Hi! New user, sick and tired of diabetes (1)

[marinaAR]

Hi everybody,
I am 46 years old, diabetic type 1 since I was 24. Even though I know a lot by now from the technical point of view, I have never been able of being constant with diet. Some periods I really behave myself and everything is fine with values, etc, and I do feel better. But it is like pulling a slingshot... after a month, or two, or six, it always happens that some stupid problem, occasion, or something even more meaningless and difficult to identify makes me completely lose control, and then it takes weeks and months (last time even more) to get me on track again. Now I am starting feeling neuropathy effects, and I am scared. On diet, sure, but for how long?
I tried a lot of different mental or practical strategies not to pull that slingshot too much, so to avoid the mess that always comes up afterwards. They often work... but for a week, a month, two months... again!
I imagine a lot of you people manage their diabetes much better than me... I will need advice...
Thanks a lot
Marina

 

[daisy1]

Hi Marina and welcome to the forum Since you are asking for our advice, here is some information we give out to new members on how to look after diabetes - perhaps some of this might help you even though you have had diabetes for a long time. Ask as many questions as 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.

 

[chocoholicnomore]

Sorry to divert from the thread but just felt I had to give a special welcome to my namesake.

There aren't many of us about.

Welcome to the forum Marina. I'm afraid I can't give much advice as I am only recently diagnosed T2 but best of luck with your struggle. I can assure you that you will get loads of support and good advice on here.

Spending time on this forum helps me to divert from the eating and gets me back on track when I fall off the wagon.

Good luck

Marina
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[marinaAR]

Thank you Daisy and Marina for your warm welcome.

Where are you from Marina? I am Italian,from Rome, and even though it is not an uncommon name here, it is also somewhat outdated. And then, I tried to register as "Marina", but the name was already in use. So there are other "Marinas" out there"!

Kind words from you both are helpful... sometimes what is needed is someone who encourages and not just criticizes you for not being perfect (I am NOT).

Thanks,

Marina

 

[chocoholicnomore]

Hi Marina

I was born and bred in Scotland and, in my 44 years, I have only ever met one other Marina.

sometimes what is needed is someone who encourages and not just criticizes you for not being perfect (I am NOT).

You will definitely get plenty of encouragement on here and no criticism. We are all only human and we all make mistakes but there is plenty of help,support and encouragement from others on the forum to get back on track. The good thing is we are all in the same boat and can understand each other.

Anyway, best of luck with it all.

Marina
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