Hi

[Charis1213]

Hi, I am a member but my email address that registered in is not active now and i couldn't remember the password . I need to be on here as i am in a right panic . I was diagnosed last year in March lost 2 stone in weight numbers went down to control level, this year has been one thing after another with a family member on trial for manslaughter , a nephew fighting for his after being knocked down by a car , so anxiety panic and are really high right now . I have felt so unwell these past few months and keep getting recurrent thrush infections and its driving me bonkers. So i did a fast and went to the doctors last Wednesday , got medication for the thrush (sorry to be graphic) know it is common in diabetic patients, Anyway had blood done and it came back as high according to the doctor she said 104 and cholesterol 7.3 . She wants me to start taking Metmorfin but the thing is i have such a fear and phobia of medications i just can't take it i am so frightened of side effects. So on Friday when i got given the news that my blood glucose is 104 i immediately cut out as much carb and sugar from my diet as i cannot take this medicine it make me worse and my IBS would be out of control. So since the redcution in carbs and sugar I feel like a different person . I woke yesterday with energy my body feels different my eyes feel brighter and i have been aching in my joints and had trigger finger which has miraculously gone and i put it down to the low carb and low sugar.
Please help me to get through this . I feel I've taken such a huge step backwards with the high numbers that i just broke my heart on Friday i cried and cried and i thought it was the end of my life , i asked the doctor if i was dying, she say i wasn't but said if i lose weight take the metmorfin it would reduce the onset of diabetic complications. I just felt so down and broken . I've had a good day today it has been beautiful weather and i took my six year old grandson to some garden centres to see the Christmas decorations. I want to get this back under control and feel good again i was so proud when i lost the weight and numbers went right down in a few months , then the family tragedies and the huge relapse. I want to get better i don't want to live in fear of complications but i am so frightened right now . xxx

 

[HSSS]

Please try to breathe. Literally. Take a few long slow deep breaths every time it all feels too much. You have taken a big leap forward by changing your diet. You are already feeling the benefits. Do you test you bloods? Do you have a meter?

Many here do get the results we want without (and with) metformin. It’s your choice whether to take it or not. Perhaps if you’re really against it try without it til your next hb1ac and focus on the diet. Weight loss by any method can temporarily raise cholesterol but then after a few months lowers it below starting figures. And it’s not the demon it’s made out to be. Lots of threads in here to research that later. Blood sugars should be your priority for now.

The stress of your family situation won’t help but you can’t change what’s actually happening. Try your best to focus on what you can control. Walking in nature or something similar might be stress relieving and helpful for your glucose figures.

I’ll tag @daisy1 for her welcome advice as it’s been a while and this is a fresh start for you.

 

[Diakat]

Hi @Charis1213
If you email [email protected] the email issue can be sorted out.

 

[Charis1213]

Please try to breathe. Literally. Take a few long slow deep breaths every time it all feels too much. You have taken a big leap forward by changing your diet. You are already feeling the benefits. Do you test you bloods? Do you have a meter?

Many here do get the results we want without (and with) metformin. It’s your choice whether to take it or not. Perhaps if you’re really against it try without it til your next hb1ac and focus on the diet. Weight loss by any method can temporarily raise cholesterol but then after a few months lowers it below starting figures. And it’s not the demon it’s made out to be. Lots of threads in here to research that later. Blood sugars should be your priority for now.




The stress of your family situation won’t help but you can’t change what’s actually happening. Try your best to focus on what you can control. Walking in nature or something similar might be stress relieving and helpful for your glucose figures.

I’ll tag @daisy1 for her welcome advice as it’s been a while and this is a fresh start for you.

Thank you so much , I did have a meter but it broke and i am confused which is the best to buy, I did well last year as i did test daily it encouraged me and i knew what spiked my sugar so i could do better knowing . I'm not worried about the cholesterol never have been , I am really going to work hard at this and get the numbers down. I don't really understand the numbers , I walk everyday so that should help . I haven't put weight on according my scales but the doctors reckon half a pound , which is hardly anything so it has worried me about the rise in numbers . Bad eating habits won't help and with all the stress I didn't have a heart to eat healthy . I can't access my email account which was my other account I will have to try and get my son to sort it for me . Thanks again for the reply really helped me /

 

[Charis1213]

My doctor is going to ask if i can have eye test without drops because of my fear and phobias, they can do it without but they don't like to , but with my health condition fear of medications the doctor wants me to have the retinal eye test . I've had two at the opticians and doctor has requested the pictures she is confident they will be okay and the optician said because not many years its unlikely any damage caused . I'm doing my best and it is very hard for me to attend appointments with my mental health and i have an amazing doctor who understands .

 

[daisy1]

@Charis1213
Hello Charis and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic 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 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 235,000 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 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Obviously you know you need to take care of yourself, otherwise you wouldn't be asking for help. You know you need to, and you know how to: Low carb worked miracles for you before.

Is there a specific reason medication scares you so much? A trauma, or something? Anything that can be worked through with professional help, like with EMDR-therapy? (Which is non-medicinal). Just an idea. Might make life easier in the long run.

Still... With just some modifications in diet you could very well get there without meds. Several people here are doing it, myself included, though I have to admit it does depend on a bunch of factors. It is worth it. I kno when I'm stressed or ill my numbers will still go up, but they're mitigated by what I'm eating. it's nowhere near as dramatic as it could be.

Take care of yourself. You're worth it.