confused

[suegerard]

Hi wondered if someone could give me some advice please. My GP diagnosed me diabetic on the 9.9.11 he told me to go and see the DN who told me I was glucose intolerant not diabetic. She gave me some information on diabetes diets exercise etc. Iwent back to see my GP yesterday who said I was diabetic but only just????? so I am so confused

 

[alaska]

Hi Sue

The way diabetes is categorised is that you can be categorised as having glucose intolerance (pre-diabetic) or as having type 2 diabetes.

What you will probably need to face is that you will need to find out about diabetes at this stage and look to make some lifestyle changes. The sooner you can understand diabetes and make lifestyle changes to account for it, the better. This can't stated enough.

It's not doom and gloom by any means and you've come to a good place here where people can help you to learn what you need and help you make any changes

 

[daisy1]

Hi Sue and welcome to the forum If I were you I would at least take care of yourself as if you were diabetic until you can get back to one of your health professionals to get things sorted out. Even if you have pre-diabetes you need to look after yourself to stop progression to full diabetes. Do you know the levels you had at the tests? To help you, here is some basic advice we give to new members which should be helpful to 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 30,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

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

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.

 

[suegerard]

Hi daisy thanks for your reply. I have had a gtt my fasting bgl was 6.6 2 hours after glucose was12.3

 

[Grazer]

Hi daisy thanks for your reply. I have had a gtt my fasting bgl was 6.6 2 hours after glucose was12.3

These figures suggest pre-diabetic/diabetic, close to call! Either way, as people said, you need to adjust your diet as if you WERE diabetic. The info you were sent by Daisy on diet and carbohydrates is good stuff, and will have a big effect on your sugar levels. With your readings, don't worry too much PROVIDING you make the necessary changes to your diet and keep up the exercise if you're not already doing so. Good luck!

 

[anna29]

Hi, Great pointers and tips there for you from alaska, daisy, gappy.
Keep eye on your diet, see what you can tweak here and there?
Please dont worry, it will all get easier and clearer soon.
Look at what changes you can do to benefit with, and prevent things sliding .
Stay here with us all, ask any questions you feel/need to.
Theres always someone around to help.
Anna.x

 

[Grazer]

Hi, Great pointers and tips there for you from alaska, daisy, gappy.

Help! My diabetes is making me blind! Can't see a post from Gappy! :?

 

[anna29]

Nope you're not going blind, its me! In a rush thought I saw gappy and it was YOU!
Sorry for the confusion, 'whoops'

 

[Grazer]

No probs, they both start with a "G"! :lol:

 

[Gappy]

I was thinking helpful things though!

 

[SparkJack]

I wish I had bought a copy of the book The Diabetes Revolution written by Dr Charles Clark when I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic (mind you it wasn't written then). Reading it the may have prevented me being Type 2 a few years later and saved the NHS money as well. Recommended reading- sensible advice. Gives you the knowledge you need in a simple way. Follow the guidelines of 60g carbohydrate a day to lose weight by controlling your own insulin production. Lower BSLs follow naturally.