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SugarJunkie

Member
Messages
24
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi

I'm new to this forum. Diagnosed T2 in 2009 and although I've taken medication I have not changed my sugar laden diet until now. My HBa1 was 79 two weeks ago from 49 in September. I know this isn't good because the Dr has had a very forthright discussion with me about changing my lifestyle. My vision has been affected, weight etc

Five days ago, after seeing the doctor and diabetic nurse, I cut out sugar completely and have been really ill with headaches and vomiting. I've started to exercise 3 X each week. I'm also eating less than 130g carbs each day. I feel completely dreadful; physically and emotionally.

I don't really understand enough about food and blood sugar. And I get that it will take time to see benefits from these changes, but my fasting blood glucose has been 12 (216) every morning and I just don't see how that's possible.

Can anyone advise me when to be testing or where to look for some information on these issues?

I'd also appreciate any moral support to deal with cravings (overwhelming) and get through this period of feeling so rough. I know I can do this, but boy is it rough.
 
130g is still a lot of carbs for some people, certainly for me it was I started a LCHF low carb high fat diet, my carbs are around 20g up to 30g.

Testing your BG, blood glucose levels with a meter is key to finding out what foods do spike your BG test before and after meals 1hr & 2hr show wether BG is spiking. One of the main things for myself is to avoid processed foods as there is so much hidden sugars added, learning to check carb totals is key, check your GP for any diabetic courses run in your area.

Tagging
@daisy1 who will be along to tag some very good information soon
 
@SugarJunkie

Hello and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members which should help you with your diet and sugar levels. Ask more questions and someone will 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 over 150,000 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-and-whole-grains.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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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 bloodglucose 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.
 
Good luck and well done for making positive changes. You are likely experiencing sugar detox if you've dramatically cut it from your diet. Sounds random but if I'm craving chocolate or naughty food. if I can, I brush my teeth. It really helps me.

Kate.
 
Hi @SugarJunkie and welcome to the forum. I didn't get that ill feeling when I gave up sugar and cut down drastically on carbs, but from what I have read on here it might be due to 'Carb Flu' which some people get when they first cut down on sugar and carbs, and your body needs time to adjust.
I did get the sugar cravings and found that sugar free sweets like Sula and Ricola, which can be bought in most supermarkets helped with that. Werthers also do a sugar free candy, which is sold widely, usually next to their normal butter candies. At first I was eating 20-30 of these a day, but they do contain 2-3 carbs each, so I have now cut down to 2-3 a day. After a while you get used to doing without sweet stuff.
 
Hi. Yes, I suspect it's your body reacting to the dramatic change in eating/drinking. It takes a while for the body to get used to burning stored fat when needed rather than readily available carbs. Keep at it but make sure you are having enough proteins and fats as these are fine and will provide most of the nutrients you need as well as those from the veg and fruit you also need to eat
 
Hi @Daibell

Welcome and congratulations on your post it is a really hard thing to put your issues out there sometimes.
From my experience here you will get both the advice and support here to get on top of this.

If I were where you are at I would be doing the following now
  1. Test each morning before eating. This will show you if you are improving or not and also indicate if you need to do more
  2. Test before and after eating as others have suggested. You only need to do this once for different meals. If it jumps your levels stop eating it. If it only spikes them slightly say 2 then keep it on your good to eat list
  3. I would need to drop these levels so I would avoid Sugar, Potatoes, Pasta Rice and Bread and Biscuits eat plenty of Meat, Fish Eggs Vegetables. Do this now and it can make a difference quite quickly.
  4. I am not a medical practitioner but the headaches could be because of the stress you are feeling or your elevated sugar levels and may not be because of the sugar reduction. Either way if they persist you should see your Doctor
Like many on here I have done this and while it wasn't easy it became easier because I could see the improvement in my levels and started to feel better. Let us know how you are going and ask any questions you like on here
 
@SugarJunkie - Hello and Welcome to the Forum. I know how hard it is to "give up" the sugary stuff. I have been told by: Diabetes Nurse, Diabetes Consultant and my GP - be strict with my diet Monday to Friday and have 1 treat at the weekend if all my blood sugars are within range!:)
 
Hi I also am new to the site & have neglected my diabetes for a number of years. Its sooooo hard cutting out on sugars, I am 4 days in & am struggling but luckily my family & friends are watching me like a hawk & giving me support & encouragement. You can do this, I know it is possible because I used to have great control. You have taken a huge step, well done!
 
