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Diagnosed Last Week. Feeling Let Down...and Lots More

B

BaffledGary

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I don’t really know where to begin.

Three and half years ago I was told that I’m pre diabetic. I didn’t get any other information from the nurse, just the same old lose weight blah. They never contacted me for another screening, so being a man I buried my head in the sand and carried on.

I think it was early 2014 when I started to notice the classic symptoms of t2. Insatiable thirst, and a gold medal in the peeing event. Again stupidly buried my head. Then I went to the opticians and had my eyes tested and got my new scrip for the specs and at 1st they was great but after a while I noticed I couldn’t see properly through them so went back to the optician and told her. She said… there are two causes; one is that it’s just a thing with our eyes, and the 2nd is diabetes. At this point I decided that head buying wasn’t a good idea, and tried to make an appointment with my usual doc, only to be told I now live outside their catchment area and would have to register at a practice nearer to me. So I went off to the local practice and was given an appointment with the nurse, in 3 months…… subsequently I went to the nurse and she registered me and weighed me etc, but didn’t mention diabetes. I know I should have told her but I just wanted to get out of there. That was early 2016.

Around may I got a letter from the nursing team suggesting I go for a blood test as my medical records show im an high risk of t2. So I ring them and make an appointment in July. Great I got to see the nurse two days later and she duly took a massive vat of my blood for testing, and I thought she said she will phone me on Friday with the results… Friday came and went no phone call, Monday to Thursday following week came and went same, no phone call, so I phoned instead, and asked… oh blood test results can you phone after one but before 2pm.. so the next day I did and was told… oh yes, make an appointment with your doctor when you can…. I phoned the automated service and got an appointment with a doctor in 4 weeks.

On the day of my appointment I arrived at the surgery full of dread, I knew what was coming deep down. As I waited for my name to be buzzed up on the screen for me and all the surgery waiting room to see, my mind was racing with all worries that come with being t2.. amputations, prodding and pokings, eye tests, blood tests, trying to manage my diet, which is what has lead me to this horrible situation to start with, what will I replace all my favourite starchy carbs with.. im doomed to a life of starvation and deprivation, and lots more feeling sorry for myselfness.

Finally my names up.. Gary e to the red room…. I knock and enter… the doctor then asks me what he can do for me K I said well I’ve been asked to see you about my blood test results… he looks at the computer screen, ahh yes.. you had a blood test… FOUR WEEKS ago! i nodded, not quite sure what to say… then he said.. well you are diabetic, and it will need to be controlled by tablets and he prints off a prescription for me. Then goes on to tell me about why im diabetic and what foods I cant eat, just as I suspected no spuds, no bread no pasta no rice no cakes chocolate pastry or anything I the world that is nice. ( I’m paraphrasing) then asks me if I understood what he’s just told me… I nod.. like the dog from the insurance advert. Then ohh better do your bp while youre here… two arm crushing readings later.. well that’s a little higher than we like for people with diabetes.. bottom reading was around 100. He looks at the screen again and says I can’t understand why they didn’t do a liver function test when they did your blood sugar one. Make an appointment with the nurse for that. He then prints off my prescription and sends me on my way..

That was the Tuesday a week today.

Since then I’ve been left reeling in my head. How will I cope, with the new diet, how will I remember to take my tablets every day .. How will I cope with the prodding and poking from the diabetes care team. Ive shed more than a few self-pitying tears, but inside I know there’s only one person to blame and that’s my self. 16 years of stuffing myself with my favourite grub and not thinking about the consequences has finally bore its revenge.

Should I do what the doctor said and simply cut out all the starchy carbs? Isn’t there a good alternative to them? I know I need to lose weight. That’s been apparent all my life. I think this diagnosis is the final straw for me. I’m not sure how I’ll cope with the diet restrictions. If I fancy anything bad I just think about having a leg ulcer or something nasty and the craving goes.

So the points on life’s rail track have been changed for me and the tunnel has no light at the moment.

I hope I can manage it, and keep it under control.. I know it wont be easy though.
 
I'm sorry you've had this diagnosis. You've kind of suspected it for quite a long time, so at least now you know and can start to think positively about some changes. I can see your sense of humour in the way you write, :) and I'm sure you know that it's not going to be all doom and gloom. When you get your blood sugar under your control, you will start to feel much better. As for your diet, you will still be able to eat nice things. You might be interested in checking out www.dietdoctor.com for help with diet, but also there's a brilliant section on this forum for how to make your diet work better for you. Ask lots of questions on the forum. There are lots of people ready to help you.
 
Hi Gary, and welcome to the forum.

Most of us here have been through the same feelings you are having, but believe me, they will pass and you will come to look on this diagnosis as the kick in the bum you needed. It can be a big challenge, but if you turn the negatives in to positives it will become a lot less of a challenge and a new beginning.

