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Feeling happy

Birdy

Active Member
Messages
40
New here and to Diabetes.

Diagnosed type 2 following GP appointment mid-March 2014. Was testing between diagnosis and seeing Nurse at GP practice and BG was between 14-23 (am a nurse myself) and diagnosis HBA1C was 84. Knew before result due to thirst+++, urinating+++ and very blurred vision.

Not much info at appointment and am awaiting dietician appointment. Nurse said may need Insulin due to BG level but started Metformin 500mg twice a day. Also prescribed Simvastatin 20mg as fasting lipid was 8. Have not taken due to fear of side effect and due to Hypothyroid still being underprepared (a possible contributor to high Cholesterol). Was refused testing kit so purchased my own. Found this site and Diabetic friend most helpful and immediately commenced 'healthy eating' and exercise plan. Was unable to tolerate Metformin and switched to Metformin SR 500mg a day, which has been fine.

Since 1st appointment in early April I have managed to lose about 36 pounds in weight and fasting BG is 5-6 mmol/l and two hours after food is under 8 as a rule. Testing on waking and before/two hours after a meal has allowed me to take more control, as opposed to waiting for next HBA1C as suggested by Nurse. She was begrudgingly impressed by my progress and suggested that I stick to current Metformin dose rather than increase as planned.

I am wondering if any of the experienced forumites can tell me if they think I should push to come off the Metformin ASAP or continue as it has obviously helped, along with dietary and lifestyle changes and I am tolerating it well (I think it helps control my appetite).

For any other newbies who are feeling overwhelmed, just read what you can, take control and responsibility and embrace the opportunity to live a new healthy life. I am a 41 year old, married but no kids, very overweight (was 20 stone and 5 feet tall) fairly lazy (no exercise) person who works about 50 hours a week caring for others but neglected herself. Also have Hypothyroidism and PCOS. I am now a convert and get excited by stable BG and reducing waistline ! If I can do it anyone can!!! Even on my (current) two week all-inclusive 5 star hotel holiday in Turkey I have managed to stay fairly stable and have actually enjoyed exercising. Only problem is, now I have lost a little weight I think I am a size 12 (22-24 in reality) and have for the first time in many years abandoned the beach kaftan and am embracing the tankini and am humming 'sexy and I know it' as I strut to the pool. What people must think I don't know (or care). All I know is that I feel healthier than I have for years and have a Diabetes to thank for giving me the major boot up the backside I needed.

Anyway sorry for going on a bit, thanks for listening. Am open to any further advice and hope my story helps/encourages others as reading posts has helped me.

Ps. Strawberries, 1tbsp lighter creme fraishe and one square of grated very dark chocolate had been my saviour!

Peace and love.

Lilx
 
Hi Lil,

Glad you are feeling good about it.

One thing that I did spot which may be worth discussing with your Dr is the Simvastatin. I am guessing with Hypothyroidism you are on Levothyroxine.
There is sometimes an interaction with Simvastatin and Levothyroxine that results in the efficacy of the levothyroxine being reduced.

When I was first started on I was already on 225mcg of levothyroxine and so I chatted with my Dr who agreed and was happy to prescribe Atorvastatin, which has recently gone out of patent so the prices have dropped dramatically.

So just something to consider if you are worried about side effects with a statin since I believe all in all Atorvastatin has fewer and is a much more effective statin, and as of this year.. much cheaper

Have a great weekend and hope you continue to have a great holiday (jealous)

/A
 
Andy

Wow! Quick response.

Have negotiated that if Cholesterol levels not reduced by 3 month blood tests, by which time my increased Thyroxine dose will have hopefully kicked in as well as diet/exercise changes, then I will agree to DISCUSS Statins. I quoted the British Journal of Endocrinology research on the effects of hypothyroid on Cholesterol and bought myself a bit of time. Thanks for the advice, I will use this in evidence when/if my Cholesterol has not improved.

Cheers (sending you a ray of Turkish sunshine)

Lilx
 
Welcome, congratulations, and very pleased you are so chirpy!

What are you eating on your 'healthy eating' diet?
 
Oops hope I didn't come off as smug!

Porridge with berries and ground cinnamon for brekkie quite a big bowl to keep me going - seems ok for BG.

Salad, cottage cheese and prawns or salmon for lunch or brown rice and prawns for lunch and fruit.

Stir fry/baked salmon & veg/stew/ chicken & veg/lean steak & veg for dinner.

All very simple stuff (home made). Am lucky I looooovvveeee veg!!! Trying not to snack which has always been a habit. Reduced Diet Coke to 2 a day!!!! and buckets of water.

Treat myself with fruits (berries). Also very dark choc - 2 square. Indian take say once a week.

Have worked out that bread (any) seems to spike BG so try and avoid.

Trying to also do low fat/low cholesterol to reduce lipids.

Limiting to 1500 calories a day.

Seems to be working for weight and BG.

Also started exercise, 1st time for years. Managed 30 lengths of pool (3/5 mile) yesterday and walked 3 mile along the beach today. Not bad for an unfit fatty!

L
 
Ps. Was not this chirpy a few weeks ago! I thought people would laugh at me and thought this is my punishment for being fat. Have since taken the bull by the horns and been proactive to change. Husband having to come to terms with the new me!!!!!
 
Welcome - you sound like you've been on here for months already! And well done on your progress and positivity!

From your last post, be wary of low fat foods, they're usually higher in sugar than their full fat equivalents. Many T2s follow LCHF and find that this helps with cholesterol levels as well.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday in Turkey!
 
