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Hi, From Cornwall Uk

kernowjim

kernowjim

Newbie
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4
Hi everyone

I've been type 2 since 2006 so about 12 years and up until recently, in control of my levels etc. I perhaps should have joined the forum some time ago but up until recently have managed without the support of the diabetic community. I've been having quarterly blood tests to try and get my HBA-1C levels down (last time I think the score was 80). I had a blood test last week and have made a follow up appointment with the nurse but in the meantime have received a letter saying they need to speak to me, this can't be good. I've not really changed my diet and exercise habits that have served me well in the past but I have had a tremendously stressful time with my daughter and the break up of her marriage, could that stress be playing a part in my difficulty in getting my levels down?
Thanks
Jim
 
Hi @kernowjim , welcome to the forum. I'll begin by tagging @daisy1 , who will put the new members information on this thread for you, as soon as she gets a chance. It's well worth reading.

Stress in itself does affect blood sugars, it also often affects what we eat. Some eat nothing and lose loads of weight, others comfort eat and make things a lot worse. Ultimately though, stress or no stress, it's what you eat that makes the big difference to blood sugar levels and the stuff that puts sugars up is, surprise, surprise, sugar. But it's not just sugar as in sweets, puddings, biscuits and what you might put in your tea, its all starches, because these break down into simple sugar when you eat them. That is pasta, potatoes, Cornish pasties, cream teas (don't normally list those, but couldn't resist), bread, breakfast cereals for example. There's loads of information on this sort of Low Carb diet on the forum and related site and another good place to spend some time is this site, https://www.dietdoctor.com/

Sally
 
Thanks Sally - pasties and cream teas?!? Never touch the stuff ;):)

I'm aware of the carboydrate content of foods but I think I've been fooling myself thinking I can get away with it. I'm currently on 2000mg Metformin and 100mg Sitagliptin - nurse doesn't think the Sitagliptin is all that effective for me. I know what I have to do and that's reduce the carbs and sugar, I also need to increase my exercise but I'm aware that I can't out run a bad diet. My appointment is on Friday and I'll publish my results then and what I intend to do about it. I'm already feeling more positive just being on the forum, so thanks again.
 
Hi @kernowjim, Stress is a pretty sure-fire way for raising blood sugars in diabetics for what I have personally experienced and what I have learned in discussion from many others. The following is from my experience and reading as a diabetic and is not medical advice or opinion.
A brief study of internet sites details that the body releases cortisol, a steroid. in response to stress lasting more than a day or so. Adrenaline deals with the immediate, emergency stress situation, cortisol with the longer term variety, and this latter situation seems to fit the description of what has been happening in your life.
Cortisol increases resistance to insulin. In other words it makes insulin less effective and without appropriate measures the blood sugar in us diabetics rises.
Your HBA1C ( the quarterly tests, I am guessing) score of 80 appears to be above the normal range (see the sites topic on normal range for tests like BSLs etc). I cannot explain why that was not drawn to your attention at the time..
I am a type 1 diabetic, but others on site who are Type 2 diabetics can comment further on how they monitor their condition, what diet(s) they follow and why. Your doctor is of course your authority on treatment
Coping with stress is both challenging and ultimately rewarding. My 'take' on it at the 'tender' age of 64 is:
1) seek people to talk with, friends, relatives, groups, websites like this on (and I am an Australian, that is how good this UK site is), counselling if it seems appropriate - A worry shared is a worry halved
2) develop or rekindle an interest or past-time, something that can distract you, utilise nervous energy and frustration to be creative. Nothing expensive, unhealthy or dangerous, but perhaps something with a social component to it and some exercise involved and something to show for it.
"There is nothing quite so good as messing around in boats" ( Toad in Wind in the Willows"- please excuse any misquote).
3) remember to breathe. I tend to hold me breathe when tense, 'all bottled-up' is a fitting description. If I remember to breathe evenly, not too fast or deep, I seem to breathe out the angst, stress, Breathe and the world breathes with you.
4) develop that humour of yours and self-humour as well. Did you know there is a diabetic koala in a zoo? How do you prescribe a diet for him: ? gum leaf souffle ? gum leaf pudding ? And when have you been able to use your diabetes to advantage: gift dinner guests those unmentionable sweet desserts ( then they 'owe' you), claim a cheese or fruit platter instead of the sweet desserts. Sticker on a child's lunchbox: " I am diabetic, so do not pinch my lunch". "Humour is the best medicine".
My Best Wishes go with you and your family.
And as a matter of interest, how is kite flying in Cornwall.? I believe there is a kite maker in the Scilly isles somewhere too.
 
