctors surgery... saw a nurse a week later and other than a leaflet and being told not to eat too much sugar I have been left to it until my next blood test in December.. I have a diabetes education session (DESMOND) next month. I have bought myself a monitor but dont really know what I'm looking for with it lol (or even if I'm supposed to be using it as the nurse never mentioned checking sugars). I know at 17st8 I need to lose weight but what diet is best?
hi ya bat girl my names Bruce wane from Gotham city type 1 30 years. robin says do plenty of blood tests its the best way to keep your sugars down x
 
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Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
15,810
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Welcome batgirl! I'm now five months from diagnosis. Once I was over the initial shock, I saw it as the proverbial kick up the bum to get healthier. I was started on Metformin and tolerate it well now after a bit of stomach upset in the early days. I wasn't advised to eat low carb by my GP or Diabetes education course, but stumbled on this forum by chance and took up a low carb life style with self monitoring (self funded). I started by eating less than 100g carbs/day and after 6 weeks reduced it to 50-70g/day. The best way to see what foods suit you is to test right before a meal and then two hours after the first bite, you’re looking for a rise of no more than 2 mmol/l and to be within these recommended ranges http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html This has worked for me, to date I've lost nearly 4 stone and got my HbA1c down to a non diabetic level, all due to the fantastic support and advise I got here. I'm sure you'll find a way to do it too!
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@batgirl2708

Hello Zoe and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like 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.
 

Guzzler

Master
Messages
10,577
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Read around the sections and ask lots of questions, there's quite a bit to learn. Take it steady.
 

Kentoldlady1

Well-Known Member
Messages
733
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hello batgirl.

I am t2d and I was told in a phone call in june. No info at all except to make an appointment to see the diabetes nurse, an appointm.ent which was for 4 weeks later. And tbh she was not really much help. But she did look at my feet!

I weighed 16 st 2 lbs in june. Now weigh 11 st 2 lbs. My hbalc was 53. And 3 weeks ago it was 39.

The very best thing I did was read this forum. I have learnt such alot. Have a spare hour, a cup of tea and read. Read everything you can find. Then come back and ask questions. I asked such alot at the beginning and everyone was very kind. Start with the stuff daisy has sent.

I would say the best bit of advice was to eat to my meter. You should test before meals, an hour after first bite, then 30 mins after that and then perhaps another 30 mins after that. You are looking for patterns, for the ways different foods change you blood sugars. People react differently to different foods, so your ideal diet will bebe different to everybody elses. And if you want to control your t2d you absolutely must test.

The ideal blood ranges are in daisys info, so that gives something to compare against.

I have also kept a diary. I put down everything I eat. And I mean everything, even just half of my grandsons fish finger that he left! I write down amounts and portion sizes. And along side I put down bgls. At first I was testing alot, but not so much now.
I also keep track of how I was feeling, if I was ill, stressed etc, as that can also affect bgl. Some people keep spreadsheets or blogs. I keep a little pink book in green pen!

We are all different. I feel better than I have done for along time, but I was totally scared at the beginning. I used fear to make sure I kept to my eating plan. I really didnt want to go blind. Now I find that is not such an issue but its always in the back of my mind.

Have you found a motivation to change? Do you have any fears/ questions/thoughts?
Keep in touch. Ask anything. I have never found such a helpful and friendly forum. It really did changemy life.
 

Lincka01

Member
Messages
10
Newly diagnosed T2- HbA1c 50. Seeing nurse in 4 weeks. It’s given me a kick up the bum . Straight onto forum, reading as much as I can. Have gone straight to LCHF writing everything down. Less than 40 g carbs. Not testing bg but think I’ll get a meter this week. Didn’t say- 66 yrs old, need to lose weight- not a big fruit eater or pasta/ rice for that matter. But love ice cream and have drunk more alcohol in the summer. Think this forum is great with some fantastic advice and information