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Help/Advice please. Thanks

N

NathLynn27

Member
Messages
20
Type of diabetes
Prefer not to say
Treatment type
Other
Hello,
So towards the end of September I had pains down be my stomach went to docs and could have pulled it from doing some weights at the gym.
I did a urine sample and doc said there is sugar in it.
I then did a blood test and they asked me to phone and book a phone call with GP.
I had the phone call on Tuesday. And basically she said I have diabetes.
And was asking me how I feel etc. I said I felt normal really.
I thought it was strange how they could say that from 1 test.
And I was told to phone and book an appointment to discuss. And possible treatments.
I phoned today expecting to book an appointment with the diabetes nurse. And was told it would be with a GP to discuss and look at doing more checks.
Now I'm 27 Male and weight about 18 1/2 stone. I'm not the most healthy male.
Some days I don't eat during day at work then over eat when I get home. Other days I have cereal bar for brekkie then like chicken and rice for lunch then say chicken chips and salad or spag bol for dinner.
My big downfall is at works I can have like 2-3 bottles of fizzy drinks then 3-4 cans of fizzy drinks when home.
I don't really eat chocolate or sweets mainly crisps for snack etc.

I've not had a fizzy drinks for over 2 days now. So with the lack of sugar I thought I'd feel abit funny but dont. Although would like a fizzy drink. As getting bored of squash and water lol.

Just wanting some advice about what I've said. I will attach my blood test results if anyone understands it.
 
Well, looking at your test results for HbA1c over 48 is high chance of diabetes and you are 60 so well in the zone. One test is enough to put you in the very likely category.

Finding sugar in your urine is also quite a big hint. As far as I know there are plenty of diabetics (apart from those on specific drugs to flush out sugar via the kidneys) who don't have sugar in their urine.

The good(ish) news is that if you take this all very seriously and get some significant weight off now you might be able to reverse your condition if you catch it early enough.

I would expect your first appointment to be with your GP because a GP is a diagnostician and will want to pin down the type and extent of your diabetes and plan out your treatment. You should then be passed over to the Diabetes Specialist Nurse to look after the day to day treatment.
 
Hello @NathLynn27

There are some aspects of your eating that are similar to mine before I became diabetic.
large volumes of fizzy drinks, erratic eating, skipping meals and making up for it in the evening etc.

Imagine this:
Your body needs energy throughout the day - at varying levels.
That energy is provided in the form of glucose in the blood
The glucose is sent, via the blood, to the cells that need it for energy.

Too much glucose or too little glucose and you start to put a strain on your pancreas and insulin production. I'll stop being technical now. I've said enough to explain that what and how you eat has a direct effect on the way your body functions.

I wont tell you what to do. I don't know you and I don't know enough about your exercising in the gym, your lifestyle or anything else. However, i will tell you what I do. (I'm just shy of 18 stone and I work out in a gym.)

Diet: eggs, spinach, tomatoes, brocolli. Kafir after training. Black tea, black coffee, green tea and lots of water with fresh lemon. 2 bananas a day for my heart. Treats: oats and a square or two of dark chocolate. I eat bacon at week ends (heavy leg and heavy back days in the gym) and I eat oily fish three times a week. Occassional: avocado, feta cheese, other cheese - who am I kidding, if it's not cheddar.......

No spag, no bread, no cereals (except occasional oats) no potatoes/chips/crisps and definitely no fizzy drinks.

You mention a pref for crisps to chocolate. It sounds like there may be a misconception that savoury snacks do not contain sugar. Potatoes are the sugar store for potato plants! If I have one or two chips (It's been over a year) my blood sugar readings tend to go through the roof. - I don't know if that's just me or a typical situation - we all have our own individual tolerances.

Exercise - twice a day - except Mondays. I have a lie in but still train in the evening.

You admit to not being the most healthy male. Good start/reality check. Exercise will be key.
We all fight our diabetes in different ways but we have a lot in common - meds, exercise and diet although for many, diet is the main factor (especially in the T2 world. (I'm T2 - I don't know a lot about the other versions.)

Occasionally, some people are in denial. That doesn't make the problem go away.

There is always support and help and advice on this site and from people who are making the same journey you may have to make.

Trust me there is still life after diagnosis. With reference to your weight training: I was national level in bodybuilding in the mid 80's (junior/intermediate classes). I'm in my 50's now - stronger, fitter, faster. I've done 2 marathons and I am entering my first strong man competition next summer. My game is not over.

make sure yours isn't either.

Good luck

Sean
 
Thanks mate that's great advice. Thanks alot.
 
There is a professor named Robert Lustig who is an expert on obesity but that often means his knowledge is useful to diabetics. In one of his videos he mentions this fact.

The biggest occurrence of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is in Saudi Arabia. The reasons are that it is a hot country where the water supply can be doubtful so the people drink fizzy drinks a lot. He seems to have narrowed it down to be a major contributor to diabetes.

Now that you have arrived and have to change your lifestyle a bit I reckon that not drinking the fizzy drink is going to be most helpful to you. There are other things you can do but there is tons of time to learn.
 
