Lost,scared,angry type 2.

zauberflote

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,476
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
okra. Cigarette smoke, old, new, and permeating a room, wafting from a balcony, etc etc. That I have so many chronic diseases. That I take so very many meds. Being cold. Anything too loud, but specifically non-classical music and the television.
Welcome @LCHForever ! I am a not-too-strict lacto-ovo-pescafisho-vegetarian who has loosened the rules over the decades. I gave up about 35 family Thanksgivings ago and ate turkey. That led to chicken if the fish looked funny. Nearly 20 years ago my older son started sneaking off to McDonald’s for animal protein, so I started buying and cooking meats. I doubt I’ll ever be able to eat any but fowl, though.
With the local availability of small-farm-raised chicken, I don’t feel bad about eating that. Beef, pork, lamb etc can be raised the same way but it’s been since 1975 and I’m really terrified of the digestive results. Plus, my memories of flavors of these meats are all good, and I wouldn’t want to spoil my love of the smell of someone cooking out on a summer day!
I did have to stop all my bean and grain combos, which was a hard goodbye. After I’m certain I’m on the right path, I may try some black beans in olive oil, see what it does to BGs...
I had a blood draw last Friday and am waiting for results. Six months ago the HbA1c was right on diabetic. I am hoping now for normal. My Glucose app tells me I am just barely normal. I am hoping the lab work will agree!
 

Pinkorchid

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,927
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I think you’ve taken this the wrong way. There was no criticism. It was more of a rhetoric question with my motivation for asking explained, which also served to make my point regardless of the answer. I was not criticising just pointing out that some people choose to do it believing it helps and not realising in the case of diabetes the typical added carbs hinder. I went on to say it was possible just a bit more tricky than for meat eaters.
Not you in particular criticising it but it has been criticised on the group at other times by some saying it is not healthy to be a vegetarian or vegan and they would be healthier eating meat which is rubbish. I do not think many people just become vegetarians because they think it is healthier for the majority it because they have their ethical reasons for not wanting to eat animal products and that should be respected. Whoever said we need to eat animal products to be healthy anyway even some meat eaters find controlling their diabetes difficult
 
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lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,435
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Whoever said we need to eat animal products to be healthy anyway
I dont know who said it but:

I do know that the majority of us type 2's on here have to eat some animal products of some sorts, even as vegetarians, in order to stay healthy as an all plant food diet is too high in carbs for us to keep healthy blood sugar levels and will lead to all sorts of complications for us.

Are you differentiating between vegetarians (who eat some animal products) and vegans, I wonder?
 
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frenchlady

Member
Messages
22
Type of diabetes
Type 1
If you don't already have a meter then I strongly urge you to buy one so you can test before and 2 hours after a meal to see instantly what that food has done to your levels, giving you chance to tweak some of your choices.

The most popular meters for self funding T2's are the Codefree and the Tee2+ because the strips are much cheaper than other meters, and you need a lot of strips. You can't buy them in pharmacies.

Try here for the Codefree meter
http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk. (applied at the check out stage)
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833

The Tee2+ is here
http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product-category/shop/tee2/

Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for either meter)
Hi, If you ask for a meter from here, they will send you one, free of charge. The sticks you get on prescription.https://freestylediabetes.co.uk/our-products/freestyle-optium-neo
 
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EllieM

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
9,208
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
forum bugs
Hi, If you ask for a meter from here, they will send you one, free of charge. The sticks you get on prescription.https://freestylediabetes.co.uk/our-products/freestyle-optium-neo

Not too sure about the strips, most UK GPs appear to tell T2s they don't need to test unless they're on glucose lowering drugs such as gliclazide or insulin. So many UK T2s have to self fund their meters, at which point you're best to go for the cheapest and most reliable strips available. (Most of the meters are fairly affordable, as the manufacturers make their money from the strips.)
 
