Hello!

[patrizia59]

I live in NE Texas. Former ICU nurse but had to leave the profession several years ago due to a serious back injury. Currently interning as psychoanalyst. Several years ago (can't remember exactly how many, but at least 6 years ago) I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I did not have the "typical" symptoms but always felt very tired. I'd wake up and be ready to crawl back into my bed an hour or so later.
After diagnosis, I was prescribed metformin 500 mg. twice a day. I took it for a few months... was not impressed really. Then one day I told myself that as a healthcare professional I should know better. I started walking every day and limited my carbohydrates to about 35 mg. a day. It was tough, as I love pasta, bread, and chocolate! Within a week or so, my sugar levels dropped to near normal. I managed this way (diet and exercise) for at least a year, and then fell off the wagon, so to speak.

For the last year I noticed sugar in my urine and just knew the blood levels would be very high because all this extra sugar was spilling in my urine :-/ Yet, I continued to play the ostrich game....Sure enough my A1C was very, very high, and I got quite discouraged but, at the same time, I had nobody to blame but myself. My new, young doctor put me back on metformin 500 mg BID and encouraged me to go back to my exercise and diet regimen, so about 2 weeks ago I started again. I bought an elliptical machine, which I use twice a day, this way I will not be able to use the excuse that it's too hot and muggy out there, lol. I'm watching my carbs and I'm taking metformin. The doctor feels confident that eventually I will be able to get off the metformin.... I sure hope so!

We (I and the physician) think that my bout with pancreatitis in my early 20s may have contributed to the development of DT2 in my later years. Back in my 20s I had gallstones which ended up blocking all the ducts and led to pancreatitis; my amylase level was 5000! Anyway, that might have caused enough damage to the beta cells, but we cannot be certain of that.

So here I am on this forum, where I will probably seek moral support and encouragement (I am feeling rather down for having been such a fool with diet and exercise). I will gladly share information and my support. This appears to be a warm, welcoming forum. Thank you!

 

[Diakat]

Hi @patrizia59
Sounds like you have the basics sorted but I'll tag @daisy1 for the welcome info anyway.
Welcome to the forum.

 

[Guzzler]

Hello and welcome to the forum. We don't play the blame game here, we're human, simply human.
Have a wander around the forum, ask (and answer) as many questions as you like. It is a lively, freindly bunch you've joined!

 

[daisy1]

@patrizia59

Hello Patrizia59 and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like and 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 well over 235,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[Prem51]

Welcome to the forum @patrizia59 ! You will get a lot of good advice and support on here, looking forward to your participation.