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Hello all - newbie from abroad

K

Katstodian

Member
Messages
8
Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Hey guys and gals

My name's Kat (inventive, isn't it, considering my screen name?) and I'm a 23 year old woman from Denmark. The reason I've made a user on this specific forum is that I'm moving the West Midlands next year to live with my boyfriend, so I was hoping to be able to build a network before then.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2 five weeks ago. I was quite shocked really, as I only really got tested because my dad was diagnosed in January and my mom had been fussing about the hereditary risks and me being overweight. Turned out I did actually have it. Because I had been steadily been losing weight and gradually started to exercise more during the last few years up to my diagnosis, my numbers were actually quite low for a diabetic.

Since then, I've started eating even more healthy, cutting several things out of my diet but still making sure I get all the necessary nutrients and fats and have started swimming twice a week and biking to places instead of taking public transport. All positive steps really! I've lost 11 pounds so far and aiming to lose 2stone 6pounds in total before January.

Aaargh. I'm ranting! Anyway! I've joined because I still have lots and lots of questions about diets and exercise and glucose levels and general coping. So prepare to be spammed, I guess.

Hope to talk lots in the future.

// Kat
 
Hi Kat and welcome to the forum :) You are making a good start in looking after your diabetes. I think you could probably do with some information on how to control it as well as possible. Our friends, Sue and Ken, former monitors, have written some advice which we give to new members. I am sure you will find this advice very helpful. Ask as many questions as you like as there is always someone here to help.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Kat,
A warm welcome to the forum.
Look forward to your posts.

Take care.
Catherine.
 
Thanks a lot, Daisy :)
And thank you too, Catherine.

I had already read these tips before actually posting - started lurking around on this forum a few weeks ago, just hadn't had the courage to write yet.

I have gotten a tester - but it only had a limited amount of strips and renewing them was actually more expensive than just buying another brand, so I'm currently waiting for a new one plus lancets and strips to arrive in the mail.

The tips on the forum here are all very nice. Looking forward to making friends. ^^
 
hya kats and a really warm welcome to the forum and our country :D
 
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