Diet is the key, and I am amazed you found a doctor telling you to cut those starchy carbs. That is a rare thing, so stick with him. He sounds a good'un. There is plenty of help with diet on these forums, and plenty of things to read. The website runs a low carb programme, which you may be interestred in and should help you.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/lowcarb/?utm_source=hp&utm_medium=dd&utm_campaign=lcp

and there is a thread here for new comers to low carbing

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/a-new-low-carb-guide-for-beginners.68695/

Your first job should be to ask for print outs of your blood test results (HbA1c - the type 2 diagnostic test, cholesterol and lipids, liver and kidney functons and so on) You need to know where you are starting from so you can compare matters further down the line. You will be having regular blod tests now for the rest of your life, so do keep your own records. Never rely on doctors to tell you. All they say is "you are fine" or "you are diabetic". you need to know how fine and whether you are improving.

Your second job is to buy a blood glucose meter. This will be your best friend and will tell you if the food you are eating is OK for you personally, or not OK. Many of us here use the Codefree because it has the cheapest test strips. Other meters are available, but beware of the cost of replacement strips. They can be very expensive, and you will need a lot.
Try here for the Codefree meter

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/

Pharmacies don't sell them, and don’t forget to declare you are diabetic in order to avoid any VAT.

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833

Good luck in your journey, and don't forget to ask questions. :)
 
Your post made me smile and thought that's how most of us react.
When I was diagnosed, I thought I had a life sentence. I came to this forum and it has helped alot.
I had alot of support from the members, but the best advise that I was given was to buy a meter. Now that is my best friend.
Now two years down the line, I am now eating half of what I used to eat, lost weight, and my sugar levels have come down. In fact when I have my next blood test in december/January, and if it's come down again, there's talk of me coming of the victoza, then to stop the metformin. In the beginning, I admit was hard, but now I find my diet easy. I do still miss sweet stuff occasionally.
We are here to help you
 
Hi Gary

Sorry to hear how you've reacted to the news that you're diabetic. Yes, it sounded all doom and gloom to me when I thought of what foods I'd have to forego. I've got an incredibly sweet tooth, always have had, and am overweight. I have been so down about it that even coming the this forum, I'd be in tears as I just felt I couldn't cope with the necessary diet.

Of course, Type 2's are told they don't need to test. Being a retired nurse, I couldnt see any way forward without testing, so I bought myself a meter (SD Codefree is a reasonable price and the test strips are the least costly, so worth considering). I tested when I thought it would be most meaningful, ie before and after meals, but that became a bit tedious especially as I wasn't committed to being more selective as to what I ate.

It wasn't until I was prescribed Glipizide, a tablet that increases insulin production, that the GP was obliged to prescibe a meter and test strips so I should test before driving a car. At last, I felt the GP, and particularly the Diabetes Nurses at the surgery, were taking this seriously. After gaining weight with the start of Glipizide, I finally decided this wasn't good so started to reduce the carbs I ate. It's been a reasonably gradual process in reducing carbs but my weight is steadily dropping and my blood sugars are generally within good range. My last Hba1c dropped so much that my GP was astonished. He didn't ask how I'd done it, though, but said my loss of weight would have done that! Yea, right!!! I doubt they would be pleased to learn I've reduced carbs and upped fats so I won't be volunteering the information. I've not felt much support from the Diabetes Nurses, I have to say.

I am enjoying my 'new' diet as there are some benefits, main one being I can enjoy a small amout of fresh fruit and cream :) Also, I like cheese, meats and veg. I've actually come to really enjoy salads - with all sorts of raw vegs chucked in and olive oil based dressings.

So, there is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get your head around this in your own time. Don't beat yourself up about it or let yourself feel guilty about it. You'll find your way. Believe me, it took me a while. I wasn't in denial, but I just wasn't ready to change. Now I have, I feel so much better than I have for a long time. I've no doubts I'll fall of the wagon frequently but just hope I can pick my self up and get back on there again before too long. I know I'm not alone re falling of the wagon. Most of us will likely do it at some time or other so don't fret.

We're all in this together. There are many folks on here who have so much knowledge, and experience, and are happy to share so do ask questions etc.

Good luck on your journey, Gary:)
Julie
 
Hi @BaffledGary

I guess I was lucky as I had already found this site before being "officially" diagnosed, so although my GP was next to useless at offering any real help or support, I already had formulated a plan after reading this forum.

This is a great place, loads of help and support, and you can gain control back quickly if you accept the help on offer here.
 
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Your reaction is classic, so you could say so far everything is normal! You have a good Dr that tells you to move away from starchy carbs (I want one of them) As for your concerns about prodding and poking, there wont be much of that. While you will be visiting your surgery a lot more that before it will still only be for 4 hours a year, for the other 8,756 hours it will be just be you and yourself:)
ou have made a great start to a very long journey, good luck!
 
oh you peeps are lovely. ive ordered a meter and some strips and will check out the other links and advice. thanks so much, i dont feel so alone now.
 
@BaffledGary - Hell and Welcome to the Forum. Just take one day at a time. Don't overload your mind with too much information, if in doubt about anything? Ask questions on the Forum.
 
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