Introduce Yourself: Answer Some Personal Questions

[Deleted member 596235]

G'day mate, and welcome to the forum.

While Ozempic is the blockbuster medication everyone’s talking about weight loss, the active ingredient – semaglutide – is part of a class of medications that work in a similar way. This medication family is known as GLP-1 agonists, and in addition to Ozempic, include Saxenda, Wegovy (which is also semaglutide) and Mounjaro which are already being prescribed “off label”.

I'm not sure from where you're posting, but this is
an Aussie link that may help you out pricewise???
Choosing a weight loss medication – Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda and Mounjaro compared

 

[TC1763]

I’m a type 2 diabetic since 2008. My name is Tracy and I’m 62 years old. I live in Highlands of Scotland in a beautiful seaside place called Golspie. I have two mad cats. I’d love a dog but I still work full time as a nurse so it wouldn’t be fair. I had been following the Diabetes UK low carbohydrates diet and got my readings to 44 which is pre diabetic but in this area the specialist doesn’t like the diet so I’m back up to readings over 80. It’s depressing as either I ignore their advice and get back to lower readings or take it but accept higher readings. My mum and sister and grandmother are all type 2 diabetics as well. It’s so hard as there is so much contradictory advice and which do you follow. I do believe in God but am not a great Christian as I don’t go to church, but I do try and be kind to people.

 

[Steve May]

Hi I am Steve been type 2 for 30 years. I love sport music and hate finger pricking. Found loads of interesting info of late and also wanted to know others experiences. I find Drs surgeries in UK are looking at sugar levels and saying thats too high so take more insulin. This just means that you have mor units to work off before you can start to lose weight and its a merry go round. If you speak to specialist dr in UK they say dont keep having more insulin have less and use other forms like metformin depagazaflozin and this works so much better along with diet and excercise. Also I have issues with bleeds in the eyes, I am told not to take weight loss injection as this rapid sugar level drop can cause more problems with the eyes. Hope this helps someone out there please dont keep increasing your insulin there are other ways Thanks Steve By the way Hate Cheese love Peanut Butter - anyone else?

 

[MrsA2]

and got my readings to 44 which is pre diabetic but in this area the specialist doesn’t like the diet so I’m back up to readings over 80. It’s depressing as either I ignore their advice and get back to lower readings or take it but accept higher readings.

Why stop something that is working for you? Just because someone else doesn't like it ??? It's your body, not theirs

 

[GemP]

Hi I'm Gemma I'm 39 and been diagnosed with type 2 for 12 months, had little to know help from the nurse and I'm sorting of winging it!!

 

[Deleted member 596235]

Why stop something that is working for you? Just because someone else doesn't like it ??? It's your body, not theirs

I'd have to agree with this advice to Tracy. Whether or nor a "specialist"
agrees with your chosen diet or not is neither here nor there.

I'm also at a loss as to why you'd choose to follow this specialist's diet
regime, and have your health deteriorate—rather than following your own
more successful diet. What objections does he or she have against your
chosen diet choice. Is it simply their personal opinion, or have they backed
it with accredited clinical data?

If you don't mind telling us, could you let us know what this specialist's
credentials are? Are they qualified specifically in the field of diabetes and its
management?

Cheers.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I’ve been told I’m pre diabetic, it has scared me. I don’t know whether to follow the diabetic recipes or weight watchers ones. Should I concentrate on losing weight?

Hello @Judyq123 ,

The Weight Watchers program isn't geared towards people with a metabolic condition, they go from the assumption that you can burn off carbs... Which you're having trouble with, as is evident by the results that showed you were in the prediabetic range. As for "diabetic" recipes, there's a whole lot of schools of thought there... A lot of them clashing, so i don't know which ones you mean, specifically. But take this as the bottom line: Almost all carbs turn to glucose once ingested. So you have less carbs, your blood sugars don't spike, you're all good.

