Confused and scared - coming out of denial

[Josi]

Hello. I am new to the forum and new to the acceptance that I have to take charge of my diabetes.

I was first diagnosed with gestational diabetes 13 years ago. After my baby was born, nobody checked if the diabetes had gone away, it was just assumed that it did, but I don't think it did.

2 years ago, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and from then until recently, I ignored it. I am overweight, and with my head stuck firmly in the sand, I continued to eat the things I enjoyed including sweets and chocolates, cakes, bread products and all the things I shouldn't.

I recently had my first eye check up - I was horrified to learn that I have moderate retinopathy and something else that I think is micula edema. I have been referred to a specialist and have a consultation just before xmas when I will find out more, and how bad it is. The thought of losing my sight terrifies me.

I am now trying very hard to get these sugar levels under control but I am totally confused about how to do it. I have started taking metformin and am tolerating it though sometimes get very bad tummy pain and my tummy swells up. I am looking at food labels, and where it says 'carbohydrates of which sugars …' I am only eating things where that number is 4 or less per 100g.

I think I am supposed to also count carbs but I don't know how or how many I count to etc. so would welcome any advice or reading suggestions to help me learn that.

I've bought myself an accu-check mobile device and am taking my blood readings - they are averaging around 9-10 before food and 12-14 after food.

The blood test I had which measures the previous 3 months gave a reading of 93. I was also told that there is some damage to my kidneys, though I have no idea how much, and whether or not it is reversible.

I've also got high cholesterol - the nurse at the docs has offered statins and I'm thinking about it at the moment - not sure if it's a good or bad idea.

So … I'm now ready to fight this thing and am just hoping that I haven't left it too late. I'd really welcome support and ideas of how to get to grips with this as quickly as possible. Thank you.
Josi

 

[Mad Dad]

Hi Josi
News like this can be very worrying but it is not all doom and gloom. Yes diabetes is a lifelong condition and complications from the disease will probably get you in the end. However, with the correct changes in lifestyle there is no reason why the end shouldn't we way off into the future. Posting on this forum shows that you are aware of the situation and have a desire to change things. First it will be necessary to address the weight issue. This will help in 2 ways. You will begin to eat a healthier diet which will help to control you blood sugar levels and as the weight reduces it becomes easier to control blood sugar (I once lost 2 stone and my diabetic consultant even talked about reducing my medication. Unfortunately I put it back on ). Don't be too strict to begin with just try and reduce your fat and sugar intake first. There is plenty of info in these forums about low carb diets should you want to try it. Secondly it is necessary to begin excercising. Excercise will also help to reduce sugar levels. It doesn't have to be intense excercise, a little gentle 20-30 min walk 3-4 times a week should be OK to start with.... Finally dont worry too much. As long as you are taking small steps in the right direction everything will be fine.
Dave

 

[Lazybones]

Dear Josi,
Firstly welcome to the diabetes forum. I read with intrest your recent posting. If it were possible it would be nice to be able to turn the clock back a few years and start this diabetic thing once again, but sadly it isn't so you will have to start from this point in time.

I know what it's like to have sight problems first hand, I'm now officially registered as being blind myself and can see to a limited extent with one eye. Diabetes was always suspected as being one of the underlying conditions but was never proven to be the case until until 12 years ago, when I finally gained a full diabetic membership.

Many people (and I include myself) initially deny that they have the diabetic condition even when it's been told to them, but I'm pleased for you that you have now finally accepted this condition and are well aware of the effects that diabetes can have, and have subsequently decided to do something about it. If you read the good advice that is regularly posted on this site about eating/drinking/exercise and the like, the knowledge that you will eventually aquire will then give you the means to beat this condition and you then become the master of your diabetes and not it's slave.

Personally I have been on Statins for many years, together with a low dose asprin, various medications for raised B/Pressure and also diabetic medication (Metformin) in the last year, I've had no problem with the Statin but the Metformin is another matter.

You are obviously an intelegent indivual from what I read of you posting which also mentioned your earlier experiences of having gestational diabetes, so now is the time to start on a new regime and reverse the damage that your diabetes has so far managed to acheive in the time that it was left to run uncontrolled. As I have said to a few others, take one step at a time and you'll eventually beat diabetes although sadly it will never completely go away.

With my best wishes for the future - Lazybones

 

[Josi]

Thank you both for your replies. They are appreciated. :thumbup:

Lazybones, I am sorry to hear that you have sight problems that may have been caused by diabetes, but I also feel encouraged you still retain enough sight to have been able to read my post. Losing my sight is what frightens me the most, particularly because I have children.

At the moment, I am struggling to understand what to eat for the best but am reading lots to try and work it all out. I've been offered statins for high cholesterol (and slightly elevated blood pressure) but have refused them for now whilst I try to get to grips with the metformin first. I'm also wondering about angiotensin II receptor antagonists to help avoid further kidney damage, and to help prevent heart problems, though the nurse hasn't mentioned them yet.

I'm also going to try and make my body more alkaline by drinking boiled water with lemon juice as apparently that helps in general. I read an article today about aspartame though it was not properly referenced so may be a load of tosh, but it was saying how aspartame poisoning can cause problems similar to those attributed to diabetes. As a diet coke addict, this concerns me, so I'm going to cut that out, but of course it seems the list of foods that are 'safe' to eat for sure, are diminishing with everything I read, and I'm now down to chicken, fish, salad and vegetables that grow above ground.

MadDad, I'm definitely going to be tackling the weight issue, though to be honest think it will sort itself out as I cut out all the sugar filled foods and carbohydrates that I normally eat. Well done you on losing the 2 stone. Even though you put it back on, at least you know how to lose it and that you can lose it again if you choose to.

Exercise is a little more difficult to work out due to all sorts of long held excuses, but I can see that changes will have to be made there.

I'm very glad to have found this forum and look forward to getting to know you more, and thank you both again for responding to my post.

 

[Mad Dad]

Thanks for the kind words Josi.
I know my post may have made me seem like some sort of expert and I do have a head full of info in diets and excercise but there is so much in there that there is no room for willpower :lol: I've dieted all my life and excercised occasionally in the last 25 years since a serious knee injury (the start of my problems) but at the moment I am at my heaviest and unfittest..... However I have recently been reading posts on here and I am feeling so motivated to do something about it. I have been power walking a lot recently and while the weight has not dropped significantly I am feeling much better physically and am slowly changing my eating habits. This is all in response to reading some inspirational and intellegent posts on these forums. So if they can change me they can change anyone..... Good Luck and keep posting I'd love to know how you're doing....