Initial Success - Thanks to all here

[jamesw]

Hi All

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes earlier this year, I had to register with the doctor as I hadn't been for a few years and this required a urine sample, the doctor gave me the bad news there and then and ordered a fasting blood test to confirm which came back as a Hb1ac of 10.6.. although i am a big lump, it still came as a shock, i thought it may get me later on in life but I didnt have any symptoms (alhtough with hindsight and the way i feel now, i clearly did!)

I have just had my three month test to see if I require medication, and the results were in my doctors opinion very good / great improvement, she actually said she had never seen a Hba1c drop from 10.6% to todays result of 5.8% (40mmol) with no medication.

My Fasting Glucose is now 5.8mmol, which although not amazing, considering it was early morning I am still happy with.

I have something called Metabolic syndrome from too much fat around the middle and too little exercise, which causes high triglycerides, high bad cholesterol, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, poor liver function and of course, the insulin resistance

Through advice followed on here I obviously cut out all the obvious nasties and then as many other carbs as possible and increased my exercise through some gym work but mostly just by walking home from work, walking at lunchtime, and trying to do something active after meals... but I wasnt a Saint and although ive lost about 16kgs taking me from 154 to 138, i still have a long way to go.

The best thing i did was get a codefree and test test test, if like me you have a problem with food and willpower, then i found testing helps as there is nowhere to hide when you can see you have spiked yourself... also it gives you a boost when you eat something very enjoyable and one and two hours later your levels are normal..

I am only 33 years old, I have two young kids and I thank the people of this forum who gave the proper advice that is contrary to the photocopied leaflet I was given by the diabetic nurse..

I am fairly sure Diabetes is not something that can be reversed, i believe it can be halted from progression and complications but not reversed, if I was back on the bottles of coke and bags of haribo, i have no doubt my levels would be off the chart again.

For any newly diagnosed I recommend a book called 'Type 2 Diabetes, the first year', i was scared to pick it up, but along with the posts on this forum I am so glad I read it...

Many Many Thanks from a Lurker that really appreciates the contributors to this forum for giving me a glimmer of hope with regard stopping Type 2 in its tracks.. thank you x

 

[zolabud]

My copy of Type 1 diabetes that you arrived mentioned this morning and I have yet to read it as I have crammed so much info from here since I was diagnosed last Tuesday I feel like a night off.

It clearly isn't working yet as I am still on here !!

But the advice I have been given here is 2nd to none and I thank everyone for answering my many questions.

Glad to hear you readings have inproved and life is better for you....

 

[daisy1]

Hi James and welcome to the forum

You are making very good progress already. Here is the 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 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.

 

[johnlfitz]

Good on you, well done !!!

I've had similar results .... here's my HbA1c since I was diagnosed Type 2 in March:

22nd March 2013 - 7.2%
21st June 2013 - 5.0%

I've hit the diet (low carb) and exercise hard (electric treadmill at home) and have gone from 18st 5lbs in March to 15st 10lbs now in June.

The weight loss has slowed down now ..... but it's enough to encourage me onto to continuing ......

 

[blothom]

Hi John. I noticed a comment of yours on another thread, that you couldn't get prescribed test strips. When I was first diagnosed, and for all the time that I wasn't on medication, I couldn't get test strips on prescription, so it could be that because you are managing on diet and exercise, you won't be able to get them. However, if you do find later that you need meds, (and I have only just found out that type 2 is progressive, and I was diagnosed in 1999) make sure you get all the 'scripts you need. They are free for diabetics, so you shouldn't have to pay anything, provided you have the exemption form. Or come to live in Scotland, where all prescriptions for everyone are free! On a serious note, keep up the good work, because it is very easy to get fed up with the constant checking on food intake and balance, and you can't afford to let it slide. I ignored it for 2 years, didn't take meds, ate what I liked, and felt great, until suddenly I was really ill, with serious complications. Now on insulin, and minus 1 Big toe! SO, hang on in there, and ask the questions, because without knowledge, you are running blind! :thumbup: