Complicated Case

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@meardonna

Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it both interesting and useful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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.
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
One thing to thicken up the waste into ileostomy bags are sachets called "Diamonds"- are you using these now?

My dearest friend has no use of her hands at all or her legs and also has stoma bag, ileostomy bag and bladder as well. Relying upon carers, nurses and friends... however she has a water bottle and long tube on it fixed to her wheelchair each day to ensure she drinks adequate water (and her dog!). She has not been told to drink or eat any of the stuff to avoid dehydration or to thicken the watery waste. She solely thickens it up with "diamonds".
She would never, ever eat the foods or drinks that you had to do.

She also has to be aware of bags bursting and this happens and she unfortunately has to sit in ***** until carers/nurses come to help her... but bags bursting is part of what she has accepted. She is very aware of the ins/outs of liquid in bags, what she eats or doesnt. Ie no green veg at all (same as me except broccoli due to my colon). I have to eat broccoli daily to get some iron but I'm not at stage of needing a bag yet. She and I basically eat and avoid the same things apart from broccoli.

She too has had the most awful time in hospitals and weight loss. Left in bed for 21/2 years as carers wouldnt get her out, couldnt eat anything for 3 years besides fortisip thru a straw. Has been put in a coma from somebody giving her wrong doses of meds, has been on deaths door many times.

She is not diabetic though.. I think the advice you got ref drink and foods has contributed towards your diabetes problems. She eats normal fats, not high fats, has always avoided any fizzy drinks or sports drinks. She eats well and is an absolute star for smiles and laughter.

You can get through this and higher protein will help healing.

My friend has enormous quantities of drugs due to other problems totally unrelated to colon/bowel/bladder. She has pain patches and syringe drivers of meds given 24/7 but she is still independent and drives, despite not being able to use her hands or legs either.

It is a blooming hard journey to blooming travel with illness but it is do able.

My friend has become the expert in what she can eat and drink to stabilise her illnesses. You will too but protein is important for healing and for diabetes. Protein and fat are both important for bags and diabetes. Ie eggs, chicken, cheese. She eats small rounds of cheese n biscuits. The small cheese biscuits she eats have 2.9 or 3.6 carbs in them, so she can balance this with some nice varieties of cheese or chicken or also eggs on top. She will just eat 3 at a time.

Also she lost 3 stone literally in less than a week when she was so, so poorly 4 years ago. She also came round deaf from one operation.

It is far better for her to eat protein and fat with fewer carbs.. she has also managed to put the weight back on and is the light and positiveness to so many people for being such a dear, dear friend and always with laughter and smiling.

You can do it too.

Best wishes to you. Xx
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
My friend cannot eat berries like cherries or blueberries etc but can eat strawberries and cream!!
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
She and I can also not eat any salad... certainly nothing leafy like lettuce...or tomatos or onions, carrots etc..

Salads are out. She can eat celeriac chips which are liw carb, beetroot cooked as chips... mushrooms. No garlic.

She can eat yogurt.