Hello there! Sadly just joining the forums as new diagnosis

[Robin101]

Hi Folks,

Robin here.

Well i suppose having reached 53 and overeaten, overstressed and generally abused the traditional stereotype of 'good health' it is not a surprise that i have now been diagnosed as diabetic.

Started just before Xmas with frequent urination, dry mouth and a general feeling of 'unwell'. i am 53 and have high blood pressure.
I had to stop the bendroflumethiazide for blood pressure control - with a diuretic i could have put out fires I was losing so much fluid! :crazy:
off to the doctros for a check and confirm my own blood readings peaking at around 25 and fasting of 17 or so.
So far diet only - I have switched now to actually having three meals a day from my previous no breakfast, 1.5 hour commute with coffee followed by working lunch, snacks from a sandwich van during the day etc etc.
So far I have managed to get down to the high 8s in the morning and peaks of around 12 during the post evening meal so heading the right way.

Now the goal is weight loss and exercise - both of which I am relatively resistant to........

Lets see how it goes - seems I have some reading and re-education ahead of me!

Robin

 

[daisy1]

Re: Hello there! Sadly just joining the forums as new diagno

Hi Robin and welcome to the forum There are often many changes you have to make to your lifestyle when you get diabetes, but the effort is worth it. By joining this forum you will be able to see how to do this. Here is some information we give to newly diagnosed members which should help you to get started. Ask as many questions as you like as we are all here to help you.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

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 30,000 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 ... rains.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

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.

 

[Robin101]

Re: Hello there! Sadly just joining the forums as new diagno

Daisy - thanks for the welcome and initial advice. Appreciated. I shall be reading everything that I can find - I do tend to go a bit overboard on information acquisition - !

My downfall has always been white bread and whatever could constitute a 'sandwich' and even tried a toast sandwich the other day (1 piece of toast between two pieces of bread!)

I strongly suspect that may have been the first and now the last time!!

My new found health regime is at the aspirational stage - yet to be put into practice - so I am likely to be back with questions - but everyone here seems to be very helpful and supportive - my nurse at diabetic clinic said you would be

Robin

 

[Grazer]

Re: Hello there! Sadly just joining the forums as new diagno

Welcome Robin, and ask away! I'm a bit of an info freak as well - I decided I needed to know EVERYTHING about Diabetes when I was first diagnosed. I must say, it has helped. You'll get loads of good answers on here for any questions you have. Do heed Daisy's note - watch those starchy carbs!!
Good luck

 

[Tracey69]

Re: Hello there! Sadly just joining the forums as new diagno

Hi Robin and welcome,
As long as you watch the amount of carbs your taking on board and firstly start by doing a twenty minute walk ( i find this works if my sugars are high). A little exercise is better than none.
I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 36 years, now i am 42. I am on insulin and Metformin and a few other drugs.
I would be hypocrite to say diabetes is easy, but believe me it's not. I never listened always thought i knew best, but take it from me it's not. I have some complications especially with my eyes. I had to stop driving two years ago, as i have no real sight in my left eye, right eye i have hardly any peripheral vision, both eyes are fully lazered. I am a waiting an eye op on left eye to remove vitreous jelly.
I don't want any sympathy but i would like people to learn, that doctors usually know best.
Just remember we are not doctors just people with a lot of experience of diabetes, so we can only go by our own experience, everyone is different.
Please ask questions and if you would like to keep in touch please feel free.
Take care, hope all goes well.
Tracey

 

[Robin101]

Re: Hello there! Sadly just joining the forums as new diagno

Wow - yes - its the side effect of the drugs and the preipheral effects o f diabetes really that make up the whole package I suppose.

I suspect that being diabetic from such an early age must have been very difficult - at least mine is starting in later in life - though thats no reason to think I can outrun the problem

Diet is a work in progress but so far doing OK - even had a clear out of the entire kitchen and removed some lurking products that would have been problematic - to be honest I need to do that anyway to dea with whats affectionately known as weight issues - or less politely and more accurately - I am fat - way overweight - only around 5 stone to lose.......... but started now.

Seem to be controlling what happens bloods wise now and avoiding the wild swings that were making me feel poorly - just need to work on getting the overall numbers down!

Thanks for the support here though

Appreciated.

Robin

Hi Robin and welcome,
As long as you watch the amount of carbs your taking on board and firstly start by doing a twenty minute walk ( i find this works if my sugars are high). A little exercise is better than none.
I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 36 years, now i am 42. I am on insulin and Metformin and a few other drugs.
I would be hypocrite to say diabetes is easy, but believe me it's not. I never listened always thought i knew best, but take it from me it's not. I have some complications especially with my eyes. I had to stop driving two years ago, as i have no real sight in my left eye, right eye i have hardly any peripheral vision, both eyes are fully lazered. I am a waiting an eye op on left eye to remove vitreous jelly.
I don't want any sympathy but i would like people to learn, that doctors usually know best.
Just remember we are not doctors just people with a lot of experience of diabetes, so we can only go by our own experience, everyone is different.
Please ask questions and if you would like to keep in touch please feel free.
Take care, hope all goes well.
Tracey