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Feeling optimistic for 2017 - Type 2

A

Angela17376

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello,
I've hovered around this site for a few weeks now. I was diagnosed in November 2016. After feeling unwell for around two weeks due to a raging unquenchable thirst and frequent trips to the loo, which I found debilitating, I finally saw my GP in mid Nov. After a urine test which detected glucose and a finger prick test, indicating blood sugar in the thirties, I was referred to Accident and Emergency.

I was diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes and after seeing the emergency doctor and the DSN, who told me that the hydrocortisone, that I take for a non functioning pituitary tumour, is known to increase BG. I was shown how to inject insulin and finger prick to test blood sugar. I felt completely overwhelmed and in a state of shock. I went home armed with, Metformin, insulin, BG monitor and leaflets.

The DSN has been brilliant and was available on the phone, to adjust my insulin dosage. She has referred me to the diabetic service in the community but I can still telephone her if I need to.

This is not intended as a criticism of the care received so far but if I hadn't come across this site, I would have been ignorant about the importance of controlling my carb intake.

The advice and the information on this website, is giving me the confidence to better manage my health. I can't pretend this is easy as my diet was carb heavy and a massive reduction in this doesn't feel like a natural habit yet but I feel in a better place than I did in November when I felt consumed with negative emotions. I realise to move forward in 2017 I need to count my blessings, not my misfortunes. Happy new year to everyone
 
@Angela17376 - Hello and Welcome to the Forum :). Ask away as many questions as you need. There will always be someone to answer. I will tag @daisy1 who will provide you with some basic information.
 
happy new year to you as well... I also had a very carb loaded eating style before diagnosis... and even bought 2 kg of toffee for myself as my daughter had her last school day where they throw toffees at all the younger kids ... 2 kg for me and 2 kg for her to throw , and besides that I loved bread and very frekvently ate pizzaes and drank Coca cola with them...

this kind of eating is over and out for me forever.... ! and feeling much better and healthier now is worth it all.... now 1 piece of toffee is a luxery... .. and only had a few in tis Christmas..
 
@Angela1736 welcome and happy new year i also been diagnosed in nov 16 and with help of his site already managing very well and reduced my tablets.
 
Hi and Welcome to the forum.
I was only diagnosed 3 months ago and this forum has been incredibly valuable. If you have any questions just ask there's always someone with advise.
Hope you continue with your good work you have done so far and 2017 is a good year for you and your diabetes.
 
@Angela17376

Hello Angela, Happy New Year and welcome to the forum :) Here is the basic information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. It contains a lot of advice on low carbing and levels and a link to the Low Carb Program which you could join - it's free! Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 220,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
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