Hi my names jayne and i was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes yesterday and i'm so scared and don't have a clue what i'm realy doing :?
newly diagnosed
- Thread starter jpetre
- Start Date
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
Hi Jayne and welcome to the forum 
I too felt like you but you will get used to it and just take it in your stride. The best thing is that you have found this forum where there are lots of people to help you and answer all your questions, and I expect you will have a lot. Here is the information we give to new members and I think you will find this helpful.
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 30,000 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:
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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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.
I too felt like you but you will get used to it and just take it in your stride. The best thing is that you have found this forum where there are lots of people to help you and answer all your questions, and I expect you will have a lot. Here is the information we give to new members and I think you will find this helpful.
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 30,000 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
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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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.
thank you for your help i just feel very weepy at the moment and angry aswell, dont have a clue what to make for my evening meal now
mickey121
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 140
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Plenty of helpful information on here. I am only recently diagnosed type2 saw my DN yesterday I don't eat a lot of sugary food and cook most meals from scratch . You just need to think about the different foods and watch portion size but. Don't get paranoid. Hope everything goes well for you
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jpetre said:
Hi Jayne,
I was diagnosed a week ago. I have made drastic changes already, but I am also terrified. I was ready for a life style change and tired of the weight so that is not as much of a concern, but I am 37 and feel like I will not have the opportunity to grow old. I also wanted to have my first child this year and I'm not going to do that now. It is really depressing me. I keep wondering how long I can live without complications. I wish I knew statistics for someone who is diagnosed at my age. The good news is I already feel better.
diabolic sister
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 55
- Type of diabetes
- LADA
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Hi Jayne
I was weepy too three weeks ago when I was diagnosed. My diabetes nurse has said not to get paranoid it's not a death sentence and you won't drop dead from eating a biscuit once in three weeks. Just cut out the sugary things and processed carbs like pastry and white bread and pasta for now until you get more info. I starved for the first two weeks not knowing what to do but have a slightly better idea now. You'll be fine.
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I was weepy too three weeks ago when I was diagnosed. My diabetes nurse has said not to get paranoid it's not a death sentence and you won't drop dead from eating a biscuit once in three weeks. Just cut out the sugary things and processed carbs like pastry and white bread and pasta for now until you get more info. I starved for the first two weeks not knowing what to do but have a slightly better idea now. You'll be fine.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Richard871
Member
- Messages
- 19
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Reality tv
Hi Jayne,
I've just been diagnosed myself last week welcome to the club. I'm just as confused and daunted as you. One thing that has helped me is this forum. There are some lovely people willing to share their experiences and stories. And advice. Some opinions of a few may not be all there but you can spot those ones quite easily
This forum doesn't substitute the advice from your Doctor or Diabetic nurse's instructions but the help here gives you an idea of the questions you need to ask them from like minded people in the same boat. and comfort that you're not alone.
All the best
Richard
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I've just been diagnosed myself last week welcome to the club. I'm just as confused and daunted as you. One thing that has helped me is this forum. There are some lovely people willing to share their experiences and stories. And advice. Some opinions of a few may not be all there but you can spot those ones quite easily
This forum doesn't substitute the advice from your Doctor or Diabetic nurse's instructions but the help here gives you an idea of the questions you need to ask them from like minded people in the same boat. and comfort that you're not alone.
All the best
Richard
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Hi jayne, i was diagnosed in Feb and felt very similar to you. On my first day it took me an hour to choose my lunch i was totally paralyzed! But it gets better. If you can get a blood glucose meter it's really helpful. That way you can see how food affects you. I've chosen to cut out carbs. It's hard to start with but gets easier. I love food so I've had to read lots of new books for new recipes. I had people over for Easter weekend and cooked a full low carb menu that was delicious. It will take time to adjust so don't bee too hard on yourself.
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Hi, I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago on 23 March. Since then I have reduced my carbs, reduced my sugar intake, and I'm following a calorie controlled diet. I'm choosing low GI foods where possible.
I bought a meter, used the 10 free strips, then called the doctor and told him it really helped me to monitor the effect of food on my blood glucose. So he prescribed me a further 50 strips.
I've worked out what to avoid, and have not had to drop my carbs below 100g/day. I've lost 7kg in 2 weeks. 113.8-106.8.
I'm eating more protein to fill the gaps left by the starchy veg, and I'm struggling to eat more than 1500cal/day.
If I get a spike in BG after a meal I go for a 30min brisk walk.
I use the myfitnesspal app, which logs all of my calories & nutrients easily by scanning barcodes of the food as I prepare it. I weigh everything as I cook.
BG was initially up at 16. Now fluctuating between 8 & 10.
I still feel like I've been hit by a steamroller. The diagnosis was a shock. Bit I'm resolved to put my efforts into getting my BG & weight down before my blood test in May.
I really don't want to be medicated for this. 7kgs down, 11 to go to my first target weight of 95kg.
Good Luck. You can do it.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
I bought a meter, used the 10 free strips, then called the doctor and told him it really helped me to monitor the effect of food on my blood glucose. So he prescribed me a further 50 strips.
I've worked out what to avoid, and have not had to drop my carbs below 100g/day. I've lost 7kg in 2 weeks. 113.8-106.8.
I'm eating more protein to fill the gaps left by the starchy veg, and I'm struggling to eat more than 1500cal/day.
If I get a spike in BG after a meal I go for a 30min brisk walk.
I use the myfitnesspal app, which logs all of my calories & nutrients easily by scanning barcodes of the food as I prepare it. I weigh everything as I cook.
BG was initially up at 16. Now fluctuating between 8 & 10.
I still feel like I've been hit by a steamroller. The diagnosis was a shock. Bit I'm resolved to put my efforts into getting my BG & weight down before my blood test in May.
I really don't want to be medicated for this. 7kgs down, 11 to go to my first target weight of 95kg.
Good Luck. You can do it.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
