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Hello - 1st Post

B

BobHewitt

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi, I am a 70 male and I took an annual blood test that told me that my sugar level had moved from 6.2 to 6.7 and I was put on Metaformin 500mg. One week at one tablet per day and now at 2 tablets. I will be seeing the surgery nurse tomorrow after two weeks waiting and worrying what is installed for me. All a bit of a shock as I am a small eater and raw sugar is never used here for drinks and cooking. Visits to the super market have become interesting looking at food labels and believe the sugar should always be Green. I have already cut back or eliminated white bread, rice & flour which I think is a start. Alcohol intake was never very much, perhaps one small lager beer and a whiskey once a week. Looking forward to picking up some tips on the forum.
 
Welcome Bob! We are a friendly supportive crowd and I'm sure you get on just fine. Congrats on cutting out the white bread,mice and flour. Try to also limit your pasta and potatoes.. Have a got at getting in a bit of protein with each meal, lots of greens and don't be afraid of fat (butter, cream, cheese, Virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds) they are all good for you.


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I would also suggest you check out www.dietdoctor.com. It will give you a crash course introduction of some of your options for getting control.


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KevinPotts said:
Welcome Bob! We are a friendly supportive crowd and I'm sure you get on just fine. Congrats on cutting out the white bread,mice and flour. Try to also limit your pasta and potatoes.. Have a got at getting in a bit of protein with each meal, lots of greens and don't be afraid of fat (butter, cream, cheese, Virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds) they are all good for you.


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Click to expand...

Sorry, couldn't resist, but I really hope he has eliminated the mice. :D


Hi Bob and welcome,

I'll tag @daisy1 because she has some invaluable information for newly diagnosed. Please read it when she posts. In the meantime have a good browse round the forums and also the main website as it is important to learn as much as you can about diabetes, what it is, and what all the test result numbers mean. Then I would buy a meter. These are the only tool we have to learn which foods we can tolerate. Testing is the best way to go so you can "eat to your meter".

Talking about test results, which test was it that gave you the 6.2 and 6.7? Were they snap shot fasting blood glucose tests or the HbA1c (which measures levels over the previous 2 to 3 months)? If you aren't sure, your surgery will tell you, and it may be worth while asking for a print out. These are very useful.
 
I would also add that looking for the sugar content on labels isn't enough. You need to check the total carb content. The sugar bit isn't really relevant. Look for the grams per 100g. and if it has more than 10g put it back on the shelf (unless it is something you only have a spoonful of, in which case no problem)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Sorry, couldn't resist, but I really hope he has eliminated the mice. :D


Hi Bob and welcome,

I'll tag @daisy1 because she has some invaluable information for newly diagnosed. Please read it when she posts. In the meantime have a good browse round the forums and also the main website as it is important to learn as much as you can about diabetes, what it is, and what all the test result numbers mean. Then I would buy a meter. These are the only tool we have to learn which foods we can tolerate. Testing is the best way to go so you can "eat to your meter".

Talking about test results, which test was it that gave you the 6.2 and 6.7? Were they snap shot fasting blood glucose tests or the HbA1c (which measures levels over the previous 2 to 3 months)? If you aren't sure, your surgery will tell you, and it may be worth while asking for a print out. These are very useful.
Click to expand...

What am I like ..,haha:)


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Bluetit1802 makes a very good point Bob. It helped me when I realised 4g of sugar/carbohydrate is 1 teaspoon. So we freak out when we typically find 2 teaspoons of sugar in most yogurt portion pots. We now end up saying to each other, "what's that divided by 4.... Flipping hec that's x teaspoons of sugar" and then walk on by.


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@BobHewitt

Hello Bob and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members and I hope this will help you in your food choices (no more mice). Try to cut down on the carbs to keep your levels down. Ask as many questions as you like as someone will be able to help.


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 over 150,000 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-and-whole-grains.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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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 bloodglucose 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.
 
Hi and welcome. Yes, ignore food traffic light labelling etc as it's useless. Look at the ingredients on the rear of the pack and the Total carbs. Can I ask what your BMI is and whether you have lost weight recently without trying?
 
Thanks to all who have replied. I saw the Health Nurse at my surgery after two weeks of worrying since I was given the news that I am Type 2. I had an overflow of information and I go back in two weeks for another session of information. She put me right about ignoring the traffic light signs on food labelling and it is the amount of carbs that are the most important factor in controlling my situation. I have always been between 14-15 stone and am 5' 10" so I am to lose some weight. I am quite active in terms of having an allotment but with a hip issue I probably don't walk enough (Blue Badge Holder). The nurse explained that I should limit my breakfast and lunch to 3 portions each (being 45gms of Carbs) and 4 to 5 portions for my main meal (60-75gms). Some snacking will increase this of course but is there a daily limit? I have seen example of 325 g per day down to 200 g per day. Using the book Carbs and Cals I have determined that certain foods are now off limits so for example Bagels are now out. Another factor has been to reduce the plate size from 10 to 8 inches. I am getting the eye test appointment as well as signing up to the local X-Pert course where my nurse is a volunteer. I came out of the surgery smiling so I am feeling a lot better about the condition.
 
