Aloha from Scotland and a new Type 2

[ShirleyI]

Newly diagnosed, though suspected for a couple of months. mmol of 54, and up to now, have paid for my own test strips and lancets. Refused a prescription for them at the docs, although I got the lecture about diet, losing some weight and getting control of my diabetes. I asked how I am meant to do that if I don't know what my blood sugars are.... Just not policy apparently and from reading posts here, it's quite common, although I tried to explain how I managed to reduce the reading of 23.3 I had after a meal out, by walking for two hours, getting it down to 12.9. I had no symptoms of sugar levels being that high after one meal, so I can't understand why they advocate not testing.

My Dawn readings are rarely under 8, which worries me a lot, and apparently my thyroid is almost shot, and my liver is showing up some abnormalities that might be diabetes related as the other liver blood tests were clear. Just waiting for a scan now. She gingerly mentioned alcohol in relation to my liver, but as I've don't like the taste of it, I don't drink more than one glass of wine a year at New Year, and just drink diet fizz.

Apart from that, I seem relatively healthy and keen to get on top of my Type 2 diabetes, but getting the feeling some docs keen to write me off as I've been overweight for the last couple of years. Started metformin today, and so far, seem to be tolerating it ok.

I am wondering if I should wean myself off my diet fizz, but I'd prefer to be able to drink it.

That's about it for now.
Shirley

 

[kateincornwall]

Hello and welcome , I`m sure that @daisy will be along before too long with some very useful information for you to help get your blood sugars to a better level . Lots of information , support and help on here

 

[Enclave]

Welcome, you are in the right place now to start to take control of your condition ... As you are also in Scotland have to signed up for the My diabetes my Way link to another forum page here that lets you know more about it ....
Hope it helps..do come back with questions lots of us here take control with the low carb high fat way of eating !

 

[SueB743]

Hi and welcome. I too have just invested in a meter as I think the only way I will know what I can eat freely, in moderation or need to avoid is to check for myself.

Loads of great info and tips on here for things which work for other members.

 

[yvonne49]

I got diagnosed a year ago in Scotland too, but like you I had symptoms I ignored for quite a while.
My readings were sky high and they told me I would be on insulin within 2 years since it was progressive. They wanted me on metformin ' if my kidneys weren't damaged' but I said I wanted to try diet and exercise first. They were so dismissive telling me no way I could do that with my numbers,refusing to even entertain it.For some reason their attitude made me more determined to do it without drugs.I bought my own tester and read everything I could 3-4 months later my numbers had gone down massively on a LCHF diet,exercise and weight loss. I still have about a stone and a half to lose and it is getting more difficult now but my numbers are good.
Keep testing,eating to your meter and reading all you can.You can do it!
As for the diet fizz,I am addicted.I had to give up so much already,I figure I can keep that one bad habit.Anyway it does not affect my blood sugar.

 

[JAY1JAY1]

Hi and welcome
It looks like @daisy1 has missed you so I've tagged her again .
To start with cut down on the carbs (smaller amounts on your plate) this will help a lot to wards getting your BG numbers down
There is lots of good food to be had and it's not all salads have a good look around
Keep well stay safe JJ

 

[daisy1]

@ShirleyI
@JAY1JAY1
@kateincornwall


Hello Shirley and welcome to the forum Sorry for the delay but I didn't receive the first tag as the name wasn't quite right. Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask all the questions you like and someone will 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 150,000 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.

 

[WeeFergus]

Welcome, you are in the right place now to start to take control of your condition ... As you are also in Scotland have to signed up for the My diabetes my Way link to another forum page here that lets you know more about it ....
Hope it helps..do come back with questions lots of us here take control with the low carb high fat way of eating !

Welcome Shirley. There's a lot of great advice from very experienced people available here on this Forum. I also encourage you to sign up to MydiabetesMyway as recommended by Enclave. I really liked getting to see my results online before I had my first review (after January 2015 diagnosis) with the DN at the GP's.The target charts are also very motivating as are the historic figures which show the previous and current results.

 

[Daibell]

Hi and welcome. Yes, you need to reduce the carbs to well below 200gm/day. Carbs are addictive hence you find giving up fizz difficult. As you wean yourself off carbs this adiction will fade.

 

[Gezzabelle]

Hi and welcome Shirley and also Scottish Mum....You have come to the right place for advice, support and some lovely people to help you on your journey. All aboard the crazy bus.....it's going to be a long journey but we all get there in the end Ask anything you need to know....always someone here to help

 

[Bebo321]

I got diagnosed a year ago in Scotland too, but like you I had symptoms I ignored for quite a while.
My readings were sky high and they told me I would be on insulin within 2 years since it was progressive. They wanted me on metformin ' if my kidneys weren't damaged' but I said I wanted to try diet and exercise first. They were so dismissive telling me no way I could do that with my numbers,refusing to even entertain it.For some reason their attitude made me more determined to do it without drugs.I bought my own tester and read everything I could 3-4 months later my numbers had gone down massively on a LCHF diet,exercise and weight loss. I still have about a stone and a half to lose and it is getting more difficult now but my numbers are good.
Keep testing,eating to your meter and reading all you can.You can do it!
As for the diet fizz,I am addicted.I had to give up so much already,I figure I can keep that one bad habit.Anyway it does not affect my blood sugar.

Way to go @yvonne49!
Dedication and determination with a bit of diet fizz on the side. That seems to be the recipe for success @ShirleyI

 

[yvonne49]

Thanks.....yeah I have to have a bit of diet fizz on the side. It's the only way .