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I need Help

T

Treece

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi can anyone help me ... bit lost and really dont know where to start. I went for a blood test between Christmas and New Year and as it was put to me... AWFUL/TERRIBLE results. I have type 2 diabetes and have been on oral treatment of metformin and Victoza injections since April last year. Previous to that I had been on metformin and gliclazide and was on a drug trial EXCEL but when I was put on Victoza I was removed from the drug trial as I could not be on both drugs.

Even though I was sticking to my diet my blood sugars remained high, I was sent to dietitian and was put on awful diet that impacts on mental health. However, I am sticking to the diet, started no bread, no rice, no pasta... then added a few months later no potatoes. I spend most of my time feeling weak and depressed. I am chronically ill with several other illnesses including fibromyalgia, urticarial vasculitis and Alpha 1 liver disease add to this high blood pressure and cholesterol just to name a few.

One day I was working away the next I had come to a stand still.

Anyway since the results I have been put back on Gliclazide 80mg to try to kick of my pancreas and if it doesnt work I have been told I have no choice but to start insulin. I dont want to take insulin as I am scared of the hypo's, a lot of the time I am alone so no one to help me. I drive and would be scared to do so even if I could afford the increase in my car insurance. I have to report to DVLA... will i lose my licence? and also... my partner of 16 years moved to Corfu last year, I have been unable to go with him due to the above health conditions and I travel alone back and forth, sometimes its quick but in the winter months it can be 10 hours travelling. Is there an insulin that is more stable that I dont have to be so scared ? any words of advice?

Also, do I have a choice, is there something else that could be tried before FORCING me to take insulin?

To say I'm in a bit of a state is an understatement.
 
Hi Treece , welcome to the forums ,, I am tagging @daisy1 who has lots of info for new members. You sound like you are eating a low carb diet .. with this you need to stop low fat and change to full fat foods. Do you have a meter to test your blood sugars at home ?
 
Hi Treece,

Insulin is nothing to be afraid of—in fact it is liberating. The sooner you start insulin, the longer your pancreas will be able to chug along and help keep things smoother.

If you are afraid of hypos, you just need to manage your insulin accordingly. You will probably be able to get better results than you have been, without major diet sacrifices, provided you are pro-active in learning how to use insulin (including reading books, and things targeted at people with type 1 diabetes).

And at the end of the day, if insulin doesn't work for you you can stop using it and try some other option.
 
@Treece

Hello Treece 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 want 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 220,000 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.
 
Are you sure that you have type 2 diabetes? Have you been checked for antibodies?
 
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