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Hello

J

Jak's

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8
I thought I had already joined the forum, but could not find the details :lol: :lol: so started over again.

My name is Jackie and both my parents - Dad now sadly deceased- suffered with type 2, I have been monitored at my GP's for the last 6 years on an annual basis and this year the fasting test topped 8.2, so the decision has been made to treat with diet only for three months then review and do the H? blood test.

From some of the comments I have ready I have been so very lucky to be picked up so early and also that my surgery gave me a new monitor and all the blood strips and shaprs that I will need. Ok I will buy a few extra blood strips as I might have gone a little OTT with testing - but to me this is the only way I can find what suits me and what does not.

I will be doing the Desmond course, not sure if that is the correct spelling or not sorry in April - looking forward to that very much as information is power.

I am in a wheelchair due to a combination of problems so the exercise part of control is going to be a major issue for me. But I am sure as I find my way round the forum that I will find some help and advice.

I am 55 years old and the proud Grandmother to three boys, I have two Daughters and one very long suffering husband, who deserves a medal...

I look forward to learning from you all and maybe one day when ?I have enough experience maybe being able to offer my own experiences to others to see if that will help them.

It is a scary minefield right now..

Sorry this hello turned into war and peace :lol: :lol:

jak
 
Hi Jak's and welcome to the forum (for the second time?). It's great that you will be doing the Desmond course as that should really help you. In case you haven't seen this, here is the information we give to new members which should help you to control your diabetes as well as possible. If you have any questions, please ask and someone will come along and answer you.

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 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.
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Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you, there is just so much information to try and absorb, and trying to determine which is tried fact or fiction, is also very hard that is another reason why I am looking forward to the course.

My Diabetic nurse advised this site and a very very good source of information and support.

Thank you
Jak's
 
Hi Jaks hope it was this site and not diabetesuk - its different. How about getting some handweights and you can work you upper body. Lifting weight really helps, and I do believe Stings wife does a yoga dvd for people who sit if that makes sense.
Welcome anyway and it seems you already have a good nurse.
 
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