Hi, newly diagnosed Type 2

mrsraeroberts

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Not much
Hi all,
I'm Rachel, Rach or Rae (depending on who I'm talking to)
I'm a 36 year old married Mum of 4 (2 daughters 18 & 15 a son 12 and a baby girl I lost in pregnancy).
I am originally from Leeds but now living in Bridlington. We recently changed Drs surgery as our old one was going downhill and after losing my sister in law to breast cancer in August I had to visit the Dr due to anxiety/depression, because I was a new patient the Dr askedif I would mind having a full blood MOT and everything else came back fine, but I had a reading of 65 (hba1c?) So had another one 2 weeks later which was 63. I was told 22nd September and had my first appointment with the diabetes nurse yesterday.
Ive lost 2.5 stone since october last year and have at least another 5 to lose.

Hoping to meet people and find out lots of info/advice.
Thank you for reading,
Rach x
 

coby

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,083
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Social mixing most sport, Soaps!
Hi all,
I'm Rachel, Rach or Rae (depending on who I'm talking to)
I'm a 36 year old married Mum of 4 (2 daughters 18 & 15 a son 12 and a baby girl I lost in pregnancy).
I am originally from Leeds but now living in Bridlington. We recently changed Drs surgery as our old one was going downhill and after losing my sister in law to breast cancer in August I had to visit the Dr due to anxiety/depression, because I was a new patient the Dr askedif I would mind having a full blood MOT and everything else came back fine, but I had a reading of 65 (hba1c?) So had another one 2 weeks later which was 63. I was told 22nd September and had my first appointment with the diabetes nurse yesterday.
Ive lost 2.5 stone since october last year and have at least another 5 to lose.

Hoping to meet people and find out lots of info/advice.
Thank you for reading,
Rach x
Hi Rachel. I was diagnosed this year in January and am only just getting my head around it! I hope you don't struggle as much as I did ... but it DOES take so long for things to sink in with me! You will find so much help on here ... as I did, and I wish you well x
 

pleinster

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,631
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
ignorance
Hi all,
I'm Rachel, Rach or Rae (depending on who I'm talking to)
I'm a 36 year old married Mum of 4 (2 daughters 18 & 15 a son 12 and a baby girl I lost in pregnancy).
I am originally from Leeds but now living in Bridlington. We recently changed Drs surgery as our old one was going downhill and after losing my sister in law to breast cancer in August I had to visit the Dr due to anxiety/depression, because I was a new patient the Dr askedif I would mind having a full blood MOT and everything else came back fine, but I had a reading of 65 (hba1c?) So had another one 2 weeks later which was 63. I was told 22nd September and had my first appointment with the diabetes nurse yesterday.
Ive lost 2.5 stone since october last year and have at least another 5 to lose.

Hoping to meet people and find out lots of info/advice.
Thank you for reading,
Rach x

Hi Rach, it is all a bit *** at first..but you will definitely get in control of things soon enough if you really apply yourself, find an approach that works for you and stick to it (as much as you practically can). I reckon the initial advice I would offer would be accepted by others, by and large. Firstly, I have copied the amazing @daisy1 into this reply as she will undoubtedly be along as soon as she can to provide some of the basic but vital info the site provides regularly. That said, here are some starting tips -
a] get familiar with numbers...
HbA1c numbers are essentially the average level of glucose/sugar in your blood over the prior three months (and that's the most accurate) and is generally now given as a round number (referred to as IFCC, or basically the HbA1c level);
Another relevant number to understand (and one you will see continually in people's posts here) is your blood sugar level at any given moment (measured in mmols by self-testing meters)...to as accurate as the HbA1c but the number most of us rely on day to day to inform us what's helping and what's not (eg. foods we eat);
I know it's confusing at first, but here is a wee chart to help you work out what's what ....
50shades - Copy.png


