Feeling downhearted

[LucyLark]

I really appreciated everyone's advice and support on my first post (written after a phone call with the nurse who started off telling me my condition was 'down to my lifestyle') and I'm now 3 weeks into my new diet regime.

To recap briefly, my son is T1 and I asked him to check my BS 3 weeks ago because I felt so awful and odd. It was 16.8. On subsequent days it was 11.6 and 12.8. I made an appointment with my surgery, then came straight here and read everything I could. I was totally convinced by everyone's advice and decided the thing to do was to go low carb.

Since then I've had virtually no flour, sugar, potatoes, rice, pasta etc. It's been easier than I thought it would be and I've been feeling positive about being healthier and not feeling so rubbish.

I have to say that in the meantime, I've had a bad arthritis flare, to the point that my hands are feeble & painful all the time. And I also had a couple of days of complete wipe-out, feeling awful and being unable to move; I don't know if there's anything connecting either to the diabetes. But other than that I haven't felt so thirsty or so foggy, which is great.

I had more blood taken yesterday, to get the second HbA1c number before a face-to-face appointment next Tuesday. My first, two weeks ago, was 89.

I'm not much looking forward to it; partly because the nurse who took my blood yesterday said "we'll get you on the tablets next week" and also because I tested my blood just now and it was 12.

Is this standard after 3 weeks of low carb? I think I expected it to have gone down more. I'm feeling less optimistic now, but maybe it will just take the time it takes and I shouldn't be expecting miracles overnight? Any words of encouragement very much welcomed! Should I accept the tablets but continue the low carb plan?

 

[xfieldok]

It does take a while to get your numbers down. If you have been high for a time it takes a while for your body to get used to your new regime

Are you testing before you eat and again 2 hours after?

 

[LucyLark]

It does take a while to get your numbers down. If you have been high for a time it takes a while for your body to get used to your new regime

Are you testing before you eat and again 2 hours after?

No, I haven't been testing except for the 3 times at the beginning, and then today, because I don't want to use up my son's strips! I should get my own really...

It's good to know that it might take a while. Is it worth going on Metformin in the meantime? I know that's what they will expect me to do. I am worried that I will be doing damage by having high numbers in the long term.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. It's always possible you are also T1 and whilst going low-carb will help it would not stop your BS climbing. Metformin will help a little and is very safe drug. Do get your own meter and if the BS keeps climbing do ask the GP for the two tests for T1.

 

[JenniferM55]

Yes, I think you should get your own BS meter, or maybe your own strip and lancets and borrow your son's meter? For a few weeks, or even a month or two, test your reaction to every meal and snack by testing before and one or two hours after eating. You'll soon find out which foods are spiking insulin.

Maybe get a nutrition app like myfitnesspal.com or fatsecret.co.uk (or .com), plan your meals through these apps to keep your carb load as low as possible. Or if you're handy, create a spreadsheet to keep track of the carbs you consume.

I was prescribed metformin, but after just 3 tablets with a pretty bad reaction, eg blurred vision, foggy brain and loss of control of bowels.... I thought 'blow that'! It's a conspiracy, either I control my BS though diet, or it's the metformin.... for me it's a 'big stick'! Some people find that metformin works for them, which is great.

Good luck on your 'voyage of discovery'

 

[Rokaab]

or maybe your own strip and lancets and borrow your son's meter?

It really best to have her own meter as well, since the sons meter is probably downloaded when he goes to his hospital appointments and it would mean his data that the hospital were looking at was not correct so using his meter is best avoided.

Edit: also note @LucyLark the HbA1c is an average of the last 3 months so two weeks of low carb may not make that much of a difference so don't be worried if it hasn't gone down.

 

[xfieldok]

Get your own meter, download the mysugr app and record your food and numbers. After a few days it will give you an estimated hba1c. This won't be accurate until you have been using it for a few weeks, but it is a great indicator and highly motivating.

 

[LucyLark]

It really best to have her own meter as well, since the sons meter is probably downloaded when he goes to his hospital appointments and it would mean his data that the hospital were looking at was not correct so using his meter is best avoided.

Edit: also note @LucyLark the HbA1c is an average of the last 3 months so two weeks of low carb may not make that much of a difference so don't be worried if it hasn't gone down.

I've been using his old and recently superseded meter, which wouldn't be downloaded at appointments; I wouldn't have scuppered any readings that were going to the hospital.

Good to know that the next HbA1c reading won't have been much affected by the last 3 weeks.

 

[Buzzer81]

I really appreciated everyone's advice and support on my first post (written after a phone call with the nurse who started off telling me my condition was 'down to my lifestyle') and I'm now 3 weeks into my new diet regime.

To recap briefly, my son is T1 and I asked him to check my BS 3 weeks ago because I felt so awful and odd. It was 16.8. On subsequent days it was 11.6 and 12.8. I made an appointment with my surgery, then came straight here and read everything I could. I was totally convinced by everyone's advice and decided the thing to do was to go low carb.

Since then I've had virtually no flour, sugar, potatoes, rice, pasta etc. It's been easier than I thought it would be and I've been feeling positive about being healthier and not feeling so rubbish.

I have to say that in the meantime, I've had a bad arthritis flare, to the point that my hands are feeble & painful all the time. And I also had a couple of days of complete wipe-out, feeling awful and being unable to move; I don't know if there's anything connecting either to the diabetes. But other than that I haven't felt so thirsty or so foggy, which is great.

I had more blood taken yesterday, to get the second HbA1c number before a face-to-face appointment next Tuesday. My first, two weeks ago, was 89.

