4th Anniversary of T2 diagnosis

[))Denise((]

I realised earlier this evening that it is 4 years ago today that I was diagnosed.

My GP phoned me up on a Saturday morning to tell me (I was also very anaemic) and that I was to go into the surgery first thing Monday morning.

I was in deep shock by this news, especially as I was away staying at my friends' house for the weekend. I don't know what the figures were from my first blood test, but I'm going to ask at my annual review.

 

[chocoholicnomore]

As a newbie, I just wondered how the last 4 years have been for you? Did you settle into new eating regime etc quite quickly or did it take a while to come to terms with it all? After the settling in period, has it been plain sailing since? Is there anything you would have done differently, knowing what you know now or from experience?

I just feel I'm in the middle of a mine field at the moment and it would be good to hear comments from someone who has come through the other side.

Thanks (and sorry to ask so many questions )

 

[))Denise((]

At the time of diagnosis it was found that I also needed a hysterectomy, so diabetes wasn't the top thing on my agenda, I was more concerned about having a major op.

Although I was soon put on metformin and had a chat about diet with the practice nurse (you know the one, she does the baby injections, asthma clinic etc) who told me to limit the amount of sugar in my diet, nothing was said about how carbs will raise your blood sugar.

I asked for a meter about 6 months after diagnosis and was given one and a repeat prescription to test 2 or 3 times a week and no guidance on what to do with the results.

After the op, I never really got better. I was tired all the time, had IBS-D and felt generally completely rubbish.

Unfortunately I didn't find this website until May 2010 after I'd decided I needed to take control after some really scary fasting figures in the 11's. I took the advice of cutting the carbs, I found I was wheat intollerant and cut that out completely (not replacing it with gluten free carbs).

Last December I ended up at the hospital seeing an Endocrinologist (I was looking for answers as to why I was still so tired) who found I was vitamin D deficient (only after I asked for it to be tested), she also suggested adding in 40mg gliclazide to my meds.

I've not lost loads of weight like lots of people on here, but my BMI fluctuates between 29.5 and 30.5, so I'd like to loose a stone, which if I didn't work in an office and was more active, I'm sure it would go.

I'm not an angel when it comes to food, but I try to stick to less carbs. Chocolate peanuts are my downfall (but they are the lowest carb proper sweets I have found at around 35g carb per 100g).

 

[chocoholicnomore]

Denise, I am so sorry that you have had such a rotten time and so many problems other than diabetes. Now that they have got to the bottom of it all, I do hope things are improving and you are feeling much better.

My practice nurse, who is also DN, was much same. She just told me to cut out sugar and base all meals around carbs. The only good thing was that she advised me to visit this site (although I had already found the site myself)

I am not losing weight either. Maybe I expected too much. Losing weight was going to be the silver lining of being dignosed diabetic-will need to think of another! :lol:

Chocolate peanuts are a good idea. I hadn't thought of them. Have you any other good ideas for snacking?

Thanks for sharing your story with me. I do hope the next 4 years are alot better for you.

Marina x

 

[spendercat]

Chocolate peanuts! Now that takes me back.
I put on about two stones in my early twenties by eating a bag of those every day. Very large bag
After that I went cold turkey and have never touched them since. It took six months hard work to get those two stones off.
I could still sit and eat a bag today, thirty years later. I am still a chocoholic.