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Diagnosed 2 days ago and am a bit worried

BrendanM

Newbie
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2
Hi All

I was diagnosed with type 2 a couple of days ago, I was tested 8 months ago and given the all clear.

I am worried because my readings are so high.

first 24, then after fast 19

I took my first metformin tablet last night.(500mg)
This morning I had pins and needles in a few fingers, I still have this but it has faded quite a lot over the day.

I have not yet seen a doctor only a nurse.

My doctors appointment is on Tuesday.

I bought a test kit earlier today and my results were 15.8 and 21.4 after a ham sandwich.

Looking on the internet I can't find anyone with such high readings and this concerns me.

I suppose Tuesday is pretty quick to see a doctor but it feels like an age to me.


Best wishes
Brendan
 
Hang in there, Brendan! You don't have to wait long for an appointment, and in the whole scheme of things another couple of days with high readings won't really affect your future. When you've sorted out what's what with the doctor you can start to take as much control as you can. Have a look round here and find out what works for lots of us. Even if you are taking some tablets, it makes a great deal of sense to eliminate some carbs from your diet while you get control. Maybe for longer, but that's your decision when things settle down a bit. It's scary at first but it becomes more normal as the weeks pass. Just ask anything you like and someone will have some suggestions. Everyone's very friendly!
DG
 
Don't Panic with your BG Readings example I started off with BG around 30
Metformin takes a bit of time to get into your system and start working, with me
just over a week to kick in , BG levels then started to drop

Some have tummy problems when starting the Metformin and for most will go in time
Take with your food to help with this and try not to take on a empty stomach

Obversely cut the sugar out 8)

Your GP and Nurse will explain things to you

Have a good look around here and come back and asked questions
 
Thank you both for your support.

I had an 8oz rib-eye steak with a few olives and rocket last night and then had my lowest reading of 8.3

Things are looking up a bit :-)

Today my readings are a little higher 11 & 12

Best wishes
Brendan
 
Here is the advice that Sue and I regularly give out to newly diagnosed Diabetic's. Should help to give you a head start for when you next see your GP/Nurse etc. BTW, Metformin will typically only drop your Bg levels by around 1 - 2 mmol/l, and that is when you are on the max dose. You will probably also have to change what you eat in combination with the Met to get better Bg levels.

Here is the advice we 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.

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

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......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 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. 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.


Ken / Sue.
 
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