Hi Bob,

I'm pleased you are now feeling better about your diagnosis and that you are beginning to tackle your eating habits. The Carbs & Cals book is excellent. Reducing carbs as much as possible is the way to reduce blood sugar levels and also to lose weight. Once you get going with a low carb diet you need to drink plenty of water, and to help with any hunger issues increase your dietary fats. You don't need to go overboard with fats, just eat the real ones rather than the low fat varieties.

Have you got a blood glucose meter? If not I strongly urge you to buy one. It is the only way to learn which foods are suitable for you, and in which portion sizes. For example, some people can cope with grains (bread and rice) in small portions, whilst many others can't. Personally, I can't cope at all with things made with or containing flour, whilst others may be able to. By testing before and after eating, keeping a food diary, and recording your levels alongside, you will soon learn what suits you and what doesn't, and will know exactly whether you need to reduce the portion or eliminate that food completely.

The main foods to look out for are bread of all types, rice, pasta, potatoes, flour, cereals of all types, many fruits, and for some people, milk.
 
BobHewitt said:
Hi, I am a 70 male and I took an annual blood test that told me that my sugar level had moved from 6.2 to 6.7 and I was put on Metaformin 500mg. One week at one tablet per day and now at 2 tablets. I will be seeing the surgery nurse tomorrow after two weeks waiting and worrying what is installed for me. All a bit of a shock as I am a small eater and raw sugar is never used here for drinks and cooking. Visits to the super market have become interesting looking at food labels and believe the sugar should always be Green. I have already cut back or eliminated white bread, rice & flour which I think is a start. Alcohol intake was never very much, perhaps one small lager beer and a whiskey once a week. Looking forward to picking up some tips on the forum.
Click to expand...
Hi Bob, are you the "Bob Hewitt" doubles tennis player in South Africa many years ago. Watched a few games at Ellis Park.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Sorry, couldn't resist, but I really hope he has eliminated the mice. :D


Hi Bob and welcome,

I'll tag @daisy1 because she has some invaluable information for newly diagnosed. Please read it when she posts. In the meantime have a good browse round the forums and also the main website as it is important to learn as much as you can about diabetes, what it is, and what all the test result numbers mean. Then I would buy a meter. These are the only tool we have to learn which foods we can tolerate. Testing is the best way to go so you can "eat to your meter".

Talking about test results, which test was it that gave you the 6.2 and 6.7? Were they snap shot fasting blood glucose tests or the HbA1c (which measures levels over the previous 2 to 3 months)? If you aren't sure, your surgery will tell you, and it may be worth while asking for a print out. These are very useful.
Click to expand...
Bluetit1802 said:
Sorry, couldn't resist, but I really hope he has eliminated the mice. :D


Hi Bob and welcome,

I'll tag @daisy1 because she has some invaluable information for newly diagnosed. Please read it when she posts. In the meantime have a good browse round the forums and also the main website as it is important to learn as much as you can about diabetes, what it is, and what all the test result numbers mean. Then I would buy a meter. These are the only tool we have to learn which foods we can tolerate. Testing is the best way to go so you can "eat to your meter".

Talking about test results, which test was it that gave you the 6.2 and 6.7? Were they snap shot fasting blood glucose tests or the HbA1c (which measures levels over the previous 2 to 3 months)? If you aren't sure, your surgery will tell you, and it may be worth while asking for a print out. These are very useful.
Click to expand...


You asked about the blood test: I have always had an annual blood test for my PSA risk and I knew that my sugar blood levels were rising. I did fast for 12 hours before the test and in a year (actually 14 months) it rose 0.5 taking me over the recognised T2 threshold. I have another blood appointment in August and was told I don't need a meter. I appreciate the reasons for having one but maybe not at this time until the August results.
 
BobHewitt said:
You asked about the blood test: I have always had an annual blood test for my PSA risk and I knew that my sugar blood levels were rising. I did fast for 12 hours before the test and in a year (actually 14 months) it rose 0.5 taking me over the recognised T2 threshold. I have another blood appointment in August and was told I don't need a meter. I appreciate the reasons for having one but maybe not at this time until the August results.
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

Looking at your test results, I am convinced the 6.7 must have been an HbA1c otherwise you would not have been diagnosed diabetic. A fasting blood glucose snap shot test has to reach 7 for that. Even as an HbA1c it is still not a lot over the cut off threshold so you have every chance of getting back down to non-diabetic levels. Please do ask for print outs. They will show all the blood results, not just your glucose. You were probably asked to fast for other reasons, such as cholesterol levels.

Everyone on here will tell you that a glucose meter is essential. Of course your doctor/nurse told you that you don't need a meter. They all do because they are cost cutting and unless you are on insulin or Gliclazide you don't need one to check for hypos or before driving. It's up to you, of course, but without one you are working blind.
 
Bob, there are about 200,000 (ish) on here my friend who will shout from the rooftops, get a meter and start testing....maybe when you first get up and +2 hours, then before dinner and +2 hours. You can then start to take some personal control and figure out what you can and cannot eat.


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Hi Bob, and welcome. I have to agree with the comments on getting a meter. Even if you don't intend to test after every meal you will soon pick up on what you can or can't eat and it gives you much more control.


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@BobHewitt - Having a Blood Glucose Meter is an important piece of any Diabetics kit. Had the Health Nurse given you a Meter would you use it? You need to be in control, as it is your Diabetes! It enables you to test and see which foods gives you 'spikes' and you can then avoid eating those foods. But, at the end of the day it is a personal choice. I wish you good luck.:)
 
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