@linnyb - Hello and Welcome to the Forum. I will tag @daisy1 who will provide you with some basic information. Have a good read and if you have any questions - just ask. Someone will come along and answer. :)
 
Thanks for the encouragement. my long term bloods have been coming back at between 99 & 119 (lab phoned doctor about that one) but guess because I haven't ended up in hospital I have avoided dealing with the diabetes as my mental health issues seem to drain me of all energy & inclination. However, just had eye screening which has come back showing first sign of damage & kidney function reduced, so I know i have to face up & dig deep. Glad I have found site for guidance & support as mental health team have refused to help even with doctors request.
 
liam1955 said:
@linnyb - Hello and Welcome to the Forum. I will tag @daisy1 who will provide you with some basic information. Have a good read and if you have any questions - just ask. Someone will come along and answer. :)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the welcome & support, will have a good read.
 
Sorry still learning how to use the site, not sure am getting it right!
 
EdMac said:
@linnyb my sister gets pretty good support from her mental health team but I know things vary a lot by location. She has bi-polar diagnosis (and also cancer) so I know things can get pretty tough. One thing I have definitely noticed consistently, and not just with my sister, is that when her physical health is good her mental health is also radically improved.

The idea that our minds are separate from our bodies is quite old fashioned now (it was a philosopher Rene Descartes who proposed this way back in the seventeenth century - now how old fashioned is that! ;)) but much more modern and current research points to a connection, even a 'oneness', between your mind and your body. So what that means is that although you may not feel inclined - and the initial steps may feel hard - they're the hardest of all and it gets easier and easier - if, you can imagine that...

The physical benefits aren't just physical they're mental too, so each little step improves body and mind and the more you do the easier it gets. And quite quickly you're enjoying yourself too. So because we all deserve to have fun - you have to keep going, it would be rude not to... ;)
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I did so well with my diabetes until my mental health failed after long term stress, miscarriage & the death of my dad. I have a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder & have had support with that in the form of dialectical behavioural therapy, which is buddhist based. However during that they moved my form of self harm from cutting to not taking my insulin. I was so honest with them but they insisted it wasn't life threatening & wont help me deal with it. I don't want you to think I am a weirdo I just struggle with how much I hate myself. Your post was so nice & inspiring, but being kind to myself is what I find the hardest but I know i have to fight through somehow:banghead:
 
EdMac said:
OK, well the rule of thumb for any therapeutic or healthcare practitioner is 'Do no harm' and technically they could argue they haven't but robbing Peter to pay Paul doesn't put you any further forward. The rule of thumb on a forum is also 'Do no harm' so I respect this as an issue that needs proper professional face to face attention. Ask your doctor about alternative referrals if your existing healthcare team wont help. There are always avenues to explore.

Of course you're a weirdo - me too and everyone else too ;) Normality is just a myth - we're all 'weird' in our own ways. And you should reserve hate for someone much more deserving - such wasted effort otherwise ;)
Speaking of wasted effort - rather than fighting through it have you thought about what will happen instead when you spot the way round it, or over it or maybe even the one under it... maybe being kind to yourself doesn't have to be such a struggle;)
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lol, you are right, who is normal!! My gp has been off ill for 8 months, but I have made an appt with another doctor for 2nd march & am going to ask for a referral out of area to a diabetic team who I hope will then refer me to there mental health team. I am trying to find way around & that is forcing me to find ways. Have a wonderful family & friends. My husband is currently administering insulin to ensure I get some ( humulin Isophane) , but I also know that before my "normality issues" lol, I was on 4 injections a day (humulin x1/actrapid x3). Your way of looking at things differently is refreshing, thank you
 
@SugarJunkie keep at it!!! Soon enough you'll feel the benefits I promise! Nearly 7 weeks in with only a few tough times I am embracing the new lifestyle and feeling a great sense of control to counteract how helpless I felt at the beginning. My BG levels were pretty steady in the high teens at diagnosis - a lot of reading, advice from this forum and encouragement from friend and family I've bought my average BG levels between 5 and 6.5.

You can do it!! Promise.

Happy for you to drop me a message at any low points for some morale!
 
Wow, I just got in from a 12hr work day feeling so deflated and overwhelmed... I never expected to get so much support. Thank you all so much. I have really struggled with cravings today and felt like giving up. Now I feel inspired to keep at it,

What I don't understand is why my fasting glucose in the morning (8-10 hr fast) is so high at 12(216) but lowers later. Any ideas?
 
@SugarJunkie A lot of people get higher readings first thing in the morning. It's called the 'Dawn Phenomenom'. It is caused by your liver dumping stored glucose into your bloodstream on waking to boost your energy to get you going for the day.
As you cut down on sugar and carbs your fasting blood glucose will decrease.
 
@SugarJunkie Unfortunately food manufacturers put it in everything they can. But it's not just the sugar you need to look out for, you also need to check the small label on the back for the carbohydrate content. Carbs turn into sugar in our bodies.
 
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