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diabetic or not

L

luminox

Member
Messages
5
I have just retruned from my seeing my Doctor.
4 weeks ago I had a fasting test.
The first IGT results were.
Before test 6.6 after 12.9
The second IGT results were
Before test 6.2 after 11.1.
My Doctor announced that I was Diabetic.

To say the least I was shocked as since the first test, although I considered I ate quite healthily lots of fruit and veg and being a court usher having lots of excersize daily, I reduced my sugar intake anyway and got myself a bike and ride approx 24 miles a week.

When I saw the nurse after the first test she said I was not Diabetic but borderline, now after seeing the improvement in my second test which produced lower readings I am then told I am diabetic.
My Dr explained that when you have 2 tests which show over 11.0 then you are Diabetic forever, I questioned this and asked what if my next test produces a reading of 10 am I then considered to have IGT and not a Diabetic.
I also mentioned a very recent report on Google internet where a Proffessor who's name I cannot remember carried out tests on a number of patients with Type one and Type 2 Diabetes some of which were diagnosed and treated for 5-6 years. The tests were based on an extremely low carbohydrate of around 700 calories a day. The Diabetes disappeared on most patients but my Dr simply dismissed this by saying you shouldn't believe evrything you read Diabetes is forever.
What am I supposed to believe. I am prepared to do anything however hard it is to revers this condition, am I looking through Rose coloured glasses.
I am 67 years of age and 13st. I have controlled blood pressure, and Colesterol of 3.6, I take no ther medication,,, no Diabetes symptoms. Thanks :(
 
Hi, Luminox, and welcome!

I'm afraid no-one on here is qualified to diagnose you, only your HCPs (health care practitioners) can do that. However, most of us have diabetes or are caring for someone with diabetes, so we have a lot of knowledge between us and are very willing to help.

Daisy1, who greets our newcomers, will be along soon with some info for the newly diagnosed, but in the meantime I'll do my best to help with your questions.

Diet and exercise are two ways to get good control of your blood glucose levels, so you've made a good start. However, it's not just sugars you have to restrict - all carbohydrate foods turn into glucose in the bloodstream, so most of us cut down on our carbs. Many of us find that the standard NHS diet advice doesn't suit us - for me, for example, a daily amount of less than 50g of carb gives me the best results. Others can tolerate much more, 100g or 150g or more a day. But it's best to go for what are called Low G I foods (low glycaemic index) because the carbohydrate in those is turned to glucose more sowly and doesn't cause your levels to 'spike' too high.

The Newcastle trial used a diet of liquid food and vegetables with a calorie restriction of 600cals per day. A few people on here are trying it, and keeping daily diaries of their progress. If you have a look around you'll find the threads - sorry, I'm a techno-wimp and can't give you the links! :oops: . My personal opinion is that it is not a suitable diet for someone inexperienced in diabetes, but I don't know how much you know, so . . .! Someone has posted the links to the study site so we can read it for ourselves.

I have to agree with your GP, though, that diabetes is for ever. I've got my Type 2 under tight control, but I know that if I ever go back to large amounts of carbs, the blood glucose will eventually go up again. And if you're borderline diabetic now, you eventually will have full-blown diabetes if you don't take charge now.

It's not a desperate condition. Yes, if you don't control it, it can have some very nasty complications, including blindness and amputations, but you can stave off all that by keeping in control. It's always shocking and frightening, and in my case caused 'how could I let this happen to me?' guilt feelings. But there's no need for guilt or blame - at least 20% of Type 2s are normal weight at diagnosis, and among those of us who were obese at diagnosis, there is some evidence that diabetes can cause the obesity, not the other way round. And you don't need to have any symptoms to be diabetic - just be glad you've had an early warning!

You're not looking through rose-coloured specs. It is possible to 'reverse' the condition, to bring your blood glucose levels down to normal levels, but you'll always have to be aware that they could go up again! I think this will happen to the people who took part in the Newcastle trial, if they go back to their pre-diabetes ways.

You sound to be very healthy, with excellent cholesterol levels and good BP control, and you're prepared to exercise and to alter your diet. I see no reason whatsoever why, with just a few tweaks to your present lifestyle, you shouldn't live a long, healthy and active life. So please try not to worry! Have a good look around this site, and ask us whatever questions you like, even if you think they sound silly! They're not, I can assure you :D

There is a man in the USA who has lived for more than 80 years with Type 1 diabetes, and he's still healthy. I have a friend in her 90s who's had it for 50 years, and she can run rings round me! I don't know how long the longest Type 2 has had it, but I'll bet it's decades.

I hope that's helped a bit. The best thing to do is grab it by the scruff of the neck and beat it into submission! :lol:

Viv 8)

Have a look around now, and I'll post a bit more when you've seen Daisy1's info.
 