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lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,435
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi, If you ask for a meter from here, they will send you one, free of charge. The sticks you get on prescription.https://freestylediabetes.co.uk/our-products/freestyle-optium-neo
even for type 1's or type 2's on insulin, the GP's decide what meter they are willing to prescribe testing strips for. You cant just go in and ask for some with your own choice of meter.

I personally know of no type 2's who get any test strips on prescription unless they are on insulin.
 
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Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only

LCHForever

Member
Messages
9
Thank you all so much for your kind and supportive responses. I started the week by doing a cooking blitz as I am working this weekend too and it has helped so much to have a stocked freezer.
I have been vegetarian for almost 20 years for a variety of reasons and never going back to meat.
Not getting a meter, it's a big motivation for me as I couldn't deal with using one.
Finding this weekend tough as tired from work but trying to make decent choices.
Six and a half weeks to my next bloods. Hoping to have turned things round, I'm on a far better path than I was four months ago.
 

HSSS

Expert
Messages
7,465
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thank you all so much for your kind and supportive responses. I started the week by doing a cooking blitz as I am working this weekend too and it has helped so much to have a stocked freezer.
I have been vegetarian for almost 20 years for a variety of reasons and never going back to meat.
Not getting a meter, it's a big motivation for me as I couldn't deal with using one.
Finding this weekend tough as tired from work but trying to make decent choices.
Six and a half weeks to my next bloods. Hoping to have turned things round, I'm on a far better path than I was four months ago.
Good luck. I do feel being organised and planned is a huge part of the battle so your prep is a great start. I honestly think you’re flying blind without testing at all but for your sake I hope your next lot of tests show it’s in the right direction at least. It’s possible but depending on some luck too.
 

SaskiaKC

Expert
Messages
6,308
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thank you all so much for your kind and supportive responses. I started the week by doing a cooking blitz as I am working this weekend too and it has helped so much to have a stocked freezer.
I have been vegetarian for almost 20 years for a variety of reasons and never going back to meat.
Not getting a meter, it's a big motivation for me as I couldn't deal with using one.
Finding this weekend tough as tired from work but trying to make decent choices.
Six and a half weeks to my next bloods. Hoping to have turned things round, I'm on a far better path than I was four months ago.

That's good!

Just out of curiosity, why do you say you couldn't deal with using a meter? I didn't think I would be able to, when dx'd nearly a year ago, but once I tried it I found it was nothing to deal with at all. So just wondering ...
 
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Flora123

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,078
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
even for type 1's or type 2's on insulin, the GP's decide what meter they are willing to prescribe testing strips for. You cant just go in and ask for some with your own choice of meter.

I personally know of no type 2's who get any test strips on prescription unless they are on insulin.

I do. My doc is very intrigued by my diagnosis and the control and results I’ve achieved. He prescribes some but I still have to self fund some myself so I can test as much as I feel is needed to maintain results. I’m very lucky, I know but I do think he can see I’m very determined and serious about my health.
 
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Roseanne01

Well-Known Member
Messages
81
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
'isms'. Not being able to eat potatoes.
Thanks heavens I live in Australia. All strips unlimited with a Drs prescription. And most don’t question it. No script if you’re on insuin or hypo inducing drugs.
 

Nikbeeni

Newbie
Messages
1
Welcome to the forum @LCHForever. You have already made substantial progress; you have also found, like a lot of us, that it is easy to fall off the diet at Christmas and harder to get going again. You are getting back into the routine, and have not lost too much ground so dust yourself down, hold your head up and go forward again. Weight loss will tend to happen with the LCHF diet. In my case it was steady and gradual, just a pound a week, but I was pleased with that because I now have no loose skin, it had time to shrink back as my body changed back.
For motivation I initially set myself a target of a sponsored walk to raise money for a local charity, just 5 miles but it was further than I had walked in a long time. The following year I aimed to do it faster and at a pace more than 4mph. By that time the people around me were aware of my diagnosis and I had a developed a pattern of eating that coped with summer and winter diets, balanced my weight and my bg levels. I know I was lucky and I still monitor my bg carefully. It is a way of life.
Anger is useful if it accomplishes a change, but if not why waste your time, raise your blood pressure and generally make yourself uncomfortable? Channel that energy into achieving something positive, showing that your diet is sustainable and that your weight loss is also for life. Don't be annoyed with yourself either, you did not ask for the genealogical anomaly that makes you more susceptible to T2. Get your body moving and set your own targets, compare yourself only with yourself . You can do this with the support of this group and a little determination. Best wishes.
Love your comment 'Compare yourself only with yourself' So clever, uplifting and absolutely true. Thank you
 
