Another Newbie

davey b

Active Member
Messages
30
Eight years ago my younger brother and sister developed T1 within 9 months of each other, so I guess it came as no surprise that I was diagnosed with T2 last week. I'd had a cold about 6 weeks ago and didn't really seem to recover properly. When the muscle mass loss and drinking became obvious a visit to the docs confirmed it.

Discovering this forum has been one of the best things that's happened to me!!!

Right now I'm on 80mg Gliclazide a day, but it seems to have no effect on me. My lowest reading has been 12.5 and highest 27.4.

I have an appointment with a dietician at the end of November, but I'm trying to do as much as possible myself. I've never been overweight for a 5ft 11in guy, and the muscle loss has reduced my weight to 64.9kg (10st 3lbs in old money).

Typical day is a couple of weetabix and/or wholemeal toast for breakfast. Couple of wholemeal rolls at lunch (with tuna, ham, cheese or low-fat cottage cheese etc) and a normal meat and veg dinner in the evening. I'll have a couple of digestives ocassionally with coffee and the ocassional banana or apple or pear.

That was my diet before diabetes, so I'm really struggling on how I can adapt it - and in the long run adapt my diet further to rebuild the muscle mass that I've lost.

The only thing that's really changed in the last 3 months is that I eat nowhere near as much cheese or pasta that I used to. Even then, I always made my own healthy sauces instead of packets or jars.

I know it's still early days, but the mixture of info out there with regard to 'good' and 'bad' foods is often contradictive. I'm often a 'snacky' person and I'm at a loss as to what is safe to snack on - do I have fruit or do I have nuts etc... and there are days when I'm almost too scared to eat anything!

So there you are - that's me! And again, it's great to be here, you guys have already provided me with a wealth of information! Thank-you!
 

Dollyrocker

Well-Known Member
Messages
223
Hello davey b, welcome to the club nobody wants to join!

I'm a T1 so my help ios limited however, you should be loooking to reduce your intake of carbs in order to help your blood sugar stay within range so cheese is actually good but pasta, not so good. The only way to find out what works is to use a blood glucose meter to see which foods and how much of them have the least effect on your readings. Do you have a meter yet?

I'm surprised they haven't suggested you may be T1 based on your family history , I guess they know best ;)
 

davey b

Active Member
Messages
30
Dollyrocker said:
Hello davey b, welcome to the club nobody wants to join!....Do you have a meter yet?

I'm surprised they haven't suggested you may be T1 based on your family history , I guess they know best ;)
Thanks for the welcome! Yes, I have a meter and am testing regularly (waiting for the Gliclazide to kick in I guess too). To be honest, when my aunt (a nurse) first tested my level it was way over 20. Had I been confused and showing any symptoms that worried her she would have sent me to A&E, as it was I went to the docs the next day. My brother said it was probably the better option as if I'd gone to A&E they would have probably put me straight on insulin - and then there's no going back (both him and my sister inject).

But its all good. The diabetes I can cope with at the moment - I'm more upset at not having any thigh muscles and a decent backside! LOL.
 

totsy

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,041
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
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liars, animal cruelty
hya davey and a really warm welcome, im a type 1 but i believe if u lower your carb intake u will see some benefits with your numbers, are u sure you arent type 1 with the weight loss etc?
:? amanda
 

davey b

Active Member
Messages
30
totsy said:
hya davey and a really warm welcome, im a type 1 but i believe if u lower your carb intake u will see some benefits with your numbers, are u sure you arent type 1 with the weight loss etc?
:? amanda
Thanks for the welcome Amanda. One of my online friends who is a specialist over in the States has said he thinks I'm a 1.5 (first I'd heard of that - until I came here!). Because of my age (44) and the fact that it seemed to develop after an illness, my doc is inclined to think that I'll be T2, so he want's to treat with oral medication first. However, he has made it quite clear that he won't hesitate in referring me to a specialist if there are no improvements within a few weeks.

As I don't see a dietician until Dec 2nd, and following some great advice I've picked up from here while I was 'lurking', I switched to a simple low-carb diet a few days ago and already the improvement in my levels is showing. My fasting level on waking is 12, and the highest I've been in the last couple of days is 17.1 - considering this time last week is was 17.4 and 27.4, I'm really pleased! In addition, my eyesight is getting back to normal, and I was actually able to have a stroll around town yesterday without getting 'jelly legs'. Although my BMI is 19.9 (well within what I should be) I must be one of the few people who actually WANTS to put on weight, as I've said, my main concern is getting more muscle mass back - so hopefully the dietician can help me with that. :D

Dave
 

totsy

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,041
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
liars, animal cruelty
thats brilliant dave , your numbers are looking good,
and great that youve a dr like that, mine was rubbish and thought i was type 2 and i ended up in a&e very unwell...turned out i was a type 1 :)