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Gentle please!!!

Z

zen

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Hi, I was diagnosed little over a week ago as Type 2. Whilst I kind of expected to be diabetic eventually, it has come a little earlier than expected,I was under the impression I had another 10-15yrs. My diabetes has come about as a result of an operation I had almost 4 yrs ago. I had the 'Whipples' as I have Gardiners Syndrome.

I am a bit concerned about my levels, I have browsed the various topics on here and not found anybody with levels as high as mine!!! My readings have been as high as 22.1 today. My hba1 test was 8.8, and my practice nurse has told me to go away and do my tests for the next 2weeks and then when I go back we will sit down and work out my medication. I must also add that she needs to talk to a specialist, because of all the other medication I currently take. And she will also send me to a dietician, as they need to work out how my present diet will haveto change. It's a bit of a nightmare to behonest and I'm getting rather stressed out.
Anyway enough of that for now.I trust that I am in good hands and will get some advice from those who are a bit more experianced in this.
Regards
Zen
 
Hello Zen

Welcome to the forum, forgive my ignorance but what is the Whipples and Gardiners Syndrome?

If you have a look at my post in Success Stories viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3763&hilit=success+stories you will see that I was actually higher than 22 so do not despair you can fight back from that.

Read as much in this forum as you can, ask questions, all you want, there is always someone here to give you support, encouragement and expert advice.

A good starting point would be this link here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3527&p=18539#p18539

Get hold of two books, Dr Bernstein The Diabetes Solution and Dr Charles Clarke The Diabetes Revolution (<<< this book is really easy to understand and you can even read it in a day, and if you order it from amazon its actually on special offer at the moment).

All the best

Karen
 
Hi Zen,

I was diagnosed on Friday and my Hba1 was 8.3, so not far off yours, so don't worry :) I don't remember the other number as I didn't really take it all in if i'm honest. I don't really know what i'm doing yet, have to phone tomorrow to make an appt with the diabetic nurse, but so far my doc put me on metformin twice a day. There is so much info on this forum and from what i've seen the ppl are great and very helpful, so don't feel stressed or alone anymore :)

Welcome to the forum

Becca
 
Thanks for the replies. I have a very open mind when it comes to all this, having been prodded, examined and questioned for the last 6 years. Gardiners Syndrome is an hereditary disease, but also very rare(thank goodness). Basically it adds up toa culmination of growths both on and in the body/organs. the most prominent bit is Polyposis Coli, that results in colon cancer if left untreated. The whipples is the Medics term for a 'Pancreaduodenectomy'. It involves the removal of the Gallbladder, Duodenum and varying amounts of the Pancreas, hence the inevitable route to diabetes. I am a quite posative person and look upon the fact that I am still alive and have some quality of life, unlike others who may feel sorry for themselves in this position. I have a 7yr old son who relys on me to be there for him, and so that is my biggest driving power.
I am just a little miffed it has happened so quick though. However I will take it on the chin and just adapt.
I looked at your success post, and would be interested in what alternatives there are to potatoes, rice and pasta. I am aware of the need to change to wholemeal/grain alternatives but would be gratefull for any other pointers you guys'n'gals could enlighten me with.

Already feel a little more posotive, and to think I only came across the forum by chance, I am eternally gratefull for the advice thus far and to come.
Many thanks
Regards
Zen
 
Normally we suggest reducing the amount of carbohydrate you eat and eating plenty vegetables,proteins etc but it will depend on what you can eat.Are there any foods that are restricted for you?
 
As a result of the operations I have had, I have no small bowel, duodenum, or gall bladder. And my pancreas as best I know I only have about a third left.
This means I have to go easy on Fibre and certain vegetables that cause wind. I also take Lanzoprasole to reduce acid as I don't have the ability to break it down, I have to take enzymes to supplement that. I eat at certain times of the day, and try not to eat much after teatime. I try to make my diet consist of as much stodgy food as possible as this helps.
To be honest, it is already a bit of a nightmare, and can see this only adding to it, but I will manage somehow, I have to.
Thats one of the reasons I am glad came across this site and the forum, it comes across as a very good place for advice and tips.

Zen
 
Hi Zen,

Has your health team discussed insulin with you yet?

You may well need an extra push of the stuff when so much of your pancreas and beta cells have been removed.

As always, the best things to get your blood sugars under control are:

low carb diet (so your pancreas has less work to do)
resistance exercise training (only works if you are insulin resistant. If you are thin, this won't do the trick).
keep stress down. (knowing you have support here can help a lot.)

The more "type two" factors you have, the more chance there is to avoid insulin use. Pancreatectomy folks have a lot more in common with type one's though.

Does this help?

Welcome to the forum.

Katharine.
 
Hi Zen

My - you do have a lot to deal with! I can't advise on your health as I only know about diabetes.

Since I've found this forum, I really feel encouraged, there's a lot of folk here willing to listen and help. It has helped me a lot. I hope the folk here can help and encourage you too!

Orchid x
 
Just a little update. Saw Endocronologist last week and he's started me on Metformin SR, and Glamipramide to supplement it. Well it's slowly beginning to chip away at the readings as I'm now down into the mid to high teens as opposed to twenties!!!

Weight wise have lost approx approx 2 1/2 stone since January. Am now 19st 12lb, (bearing in ming I'm 6ft 6ins). So going on dieticians reccomendation only another 1st 12lb to go.

Many thanks for the advice from various ppls on here, has been much appreciated.

Oh and Sugerless Sue, by stodgy I mean Pasta,rice, Mash, cous cous, bananas. All the things we need to try to avoid !!!
 
zen said:
Just a little update. Saw Endocronologist last week and he's started me on Metformin SR, and Glamipramide to supplement it. Well it's slowly beginning to chip away at the readings as I'm now down into the mid to high teens as opposed to twenties!!!

Weight wise have lost approx approx 2 1/2 stone since January. Am now 19st 12lb, (bearing in ming I'm 6ft 6ins). So going on dieticians reccomendation only another 1st 12lb to go.
Click to expand...

Well that's a start but I'm somewhat amazed they are trying to wring the last drops of insulin out of what remains of your pancreas rather than putting you on injected insulin, I thought that was pretty much par for the course after a Whipple's.
 
Welcome! What a lot to deal with :shock:

As far as stodge goes, I have made some radical changes by reducing pasta significanly and potatoes have been almost eliminated :(

However, there are other kinds of stodge :D bulgar/cracked wheat/taboleh is one, buckweat (a seed), quinoa (another seed), barley and oats (beware of the different forms of oats, some are not good stodge)...

I suspect that testing your blood sugar to see how you react is going to be pretty essential for you... But I'm a newbie here too and don't really know what I'm talking about yet, but I'm getting there.
 
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