Diagnosed Yesterday

[NikkieDuranie]

Hi Nikkie, I know the urge to get going is strong but I was told at the start to eat 'normally' for me as this would help them make the right diagnosis. For example if you go low carb right away, yes your glucose levels will probably fall but this might lead them to a false diagnosis. They did strongly believe I was type 1 though so I was on insulin straight away which is where we differ, they wanted my diet to stay the same so they could adjust my initial insulin. I think it's quite hard to adopt any specific approach right in the first few weeks without knowing what type you are (ie a low carb approach with insulin requires a different regime to one without insulin albeit there are obviously crossovers and diet plays a big part in both). What I did regardless, was cut out any obvious rubbish and cut right down on all other carbs, but I stuck to around 100 carbs a day. Now I am on 50 carbs a day and low doses of insulin. x

Thank you. This makes sense to me as other than my normal GP appointment where I was diagnosed I haven’t met with any other professionals.

 

[KK123]

This.

Sorry MT, not with you?

 

[mountaintom]

Sorry MT, not with you?

This is good advice.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thank you. This makes sense to me as other than my normal GP appointment where I was diagnosed I haven’t met with any other professionals.

Nikkie, you said in another thread you had another blood test taken (yesterday?) and have Metformin, plus an appointment with a nurse in 2 or 3 weeks.

Have you any idea what this blood test was? Was it an HbA1c? It would help clarify matters if you tell us what you know. Did the doctor mention Type 1 to you? Did they test for ketones? Have you been asked to fast before your meeting with the nurse? Did you fast for the blood test yesterday?

I am just concerned that as your fasting glucose test was 17.3 and there was glucose in your urine, plus you had some concerns, and that you say your diet is very carb heavy, that eating normally (for you) is not a very good idea to continue for the next 3 weeks. That is my opinion according to what we know about you.

 

[Phoenix55]

While the debate rages about what type of diabetes you have, first deal with the shock of diagnosis. It always comes as a shock whether you have suspected it or not. It is not the end of the world, perhaps the end of eating whatever you like whenever you like but that is a small sacrifice for a healthier life. I would advise you to get a bg monitor and learn how to use it and to start keeping a food diary. I found both of these invaluable. Whatever type of diabetes you have these will be useful. It does not have to be anything complicated a simple spreadsheet with fasting score (first thing in the morning), what you have eaten, what the score is after 2 hours every time you eat during the day. You will soon begin to see which foods are raising your bg by more than 2. It is also useful to record exercise taken, mood, weekly weight etc. but these are refinements that can be added. If you decide to go down the route of low carb then you will have a head start on what foods you can not eat, we are all different. Knowledge is power in the battle against diabetes.

 

[NikkieDuranie]

Nikkie, you said in another thread you had another blood test taken (yesterday?) and have Metformin, plus an appointment with a nurse in 2 or 3 weeks.

Have you any idea what this blood test was? Was it an HbA1c? It would help clarify matters if you tell us what you know. Did the doctor mention Type 1 to you? Did they test for ketones? Have you been asked to fast before your meeting with the nurse? Did you fast for the blood test yesterday?

I am just concerned that as your fasting glucose test was 17.3 and there was glucose in your urine, plus you had some concerns, and that you say your diet is very carb heavy, that eating normally (for you) is not a very good idea to continue for the next 3 weeks. That is my opinion according to what we know about you.

Apologies to poster, feel like I’ve hijacked your post.

Hi they didn’t mention type at all. The 2nd blood test I had was for everything including hba1c. I was fortunate that they had a slot whilst there so I was still fasting.

I have phoned this evening results are back. Only spoke to reception. Hba1c is up but she can’t read the results. It’s the only one that is abnormal so it’s confirmed. My next appointment is the new diabetic one and is in an afternoon.

As well as sugar in urine and blood I am drinking lots as soon as I’ve had a drink I feel like i need another, up and down every hour in the night and raging thrush which I’ve never had. To be honest that is driving me insane. I am going to start making dietary changes now and am wondering whether to call gp to talk it through.

 

[daisy1]

@Jawl

Hello Jawl and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help you.

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 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.

 

[Bertyboy]

Not necessarily - I believe if you are diagnosed as an adult, the deterioration is a little longer than as a child. I had been feeling unwell for about 3 weeks (and run down for months before that) but was not admitted to hospital overnight ... in fact, I didn't get any insulin for the first 24 after diagnosis.
Given how many adult type 1 are incorrectly diagnosed as type 2, I am pleased to see more "just diagnosed" saying they don't know what type yet. Sure, there is some uncertainty but that is better than months of treating the wrong condition.

I sort of self diagnosed as type 2 because I'd been feeling terrible for several months, then my eyesight started to go quite quickly at about the same time as polyurea became obvious (along with foamy urine). I bought a meter off Amazon and when the results were coming in in the high 20s I contacted my GP. My GP wanted me to wait 6 weeks for an appointment, so I paid for a private GP. They agreed with me, but said it was type 1 purely because of the ketone pee stick results. He admitted me to hospital the next day, but no overnight stay and no emergency insulin.

 

[ringi]

Keystones are not unknown in new cases of type2.

 

[Jawl]

Sorry I posted and then went off the radar.

I had my blood test yesterday (Fasting) for HbA1c. I'll find out the end of this week from my GP, and will ask more questions this time as I'll be less shocked. I'm slowly coming round.

I've cut out out biscuits, lattes, cappucinnos, choc etc. Other than that my diet would be good.

 

[rhubarb73]

Hi Jawl - I'm new here this month as well and I recognise how you are feeling right now. Like you I exercised and my diet was probably rubbish but I didn't think it was. The reaction of shock, upset, emotional upheaval is understandable - I've found it very hard.
I don't feel qualified to give any advice, but Low Carb is working for me, and I've kept up my exercise.
It's good to come here and find so many people on your side.