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Another T2 Newbie

C

ChristineL

Member
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5
Hi everyone
I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago and am currently looking at dietary changes to bring things under control
I have spent the last 2 weeks getting to be more knowledgeable about it all. My GP and nurse are on the ball and I have loads of appointments lined up for tests or advice seessions. I was loaned a meter with 10 test sticks and have since bought more (although I plan to ask for a script when I go back) I seem to be Ok until 6pm when mine start to rise and the levels stay high even when I wake - I beleive its this which is affecting my sleep patterns
Just want to ask if its usual to become all forgetful - I have to say my diagnosis was a relief as I knew there was something amiss but I had thoughts of early dementia or a stroke in my sleep! At times I struggle to spell words .Please tell me this gets better when its under control :roll:
 
Hi Christine and welcome to the forum :) As you are newly diagnosed here is some basic information about managing diabetes put together by the forum monitors which I hope will be helpful. As you have lots of appointments coming up I am including a list of suggested questions you could ask so you don't forget about something you really want to know. As for this forum, its a mine of information so have a good look around and ask any questions you wish. As for forgetfulness, I haven't suffered from that but someone who knows something could give you an answer soon. Maybe you could find something if you use the search engine we have on here.

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Sue/Ken.
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Here is the list of questions to help remind you what questions you might want to ask at your appointments:

QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

The first visit to the diabetic clinic or GP/HCP is often very confusing. You have just been diagnosed and everything is rather scary as you have had very little information so far.

Here are a few questions you can ask.


What can I do to control it, diet, medication ?

Appointments to see dietician, podiatrist, retinal screening.

Test meter /strips.

Test results and what do they mean ? Get a print-out of the results for your own records.

Who will I be seeing the nurse or GP ? If I have problem can I see either of you ?

Are there any courses I can attend, DESMOND for Type 2, DAFNE for Type 1's ? Any other Diabetes Education classes available.

How often do I get blood tests, Hba1c/Cholesterol/full lipid panel.. Should be every 3 months initially till in control.

Take a notebook with you and write down what you are told. If the doctor/nurse says things that you do not understand then ask them to explain it so that you can write it down.

This is your condition, your diabetes, you should be encouraged to take part in the treatment that you will be getting, not dictated to.

If you find that the doctor/nurse is unsympathetic then we suggest you find out which doctor in the practice is good with diabetes. Some doctors have a special interest in certain subjects, it’s worth finding this out.

Ken / Sue
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No one responded to the forgetfulness aspect of my original post altho I did get a PM from someone who was feeling exactly the same way so I thought I would add that few months on I would just like to report how my memory is recovering as my diabetes is more controlled -it feels good to be more myself :D
 
Hi, only just read your post and would add that I seem to get more forgetful when my sugars are higher. Have done really well so far and have been keeping levels low after reducing my carbs considerably eg less bread, pasta. Am having pasta for tea though but will treat it as an experiment and see what happens. Hope you are getting on ok and welcome :)
 
Hey,
I have been suffering for a long time in my foot problem and as a doctor I just first want to discuss with my senior. Now my Podiatrist problem is almost control with a small surgery.
 
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