newly diagnosed

[drrnsctt]

Hi All,

Any clue?

I have recently been diagnosed as type 2 (aparently very boarderline pre diabetes) 0.1 point into diabetic levels.

Firstly, on Sat I tested at lunch before my meal (after an hour at the gym earlier in the day) 5.8 which i was pleased about - that night had a meal at the father in laws!!

Beef bourguignon, rice and a small peice of Garlic bread + dessert smallish peice of chocolate roulade with small piece of light ice cream - tested mysel 2 hours later expecting the worse and this time 5.6!!

I "normally" test between 5.2 and 6.8 when being very good (low carbs, salad, grilled chicken etc) is this normal?

Also, since diagnosed 2 weeks ago, I have started eating healty and going to the gym 4-5 times a week plus going out for a walk at lunch etc rather than sitting at my desk - how long does it usually take to see a change in your blood sugar levels, is this an instant thing or over time?

Thanks

Darren

 

[daisy1]

Hi Darren and welcome to the forum For your specific questions, there will be some members along in a minute to help you with the answers. In the meantime, have a good look around and don't be afraid to ask lots more questions if you want. To help you as you are newly diagnosed, here is some basic information put together by the former Monitors where I think you will find some useful advice.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.

 

[witan]

Hi Darren,
You don't mention if you are on any medication - I guess not and that you're trying to control by diet and exercise.

In my opinion you're doing well, If after a meal like that with significant carbs you can maintain a level of 5.6 your beta-cell (insulin) output is working fine.

I would say that your main problem has been insulin resistance and your work-out at the gym has helped this - so you may be able to keep control by exercise and some fine tuning to diet.

Are you overweight or did you become less active prior to diagnosis?

Keep up the exercise and testing and you might be able to get as close to 'cured' as any diabetic can be.

 

[drrnsctt]

Hi Witan,

I am not on any medication - in fact I have not yet seen the diabetic nurse (I have an appointment next week)

As soon as it became clear that there maybe a problem I started to test myself to monitor my owm BG levels and to see for myself which foods, exercise etc had the biggest effects on my BG levels.

I am overweight (not a giant but could do with losing 2 stone ideally) i have already joined a gym and started a healthy diet which has meant I have lost 7 lbs so far in 1.5 weeks.

For the last 5 years I have been commuting to Germany every week and have a office job that has long hours and stress etc - I used to eat at my desk or fast food and then continue to work. I now force myself to get out at lunch and after I eat have at least 20 - 30 minute walk (strangly when I come home from the Gym I find my BG has risen (normally from around 6.0 - 7.5) however this drops quickly) walking seems to have a bigger effect on lowering my BG than anything else - I guess this is the body producing more glucose under heavy exercise at the gym?

Hopefully the diabetic nurse will be able to give me more info, I have a complete log of all of my readings with comments on what I have eaten or exercise I have taken if the results are low (for me) or higher than my normal - so far I have had no readings over 9.0 2 hours after any type of meal and they appear to be getting slightly better over the last week - but I have been quite good so far!

Thanks again for your feedback

Darren

 

[witan]

Hi Darren,

You seem to have a pretty good handle on what to do already.

Controlling intake and output are two easy to understand functions and managing diabetes would be a lot easier if these were the only two variables.

The body's glucose/energy management system is actually much more complex than this and affected by some very subtle changes in many different aspects of the body's functions.

One of the most important 'other' effects is the body's ability to create its own glucose in the liver - often referred to here with the unsavoury term of 'liver dumping'.

This is sometimes what happens after, or during exercise, although you think you've burned off a lot of carbs, the body realises you need more energy so the liver gives you back some of its stored glucose. A good thing sometimes to stop your levels going too low. But it can be disconcerting when taking measurements soon after exercise.

You also mention stress and this also impinges on the glucose/energy metabolism through adrenalin production, again the liver is often urged to produce more glucose to fuel the 'fight or flight' response to stress. You get a double advantage through exercise here with the de-stressing effects plus the burning up of existing glucose in the system.

Then when you are un-well the body will react again to change your levels in often un-predictable ways, like going up before you're even aware you're sick!

So there is a lot to keep us on our toes, testing will help a great deal - but don't let that become a new stressor in itself.

Use this site to learn as much as you can and to arm you with all the questions you need to ask when you meet up with your diabetic specialist.

Best of luck on your journey with diabetes!