Viv what can I say but thank you so much. At last some helpful communications which I feel my Dr has failed miserably at. I do consider myself to be fairly healthy, in my 67 years I have only been in hospital once to have a knee replacement and I suppose these things have to start sometime. I will watch this site regularly.
many thanks
 
Hi Luminox and welcome to the forum :) This is the information that Viv referred to earlier. Even if you're not diagnosed diabetic the diet advice in this basic information is useful anyway in order to eat healthily and maybe prevent the onset of diabetes if you are borderline.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, 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.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

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!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

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

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......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 at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. 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.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for this comprehensive guide.
Having only diagnosed a couple of days ago and having read pages and pages of Diabetes related information I am more scared now than I was before.
Talks of keep ypur feet in good order, dont bump yourself, amputation, blindness, heart failure, hardening of the arteries, is there anything left?.
NHS advise lots of carbs, others suggest low-or no carbs.
Everyone talks of healthy eating something I have always tried to do with the occasional "naughty".
Lots of fruit and veg, skimmed milk,no sugar in drinks,brown bread, don't smoke, drink a couple of cans a week.
Now I am reading don't eat certaiin fruits,don't eat certain nuts,.
I am a very basic eater and do not eat pasta raviolli,, lasagna etc etc but I love chicken , turkey,.The so called Diabetics diets I have read so far make it even more confusing and depressing.
I realise, althogh I dont understand, everyone is different but if someone has type 2 surely there is a diet available somehwere that is simple to follow and then I can focus more on my excersize routine.
As previously mentioned I had a knee replacement a couple of years ago and I am now cycling something like 7 miles a day 4/5 days a week, is this enough or should I do more.
Whilst I like to think I was being quite sensible with my food, after the first test some 6 weeks ago I stopped taking pure pomagrante juice which I have taken for 2 years 25ml everyday for its antioxidant value. I understand iit is high in sugar. I have stopped potatoes, the occasional biscuit, chocolate on special occasions.
I feel very very confused because I get the feeling that when I go to see the practice nurse she is going to advise sensible eating, regular excersize without saying anything specifice.
I realise this is somewhat of a whinging reply but please dont take it the wrong way, I thnk you all do a great job.. Thank you
 
I don't know if you want to follow something this strict but it will certainly improve your levels and it is well set out - here is the link to the thread which is all about it - called Viv's Modified Atkins Diet:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=18803

The main diet is on the first page.
On the second page are more details about what you can eat.
Hope this is helpful.
 
Hi,

We have all been where you are now and had mixed emotions and fears about the future with this chronic disease. If you didn't feel like this then you would be unusual.

The best thing that you can do is to avail yourself of a meter and test strips. Your Health Care Team may oblige but with increasing cuts in the NHS, some PCT's are reluctant to prescribe them for Type2's. This is the tool you need, how else will you know what you can and cannot eat?

Only you can sort out the management of your diabetes and it involves considerable testing in the first few months. I could describe my daily diet to you as could others but there would be marked differences in what we eat. It is an individual thing and there is no blueprint. A steep learning curve is ahead of you.

The complications that you dread can be averted or minimised once you gain control so try not to worry, I know that it is easier said than done.

Exercise does help the muscles take up the glucose and lower your blood sugars. I do not know how much, if any, weight you need to lose but keeping within the guidelines for your height, weight and age will also help.

Keep coming here and ask anything that you need to know. You can also have a rant or a moan if things are getting you down as we all understand those feelings.

Take care,

CC.
 
Thank you again,
I have printed off the Atkins diet which I am well please about having tried my own version of it before I am confident I could manage that ok but I have to say that I am probably about one stone overweight. I am 5' 6" and weigh 13.4.
If I remember grapefruit is not advised but can I safely say that I can each as much fruit as I enjoy, is ther any fruit other than grapefruit that I cant have.
Thank you
 
I just wrote a long post but had a visitor and got timed out - lost it when I posted! So a condensed version -

If you get a carb counter book (Calorie Carb & Fat Bible 2011 or Collins Gem Carb Counter, which is less accurate but more portable) you can look up the amount of carbs in your favourite fruit. Look up what you eat in a 'normal' day, and add up the carbs - you might be surprised!

If you choose to follow my Modified Atkins Diet to the letter, fruit is out while you are on 20g carb per day. But, if you choose to take in more carbs (and you may want to eat 50g or 70g a day, or whatever level suits your blood glucose (BG)), you could always add them in by eating fruit. But you still need to test until you know how an individual food affects your BG. Some people can eat a banana; I can't, they spike my BG too high!

People who take statins are told not to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice; there can be an adverse effect. Half a grapefruit has about 8g carb.

Don't let things (or people) scare you! It's a complicated subject, but once you get your head round it, it's not too difficult! My 90+year-old friend still has her eyesight, her kidneys and her feet!

There are other ways of controlling BG than low-carb - have a look at the non-low carb diet thread to see other people's opinions. I think most of us do restrict our carbs to some extent, only some eat more carbs than others. Different things suit different people.

Two books from the low-carb approach that I have found useful are Jenny Ruhl's Blood Sugar 101 (American figures but has a conversion chart) and Vernon and Eberstein's Atkins diabetes revolution.

You know what your fasting blood glucose levels were when you had your OGGTs. Get a meter and strips, and do a fasting test every morning, first thing when you open your eyes. Test before and 2 hours after each meal so you can see what individual foods do to your BGs.

Has your doctor asked for an HbA1c test for you yet? If so, get the results from him so that you can keep your own records and see where things are going by the next one, which should be in 3 months time. You should also have had your feet checked (in my case by the practice nurse) and have your eyes checked for retinopathy. These two are normal practice, done annually, so that 'they' have a baseline against which to monitor your condition.

Try not to worry too much. I think you've had an early warning, and there is absolutely no reason why you can't take control and stay in control. From my own point of view, as I've said elsewhere, Type 2 diabetes has been one of the best things that's ever happened to me!

Viv 8)
 
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