Hello recently had another blood test and this is the results. Not sure what any of it means some help would be great. Must admit I've cut out all fizzy drinks. Don't really drink alcohol have been trying to eat healthier. But have eaten some chips and potatoes not alot. And some chocolate but mainly dark chocolate. When I spoke to doctor surgery they said it seemed quite normal although I have been confirmed as diabetic and have an appointment booked. Thanks
 
so your Hba1c is down from 64 to 59 - if that is just from eating fewer carbs but still drinking squash and eating chips and potatoes that is very good.
I have a meter and I used that during the first few months to see just how high certain foods sent my blood glucose - I am very sensitive to sugars and the dense starches such as bread and potatoes, any grain is off the menu for me - but I could see that in a few days with the meter and so now I have normal numbers and I am losing weight rather erratically, but without any effort. I am down over three stone from my heaviest - I found a notebook in the bathroom and was really surprised at the difference, without even trying. I concentrate on having normal blood glucose, and that seems to have worked - I had a Hba1c of 41 six months ago.
 

Great thanks for the reply.
I don't have a meter or anything.
I don't seem to be sensitive to anything really. I don't know what's what really. Feel the same no different to before to be honest. So yeah just been water and squash no fizzy drinks.
Have you been given any medication? Thanks.
 
When @Resurgam says she is sensitive to certain items I don't expect that she means that they upset her or make her feel ill. It is likely that she uses a meter and reads the blood sugar level after eating these items. Too high a level means she is sensitive to them. I have tagged her so she will tell us if I have misinterpreted what she said.
 
NathLynn27 said:
Quite happy. Since May when I got married I weighed about 19st 5lbs now I'm 17st 13lb.
Click to expand...
Heading in the right direction but you may have a bit more work to do.
You are clearly diabetic but your numbers are improving a bit.
Sadly, most squash drinks are nearly as bad as the fizzy ones for sugar.
Plain or fizzy water is the best option, along with tea, coffee but without sugar.

To keep improving you may have to cut out nearly all carbohydrates and up the fats.

Please realise that being T2 diabetic can be a very serious thing, with major long term implications.
You are recently married and have taken on a lot of additional responsibility.
It is quite usual to feel no symptoms of diabetes on a day to day basis. That doesn't mean that you don't have it or that it is not serious. Unfortunately you don't usually realise the damage happening in the background until you start to get major symptoms. Better to fix it now.

If you post your average daily diet we may be able to offer advice.
 
Big step in the right direction. It does work - but more to do - please don't stop. Sean
 
Hi , welcome to the club. Congratulations on your marraige and weight loss so far .


Looking at your blood results, you have high triglycerides of 2.2 compared to a normal number under 1.7 . This is likely to be another indication that you have too much sugar / carbohydrate in your diet. A high triglyceride figure and a low ratio of Hdl to total cholesterol are both used to look at the potential for heart disease. If you bring down your carb intake these ratios should improve as well as your Hba1c . You should find that if you start to eat more homecooked foods focused on meat fish and vegetables and reduce takeaways and fast foods , that helps a lot .
 
Thanks for the advice. Must admit the Christmas holidays I haven't been that great. But if weight is concerned I'm still in the 17stone bracket. (17st13)
I have had some ****** food and a couple take aways. And a little bit of diet lemonades with vodka and 3 or 4 cans of say Pepsi Max. That has been over the whole period. When before I was drinking 4-6 cans of fizzy drink a day.

Now I have been prescribed Metformin but I have only taken 6 which is over a 3 week period. Rubbish I know but remembering to take them or actually take them doesn't seem help. Is it paramount I take them all the time. I need to up it to 1 at tea time and 1 at breakfast. But with my hectic mornings of trying to get out to work and sort my 2 boys out I usually skip breakfast.

If someone could advise good solutions for a quick get up and go breakfast to take with me that would be great. Before the Christmas holidays I felt I was doing well. I was taken an apple and yoghurt for breakfast.

Thanks all.

And a Happy New Year.
 
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Can a MOD please copy this thread into newly diagnosed group aswell please thanks.
 
NathLynn27 said:
Can a MOD please copy this thread into newly diagnosed group aswell please thanks.
Click to expand...

NathLynn - Your thread should only be in one place at a time. You can choose where that is and myself or another Mod would be content to move it for you, but duplicate threads tend to get fewer responses and not always quite as supportive as we might like.

If you'd like us to move your post, just let us know. You can tag a Mod by adding the @ symbol immediately before their user name, like this @DCUKMod
 
Ok thanks. If you could put it into newly diagnosed think I may get more responses possibly. Thanks
 
NathLynn27 said:
<snip>
Now I have been prescribed Metformin but I have only taken 6 which is over a 3 week period. Rubbish I know but remembering to take them or actually take them doesn't seem help. Is it paramount I take them all the time.<snip>.
Click to expand...

You need to take the Metformin every day, as prescribed. If you don't eat breakfast then you could try to take it with a drink first thing. Better than not taking it.

Metformin is a cumulative drug, not like Ibuprofen where you only take one if you have a headache.

It should reduce the uptake of glucose from your gut, reduce the glucose released by your liver, and increase the sensitivity to insulin in your body so helping the insulin to work.

None of these show a major impact on your general blood glucose levels but the combine effect is usually a great benefit. You only get the benefit if you take it every day as prescribed.

Oh, @DCUKMod for the move request.
 
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I take Metformin with a handful of other meds in the morning but was finding it difficult to remember my evening dose, so I set a daily alarm on my phone, I don’t forget now
As for low carb portable breakfasts, how about hard boiled eggs, nuts, Greek yoghurt and strawberries or raspberries. Apples are quite high carb as fruits go, have a look here:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/fruits
 
Are there any bad side effects I should look out for taking Metformin? Thanks
 
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