Take heart; you're prediabetic, so odds are you're catching this early and could well avoid full blown diabetes with its complications. Knowing is a good thing. now you can act on it. https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html I wrote that ages ago, but it is still as good a place to start as any. There's a lot of conflicting information on the web though, so... If you feel overwhelmed or confused, best thing to do is to get yourself a glucose meter. It'll tell you in no time at all whether something works for you or not, and it's not trying to sell you on some expensive diet or supplement program.

Hang in there.
Jo

PS: If you cut the carbs, there'd be less glucose floating around your body, so less of it stored in fat cells. Cutting carbs often means losing weight. So the main focus should be your blood sugars coming down, then the rest should follow suit.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I’m a type 2 diabetic since 2008. My name is Tracy and I’m 62 years old. I live in Highlands of Scotland in a beautiful seaside place called Golspie. I have two mad cats. I’d love a dog but I still work full time as a nurse so it wouldn’t be fair. I had been following the Diabetes UK low carbohydrates diet and got my readings to 44 which is pre diabetic but in this area the specialist doesn’t like the diet so I’m back up to readings over 80. It’s depressing as either I ignore their advice and get back to lower readings or take it but accept higher readings. My mum and sister and grandmother are all type 2 diabetics as well. It’s so hard as there is so much contradictory advice and which do you follow. I do believe in God but am not a great Christian as I don’t go to church, but I do try and be kind to people.

So.... Follow their advice, have high blood sugars and complications that in the long term could cost you your vision, sensation in extremities or the extremities themselves, your kidney function, your heart function... They're not the ones living in your body, you're the one who'll have to cope with higher blood sugars. If you've found something that makes you feel better, healthy and keeps you complication free...? As a nurse, you know better than anyone that no specialist is going to stand beside you in the morning to pour porridge down your throat rather than the carb-free eggs that wouldn't harm you at all.

Your body, your choice. Do right by yourself.
Hugs,
Jo

PS: I know, not supposed to give medical advice on the forum... But you're either doing well, or you harm yourself against your better judgement. Go with your gut on this one. If I'd done everything my specialists and dietician had told me to do, I would've been dead years ago. Without exaggeration.

 

[AJ NZ]

This thread will hopefully let us to get to know one another better and allow us to see which users we might share similarities with. I've listed a set of questions below that you can answer to tell us more about yourself. By no means do you have to answer all of them, and if you feel like adding further information, feel free.

- Include a photo here if you wish to.
- What is your name? Andrew
- How old are you? 62
- Are you male or female? Male
- Which country are you from? New Zealand
- Which city/area do you live in? Aranui, Christchurch
- Are you religious? Nope
- Pick three words to describe your personality. Pedantic, witty, bewildered
- Do you have any pets? 2 Turtles
- Microsoft or Apple? Microsoft!
- Which sport(s) (if any) do you like/play? God, not at my age
- Do you get angry easily? sometimes. I keep an eye on it
- Do you have any tattoos or piercings? If so, where? 8. Arms, chest and back
- List your five favourite musicians/bands. Dire Straits, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Doors ...
- What would you say your favourite music genre is? varied tastes
- What is your favourite flag? Rainbow
- Ever gone camping? lots as a youth
- Ever been in love? Yup
- Ever used fake tan? Ummm, no
- Which countries have you visited? Quite a few
- Favourite city? Christchurch
- List your five favourite TV programmes. Babylon 5, Star Trek, Space 1999, UFO
- List your five favourite films. The Star Treks, The star Wars .... you get the gist
- Are you wealthy? Hell no
- Do you work? If so, as what? Not any more
- List the subjects you study/have studied.
- What do you like most about yourself? Being me
- What do you like least about yourself? Self doubt and anxiety

Have fun!

 

[Dave Metric]

I'm Dave, 57 and I live on the Hampshire/Surrey border. Not religious. I'm clever, funny, stoic. I'm Microsoft/Android mostly due to work and experience. I'm a keen outdoor swimmer so looking at getting back to that. No tattoos or piercings but lots of scars from surgery (45 so far). Double below knee amputee, lost the left one in 1999 and the right one in 2021. Nothing to do with diabetes so it looks like I'm getting things the wrong way round but at least I don't have to worry about foot care

 

[Antje77]

I'm Dave, 57 and I live on the Hampshire/Surrey border. Not religious. I'm clever, funny, stoic. I'm Microsoft/Android mostly due to work and experience. I'm a keen outdoor swimmer so looking at getting back to that. No tattoos or piercings but lots of scars from surgery (45 so far). Double below knee amputee, lost the left one in 1999 and the right one in 2021. Nothing to do with diabetes so it looks like I'm getting things the wrong way round but at least I don't have to worry about foot care

Hi @Dave Metric , welcome to the forum.