Goodness, didn't mean chirpy as a criticism! More of a pun on Birdy.

And the reason I asked about your diet was twofold - we learn so much from each other here, and I'm interested in hearing anything that works for anyone, in case I can incorporate a new idea into my eating.

The second reason is because I am a low carber, myself, and I'm always curious to see how much carbs other people can tolerate. I am very pleased for you that you can tolerate both porridge and rice in a single day. But I am also a teensy bit jealous too!

Oh, and keep up with the choc! Does wonders for morale.
 
"Since 1st appointment in early April I have managed to lose about 36 pounds in weight and fasting BG is 5-6 mmol/l and two hours after food is under 8 as a rule."
nice numbers I'd stay on the met, if that porridge is under 8, you are doing well. it would spike me
 
Oops sorry, missed the chirpy quip, being dull! Very good. Was more like dead budgie at the bottom of the cage a few weeks ago.

Yes am surprisingly fortunate with the porridge and rice however even smallest amount of bread shoots me skyward, which has been hard as I am a bread and cheese fiend.

In terms of low fat I eat no processed food at all now (sausage, bacon ready meals etc) and only the leanest of meat.
 
Found using Fitness Pal (with own nutrient settings eg carbs) really helpful.

Also downloaded 'Pacer' pedometer app. Three nights ago hadn't made my 10,000 step goal so did 10 laps of fifth floor of hotel before bed, much to husband's amusement/embarrassment. Just hope this particular 5 star hotel does not have CCTV in hallways as I looked a proper loonie.
 
Jack

Thanks for the advice. Gut feeling is to stick with the Metformin as that, along with the other changes seem to be doing good.

Am amazed at the 'if you eat properly and lose weight you can un-diabetic yourself' attitude of some friends, including some health professionals.

I am aware it is early days and am super-motivated at the moment and that the hard work is keeping up momentum in the long term, however feeling better and slimmer is a big motivator. As is hubby's promise to buy me a whole new wardrobe once my current clothes don't fit ( have been taking in everything I own) - Joe Brown's catalogue here I come. Off to Mexico on NYE for Mr Birdy's 50th so planning to be stable and shapely by then.
 
That
's ok, most of us here are loonies in some way... I mean really... who want's to be sane? Where's the fun in that?
 



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Peacetrain

Thanks for that. I do work very hard and long hours but the job is mentally draining but fairly sedentary.

Out of work I have become increasingly 'lazy' over the past 5 years, especially with exercise but also around the house. I know now that this has partly been due to my diet and partly due to thyroid failure/Diabetes (goodness knows how long I had been running BG of 18+, I dread to think). Also significant was the ageing of and death of my two fur babies (dogs) early last year - 10 weeks apart - (they were 5 and 17) as they made me more active.

Anyway, since my 'second chance at health' I have cut back my hours in work (after all I am only paid for 37 1/2 hours and infrequently take back lieu time), am eating better and feeling more energised, therefore more motivated to move my lardy ass and therefore no longer refer to myself as lazy.
 
Hi Birdy and welcome to this informative and friendly forum. I think you have a wonderful approach to your diabetes and am amazed at your achievements so far - go girl!! It is empowering when you see those bg's coming down and feeling fitter and more active certainly gets those happy endorphins running around. Looking forward to hearing how you progress - good luck for the future.
 
Julie

Many thanks for words of encouragement.

I had been loitering here for a few weeks, soaking up knowledge but felt too negative to post, however after 'getting a grip' I have felt so much more positive and thrown myself into 'beating the ******' rather than just accepting it, as I regularly advise my own patients and now feel, as you said, empowered.

Thanks to all for kind words. I hope as time progresses I can in turn offer advice and support to other newbies.

L x
 
Woah! Spoke a bit too soon.

Have had a strange few days. Still on holiday in beautiful Turkey. On Tuesday I did my 20 lengths of pool and felt pleased with myself, got out and after about 10 minutes felt like my arms and legs were out of control and twitching. BG was 3.8 so had an ice cream and a banana and resolved. I am only on Met so did not expect this although have had a couple of 4.1 and felt wobbly.

Anyway recovered but dropped to 4.1 again late evening after a hearty tea of Turkey, veg and (small) mash and cheese and fruit. Went to bed feeling a bit nauseous only to wake at 4am with 'Turkey Trots' ie. profuse diahorrea and projectile vomiting (sorry to those who are squeamish) which continued for 36 hours. Have been unable to eat anything at all until early evening today when I managed a handful of salted Pringles (the only thing I could face). I have been sipping on flat Pepsi (not diet) and water++ and have tested regularly maintaining between 4.8 and 6.3. I did not take my Met today or yesterday as it upsets my tummy without a good dose of food and was worried it may drop me even lower.

I regularly have tummy trouble, home or away as I have severe, chronic, constant IBS(D) (since 1995) and take multiple meds to manage but I must admit that this time it totally freaked me out with the whole new Diabetes thing added in and I was mentally preparing myself for a Turkish hospital admission.

I am feeling somewhat better tonight and hope that I can enjoy my last day tomorrow and be okay for my flight back to Wales on Sunday.

Any thoughts from you experienced Ds on the possible cause of this odd '?hypo', was it related to oncoming bug? Also, any ideas on managing BG during future episodes of D and V (of which I am sure there are many). All advice gratefully received.




Lily Bird - Type 2 Diabetes 2014/Hypothyroid 2009/IBS 1995/PCOS 1992 - other than that I'm fighting fit!!!
 
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