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Hi, new member and my first post

P

Peter RS

Newbie
Messages
4
Location
Talbot Green. South Wales
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi Everyone. This is my first post and I would like to add some of my experiences.
I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2002 after visiting my GP complaining of a recurrence of a leg infection I first had when working abroad in Holland in 2000. This time I had pins and needles also. My GP took a blood sample for analysis, lo and behold I have diabetes type 2. The practice nurses took over and I had the usual chats about diet etc.
Eventually I was prescribed Metformin but this seemed to affect my bowels, not to put to fine a point on it coughing was becoming dangerous! I was then prescribed with Glicacide with much fewer side effects.
All had been going well until about two years ago when after the continuing rises in my blood/glucose levels it was decided to refer me to the Diabetes Clinic at my local hospital. However the Health Authority sent me to a sub unit 10 miles away rather then the main unit less then a mile away!
On one visit the doctor asked “What do you think about injecting yourself with insulin?” The way she asked I thought she was seeking my opinion and I replied I would rather not. Next thing I had a “snotty” letter from the hospital saying that against advice I was refusing treatment. I replied that that was not so.
Since then I have been back to the hospital and am now being seen by the same doctor but in my local hospital! I did agree to starting Insulin treatment by injection after a chat with the nurses at the Diabetes Centre. That was last September and until the end of 2011 was injecting twice daily with Lantus, doses being increased after chats with the Diabetes Nurses. After my January visit this year it was decided to add NovoRapide to my Lantus at meal times. I’m in the habit now of taking my injection at meal time, remembering to take my pen and needle with me when I go out is just kicking in. My injection doses have been set and my levels are down to a level the nurses are happy with and I do not need to talk to them for a couple of months, unless of course I have any problems.
The next “big” hurdle to pass is a weeks break on holiday to Ireland. I have taken delivery of a Frio cooling wallet that should do away with the need for a fridge in my hotel. The Diabetes Centre has already supplied with a letter to take my needles etc through airport security.
Not had any Hypos yet that I know of!!

Peter
 
I am sure the ones with all the information will be here soon. But this story sounds frightening to me or am I wrong. There is no mention of Metformin Slow Release for your bowel problems, no mention of diet to bring your levels down just more meds and insulin. There seems to be a bit of institution using bullying tactics here to get you to do what they want, or maybe I am reading it the wrong way.
 
Hi Peter and welcome to the forum :) Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. This is information we give to new members which you may find helpful. Ask all the questions you like as there is always someone here to 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 30,000 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 ... rains.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

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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for your prompt replies. I was prescribed the Slow Release Metformin but although it removed the urgency and frequency to clear my bowels it was still pretty close to disaster at times. I was working then as a BT engineer visiting exchanges around S. Wales. Plenty of toilets once you were indoors, but some long travel periods in between. My managers were ok about the many visits to doctors, I was working a 9-day fortnight so had every other Tuesday off and tried to fit doctor appointments to those days. But it still felt awkward taking time off even though I had a good sick record. Hospital appointments are not so flexible
There was some "bullying" but I deserved some of that, my diet is not the best.
 
Hi Peter,

Welcome to the forum.

Think I'm with SDGRAY but I think it is an all too familiar tale. Thankfully, you've found this forum and you will find all the info you need here if you are in the market for taking control of your diabetes.

You say your diet is not the best. Are you looking to improve it? You will probably find if you take control of what you are eating your need to medicate will reduce.

For me personally, missing out on bread and sweet stuff, cutting down on rice, pasta, pastry is nothing compared with not wanting to go on meds and definately not wanting diabetic complications. It's down to the individual tho' for some being able to have more carbs and being on meds is a cost worth paying.

Mary x
 
It does sound as if Peter was "railroaded" intio increasing his meds and i suspect he is here because he is not etnirely convinced about it.

It is notoriously difficul for shiftworkers o comnrol theiir bgs or even diabetics in the same household as shift workers!
Perhaps that is why other options were not tried.

Bu it is never too late. AS many of us have found , even minor adjustments to diet can make a huge diffference.
Welcome Peter, I am sure you will find Daisy's post above very helpful. and reading around the forum will , I hope give you plenty of iother information. I hope you will soon be able to reduce your medication .
As the others have said ,it is not the only answer.
 
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