Feeling so lost...

Hi, it's me again, I responded to your other thread . In your position I got a little notebook and started writing down all my reading with times and comments about what I had eaten. Gradually it all started to make sense.
It took about three months of careful carb control for my BS to return to normal levels. They did fall consistently though, as long as I monitored my carb levels.
I aim for 8grams at breakfast less than 20 at lunch and the same dinner about 6 in snacks and drinks.
As they say, keep calm and carry on.at first one feels helpless , then it all starts to make sense, honest.

Hi Lisa,

I don't have any experience of the Victoza, though I also use Lantus Solo Star. Does it help to know that it's quite normal to feel shell-shocked after diagnosis? I agree with the advice to write things down (I used a pocket diary). You have to get quite methodical about it and make a note of what you're eating and then test before and 2hrs after your main meals.

By doing this you'll see which foods you respond badly to. You don't need to eliminate carbs straight away - just pull back on your potatoes, rice, pasta and bread and you should see an effect on your levels within a few days. Then there will be a gradual but recordable downward trend - it can be quite subtle which is why you're writing everything down. Suddenly you'll find yourself in single figures and hopefully feeling a lot better.

You are on insulin so can go low if you're not careful. Keep your meter to hand and if you feel rubbish then test (and eat if you have gone too low).

Good luck

S

It is Difficult LisaB84 but you are not alone!!
Make a note of what you eat for eveniing meal and your morning test results then vary it.try not to have to many carbs at night.
Good luck you will get it but it takes time!!!!! X

to lisab... i was also on victoza for about a year and a bit, my readings were not as hoped and wanted insulin--nurse said to put me on lantus once a day, along with my metformin 5002xs BUT SHE insisted i had to go off the victoza first-- said it was not ok to be on both at the same time... perhaps checking up on this might be a sensible thing to do, perhaps with another doctor or perhaps even better the chemist.... and like others have stated feeling lost at first is normal, esp. since there is so much contradictory advice out there--wait till you get into the carb -no carb-lo carb issues--be prepared for frustration--the internet is a useful tool up to a point--it's only really helpful if you are prepared to chase up all counter arguments to each issue and then double check again.. this forum helps loads, as you can get almost instant feedback from folks that are actually experiencing similar situations to yourself..just remember when you have the information that's good for you--you can control your health by making the right choices, and not being shy to ask for or to demand clarity on any issue that's worrying you.. there are too many of us out here to let you get lost !! rest & relaxation are good tools..

Hi Lisa and welcome to the forum

As you see, there are lots of members here who can help you so just ask all the questions you like. This information which we give to new members may help you and gives some advice on carbs which will be useful to you now.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 30,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

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

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.