Hello and still in shock.....

[AL1]

Hello all

I came across this excellent site and have found it to be very informative.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes after a pre-op assessment this Tuesday. I was scheduled to have the operation (removal of an Ovarian cyst + Endo) this Thursday but it was cancelled due to this discovery. The BG count was/is 9.9, don't know if this is really high? I've been told that I need to get this down to 7 before they will consider operating on me. I need the Op as in constant pain, which is steadily getting worse, and feel so down after this revelation.

Saw my GP on Thursday, and apparently amongst all the Blood tests taken in August this year, my BG was 11.9, and this result was missed by my GP, oops........anyway....

GP has started me on Metformin 500g x 1 and I'm booked to see him this Friday to review this medication. Currently I feel sick and hungry in equal measures and afraid to eat anything from my probably unhealthy diet because of the possible consequences, though have bought books regarding GI indexes and Diabetes info.

I'm booked to see the Diabetic nurse on 22 December so I have been left to find out about this condition through internet, which the more I read I realise the seriousness of the illness I have been diagnosed with this week. I think I'm still in denial and the shock has not worn off totally.

Just thought I'd share this and will probably ask questions later.

Ali

 

[tommyj]

Hi AL1 - you definitely are in the right place - at least you have already taken action.

With the figures you have posted, they don't seem 'too bad'. Whenever I was dx as Type 2 my figures were twice yours! I think getting from 9-11 down to around the 7 mark will be done really quickly with a bit of effort and the metformin (I hated it but should do the trick!). My uneducated opinion is to stay away from the obvious no-nos - fizzy sugary drinks, sweet stuff and starchy carbs (spuds, pasta and white rice).

Hope you get those figures down quickly and don't panic!

 

[cugila]

Hi Ali.
Welcome to the Forum. Have a good look around and any questions, just ask. There is usually somebody around with an answer. Probably all seems a bit confusing at the minute so let's see if we can give you some information that might help........

Here is the advice we 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.

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 !!

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

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......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 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. 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.
Ken / Sue

There is also this, Questions to ask at the Clinic........

The first visit to the Diabetic clinic or GP/HCP is often very confusing. You have just been diagnosed and everything is rather scary as you have had very little information so far.

Here are a few questions you can ask.


What can I do to control it, diet, medication ?

Appointments to see dietician, podiatrist, retinal screening.

Test meter /strips.

Test results and what do they mean ? Get a print-out of the results for your own records.

Who will I be seeing the nurse or GP ? If I have problem can I see either of you ?

Are there any courses I can attend, DESMOND for Type 2, DAFNE for Type 1's ? Any other Diabetes Education classes available.

How often do I get blood tests, Hba1c/Cholesterol/full lipid panel.. Should be every 3 months initially till in control.

Take a notebook with you and write down what you are told. If the doctor/nurse says things that you do not understand then ask them to explain it so that you can write it down.

This is your condition, your diabetes, you should be encouraged to take part in the treatment that you will be getting, not dictated to.

If you find that the doctor/nurse is unsympathetic then we suggest you find out which doctor in the practice is good with diabetes. Some doctors have a special interest in certain subjects, it’s worth finding this out.

Ken / Sue

Hope that helps......

 

[totsy]

hya ali and a warm welcome to the forum

 

[Doglady]

Thank goodness another Newbie..I know just how you feel..Tis a minefield all of it :?

 

[daisy1]

Hi AL1 and welcome to the forum. That's good information Ken has given you. I think it will really help you.

 

[kateincornwall]

Hello and welcome from me too , really sound advice given . Its a sad and sorry state of affairs, but often true that we have to glean information from the internet rather than our medics , but ask away please and dont lose heart .

 

[AL1]

Thanks for your reply's, I don't feel quite so panicky now
I do feel hungry most of the time since starting the Metformin, hope this will pass.