Hello and welcome, I'm just across the border, a Devonian and for the sake of friendship we will leave Devon v Cornish Pasty and Cream Tea etiquette for another day ;):) on all other food stuff you are right, lower the amount of carbs you eat to hopefully reduce your blood sugars. It isn't as difficult as it first seems, baby steps are the way forward, maybe start with reducing carbs at breakfast, one of the easier meals to adjust, in comes the eggs and bacon out goes the toast or cereal a an example. You are in a beautiful part of the country and nice walks along the beach should see you upping your exercise without too much effort, mobility issues aside.
I hope the doctors appointment is not as fearful as you imagine at the moment, good luck.
Keep up your interest here now you have taken the first step, you will find that people here are more than willing to help, support and motivate you when and where appropriate, we are all on the same journey and in need of a helping hand now and then.
I will be travelling across the border at the end of the month, visiting the wonderful Perranporth for a weekend of beach walks and hot tubbing.
 
Hello and welcome @kernowjim .

The most valuable advice I ever had about managing my T2 was to get a blood glucose meter, and test before eating, 1 hour after starting meal, then at 2 hours. Recording what I had eaten, and the BG levels. Doing that helps to determine which foods are causing any problems.

The info that daisy1 will post here does have some useful info, as has already been mentioned. Do have a read, and come back and ask questions.
 
Thanks Kitedoc - all really useful advice that I'll take on board. Unfortunately I'm not an expert on kites but I do know a thing or two about motorcycles! (not sure that helps)
 
jayney27 said:
Hello and welcome, I'm just across the border, a Devonian and for the sake of friendship we will leave Devon v Cornish Pasty and Cream Tea etiquette for another day ;):) on all other food stuff you are right, lower the amount of carbs you eat to hopefully reduce your blood sugars. It isn't as difficult as it first seems, baby steps are the way forward, maybe start with reducing carbs at breakfast, one of the easier meals to adjust, in comes the eggs and bacon out goes the toast or cereal a an example. You are in a beautiful part of the country and nice walks along the beach should see you upping your exercise without too much effort, mobility issues aside.
I hope the doctors appointment is not as fearful as you imagine at the moment, good luck.
Keep up your interest here now you have taken the first step, you will find that people here are more than willing to help, support and motivate you when and where appropriate, we are all on the same journey and in need of a helping hand now and then.
I will be travelling across the border at the end of the month, visiting the wonderful Perranporth for a weekend of beach walks and hot tubbing.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jayne, I'm sure you'll have a great time in Perranporth - and hopefully the weather will pick up too. Thanks for your advice. The only thing I can say about Devon vs Cornwall cream tea construction is that for us diabetics the loctaion of the jam should stay firmly in the jar, along with the scone....and most of the cream. So just the tea eh? (no sugar) what fun! :)
 
kernowjim said:
Thanks Jayne, I'm sure you'll have a great time in Perranporth - and hopefully the weather will pick up too. Thanks for your advice. The only thing I can say about Devon vs Cornwall cream tea construction is that for us diabetics the loctaion of the jam should stay firmly in the jar, along with the scone....and most of the cream. So just the tea eh? (no sugar) what fun! :)
Click to expand...
Quite right about the cream tea, I still enjoy the cream element but the jam and scone are most definitely off limits for me. I have just discovered the joys of Rooibos tea so I am happy to top up on that for a while.
Its surprising how your tastes change once you adjust to low carb eating, I visit a lovely tea room and they make the most amazing scones, this was always a treat when in the area, afternoon tea of a ginger scone with pear and ginger jam and cream. I still visit but now partake in the all day full English breakfast lol A little while ago I treated myself to a scone, all in the name of research you understand, took it home as I was full from all the eggs and bacon, I exercised caution and only added cream to half, not a nice experience, it went in the bin, not sure if the lack of jam was solely to blame I think it was also the taste, too sweet and an attack of guilt about what I was putting in my mouth, wont be repeated anytime soon!
 
Welcome to the forum @kernowjim. I hope your appointment tomorrow goes as well as possible. It does sound like your surgery might be looking to change your meds.
 
@kernowjim

Hello Jim and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like 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 well over 235,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 
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