Greetings from another Newbie

Hi Noa
Well done with your Weight loss. I'm sure you'll find the Newcastle diet helpful .Read a little about it.
Like you I'm also newly diagnosed. HbA1c 82 . Blood sugar tests at home have been high. But I started Metformin yesterday (tues) and I've been so poorly .Vomiting and diarrhoea. So not the best start .I had it with food. Anyway I'll give it another go and hope it'll be better.

Keep going and don't give up .

Welcome to the forum @Noa and @Rosie B! It will be around 2.30 am in the UK, so probably not many forum members online now, but you should get more replies later.

@Noa Your type of diabetes (shown below your avatar) is shown as 'Insulin-dependent Type 2'. I gather from your post you have not been prescribed insulin. It would be best to change it to just 'Type 2' as forum members who are not on insulin themselves will be reluctant to give you any advice, as we don't know about insulin.
To change just go to your profile, click on 'personal details', and choose 'Type 2' in type of diabetes, and then click 'Save changes' at foot of page.

@Rosie B Metaformin often has those results initially, but they should go after about two weeks. If they persist you should ask your gp to prescribe the slow release version, Metaformin SR which is supposed to be without those side effects.
But if you can't cope with Metaformin, your HbA1c of 82 isn't very high. There are members on here with higher initial readings who have reduced their blood glucose by changing what they eat. Many find that adopting a Low Carbohydrate High Fat approach to eating has brought their figures down.

'Low Carbohydrate' means avoiding or limiting starchy carbohydrates like potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. Starchy carbs quickly turn to sugar in our bodies so aren't good for T2 diabetics. The energy you would have got from carbs is replaced by increasing intake of 'healthy fats' like oily fish, dairy products, avocados, olive oil and nuts. Protein is good too - meat, fish and eggs.

Have a read round the threads to see how this works, and ask as many questions as you want. The people on here are friendly and supportive, and you will get a lot of good advice.

Noa, I'm on Metformin 500 mg. Not the slow release one.
I'm taking it first thing. Then next week I've to take it morning & night . Then week three I've to take 1000mg morning and night. I'm hoping the side effects will ease.

We've just got to keep going

Prem51 said:

@Rosie B Metaformin often has those results initially, but they should go after about two weeks. If they persist you should ask your gp to prescribe the slow release version, Metaformin SR which is supposed to be without those side effects.
But if you can't cope with Metaformin, your HbA1c of 82 isn't very high. There are members on here with higher initial readings who have reduced their blood glucose by changing what they eat. Many find that adopting a Low Carbohydrate High Fat approach to eating has brought their figures down.

'Low Carbohydrate' means avoiding or limiting starchy carbohydrates like potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. Starchy carbs quickly turn to sugar in our bodies so aren't good for T2 diabetics. The energy you would have got from carbs is replaced by increasing intake of 'healthy fats' like oily fish, dairy products, avocados, olive oil and nuts. Protein is good too - meat, fish and eggs.

Have a read round the threads to see how this works, and ask as many questions as you want. The people on here are friendly and supportive, and you will get a lot of good advice.

Click to expand...

Prem51 said:

@Rosie B Metaformin often has those results initially, but they should go after about two weeks. If they persist you should ask your gp to prescribe the slow release version, Metaformin SR which is supposed to be without those side effects.
But if you can't cope with Metaformin, your HbA1c of 82 isn't very high. There are members on here with higher initial readings who have reduced their blood glucose by changing what they eat. Many find that adopting a Low Carbohydrate High Fat approach to eating has brought their figures down.

'Low Carbohydrate' means avoiding or limiting starchy carbohydrates like potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. Starchy carbs quickly turn to sugar in our bodies so aren't good for T2 diabetics. The energy you would have got from carbs is replaced by increasing intake of 'healthy fats' like oily fish, dairy products, avocados, olive oil and nuts. Protein is good too - meat, fish and eggs.

Have a read round the threads to see how this works, and ask as many questions as you want. The people on here are friendly and supportive, and you will get a lot of good advice.

Click to expand...

@Prem51 thanks for your information.
I'm doing Michael Mosleys blood sugar eating plan .And it's very much protein & healthy fats / low/no carbohydrates. It's suiting me well. I've lost 12lb in 3 weeks .So im very encouraged.
Thank you for your help.

Hi and welcome @Noa firstly I will tag in @daisy1 who will send you lots of invaluable info.

You already have a plan. And a great plan it is too. Lowering your carbs. Carbs turn to sugar and not good for us diabetics.

