Hi - Just diagnosed Type 2

[Mittzy]

Hi everyone, I have lurked a few days and am now taking the plunge. I can see that this is a really positive forum, with lots of advice and support.

I was diagnosed Type 2 before Christmas and ironically I had just lost a stone in weight. Happy Christmas!

I am finding it all quite overwhelming and scary to be honest. Diabetes is in the family and I am already asthmatic and so now have another LT condition to manage. This diagnosis came after a severe chest infection, which triggered my asthma. I needed three courses of steroids to shift it and whilst on them, I was going to the loo a lot and getting really thirsty. I told my GP and he asked me to get some bloods taken and they came up type 2. My BG was 18.9 on the test.

GP called me up and put me on Gliclazide straight away and explained that this was to get my BG down.

There followed appts with the diabetic nurse and I was given Metformin. I take the two tablets twice a day with meals. They are thinking that I may cope with just Metformin but wanted the Glicazide initially to reduce the glucose levels.

The BG is now coming down, fasting was 8.9 this morning, it is still a bit all over the place but I got a 5 before dinner last night and it is mostly between 6 and 13. The highs are usually 2 hours after the evening meal so maybe I need to readjust the carbs.

I very rarely drink alcohol, have never smoked but I am overweight and carbs are my vice. I have cut out junk, all sweet stuff and have been fine with that but I am still working on the carb intake. I am getting them down.

The other problem I seem to be having is side effects from the Metformin. It is noticeable after taking them that I fall asleep, my heart pounds and my chest feels tight but not in an asthma sort of way. I have skipped Metformin for a day to see if it really is that and all the symptoms go away.

This is worrying me as the Metformin seems to really work in getting the BG levels down. I am wondering just what to do.

The GP and nurse have both been utterly brilliant and supportive. I have been given a meter, shown how to use it and the strips but on repeat prescription. I was given some diet advice (not sure about the carb issue though and I have started weaning off them). I have an appt with the nurse again next Thursday and hope she can help. I was wondering if Metformin SR might be better.

Thanks to anyone who reads this. I am finding some of the threads on here really informative and helpful.

 

[Clivethedrive]

Hello Mittzy,welcome to the best forum on the wwweb,happy new year to you and yoursyou have come to the right place for advice that works and good friends and real support,you have got a meter ! Great, are you testing am before your feet hit the floor? And again before your main meal and 2 hours after ? These times will give a good reading of your bs's ,
@daisy1 will be along with a very helpful info pack for your perusal, please have a good read and come back with your questions, clive

 

[Mittzy]

Thanks Clive. The nurse told me to do random tests but I have been testing in the mornings before I even have a cup of tea. It is slowly getting down but still too high for comfort.

It is mostly between 8 and 9.3 was the highest but that was at the beginning of treatment. Was 8.1 yesterday.

 

[Clivethedrive]

Welcome Mittzy, those figures are not too bad at allthe first test what we call am fasting is usually the last to get down under control,mainly because of a bodily response to preparing for the days activities supplying enough glucose to get us up and aboutso don't worry if this takes time to get into a good range, most important is knowing what affects our bs's in the way of what we eat, which is why testing before our main meal and again 2 hrs after is important ,then we can compare the bs rise to see what we can and cannot eat, as i say read up daisy's info pack and you will see some dietary advices, then its up to you to action , taking into account your current medical situation, i'm sure your gp / nurse will help there, keep posting and asking q's , clive

 

[linzi1987]

Hi Mittzy, I have just looked at the site tonight and signed up as have some advice on the metformin. I had same issues and felt sick every time I took them. I am now on the slow release version of metformin and have no issues maybe worth asking your gp about.

 

[4ratbags]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[Mittzy]

Thanks everyone for the welcome and the advice. I will definitely ask about the Metformin SR.

 

[daisy1]

@Mittzy

Hello Mittzy and welcome to the forum Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

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.

 

[Mittzy]

Thanks for this Daisy. I will be sure to have a good read. It's all a bit overwhelming at the moment.