Hello just wanted to introduce myself

[Kayleigh88]

Hi everyone, just wanted to say hello and share my story. At the age of 26 being told I had type 2 diabetes has hit me hard and just starting to sink in and convince myself I am not going to die! I am overweight and I am loosing weight so hopefully will lead a long and relatively normal life. I just can't get this sick guilt feeling out of me.

I am a single parent to a son who is only just turned two and have spent restless night crying about how I don't want to leave him at a young age. I have lost afew relatives over the last 10 years including my auntie and mum to cancer.

I dont have many friends and they only close family I have is my dad to whom I am his only child and I just haven't got the heart to tell him I know he will be devastated. I hate hiding this from him seeking to the doctors for things. I just can't seem to say the words :'(

 

[Mushroom]

Hi Kayleigh, welcome to the forum.
Losing weight and keeping you blood sugar levels under control is the key to keeping well.
Don't panic. It is not the end of the world and your Dad does not have to be devastated. I would tell him. Learn from your doctor and this forum and be prepared to educate Dad about diabetes - a loyt of people have misconceptions about what is involved.
Many forum posters say the diagnosis is a turning point for the better. You may end up with a lot more energy to chase around after your little one!
Try low carb / high fat way of eating. Reducing portions sizes and cutting down on carbs, both starch and sugar, can have a big effect on lowering blood sugar. Lots of advice and support on the forum so keep posting.
A moderator should come along soon and post some helpful advice, if they haven't done already. Best wishes!

 

[Andy12345]

hi, welcome

 

[Kat100]

Hello nice to meet you ..
Sorry you are feeling so alone ...you really need someone to talk to, feeling isolated and alone is a very awful thing ...
Are there any groups you could join ....

Sorry for your losses to,,but maybe you could tell your dad , yes I think like you he will feel,devastated , but these feelings do get better and perhaps you will find you have more support than you realise ...

As for diet and life style changes ...it is early days ..you have to think about a lot of things ...
Take things slowly for a while , have a think and read what options might suit you ...

For my first year of bring diagnosed my goal was and still is to bring down my sugar , or blood glucose levels ....
I am in year two now ...so will keep on accessing what meets my needs ...
The first year is the worst I think ,,but it does get easier to manage ....chat any time ....Kat

 

[sanguine]

Hi Kayleigh, welcome.

Please don't panic, this is all manageable (and often with minimal or even no medication). We can help you. Do you know what your diagnosis blood sugar levels are?

The main thing for starters is to reduce your consumption of sugar (obviously) but also carbohydrates - bread, potatoes, rice, pasta etc. These are effectively sugar for us. As @Mushroom suggests, have a look at www.dietdoctor.com/lchf for a lifestyle that works for many on here for both blood sugar control and weight loss.

As for telling your Dad, you will have to at some point, but why not do it when you have already made significant strides to getting it all under control?

Have a good read around and ask any questions.

 

[Kayleigh88]

Hi everyone thanks for your replies, am still learing about this and how to control it. I am following weight watchers at the moment keeping to my daily pro points and doing walking as exercise. The weight is comming off. My doctor as told me I should be aiming for 120g of carbohydrates a day. My fasting test was 51 afew weeks ago

 

[andcol]

Hi Kayleigh and welcome to the forum. It is good that your doctor isn't following the NHS guidelines of eat carbs. 120g is a reasonable amount to start to aim for and should help your BG levels especially if your are exercising. Are you testing your Blood Glucose levels. I would really recommend that you consider getting a meter to determine how your diet is affecting your levels. The tests the doctors do only tell you what your average has been over the last 3 months (BTW 51 isn't too bad).

Let us know if you need help with anything and good luck with the control

 

[Kayleigh88]

Ive been looking into getting a meter but not sure of the best place to get one for value? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[andcol]

Hi kayleigh, many of us have to fund our own as the GP will not as T2. The meters are cheap (can be free from some manufacturers) but the strips can be expensive. To that end many of us use the SD codefree meter (http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm) as the strips are only about £6 per 50

 

[Kayleigh88]

Thank you andrew will look into that. I think this is the first time since being diagnosed I feel positive about it. Will feel alot better tommorow, waiting for a phone call from the doctors tommorow about an ultrasound I had afew weeks ago ( suspected gallstones) just dont want to be told anything worse, oh and then a urine test result for the protein thing (not really sure what that is for I know its to do with being diabetic) its been a horrible few weeks waiting for different results Then I can truly focus on my health.

