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Can't control diabetes.


You are doing pretty well...

I would consider adding some butter, cheese, nuts and fatty meat to the mix...
 


Hi. It is a hard slog arriving at an understanding of what works for us each individually, figuring our which foods cause the spikes and...just as importantly...what are the nice things we can eat - a sustainable diet. At first, it seems to be all about what not to eat. On that note - be careful with the Ryvita..much higher in carbohydrate that you may think. It is, however, definitely do-able once you have found alternatives you like. I try to avoid anything that says on the label that its carb content is more than 10g per 100g...and try to ensure I drink about 2.5 litres of water or very diluted juice a day. I also make sure I always have smoked cheese (some is practically carb free), salami and low carb cold meats, small tins of oily fish, strips of dried bacon and avocados. I eat plenty of meat and leafy salads. I love bacon, maybe an omelette or fried eggs. The Lidl rolls are excellent and can be frozen. I cut them in half, but some people get three slices out of each roll. Anyway, good luck munching the right stuff.
 
My understanding is that berberine works on the same pathways as metformin, so I woudn't contemplate taking both at the same time.

Things that are common for newly diagnosed Type 2's are low Vitamin D3 and magnesium. My personal belief is that every Type 2 should be tested for their Vitamin D3 status. Magnesium is safe and necessary for many of the metabolic pathways that are dysfunctional in Type 2.
 
Hi Indy51, there are so many types of magnesium. Which one do you take? Tia x
 
@Beatrice246

Hello Beatrice and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and hope you will find it useful. Ask questions when you need to 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 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.
 
Hi and welcome

I absolutely agree with what @Indy51 has said.

Berberine will simply layer on top of Metformin, and since you are already on a highish does of metformin, you won't need that.

I'd also agree that your diet is still carbing higher than you may be able to tolerate.
If you were diagnosed at those blood glucose levels, with an infection like that, with heavy duty antibiotics, then it is going to take your body a long time to get over it.

You said you have a blood glucose meter. Are you testing before and 2 hrs after each meal? Many of us on here apply the general idea that if your blood glucose rises more that 2 mmol/l in that time, then there were too many carbs in the meal or snack.

It is all a steep learning curve to start with, but i can assure you, with a bit of testing, and bit of food exploration, then learning to eat low carb can be astonishingly delicious. Have a look at the recipes on www.dietdoctor.com and you may see what I mean. Pancakes, choc cake, delicious bakes, burgers, stir fries, salads, soups, etc. etc.

There is another possibility that I will mention - that you may be an undiagnosed type 1 diabetic. This happens rarely (there are about 9 type 2 diabetics to every 1 type 1 diabetic), but if you try strict low carbing for a while (no beans, apple, ryvita, couscous or similar) and your blood glucose doesn't respond by dropping, then i would see your doc again and ask for the tests to see if you have type 1.

Hope that helps.
 
Beatrice246 said:
Thank you all. Woke up this morning to a reading of 11.8 which it was last night, yesterday morning was 12.8 so getting there slowly .
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Yes, getting there. I can so relate to what you are going through as I've just finished a 7 day course of antibiotics for an ear infection which has resulted in a perforated ear drum. My fasting bs shot up to double figures for the week that I was on the medication but I finished the course yesterday and my numbers have already dropped to single again this morning although are still too high, but I'm confident they will return to normal eventually.

Never underestimate the effect of medications on our blood sugars! Keep going and I hope you feel much better soon
 

Thank you, we shall both get there soon !
I'm at college today which is when it normally drops to around 8/9
 
Speedbird said:
Hi Indy51, there are so many types of magnesium. Which one do you take? Tia x
Click to expand...
It's an Australian brand of magnesium powder (chelated magnesium diglycinate) that also has taurine, Vitamin C, calcium hydrogen phosphate, potassium phosphate and Vitamin B6.
 
Also thyroid should be tested I think, what do you reckon?
 
Engineer88 said:
Also thyroid should be tested I think, what do you reckon?
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Yes, probably a good idea. Though in my case a high TSH on diagnosis rapidly went away after Vitamin D3 supplements, following a LCHF diet, weight loss and normalised BG/A1c levels.
 
Hi. First forget the homeopathic route unless you believe in the unproven. It's possible you are a late onset T1 and not T2? If you are not overweight and low-carbing then consider this possibility; there are tests for it. If you are T1 (LADA) then Gliclazide can help for a while during the honeymoon period then insulin. Metformin never does much.
 
While Metformin may not decrease BG levels in does make some people less insulin resistant. I now it was key for me in helping me control my BG. But of course I am Type 2 not LADA
 
Indy51 said:
My understanding is that berberine works on the same pathways as metformin, so I woudn't contemplate taking both at the same time.
Click to expand...

Just some anecdotal information, I have taken Berberine in the past along with Metformin and did not notice any significant change in BG or HbA1c. I might retry it again now that I have an actual number for insulin resistance.

I have taken Vitamin D3 for some time after having blood test which showed a deficiency. I consider myself very lucky that I don't have to rely on a GP for some of these blood tests, although I often think that if I'm having to give blood to test Cholesterol, HbA1c, kidney and liver function, sometimes PSA if they remember (jury out on it's value), why not test some other things at the same time. What exactly is the additional cost for a Vit D test say.

Seems I forgot to hit "Post Reply", so a bit late in posting. Just been rechecking Berberine before buying any more, I'm surprised at the number of side effects reported considering my own experience, I will proceed with caution as should anybody taking anything really.
 
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They aren't part of the routine checks under the diabetes care pathway (NICE) but all I have to do is ask the GP to add them to my blood form and I get them (Vit D, Vit B12, iron, iron absorption, ferritin and folate)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
all I have to do is ask the GP to add them to my blood form and I get them (Vit D, Vit B12, iron, iron absorption, ferritin and folate)
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that you might be lucky, I'll have to ask my GP when I see her later this month.
 
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