It's wonderful to see another T1 outdoor swimmer!
There are a couple of useful threads on swimming, I'll tag you later today, I'm on my phone now, ready to take a plunge in the North of the Netherlands.

 

[Polska_Gurom]

- Include a photo here if you wish to.
- What is your name?
Igor
- How old are you?
16
- Are you male or female?
Male
- Which country are you from?
Wales, but my blood is polish.
- Which city/area do you live in?
The Rhondda
- Are you religious?
Yes, Catholic
- Pick three words to describe your personality.
Quiet, nerdy, curious
- Do you have any pets?
A black cat
- Microsoft or Apple?
Microsoft i guess
- Which sport(s) (if any) do you like/play?
I dont play any sports but i mainly enjoy football, and combat sports. Chess too if that counts.
- Do you get angry easily?
Yes, but i guess anyone at my age would
- Do you have any tattoos or piercings? If so, where?
Nope
- List your five favourite musicians/bands.
Linkin' park, Green day, Billy Joel, Metallica, The Beatles
- What would you say your favourite music genre is?
Nu metal
- What is your favourite flag?
The Welsh one ofc
- Ever gone camping?
no, but i would like to one day
- Ever been in love?
Not in a romantic sense, i love my mum if that counts
- Ever used fake tan?
Nuh uh
- Which countries have you visited?
Poland, England. Every other country i've been to was just on the way.
- Favourite city?
Kraków
- List your five favourite TV programmes.
I dont watch enough to list 5
- List your five favourite films.
i cant list 5
- Are you wealthy?
Far from it
- Do you work? If so, as what?
No, just school.
- List the subjects you study/have studied.
Every mandatory GCSE + German, Geography and History
- What do you like most about yourself?
I couldn't say
- What do you like least about yourself?
Broken pancreas

 

[BDR]

This thread will hopefully let us to get to know one another better and allow us to see which users we might share similarities with. I've listed a set of questions below that you can answer to tell us more about yourself. By no means do you have to answer all of them, and if you feel like adding further information, feel free.

- Include a photo here if you wish to.

- What is your name?

Brian

- How old are you?

62

- Are you male or female?

Male

- Which country are you from?

Uk

- Which city/area do you live in?

North Yorkshire

- Are you religious?

No

- Pick three words to describes you

Active, quiet, content

- Do you have any pets?

Not any more

- Microsoft or Apple?

Both, prefer Apple

- Which sport(s) (if any) do you like/play?

Cycling, paddle boarding, kayaking, open water swimming and taekwondo

- Do you get angry easily?

Never

- Do you have any tattoos or piercings? If so, where?

No

- List your five favourite musicians/bands.

Mostly Autumn, Wilful Missing and Sophie lloyd

- What would you say your favourite music genre is?

Rock

- What is your favourite flag?

?.

- Ever gone camping?

All the time

- Ever been in love?

Once but the feeling wasn’t reciprocated

- Ever used fake tan?

Why?

- Which countries have you visited?

A few European countries

- Favourite city?

Newcastle on Tyne

- List your five favourite TV programmes.

Don't watch a lot of to

- List your five favourite films.

Good night Mr Tom

- Are you wealthy?

In life yes!

- Do you work? If so, as what?

I own a gardening business

- List the subjects you study/have studied.

Im actively studying different aspects of mental health.

- What do you like most about yourself?

Im happy with myself

- What do you like least about yourself?

Ive got diabetes

Have fun!

