Introducing myself.

Shirl Bill

Member
Messages
16
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I been diagnosed type 2 on Metformin take 4 a day 500grm each tablet I get up during nite 4-5 a nite wake up with a really bad head my glucose is high 9.5 or higher can't seem to get it down I'm finding it really hard being diagnosed as I can't tell my family as my uncle died with it my parents haven't got over it only my son knows
 
C

catherinecherub

Guest
Welcome to the forum @Shirl Bill.

@daisy1 will be along soon with some basic information for you.

Ask anything you like, no question considered silly and someone will answer.
 

Shirl Bill

Member
Messages
16
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I'm finding it really hard I was diagnosed 2yrs 4months and struggling with what food to eat I have got cataracts on my eyes my right eye is worse and goin to get it of in a few wks was on The sick as I had a hypo fell injured my knee and damaged my veins waiting to get veins stripped but been knocked of sick now on dole
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Shirl Bill

Hello and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask all the questions you need to and someone will be able to help.



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 over 130,000 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

Reduce your 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-and-whole-grains.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
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

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 bloodglucose 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.
 
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Daks

Well-Known Member
Messages
407
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I been diagnosed type 2 on Metformin take 4 a day 500grm each tablet I get up during nite 4-5 a nite wake up with a really bad head my glucose is high 9.5 or higher can't seem to get it down I'm finding it really hard being diagnosed as I can't tell my family as my uncle died with it my parents haven't got over it only my son knows

Hi Shirl Bill and welcome to the forum, you have landed at the right place for help.

Sorry to hear you feel as though you can't share your diagnosis with your family, I don't think I could do it without the support of mine.

With good advice and carefull control your fate doesn't have to be the same as your Uncles, in fact for many here diabetes has inspired them to live a life much more healthy and active than they would likely have without diagnosis.

There is no reason you can't go on to live a life as long or happy as you would have done without diabetes. Daisy will be along shortly, I highly advise you absorb her post, stay with the forum and ask as many questions as you need, knowledge is power.

Daks
 
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Reactions: 3 people

Shirl Bill

Member
Messages
16
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have never been down to 4-7 I'm always 10.9-13.9 I really struggling I don't eat bread potatoes or fruit as it seems to make my sugar high I'm not one for eating pasta or vegetables
 

Patricia21

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,764
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Animal crualty
Hello and welcome.I hope things get better for you,take the advice given to you by the forum members,there are a lot of friendly helpfull people.
 

Shirl Bill

Member
Messages
16
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Is it normal to have a bad head in morning as I have been getting them for last two wks and up 3-4 times during nite