New to Diabetes and the group

[Pinklady60]

Hi, I was diagnosed in September and had just passed the threshold apparently. My HbA1c was 49ml/mol. I was tested 3 months later and had managed to reduce it to 48. I have just had my latest results and it is down to 45. However; my cholesterol is high and the doc wants me to start on statins. Is this inevitable or can I reduce it through diet?

 

[Mike d]

Diet should suffice as will exercise. Statins can be a nightmare for many. God, how I hate doctors with automatic fallback positions. Use the search forum to see thousands of comments on the topic.

 

[Rachox]

Hi Pink Lady and welcome! You need to get a break down of your cholesterol numbers to know how much is ‘good’ cholesterol and how much is ‘bad’. I’ve managed to keep off them by speaking in an informed way with my GP. My total cholesterol for my last two tests stayed the same but the numbers within that had improved, so my GP was happy for me to stay off Statins. Do your research and you’ll have a better chance of doing the right thing for you. And just note that Statins raise blood sugars, so my feeling is why mess up your hard work treating an actual problem by trying to treat a potential one? Hope that helps.

 

[Liam1955]

Welcome @Pinklady60 to the Forum .

 

[Guzzler]

Tagging @daisy1 for the welcome pack for you.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi, I was diagnosed in September and had just passed the threshold apparently. My HbA1c was 49ml/mol. I was tested 3 months later and had managed to reduce it to 48. I have just had my latest results and it is down to 45. However; my cholesterol is high and the doc wants me to start on statins. Is this inevitable or can I reduce it through diet?

Hi and welcome,

Well done on your HbA1c reductions.

Please find out the breakdown of your cholesterol (HDL/LDL/Triglycerides) because without that knowledge you can't make any decisions on statins. If you don't know these figures, ask for a print out of the test results as they will be on there.

I have avoided statins for 4 years and intend to continue. In my case my good cholesterol increased significantly and my triglycerides (the baddies) dropped. I did this by diet only - big reduction in carbs and increased consumption of omega 3 foods.

 

[Grant_Vicat]

Diet should suffice as will exercise. Statins can be a nightmare for many. God, how I hate doctors with automatic fallback positions. Use the search forum to see thousands of comments on the topic.

I'm allergic to Statins, which really confounded them. Still alive. How on Earth is that possible? When my father coughed up large amounts of blood near Versailles 10 years ago, the French doctor asked my brother what medication my father was on. When my brother said "Aspirin and Statins", the doctor threw up his hands, closed his eyes and remarked "Eugh, le gateau anglais!"

 

[daisy1]

@Pinklady60

Hello Pinklady 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 235,000 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 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. Most of these are 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.
  

 

[Pinklady60]

Diet should suffice as will exercise. Statins can be a nightmare for many. God, how I hate doctors with automatic fallback positions. Use the search forum to see thousands of comments on the topic.

Thank you. I know what you mean about docs!

 

[Pinklady60]

Hi and welcome,

Well done on your HbA1c reductions.

Please find out the breakdown of your cholesterol (HDL/LDL/Triglycerides) because without that knowledge you can't make any decisions on statins. If you don't know these figures, ask for a print out of the test results as they will be on there.

I have avoided statins for 4 years and intend to continue. In my case my good cholesterol increased significantly and my triglycerides (the baddies) dropped. I did this by diet only - big reduction in carbs and increased consumption of omega 3 foods.

Wow! thanks for your help. I feel confident that I can do this.

 

[Pinklady60]

Welcome @Pinklady60 to the Forum .

Thank you

 

[Pinklady60]

Hi Pink Lady and welcome! You need to get a break down of your cholesterol numbers to know how much is ‘good’ cholesterol and how much is ‘bad’. I’ve managed to keep off them by speaking in an informed way with my GP. My total cholesterol for my last two tests stayed the same but the numbers within that had improved, so my GP was happy for me to stay off Statins. Do your research and you’ll have a better chance of doing the right thing for you. And just note that Statins raise blood sugars, so my feeling is why mess up your hard work treating an actual problem by trying to treat a potential one? Hope that helps.

I agree, I will ask for my numbers on Monday!

 

[Pinklady60]

@Pinklady60

Hello Pinklady 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 235,000 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 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. Most of these are 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.

Thanks for the info

 

[Pinklady60]

Hi Pink Lady and welcome! You need to get a break down of your cholesterol numbers to know how much is ‘good’ cholesterol and how much is ‘bad’. I’ve managed to keep off them by speaking in an informed way with my GP. My total cholesterol for my last two tests stayed the same but the numbers within that had improved, so my GP was happy for me to stay off Statins. Do your research and you’ll have a better chance of doing the right thing for you. And just note that Statins raise blood sugars, so my feeling is why mess up your hard work treating an actual problem by trying to treat a potential one? Hope that helps.

I am impressed with your results, well done!

 

[Rachox]

I am impressed with your results, well done!

Thank you! It took a complete change of lifestyle but I feel so well now. My Diabetes was discovered on a routine blood test, so I didn’t realise how ill I was feeling til I started to feel better! I see it as the kick up the bum I needed

 

[Pinklady60]

Thank you! It took a complete change of lifestyle but I feel so well now. My Diabetes was discovered on a routine blood test, so I didn’t realise how ill I was feeling til I started to feel better! I see it as the kick up the bum I needed

I was told last January that I was pre diabetic (had never heard this term before) no advice or support. Friends told me that they had family members who had been pre for years, so I didn't feel in any immediate danger. Docs just said they would test me again in 6 months. I was then told I was diabetic!

 

[Bluetit1802]

I was told last January that I was pre diabetic (had never heard this term before) no advice or support. Friends told me that they had family members who had been pre for years, so I didn't feel in any immediate danger. Docs just said they would test me again in 6 months. I was then told I was diabetic!

If your doctor had followed the NICE recommendations you may well have escaped the diabetes diagnosis.

 

[eggs11]

If your doctor had followed the NICE recommendations you may well have escaped the diabetes diagnosis.

Yes, don't they have to go on the lower of the two test results as the official number when diagnosing?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Yes, don't they have to go on the lower of the two test results as the official number when diagnosing?

That is when T2 is diagnosed with lowish HbA1c and FBG. It is different from pre-diabetes.

Basically, with pre-diabetes they should be offered all the usual advice about diet, physical activity, weight management etc etc and hopefully sent on an education programme. In certain circumstances Metformin can now be offered, but that only came in last May. In other words, offered help and advice rather than sent away and told to come back in 6 or 12 months.