I'm not much looking forward to it; partly because the nurse who took my blood yesterday said "we'll get you on the tablets next week" and also because I tested my blood just now and it was 12.

Is this standard after 3 weeks of low carb? I think I expected it to have gone down more. I'm feeling less optimistic now, but maybe it will just take the time it takes and I shouldn't be expecting miracles overnight? Any words of encouragement very much welcomed! Should I accept the tablets but continue the low carb plan?

My numbers went down quite gradually but this is as you regain insulin sensitivity..... I suppose everyone is different but I would encourage going for a few months before you accept medication.

I also felt pretty rubbish at first but started to even out when I got used to my diet and found out which carbs I could tolerate a bit of. Now I know I feel so much more empowered to fight this condition! Fingers crossed for you, remember we’re all I. This together and know how you feel!!! Keep strong and just keep seeing numbers go down

 

[DCUKMod]

@LucyLark - Well done on embracing a change in lifestyle so quickly. Sometimes the downside of doing that is feeling a bit off as your body objects to you rocking it's metabolic boat.

When you have made the changes you describe to your diet, I'm assuming you are filling those gas with something else? Your aching hands could be them rebelling against the changes.

As as aside, I'm having a flare up in aches in my hands at the moment. I have been doing some really heavy gardening over the last couple of months, and had blamed that, but I'm beginning to think I need to just think wider than that to foodstuffs or even (heaven forbid), rheumatoid factor.

As others have said, it can take a wee while for the blood numbers to moderate themselves, as our bodies will try to keep itself in it's old comfort zone, but unfortunately, that comfort zone needs to change.

When I was diagnosed with an A1c figure of 73, I decided to guide myself, using my meter readings. That meant I adopted a reduced carb diet, but I was guided by my blood sugar readings before eating, then a coupe of hours later.

Doing that I found there were some things I could cope with and others I had hoped would be OK, but just didn't agree with me.

Whichever approach you choose, good luck with it all.

Definitely get yourself a blood glucose meter and start testing - in a structured way, so that you can see which foods are your friends and which are better either out of or on the periphery of your life.

 

[Mrs T 123]

Hi & Welcome @LucyLark if you continue doing what you are doing ( low carb) and give it time - no drugs is possible - you can only give it a try - I and many others on here control our diabetes with diet and exercise only - have a look at my signature for encouragement - I was similar to yourself having HbA1c of 86 at diagnosis - I too didn't want to go on drugs and refused but only you can decide. Good luck.

 

[LucyLark]

Thanks everyone who replied! You've made me feel both better informed and reassured.

I had my appointment at the surgery today, and it went pretty well. They'd swapped seeing the diabetes team nurse for an appointment with the doctor so I was a bit worried it would be A Serious Talk, but actually it was fine.

My HbA1c was 77 today (down from 89 two weeks ago) which the doctor didn't remark upon. I mean, it's still very high, but I am extremely relieved it hadn't gone up, or even stayed the same. That's after 3+ weeks of low carb.
The doctor asked if I wanted to go on medication and I said no, I'd give it three months on diet alone. He said that was fine.
I told him it would be low carb, not low calorie, and he was fine with that too.
He did say that unfortunately not everyone could manage T2 on diet alone, and some people had to have medication; I wondered whether those diets were low cal or low carb, but I let it go!

I'm only having tea and coffee in the mornings, and making big salads for lunch. Sometimes a Greek yoghurt with blueberries and ground flaxseeds. Evening meals are lots of veggies, fish or meat. Snacks of olives, cheese, nuts. It's all pretty manageable so far; I'm lucky not to have a sweet tooth. My partner had a big plate of delicious looking tater tots and chilli sauce yesterday; I had two then was fine not to have any more: PHEW! Friends who've done keto have recommended electrolytes, so I am having a sugar-free tablet in water twice a day.

I have a niggling feeling I shouldn't have tooo much dairy with my history of gallstones and now apparently slightly high cholesterol, and I'm also worried about my achy hands & joints (which the doc said wasn't arthritis after all), but at the moment I'm reluctant to give up cheese! One step at a time, and I will see how I go.

I am also feeling much better in myself; brain fog is lifting, hands and feet not tingling any more, and I am not so exhausted. I am still having flare-up moments of weariness and pain, which may be related to all kinds of other things, but as the Dr said, with this diet my general health (fingers crossed) should improve...

 

[JoKalsbeek]

[...] I'm also worried about my achy hands & joints (which the doc said wasn't arthritis after all), but at the moment I'm reluctant to give up cheese! One step at a time, and I will see how I go.

...If you think your sore joints may be connected to dairy (mine are, it'll flare the rheumatism), but you don't want to give up cheese... You might want to try goat's cheese! I'm not much for the soft stuff, but the aged hard cheeses are really, really nice. And they don't ruin my fingers or hip. (Cow dairy however... Yikes.). Could be worth a try.

 

[LucyLark]

...If you think your sore joints may be connected to dairy (mine are, it'll flare the rheumatism), but you don't want to give up cheese... You might want to try goat's cheese! I'm not much for the soft stuff, but the aged hard cheeses are really, really nice. And they don't ruin my fingers or hip. (Cow dairy however... Yikes.). Could be worth a try.

Oooh, yes, thank you! I will give goat a go! My hands are really really bad at the moment.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Oooh, yes, thank you! I will give goat a go! My hands are really really bad at the moment.

Mine used to get so bad I had my hair cut short for years, because I couldn't hold a hair brush. Cutting out cow dairy made a huge difference. (I have long hair again, only a day of slight pain when I cheat and have a little cream with my espresso. Which doesn't occur often.). I hope you'll see improvement soon, because hands, oof... It's nice to be able to use them!