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Phoenix55

Well-Known Member
Messages
577
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Some think it is the easy option, but if you do it correctly it is the toughest. You are the one who has to look at yourself in the mirror each morning, you know if you have been trying to 'massage' the figures, have succumbed to temptation. When you have achieved a goal it is the very best feeling, because you know that you have really achieved and can then set the next target - even if it is maintenance of your progress for the next few months.
Don't compare yourself with anyone else. You are unique and therefore what you are capable of achieving is specific to you, in life, in education, in health.
 

Lynnzhealth

Well-Known Member
Messages
157
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Welcome to the group. I feel your frustration. I was diagnosed in March 2017 and was doing great on the LCHF lifestyle. Neither my doctor nor my Diabetes Educator are supportive of the LCHF plan. This past three months my BG has been all over the place, from 5.7 to 13.4 (Canada) and I am about ready to give up. My next blood work is on March 12 and I'm afraid my A1C is going to be above normal and I will be told I need to take meds. I don't want to take meds. I want to get control of this and get back to where I was before December. I have had a lot of stress and anxiety since Dec. 19 due to family issues and the weather here has not been good for walking the dog, so only a few walks when the weather permitted. It's been freezing cold, like the Arctic, and very icy, which makes it unsafe to go walking. I can't afford to fall again. I have not eaten any food that is not on LCHF so I don't understand what is happening. I've read sites where this seems to be quite common in winter for some T2s. Today after a small slice of low carb pizza that I made and a peanut butter fat bomb my BG was 12.6. I took the dog for a walk because the sidewalks are clear for about 50 minutes. When I checked my BG it was 12.8. Seriously, I want to sit down and cry. I'm thinking what's the use of doing this when nothing seems to be working? I don't have any support, either. I'm being told I lost too much weight, LCHF is not healthy, yada yada yada. It's very discouraging. Thanks for this forum and for all the support that one gets on here.
 

Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Do you know how many carbs you are eating each day?
Low carb is normally a powerful way to lower blood glucose, for lucky type twos, so high levels might indicate that something is going on - possibly low levels of insulin production if your diet is good. It isn't your fault if something like that has happened - organs do fail, but there is the technology to overcome the problem.
 

Lynnzhealth

Well-Known Member
Messages
157
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Do you know how many carbs you are eating each day?
Low carb is normally a powerful way to lower blood glucose, for lucky type twos, so high levels might indicate that something is going on - possibly low levels of insulin production if your diet is good. It isn't your fault if something like that has happened - organs do fail, but there is the technology to overcome the problem.

No, but I know I have been eating way too much Keto Psyllium Husk bread and Keto bagels instead of healthy veggies. I also had to up my healthy fats because I need to maintain my weight or gain a bit. I have always eaten too much bread when I've been stressed and I guess I'm now transferring that to Keto breads that I bake myself. I'm thinking that might be the cause. I hope that's the cause because I can control that. Today my FBG was 11.2 so I just had coffee for breakfast. I checked about two hours later and it was down to 10.9. Thanks.
 
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macbanana

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hello my name is michael i am new to the forum they have recently been diagnosed with t 2 I guess it was because of my excessive alcohol consumption lack of exercise and being 4 or 5 stone overweight that did it I now want to change and lose as much weight as I can or at least get down to 15 stone catch you all soon..
 
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