Hello - Newly Diagnosed

Hi Danny
Welcome to the forum.

It is normal to be confused at this stage. Everything is new and no doubt a little scary. I know I felt that way when I was first diagnosed

The test you refer to is an HbA1c test, which as you say shows a three month average BG reading. Do you know what the actual figure was ? Your GP would be relaxed, he hasn't got your Diabetes.
His advice to lose weight is good, as is to eat 'healthily. Did he actually tell you what he meant by 'healthily ?' Did you get referred to a Dietician ?

Your BMI works out at just over 29 which is not too bad but as you know could be better. Losing weight will definitely help lower your BG levels. Smoking and Alcohol need to be restricted if you can't give them up. Try to stick to a sensible limit with both.

The first thing you need to do as we advise everybody here is to get yourself a meter and test strips. You may have to pay for these yourself, but many drug companies give the meters away for free. It is the strips which are expensive.

For a couple of weeks keep a food diary with all your meals listed along with a record of your test results. This way you can see what certain foods/drinks do to your Bg levels and if raised then cut down or eliminate those foods/drinks. Once you know what the overall picture is then you can taper the testing off.

First of all, test when you wake up, then before a meal and 1 and 2 hrs after meals. Test before bedtime as well. As stated, you don't have to do this forever.

What you can expect is a mass of conflicting ideas and advice. This forum is full of Diabetics. Some very well controlled by one means or another and others who find it very difficult to gain control. Diabetes is not a curse if you take control of it. Now is the time to do that. It will add years to your life and ensure that you can avoid the complications which come about because it is uncontrolled.

Listen to the advice here and elsewhere. If you are even more confused then ask a question or two. We will try and sort out the answers for you. If you don't like the answer, please don't get upset. We are just trying to help.

Ken.

Hi Danny
Ken's advice is excellent, especially the food diary. If you test your blood sugar before and 2 hours after a meal, you'll find which ones put your BG up.
A non diabetic has a BG of about 5mmol/l ( 4.7mmol/l) pretty much all the time and if it does go up or down, it returns quickly.
If your Hb A1c( long term test) comes back at the level of a "well controlled diabetic" That probably means about 7.5% ( do ask you doctor). this is what the medical profession call "well-controlled".BUT since a non-diabetic level is usually below 5%, it's still a bit high.
The levels you seem to have, are not catastrophic and you may well be able to improve them by diet alone. AND Exercise.Walking is good and cheap
Sugars and starches contribute to blood glucose, so these are what you need to control. There are a couple of ways of doing this. Get the GI diet book and follow it. See if that works for you, or just reduce your sugars and starches. the Collins Little Gem Calorie guide is a cheap little book which will tell you where the carbs( sugars and sarches) are. Ready made foods have the information on the labels.
Try whichever apprroach appeals to you and if you have any more questions, come back to us.

Ken said

"First of all, test when you wake up, then before a meal and 1 and 2 hrs after meals. Test before bedtime as well. As stated, you don't have to do this forever."

If I do this what sort of levels am I lloking for? I know fasting should be less than 7mmol/l.

Before a meal (should it be under 7 again?)
After one hour, are we looking for a peak at this point and where should it be?
After two hours, presumably we want the levels to have stabilised back (What is calssed a stable range?)

Thanks in advance for teaching us. You cant get this sort of info from a doctor! Seems to me they dont care if you want to be proactive and monitor levels. All they care about is that your last HBA1c Was OK and your just causing a storm in a teacup!!!

Hi Tariq.

Your guideline figures as a T2 are as follows.
Fasting (waking).............between 4 - 7 mmol/l. (this is what you should also get before a meal)
2 hrs after meals..............no more than 8.5 mmol/l.

There is no set figure for a 1 hr reading. The one hour figure should be no more than the 8.5 mmol/l if possible. If it is higher it indicates that what you ate/drank has caused a spike in your Bg levels. You want that figure to come down at the 2 hr point and then before your next meal you should be back to your pre-meal levels as above.

Ken.

hi was diagnosed with type 1 at end of june this year, still learning, sugars are up and down , will be a while before they stablise a bit, open to any advice and support from anybody

sean

Hi sean.
Welcome to the forum. Take a good look around and ask any questions when you are ready. There is a Type 1 Diabetes area which may be of particular benefit to you as well. You will get plenty of help and support here.

Do you know what figures your Bg levels should be as a T1 ? What to try and aim for when you get control.

Ken.