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Advice for a newbie

D

david29

Newbie
Messages
2
Hi,

I am a type 2 sufferer and was diagnosed about two and a half years ago. At present I am taking 3x850 mg/day Metformin. This appears to be the maximum dose in the UK. I cannot get my blood levels below 10.5 (on a good day)and am beginning to suffer from faint signs of neuropathy on both my right thigh and soles of my feet. I see my practice nurse every 3 or 4 months and am wondering if to insist on different medication (insulin?) before my body is damaged further. I am 66 years old. Any views appreciated.

Dave.
 
Hi david and welcome to the forum you have come to the right place for plenty of info to try and control your diabetes and bring down your blood sugar levels.Tell us something about your diet David.I see you are testing your Blood sugars (BS) how often do you test during the day?
 
Hi David,
Welcome to the forum. Like you I am T2 but thanks to the good advice given on this site I am in control of my Bs., through diet and exercise alone no need for meds. If your diet is high carbs this will push up your Bs levels. When first diagnosed I was put on the standard NHS diet High carb, low fat and had no control over my sugar levels and was heading for medication, after following the low carb approach Bs rarely above 6.0. I suggest you follow Sues advice and let the Gurus on the forum what your diet consists of. I'm sure you will get plenty of good advice.

Best of luck
Graham
 
Hi david29,

Ditto what Ed said. Avoid any refined carbohydrates, sugars and starches and you will see a huge improvement in your control very quickly. Your health professionals may not have suggested this to you before and if so then that's simply scandalous.

All the best,

fergus
 
Hi David

Fergus is right.
I've just come back from clinic (also a newbie)and thought to be in honeymood period as insulin to be cut again (hoorah, for now at least). In discussing food etc with SND I mentioned again I was following GI principles (until stable and I see where I am at) and cutting down carb portions.

Was advised not to cut portions and if im hungry to eat all the (recommended) things I want because if my bs starts to run higher we can just increase the insulin :!: Am on premix so wasnt referring to basal/bolus.

Even as a newbie I know that defeats just about every point going. At that point, i just nodded sagely in agreement and vowed to carry on as is. Only been diagnosed two and half weeks and bs averaging 7 already - though not getting too smog. A long road to go. Hopefully 40+ years long :wink:

L
 
Outstanding insurrection there lilibet! Spoken like a true Scot!

All the best,

fergus
 
Hi all,

Thankyou to everybody who replied to my post. It is good to hear advice that is practical and tried. I shall certainly reduce the carbs to a low level - it was only mentioned to me in very general terms by my medical advisor. I shaall also keep a weather eye on this forum as it's good to be in touch with fellow diabetics.

David.
 
Hi David,
I've never looked back since joining this forum, hope it works out for you to, if you have any questions keep posting.

Regards
Graham
 
Something I just thought of - if you are a believer in supplements - you can buy a blend called "sugar balance" which has just the right amounts of b1 and b6 with chromium and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember - ok it isn't medication, but it DOES support the optimum functioning of YOUR body in terms of glucose and insulin ... I'm not whoring the site, and I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links, but they're based in the CI and if you google for "sugar balance" they're sue to pop up near the top. in addition to those, I take cinnamon tablets too, as they are believed to aide metabolics etc ... just a thought, although carb-reduction is (in my humble opinion and accepted god-like wisdom) the main route to reducing your BG readings :)
 
Hi David,

It is very likely that your blood sugars will substantially improve with a new reduced carb diet.

Resistance training exercise can help make your muscles respond better to the insulin you are producing already.

If this doesn't give you the results you and your doctor are happy with you still have some other drug options to use before or instead of insulin.

Eg Januvia/Sitaglitatn is a once a day tablet which helps lower blood sugars.
Pioglitazone tablets helps reduce insulin resistance and so helps blood sugars.
Byetta is an injection which is best for very overweight type twos.
 
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