You will find lots of encouragement on this amazing forum. You have joined the best diabetic club in the world! So much info, advice, support and everyone is so friendly.

I myself was diagnosed a year before you, December 17. Hba1c 62. I found DCUK and LCHF woe and never looked back. I asked my DN to bear with me whilst I tried diet. Didn't accept the metformin. I lost 1 stone in my first month and the same in my 2nd and was flabbergasted! But the icing on the low carb cake was in Feb 18 my hba1c was in pre diabetic range at 47. When I checked my bp (which had been borderline for meds) it was showing me as an athlete! 110 over 66 being an example. In May my hba1c was 41 and non diabetic. I had reached my target weight (lost over 50lbs). Now I'm maintaining. My current hba1c is 39 but I have a home a1c now kit which tells me it's 31. And that is all down to having a blood sugar testing kit and cutting out or right back on the carbs that spike me, potaties, rice, pasta, bread, cereals, juice mainly. I have found great alternatives through the the thread 'what have you eaten today'. Take a look.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/what-have-you-eaten-today.75781/unread

Good luck on your journey.

Rosie B said:

@Prem51 thanks for your information.
I'm doing Michael Mosleys blood sugar eating plan .And it's very much protein & healthy fats / low/no carbohydrates. It's suiting me well. I've lost 12lb in 3 weeks .So im very encouraged.
Thank you for your help.

Click to expand...

nearly a year ago i was diagnosed fasting blood sugars were 15.0 i followed mms 8 week blood sugar diet...t by june last year my hb1acwas down to 5.5% and off metformin so good luck...

@Noa
Hello Noa and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and helpful.

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 235,000 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 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

Noa said:

@Rosie B, I love your avatar! I've just finished reading Michael Mosley’s 8-week blood sugar eating plan, about to mooch through the recipe book. Well done you for that incredible weight loss.

@Prem51, many thanks for the lovely welcome. Is my info showing correctly now? If so, thanks for assistance and if not…I’ll look and try again. How do you get all the information shown at the foot of your post? Is it used as a signature?

@Debandez, thanks to you too for the welcome, and for tagging in @daisy1. It’s a relief to hear that my plan is okay and I’m not just leaping about gung-ho. I do think this forum is amazing and the people here are very supportive and helpful. So glad I found it. There’s another one which I think the NHS promotes, but I saw a lot of posts insisting that diabetes can’t be reversed and I believe it can – too much research and information and people who have done it to argue that point! So I left that forum alone and didn’t engage in it. Congratulations on your incredible journey of hard work, persistence and success! You are an inspiration. I’m so pleased for you that you’ve reached your target weight. Gives me hope that I can do it, too. I’ll check out the links you kindly provided.

@Diawara, I appreciate your confirmation that the 8 week blood sugar diet really works. Congratulations on achieving such a healthy outcome. I think it’s great that you still post on the forum, by the way, because these kinds of experiences are just so encouraging to those of us just starting out. Thank you.

And to the Legend that is @daisy1, thanks for the welcome and all the info. I am reading everything I can to learn and understand about diabetes and how to control/manage/reverse it.

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A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Best foot forward.

Rosie B said:

Noa, I'm on Metformin 500 mg. Not the slow release one.
I'm taking it first thing. Then next week I've to take it morning & night . Then week three I've to take 1000mg morning and night. I'm hoping the side effects will ease.

We've just got to keep going

Click to expand...

Hi and welcome. For most people the side effects fade after a week or two. If not then do ask the GP for the Slow Release SR version. Yes, the low carb diet will help provide a long-term lifestyle change

Noa said:

@Prem51, many thanks for the lovely welcome. Is my info showing correctly now? If so, thanks for assistance and if not…I’ll look and try again. How do you get all the information shown at the foot of your post? Is it used as a signature?

Click to expand...

Hi @Noa, your description is still showing 'Insulin-Dependent Type 2' . After you have changed your 'Type of Diabetes' you need to scroll down to the little green box with 'Save Changes' and click on that.
You can put anything you want in 'Signature' which will be shown under all your posts.

hi @Noa

and a warm welcome from me too.

Noa said:

You – we all – can do it. I believe that.

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Yes, we can. And you're off to a good start! Welcome.

Possibly the metformin it is know to cause tummy problems if it is the standard one .It will not hurt you to stop it for a few days but do mention it to your doctor if you think it is the cause. There is a slow release version which many people find kinder on the stomach ask your doctor for that if you are not having it already. Hope you feel better soon

As Metformin is notorious for causing gastric upset I do wonder whatever your doctor thought would happen prescribing it to you with your medical history.