Fed up need inspiration.

[Janz234567]

I am newly diagnosed, (12 December 2013) so since then I've been on a low carb diet. My diagnosis 'score' was 7.3. But DN told me there's no such thing as borderline anymore so I was given the diagnosis. She gave me a test meter straight away and I dieted for 8 weeks before having another hbA1c test where the result showed a significant improvement but I had to follow virtually an Atkins style diet to achieve that. DN was still not satisfied so started me on Metformin which I have now taken for almost a month with side effects of daily bouts of diarrhoea, but I thought I could start to introduce more carbs to my diet, however the mere sniff of carbs still sends my average up. My 7 day average fasting readings have come down to 6.1 if I don't eat carbs, Now she's warning me to watch my fat intake for cholesterol numbers which are about to go out of the normal range and has threatened me with statins. What I wanted to say is I've really found it a hard slog, I suffer from depression and this counting numbers , testing every day, consulting lists and constantly trying to find something different to eat is taking it's toll and making my depression worse. I'm fast coming to the conclusion that there's more to life than being bullied by health professionals who are adhering to NICE or NHS guidelines, although I know they are only doing their job. One of the worst problems is having to cook for my non-diabetic husband. He's been so good, going along with my dieting, saying he could do with loosing a bit of weight anyway. But ....there's a limit to how inventive I can be with every type of salad or combination of vegetables together with lean meat you can think of and it's all becoming very frustrating. I spoke to an acquaintance who is diabetic and he said he can only dream of my BG readings, and yet I obsess about a point 5 increase because I'm afraid of the lecture I'm going to get after my next blood test. I really feel like saying sod it and walking away from it all. (My eye tests and all other health checks are normal by the way, I was picked up on a routine blood test, no illness) . I know there are thousands of patients who are far worse off than me, but do I really need to be going through this on the off chance that something may or may not happen in the future. Jan, aged 63. General health good apart from depression. (Also a breast cancer survivor) .

 

[janewatt]

Hello.

I feel for you as you've really worked hard at the diet to get (successfully) your hbA1c down - Well done.
It sounds as if you are happy with your progress, and your real anxieties are about seeing the DN. Hard to know why she's being so hard. What were your actual figures?

Does she know you were virtually on an Atkins Diet? I wonder if she is suspicious of this with the high fat content and so is pressuring you with cholesterol scares. Get your exact figures and compare with norms yourself. If your hbA1c is going down you have to be on the right track, but if it was very high on diagnosis it's usual to prescribe Metformin as well. Have you spoken to her about the side effects? Adjustments and changes could be made.

Regarding diet - have a look on the Forum - people post some interestingly different recipes. Think about what you and your husband really like to eat and try and adapt these to a lower carb way of eating. Ask people on here for specific ideas. Are you sure lowcarbing is the best way for you? Many people find that portion control is key to success. The important thing is to find a way of eating that suits your health and lifestyle. I too find weighing and counting all the time depressing. It can also make it easier to feel you've failed.

I think it's worth continuing with the DN and trying to get her to acknowledge your success. At the end of the day, if you're satisfied with your progress, that's "good enough". It's worth benefitting from the regular checks, etc.

Do you talk to anyone about your depression? - if you do it could be good to discuss the situation with them.
You have enough anxieties with the new diagnosis and your past ill health, so it seems a waste of energy to have to worry about the DN's reaction to your results. And energy can be in short supply with depression.

Please try to relax a bit with this. It sounds like you're doing fine.

Keep it up

Jane.

 

[sally and james]

Don't give up! The life of constant testing and looking up lists does pass. You will get to know what you can and can't eat, without having to check up all the time. And then you will reach a point when you no longer like the old food. My husband (the diabetic in the marriage) had been saying that the one thing he really, really missed was pasta, so last night we decided to have a modest quantity, for the first time in many months, and test before and after. He ate his, reluctantly, because we wanted to test it, and I left mine and concentrated on the delicious vegetable sauce. Neither of us could think why we used to enjoy the horrible tasteless, stodgy stuff!
Sally

 

[Janz234567]

Hi, thanks for your kind comments. This week I am still having bouts of diorrhoea and suffering dreadfull indigestion despite taking omeprazole to counteract anti-inflamatories. I think the diorrhoea might be from eating so much salad and veg! Not sure, I'm trying to correlate it to what I eat. When it comes there's no holding it back, it gushes! Sorry too much information. Numbers .. Well my first Hba1c was 67 in early December. In early feb it was 57. DN says this translates to 7.3 on her chart. I know people give out Different readings on here but that's the way she gave them to me . Quite honestly she spouts numbers at me without pause for breath and I struggle to understand what it all means. Liver and kidney function were normal. These tests were before starting Metformin. My next Hba1c wii be in about a months time. I have lost 10lbs in weight since Christmas. Now weigh 11st. My collesterol recently was 5.3. I know theres good and bad collesterol but again she flew over the numbers then said we might have to think about putting you on statins. I said no, I'd rather wait and see what happens after making more changes to my diet. She is going to phone me on Wednesday to ask about my diorrhoea before deciding whether to prescribe slow release Metformin after I asked her about this last week after reading some of the posts on here. I am hoping that if she is satisfied with the next tests and puts me on repeat prescription I won't have to keep attending the compulsory clinic appointments as I find it quite stressful just to leave the house these days.
Last weekend I gave in to temptation and had paella, since then I can't get my daily test down to under 6.3. Husband says I should just accept the related health checks and so long as they are ok then just do my own thing and not worry too much about the daily numbers. After all the Hab1c is the ultimate average test and that's what counts. The DN is not an unfriendly person, she's just doing her job, but my GP practice is in an area where I suspect that to give a patient an inch they will take a mile and that the practice nurses have become immune to excuses and demands so they do come over a bit unsympathetic. The hard part for me is the daily stress of dealing with depression which I cope with in my own way, I no longer take meds for that. I just wish I had never gone to my GP last year for an arthritis check up where I got caught up in a round of blood tests one of which was BG . I would rather have remained in ignorance I think.

 

[Janz234567]

Don't give up! The life of constant testing and looking up lists does pass. You will get to know what you can and can't eat, without having to check up all the time. And then you will reach a point when you no longer like the old food. My husband (the diabetic in the marriage) had been saying that the one thing he really, really missed was pasta, so last night we decided to have a modest quantity, for the first time in many months, and test before and after. He ate his, reluctantly, because we wanted to test it, and I left mine and concentrated on the delicious vegetable sauce. Neither of us could think why we used to enjoy the horrible tasteless, stodgy stuff!
Sally

The thing we miss most is mash potato and rice, tried the wonder recipe, mashed cauliflower and cheese, which us supposed to be the best substitute but I couldn't digest it and was up all night feeling sick.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

Hi Jan

I remember you from my diagnosis thread back in January. Sorry to read you are fed up.

Your DN is not the boss of you. You will find a way that suits you and your family life. Diabetes control is a very individual thing.

I agree with Sally and James. You will not have to count and check lists forever. It will soon become second nature. My top tip is to save any recipes for bg friendly, tasty meals you enjoy. Having such a folder will make meal planning less stressful. I feel some days now I am spoiled for choice!

What kind of metformin are you on? This could be causing your diarrhea. If you are not on the slow release version, ask your doctor for it. It will stop you running to the loo and stop you losing the nutrients in the food you are eating.

There are some great recipe ideas on here that you and your husband may enjoy. Best wishes.