 

[andcol]

They normally do tests to check the functioning of your liver and kidneys as diabetes can cause damage if you have high BG levels for sustained periods. Do you know what your diagnostic levels/current levels are and how far from normal they are? Have you actually been provided with much information at all or just a quick diagnosis result provided by the GP and a few booklets?

 

[collectingrocks]

Hi Kayleigh

Well done, you have made the first steps towards taking control. I like to think we are all friends here. There are many knowledgeable members with their own stories and advice so you are not alone. Getting the diagnosis is always a shock but you are young, have everything to live for and can turn things around. Apart from losing the weight, the most important thing to do is to reduce your carb intake. Once your body has got used to less carbs, everything becomes a lot easier and believe me, you will certainly feel more energetic

Do feel free to ask anything you want here, no question is a stupid one

 

[Kayleigh88]

Just a diagnosis and afew booklets. They doctor who diagnosed me wasnt very helpful and handed me a sheet about diet but that was it, so I made an appointment with a doctor who specialises in diabetes he was more helpful and told me if I loose the weight my levels should go down. Ive been put on orilsat to help with the weightloss and recommended I take 1 500mg tablet a day. He told me about a course I can go on about how to manage my diabetes. Requested the urine sample and asked to see me once a month to track my weight loss. The only reading ive had is 2 blood tests confirming that I have diabetes.

 

[collectingrocks]

Are you very overweight? Did you have a HbA1c and willing to share your reading here? I think a HbA1c of 48 is the lower limit in order to diagnose diabetes so the closer to that number, hopefully the easier it will be for you

 

[Kayleigh88]

Hi yes at the moment I am about 8 stone over weight (I've already lost 2.8 stones) in 10 weeks. My fasting reading was at 51 about 7 weeks ago

 

[Mushroom]

Hi again Kayleigh, you sound a lot better. Glad the comments are helping.
Ask your doctor for your results. They should be able to print them out while you are having your appointment or you can ask to go in ans collect them. You have a right to have them given to you. If you don't understand the urine, cholesterol figures, ask on here or look on the Internet.
Definitely get a meter. I looked on the site recommended but I bought from them on eBay and it was cheaper than their own website. You can mark the payment as being a diabetic and you get a discount. I would say that I have used the one lancet for several weeks so I don't think you have to buy lots. Strips can go out of date. So don't buy too much to start with - begin with the starter kit only.
I found testing 2 hours after a meal was the best and gave me an idea if the food was too high in carbs or too large a portion and so caused a high reading. Testing first thing in the morning can give strange results and isn't helpful or very controllable. I did test a lot to start with and it was very handy but have eased back to just the 2 hours after a meal when I try a new food.
I did Weight Watchers years ago and lost a lot of weight, then got complacent and put it back on and more. This time I have just cut portion sizes and carbs, eating normal unprocessed ingredients and actually increased my fat intake (cream, butter etc). No orilstat, no 'diet' foods. I have lost weight very easily and have stopped craving foods.
It is a fine balance now to keep the weight stable but I weigh every day and can pick up on any weight increase and adjust my food intake and exercise level. Walking at least 30 minutes a day helps, too. Blows away the cobwebs! Best wishes.

 

[andcol]

With that much weight loss I wouldn't be surprised if you find your next HbA1c the doctor does comes in under your diagnostic level. I managed to go from 91 to 40 in 3 months. When you see the doctor again make sure you request a new HbA1c test at the 3 month point to ensure you are making progress.

 

[Daibell]

Hi and welcome. As long as you can gradually reduce the weight your future is bright and you should lead a normal life, so don't worry. There are various areas of this website that cover advice on the best foods for us. Just keep the carbs down and use the meter when you get it to see what affects you most.

 

[Anie]

Hi welcome

You are in the right place for good advice and guidance. Ask questions, there are lots of people on here who will be able to help you and support you.

Please tell your dad -if only to stop him buying you chocolates for Christmas! I'm sure he will understand.

 

[Kayleigh88]

Am so overwhelmed with all your comments and words of encouragement, thank you all for taking the time to reply really means alot. Feel alot better now knowing am not alone.