Basic Information For New Members

[mountaintom]

I’m just wondering where this comes from...is there a diabetes.co.uk forum head office? I mean the big lump of information that is put on new members’ posts...

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I’m just wondering where this comes from...

When some one tags @daisy1 she posts the info pack for T2's, this will happen here most probably.

It is also sticky thread in one of the forums

 

[mountaintom]

And this is for t2 only?

 

[mountaintom]

Because a lot of it doesn’t apply to T1. And I’ve seen it posted on people’s post who’ve yet to be diagnosed.

 

[Diakat]

Some info is applicable to all. The pre and post eating figs are given for T1 and T2. Basic info on carbs is useful for all. But yes, more applicable to T2, again simply because there are more T2s in the population I think.

 

[mountaintom]

Some info is applicable to all. The pre and post eating figs are given for T1 and T2. Basic info on carbs is useful for all. But yes, more applicable to T2, again simply because there are more T2s in the population I think.

I think there should be a separate one for T1.

 

[Antje77]

I think there should be a separate one for T1.

You're welcome to make one. As far as I know @daisy1 was a moderator in the stone-age of this forum (or would that be before I was a member? Might be only 2 years ago as well ) and wrote that wonderful info sheet. When she retired as a mod she was still happy to provide new members with this information every single time this has been requested by another member and always within a couple of hours. This in itself deserves a handful of gold medals, I think!
If you write a new good one for type1's, it could be that it's going to be used like Daisy's. But it could also become forgotten in the vaults of the interwebs.
I'm not a type2, but I've come back to Daisy's info multiple times after diagnosis and found it very helpful.

 

[LooperCat]

I think there should be a separate one for T1.

Shall we put one together?

 

[Bluetit1802]

And this is for t2 only?

If Daisy is tagged, she will post it, whether T2, T1, LADA or anywhere in between. When a T2 newbie arrives, one of the other T2s answering it will tag Daisy. If a newbie T1 arrives, it is up to the responders whether to tag her or not, but if they do, she will arrive.

 

[LooperCat]

If Daisy is tagged, she will post it, whether T2, T1, LADA or anywhere in between. When a T2 newbie arrives, one of the other T2s answering it will tag Daisy. If a newbie T1 arrives, it is up to the responders whether to tag her or not, but if they do, she will arrive.

“If you tag her, she will come”

 

[Jenny15]

One difficulty with an info pack for T1 is that it's not always clear at the start which type a person has. I don't see anything in the current info pack that would be bad advice for T1s or one of the other types.

 

[Jenny15]

“If you tag her, she will come”

It's spooky sometimes!

 

[Robinredbreast]

This is the info and tbh I have looked at it fully, it has been going for a few years now and updated.

Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help you.

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 well over 235,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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 blood glucose 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.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.17088/
Low Carb Program - http://www.diabetes.co.uk/lowcarb/ for Type 2 diabetics/

 

[LooperCat]

It is all quite T2 oriented, there’s nothing about insulin. Perhaps we could put out heads together and suggest a few additions that would be more relevant to insulin users?

 

[Antje77]

“If you tag her, she will come”

Daisy is like magic!

this will happen here most probably.

No it won't. She always reads first, as her info-pack always starts with the name of the recipient and a short greeting. And I've never seen her post double when having been tagged multiple times in a thread. (Please don't post your info-pack here, Daisy, I love to think you're magic and can do anything )

 

[mountaintom]

One difficulty with an info pack for T1 is that it's not always clear at the start which type a person has. I don't see anything in the current info pack that would be bad advice for T1s or one of the other types.

Yes well I’m talking once diagnosis has been given.

 

[mountaintom]

One difficulty with an info pack for T1 is that it's not always clear at the start which type a person has. I don't see anything in the current info pack that would be bad advice for T1s or one of the other types.

Well I consider them two completely separate conditions so they should have separate info packs. Unless this is primarily a t2 forum...

 

[Robinredbreast]

Yes well I’m talking once diagnosis has been given.

Originally from 2010
Basic information for Newly Diagnosed Diabetics
Discussion in 'Newly Diagnosed' started by Administrator, Oct 2, 2010.

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   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 well over 190,000 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.
   
   Please note: If you are under 35 and have a BMI that is normal or slightly high, or over 35 with a normal BMI, and have been diagnosed as Type 2, you should request an autoimmune antibody test. There is a significant possibility that you may not be Type 2 and have one of the autoimmune or monogenic types of diabetes. Between 10% and 25% of Type 2 diagnoses are re-classified as other forms.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Well I consider them two completely separate conditions so they should have separate info packs. Unless this is primarily a t2 forum...

I just read it through again and it would appear to be more about Type 2 diabetes ..................

 

[mountaintom]

A T1 diagnosis is enough of a trauma. I think throwing “low carb” at somebody on day one is irresponsible. There should be advice for “early care” (getting to grips with the whole bloody thing) and then advice for “further down the line” and the possibility of lowering carbs etc. It could be too much for a newly diagnosed T1. And nothing is mentioned about emotional care, psychological stuff.