 

[Nana214]

- Include a photo here if you wish to.
- What is your name? Nana
- How old are you? 62
- Are you male or female? female
- Which country are you from? United States but have been in England for 20+ years
- Which city/area do you live in? Goole, East Yorkshire
- Are you religious? Yes
- Pick three words to describe your personality. Funny, caring and insecure.
- Do you have any pets? Sadly no
- Microsoft or Apple? Microsoft
- Which sport(s) (if any) do you like/play? Snooker
- Do you get angry easily? YES
- Do you have any tattoos or piercings? If so, where? 3 tats, one on wrist, one on calf and one on ankle.
- List your five favourite musicians/bands. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Disturbed, The Eagles, Queen, David Bowie
- What would you say your favourite music genre is? Rock
- What is your favourite flag? American of course!
- Ever gone camping? Many times when I was younger
- Ever been in love? Yes
- Ever used fake tan? Nope
- Which countries have you visited? Scotland (got married there) The Netherlands
- Favourite city? York
- List your five favourite TV programmes. NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law and Order SVU Law and Order organized Crime, Greys Anatomy
- List your five favourite films. Forrest Gump, The Help, Steel Magnolias, Armageddon, Braveheart, Gladiator
- Are you wealthy? Not by any means
- Do you work? If so, as what? Retired
- List the subjects you study/have studied.
- What do you like most about yourself?
- What do you like least about yourself? My weakness

 

[MaxLocky]

- Include a photo here if you wish to.
- What is your name? Max
- How old are you? 60
- Are you male or female? female
- Which country are you from? GB
- Which city/area do you live in? The South Lakes/ Kendal
- Are you religious? I believe in something spiritual
- Pick three words to describe your personality. Curious, Forthright, Helpful
- Do you have any pets? Not yet
- Microsoft or Apple? Microsoft
- Which sport(s) (if any) do you like/play? Watch rugby, keep fit in lots of ways.
- Do you get angry easily? No
- Do you have any tattoos or piercings? Ears
- List your five favourite musicians/bands. Tina Turner, and many POP, Country, Dance genres.
- What would you say your favourite music genre is? As above-lots of variety, depends on the mood.
- What is your favourite flag? Not considered this
- Ever gone camping? Most family holidays in East Africa were camping.
- Ever been in love? Romantically... not so much
- Ever used fake tan? Maybe long ago
- Which countries have you visited? Most East & Southern Africa, USA, Australia, France
- Favourite city? No
- List your five favourite TV programmes. mmhh as a kid- Startsky & Hutch; earlier Frankie & Grace.
- List your five favourite films. The Holiday
- Are you wealthy? No
- Do you work? If so, as what? Yes, shop assistant, newly graduated Health Coach.
- List the subjects you study/have studied. B.Sc Physiotherapy; Certified Accounting Tech, Health Coach Dip, Pilates Cert, PT & Fitness Instructor Dip.
- What do you like most about yourself? I am resilient and self-reliant with a solution based mindset
- What do you like least about yourself? I take ages to research for making a decision about most things.

 

[Chris337]

Hi everyone, I'm Chris, 53 year old man from the UK (south of England).
Just a week into being a type 2 diabetic (got the diagnosis on 1st April 2025!) so it's all a bit new.
A history of diabetes in the family meant that it wasn't totally unexpected and there's a lot of things to start changing in terms of diet (and the always present fact of exercising more).

 

[Steve55D]

Hi new to this forum Male 66 year old Type 1 insulin dependent since 13 yrs joined to share experiences and medical queries

 

[Steve55D]

Hi My name is Steve I'm a 66yr old Type 1 Insulin dependent since 13yrs old Joined to share experiences and queries about medical complications keen swimmer and gym user

 

[Ladyeve]

I’m a 51 year old and have just been diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes. I have have hypos within my first three day of treatment and I am petrified of everything to com.

 

[Antje77]

I'm a keen outdoor swimmer so looking at getting back to that.

Hi @Dave Metric , I promised to show you some threads on swimming over a week ago and promptly forgot about it, my apologies.

Here are some threads that may be useful or of interest:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/type1-returning-to-swimming.208554/
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cold-water-swimming-and-diabetes.200255/
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/going-to-swimming-pool-with-diabetes-t1.186267/