for reference your 63 equates to an average of about 10mmols....you are aiming for under 7mmols for "normal" levels.
b] Only by self-testing with a meter at home will you see what your levels are (in mmols) at any given moment. If you have been given one - use it. If you have not been given one..buy one (along with a supply of strips)..they are absolutely not problem to use at all...honestly. Investigate and ask questions.
c] Test before and 2.5 hours after eating and you will soon see what is pushing your level up. Record this in your own way - noting time, levels and food eaten, and you will soon see the patterns.
d] The "secret" for many of us is to cut not just sugar but foods high in carbohydrates as carbs turn to glucose in the blood. Any doubts about this - research LCHF diets (ie. Low Carb High Fat) and test yourself after some toast or some cereal and you will soon see what I'm taking about.
e] Don't worry - normal range levels are totally achievable if you stick to an approach like this...it won't "cure" you but it will put you in control.
f] Good luck, pal.
 

Tabbyjoolz

Well-Known Member
Messages
557
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Cruelty, bigotry
Hi Rach, and welcome.

Once you get over the shock and take back some control (get a meter and ask a lot of questions) it does get manageable.

This is a brilliant forum - I have learned far more here than from the health "professionals" - and the doctor is pleased with my progress so far.

So keep posting, keep reading and let us know how you get on.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@mrsraeroberts

Hello Rach and welcome to the forum :) In addition to the good advice above, here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like 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 well over 210,000 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 free 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.
 
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AndBreathe

Master
Retired Moderator
Messages
11,320
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all,
I'm Rachel, Rach or Rae (depending on who I'm talking to)
I'm a 36 year old married Mum of 4 (2 daughters 18 & 15 a son 12 and a baby girl I lost in pregnancy).
I am originally from Leeds but now living in Bridlington. We recently changed Drs surgery as our old one was going downhill and after losing my sister in law to breast cancer in August I had to visit the Dr due to anxiety/depression, because I was a new patient the Dr askedif I would mind having a full blood MOT and everything else came back fine, but I had a reading of 65 (hba1c?) So had another one 2 weeks later which was 63. I was told 22nd September and had my first appointment with the diabetes nurse yesterday.
Ive lost 2.5 stone since october last year and have at least another 5 to lose.

Hoping to meet people and find out lots of info/advice.
Thank you for reading,
Rach x

Welcome aboard Rachel.

It's very early days for you, and there's a lot of information to take on board. My only real comment, at this point, would be that many, many folks, once they start bringing their blood scores into line, begin to feel much better generally - even when they didn't realise some of their sparkle had drifted off a bit.

Ask lots of questions. It's how we all started.

Good luck with it all.
 
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Prem51

Expert
Messages
7,393
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
*
Hi Rachel (@mrsraeroberts) and welcome to the forum. well done on your HbA1c and weight reductions. You will get a lot of helpful advice and support on here.
 
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ellagy

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,448
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Hi all,
I'm Rachel, Rach or Rae (depending on who I'm talking to)
I'm a 36 year old married Mum of 4 (2 daughters 18 & 15 a son 12 and a baby girl I lost in pregnancy).
I am originally from Leeds but now living in Bridlington. We recently changed Drs surgery as our old one was going downhill and after losing my sister in law to breast cancer in August I had to visit the Dr due to anxiety/depression, because I was a new patient the Dr askedif I would mind having a full blood MOT and everything else came back fine, but I had a reading of 65 (hba1c?) So had another one 2 weeks later which was 63. I was told 22nd September and had my first appointment with the diabetes nurse yesterday.
Ive lost 2.5 stone since october last year and have at least another 5 to lose.

Hoping to meet people and find out lots of info/advice.
Thank you for reading,
Rach x

Welcome to the forum @mrsraeroberts. Well done on losing that weight. Wish you every success with the rest of it :)
 
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mrsraeroberts

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Not much
Thanks everyone for being so welcoming. It is quite nerve wracking and my anxietyis playing up. I've had my first nurse appointment and have my first eye test on the 26th. Then bloods checked again 11 November
 
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