Hi all..

[Phoebe13]

Hi everyone.

My name is Phoebe, I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with Type 1 13 years ago. At the moment I have got pretty bad control over my diabetes, after moving out of my parents house and going to uni I found it very difficult to deal with ym diabetes myself and entered a sort of denial about it - I was taking my insulin but apart from that I pretty uch tried to hide/forget about it, as some people I encountered treated me very differently once they found out about my diabetes. I fully realise this was a very stupid attitude, but I am struggling to take control of it now, so I am signing up to try and take advantage of all the info I can see you guys have here, and the support you all seem to offer each other.

I know this is my responsibility, at the end of the day I'm the only one that will suffer from poor control but I am really finding it very difficult to take charge of, and I feel too embarrassed to go to my doctor and admit that I'm not coping at this point, when I've had so long to deal with being diabetic. No doubt I'll be asking a lot of questions and advice from you all, so thanks in advance, and sorry if I have any stupid or obvious questions!

 

[daisy1]

Hi Phoebe and welcome to the forum Well done for taking yourself in hand and wanting to get good control again. You said you were hoping to get some information from this forum and this is how we can help you. Our friends Ken and Sue, former monitors, have written some basic information for new members and I think this advice might help you to start getting back on track. Good luck with it, and ask as many questions as you like as there is always someone who would like to help you.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.

 

[anna29]

Hi Pheobe, I was in denial at first amazed n offended that I was diagnosed a diabetic, then I felt a failure as hard as I tried to get it under control with diet, meds, excersise it continued to do its own thing! I also was too embarrased and without confidence to ask for help. And that IS all you need to do, pop into see your GP or DSN and ask for a helping hand to get things back on track, to recieve some sense of supported medical guidance. You are still a lovely young woman with a wonderful life to experience and enjoy. This worry of failure will weigh you down, as it did me! You will be so relieved and amazed that all it needs is to just ask for a helping hand, and that is what the medical professionals do. Help n get you on the right treatment. I totally get what you mean with you dont want to be treated any different to anyone else despite your diabetes. You are a' person', the diabetes is a condition that gives symptoms. No question on here or in the forum is ever a stupid question, so please just ask anything you feel, need to. As you start to think things through write them down and take them along with you to your next appt. Could you take someone with you ? family member/close friend then you will feel more supported at the appointment. Just an idea to help you. Please pop back and let us know how you go on. Anna.x

 

[Crispin]

Hello and welcome to the forum it is a real pleasure to meet you all hope that we can bring something special in our life through this forum. Good luck.