Hi

[LilacJanet]

Just joined to talk to people with diabetese for mutual support and encouragement. I have got type 2, had for 11 years, was previously controlled by diet, but due to disablement and massive weight gain been on victoza since Jan this year, my bs is now controlled, have lost weight and feel a lot better for the weight loss and lower bs. Just started the dukan diet, into 4th week and have lost 17lb and feel more alert and ibs much better than for years. I have got fibromyalgia, recently diagnosed and live with a lot of pain, am hoping that loosing weight will help with the disability.
I am on the list for bariatric surgery and started to do dukan to loose weight for the op because i have been struggling to loose any more weight, lost 2 stone since christmas, so am delighted with weight loss since starting the dukan diet.
I am 53 years old and determined to enjoy my latter years more than my former years, embracing middle age with wisdom and no time for people who distract from life rather than enhance. Life is to be lived and enjoyed to the full bringing as many people with me as possible.
I am a born again spirit filled christian, but not a bore or a biggot, i love people and life, and if i can make you smile i have achieved my aim, i want to be like my God, to do people good and not harm, when bad things happen i want to comfort and help, and then leave you with a smile

 

[Tumble]

Well you made me smile! Well done for loosing so much weight already and good luck with loosing more. Love your avatar too. x

 

[daisy1]

Hi LilacJanet and welcome to the forum You sound to be coping very well with your diabetes, with good levels and weight loss. I know you have had diabetes for 11 years but I think you will still be interested in this information and find something that will be useful to you. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask as there is always someone here who will be able to answer you.

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 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.

 

[LilacJanet]

Thank you for your replies, there is one question i have, it is about nerve damage, i have got neorothapy in my feet and have a lot of pain in my toes, especially at night, is there anything that i can do or take to allieviate this pain? thanks, x