• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Hi, May I also join the club?

M

Malc.

Well-Known Member
Messages
114
Location
Pembrokeshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi, What a fantastic forum!

Two weeks ago I had a GTT and I was then diagnosed with type 2...
This came as quite a shock to me as I had NONE of the symptoms that seem to be the 'norm', such as, tiredness/fatigue, needing the toilet more frequently, excessive thirst, etc.
None of these applied to me.
I'm 66 years old, 5' 3", Weight around 9 & a half stone (61 kg), non-smoker, almost no alcohol consumption, BMI under 25. I consider myself to be healthy.
My BG test on the day I was diagnosed was 7.8 I was prescribed Metmorfin SR (1 tablet per day)
I admit that I have yet to start taking these.....
I'm attempting to control my BG levels by diet only, mainly because I have a strong aversion to taking tablets...
I have just purchased a meter and my first reading yesterday morning (fasting) was 7.1. I plan to test once a week.
At the time of the diagnosis, I was given two booklets to read, no diet sheet was given to me and no offer of a meter. Also no opportunity to try to reduce my initial readings ( 7.8 ) by adjusting my diet.... My next appointment with her is in 2 months (March 29th)... TWO MONTHS!!!

I previously used over two spoons of sugar in my tea/coffee, which is now reduced to just under ONE spoon. I'm considering changing to 'Splenda' at which point I should have virtually no daily intake of sugar. I'm aware that I'll also need to regulate my 'carbs'...
If in a month or two I have managed to reduce my BG to 6 (or under) without the medication, I'll be happy to have achieved the lower readings without medication.

Malc.
 
Hi Malc and welcome to the forum. :) Have a good read around as there is a terrific amount of information on here to help you. Then ask as many questions as you like as there is always someone here who will know the answer. To help you with the basics, here is a link to information put together by the Forum Monitors for newly diagnosed members:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17088#p155405
 
Hi Malc.
welcome to the forum, very intresting opening statement ( A true rebel :D ) Please be very careful with your meds as for the Two month to see a DBN :lol: been diagnosed over a month ago now and still awaiting my consultation. There are plenty of experienced people on here so have a good look around and enjoy the forum :D
JF.
 
Hi Malc. Welcome!

I'm afraid diabetes is one of those things that just sneaks up on you with no symptoms at all.

Have a good read around, particularly the info for newcomers, and ask as many questions as you like. This is a very supportive and knowledgeable place to be. I'm a newbie too - only diagnosed last December. I've gone very low carb, which suits me but isn't for everyone.

Just two immediate pieces of advice: 1) in case no one has told you, the current NICE guidelines for blood glucose levels in Type 2 diabetes are 4.0 to 7.0 mmol/l fasting/before meals; below 8.5 mmol/l 2 hours after a meal.

2) I test immediately on waking and before and 2 hours after every meal at the moment, also at bedtime. I call this my 'research' phase, 'cos I want to know exactly what's going on inside my body. Your choice, of course - but it does let you find out which foods raise your blood glucose too much and which you can tolerate. A meter is a very useful tool.

As for sweeteners - I use tablet Splenda in coffee and granulated with fruit if necessary. Some people find the granulated raises their BG, but I'm fine with it. Splenda has no aftertaste.

Have a look at places such as the Low Carb Diet forum on here - you'll get lots of good ideas.

We're all in this together :)

Viv

Oh - and there's no such thing as a 'typical' diabetic! :roll: We're all very different - what works for one, doesn't work for another. But we get there!
 
Hi Malc,
I agree with all other posters on here but perhaps I can add 1 extra piece of advice about the sugar(or splenda) if you cut down from 1 spoonful this week to half a spoonful next week and a quater spoonful the week after that you are training your palette not to want the sugar .You sound as if you are doing a good job getting to grips with your DB keep it up :D
CAROL
 
Many thanks for your replies & support / advice.
I certainly hope my initial post on here didn't appear over-confident by my suggestion that I don't need any medication, it wasn't my intention to offend.

I intend to gather as much info as possible from this forum as I can and use it wisely.
I'll certainly post on the other threads, where appropriate and if there's anything I'm not sure of, I'll ask...

Thanks again, regards... :)
Malc.
 
No offence taken by anyone, I'm sure!

I too intend to drop my meds asap, but at the moment I'm hoping the metformin will help me with my weight loss. Apparently it does for some people - but unfortunately not me yet! :lol:

V
 
I too hope to drop my glic soon ( but I hope to minimise my other meds first as they would bankrupt me at present :shock: )
Good luck all! :D
 
Hello malc welcome to the club, you will find lots of knowlegeable people on here, just be confident and dont let having diabetes make you despondent have a good look round the website it is well worth it.
 
Back
Top