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EllaD

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Hello there. I am writing from Spain and in February this year was diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. I am currently on three Metformina Sandoz a day (850mg tablets). I am aged 68, 5 feet 6 inches and weigh (this morning) 66.8 kilos. I have lost, since the beginning of the year, about 2 and a half stone and I don't want to lose any more, because I have noticed and my friends have noticed that I am getting thin, especially around my shoulders and, in particular, my legs.

When I was first diagnosed my doctor here in Spain was not really supportive and I did not know what to eat or not to eat. I joined Tesco Diets online and followed a proper Nutritionist's Diabetic Plan firstly and then a Low Sugar Plan eating three meals a day with occasional fruit. Also, drinking water and no sugar drinks because sometimes I feel water is just a little bland. However, with the hot sunshine here in Spain at the moment my fluid intake is water +++. (I drink about two litres daily).

I have my own blood sugar kit and I usually take a reading once a week. However in the last week I have not been very good, feeling very lethargic with some loss of appetite, diarrhoea and nausea. My blood sugars were all over the place ranging from 123 to 141. However, today, my reading was 118.

Because I don't speak the language I usually take an interpretor with me to the doctors. But I need to know am I taking my tablets at the right time. One after breakfast, one after lunch and one after my evening meal. Also, what can I do to stop losing any more weight? I eat healthily, but am still losing. Also, I too have the funny sensation in the ball of both feet. Is this connected to diabetes.

Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated as I am getting concerned. And thank you so much for your help. Ella D

PS. My diabetes is not genetic and I think it was brought on by stress after losing my darling husband some three years ago.
 
Hi Ella and welcome to the forum.

Testing once a week is of no benefit whatsoever. You have to test much more often i.e on waking,possibly before a meal and two hours after that meal.

As regards Metformin it is advisable to take with or after a meal.Metformin has many side effects,some of which can require prompt medical attention.

As regards your symptoms and your foot pain, these may or may not be diabetes related.You also state that you eat 'healthily' but this may not be a suitable diet for a diabetic! I can only advise you to see your doctor about all of this asap.
 
Hi Sue. Thank you for your quick reply. Now I am worried. I saw my Dr a couple of days ago and he organised a full blood count to ascertain whether my blood sugar is under control. I will be going back to see him for the results next week.

With regard to doing my blood sugar. My doctor told me that as long as I keep it below 150 I should be OK. For how long do I have to do before a meal and two hours after. Every day, or every other day or what. Many thanks. EllaD
 
Ella.

If your GP said to keep it under 150 (8.3 mmol/l) he is being a bit generous depending on when that reading was taken ?

Here in the UK the NICE 2009 guideline Bg levels for a T2 are as follows.
Fasting (waking) ...............between 4 - 7 mmol/l. ( 72 - 126 mg/dl)
2 hrs after meals...............no more than 8.5 mmol/l. (153 mg/dl)

Obviously if you can get the readings below these figures so much the better. Do not go below 4 though as that is Hypo territory ! Keep a record of your readings for a week or so if you can and also keep a food diary of what you eat. You can then relate one to the other and see what effect certain foods have on your bg levels.

When you get the results back from what I presume is your HbA1c test let us know what it is along with the readings you have recorded. We can then advise you better.

Ken.
 
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