Just after some advice

[niaz11]

Hi! I was diagonised with type 2 diabetes back in october and have had a rocky start so far. At the moment i am on background insulin and metformin. A problem i face is the temptations around me from family members who do feel guilt when they have snacks and chocolates etc especially at this festive time but i know i cant force them or expect them to stop eating these things around me as that is unfair. I always feel anxious and worried about my blood sugar scores when the time comes and often find when its high i feel shocked. Im currently at university for my second year and feel that its hard to cope and juggle things on my own far away from home. I have read that people have put their diabetes into remission by losing weight and going to the gym often. Has anyone here been in remission and could give any advice to do so. I have had a really rough time during this diabetes process as i was misdiagnosed as a type 1 at first until i demanded a special test i thought i was at my wits end. As a 19 year old its tough and im sure there are people younger than me who have experienced worse. I just cant get over it i am still so overwhelmed 2 months on.

 

[chrisjohnh]

Hi! I was diagonised with type 2 diabetes back in october and have had a rocky start so far. At the moment i am on background insulin and metformin. A problem i face is the temptations around me from family members who do feel guilt when they have snacks and chocolates etc especially at this festive time but i know i cant force them or expect them to stop eating these things around me as that is unfair. I always feel anxious and worried about my blood sugar scores when the time comes and often find when its high i feel shocked. Im currently at university for my second year and feel that its hard to cope and juggle things on my own far away from home. I have read that people have put their diabetes into remission by losing weight and going to the gym often. Has anyone here been in remission and could give any advice to do so. I have had a really rough time during this diabetes process as i was misdiagnosed as a type 1 at first until i demanded a special test i thought i was at my wits end. As a 19 year old its tough and im sure there are people younger than me who have experienced worse. I just cant get over it i am still so overwhelmed 2 months on.

There are very many here who have beaten this thing into remission and kept it there. I am sure that the experts here will give you detailed and valuable advice. I did it for myself two years ago and not by having to do anything drastic, just reducing my calorie intake by a quarter and keeping carbs down below 130g a day. But as you are on medication you will need to deploy caution before making dietary adjustments until you’ve had that expert advice. Don’t feel down about this, your prospects of getting good control should be good.

 

[EllieM]

HI @niaz11 and welcome to the forums.

Very many of the T2s here achieve lower bg levels. reduced medication and/or remission by reducing their carb intake, but as @chrisjohnh has said you have to be careful about this when you are on medications such as insulin because you don't want hypos.

( As a T1 I am very familiar with insulin and hypos ).

Can I ask what tests you have had done to identify your diabetes type? Your youth means that doctors will tend to jump to the T1 conclusion but there are also other types than T2 which I would hope have been ruled out in your case.

What sort of instructions have you been given on diet and/or adjusting your background dose if your insulin needs change? Have they given you a libre? (Technically as a T2 on only basal insulin you may not qualify.)

Anyway, sending you some virtual hugs from New Zealand and wishing you a Happy Christmas and New Year.

 

[Oldvatr]

Just adding a few notes about the problem with living with other (non diabetic) people. I assume you are using a testing meter to help control your diabetes. I am not an insulin user myself, but I use a meter, and what I did was keep a food log where I tested each meal before and 2 hours after eating, and this allowed me to adjust what I ate to avoid giving myself high spikes or lows. I then shared this info with those near me (eg family and or housemates, so they could see for themselves how some food items gave me high levels. My family not only became suppportive of me and my strange diet, they joined in too and found that my w.o.e. had benefit for them as well.

 

[niaz11]

HI @niaz11 and welcome to the forums.

Very many of the T2s here achieve lower bg levels. reduced medication and/or remission by reducing their carb intake, but as @chrisjohnh has said you have to be careful about this when you are on medications such as insulin because you don't want hypos.

( As a T1 I am very familiar with insulin and hypos ).

Can I ask what tests you have had done to identify your diabetes type? Your youth means that doctors will tend to jump to the T1 conclusion but there are also other types than T2 which I would hope have been ruled out in your case.

What sort of instructions have you been given on diet and/or adjusting your background dose if your insulin needs change? Have they given you a libre? (Technically as a T2 on only basal insulin you may not qualify.)

Anyway, sending you some virtual hugs from New Zealand and wishing you a Happy Christmas and New Year.

It was an antibody test and was told to keep a low carb diet. Luckily my hospital is one of the top ones in the UK so the endo nurses offer plenty of support.

 

[VashtiB]

I second @Oldvatr advice about using your meter and testing regularly.

I also find that it can be hard around others and I am a lot older than you so my sympathies to you. Uni can be stressful as well so that won't help you.

I think finding some low carb 'treat's and having them around may help. Have you checked the diet doctor website for some ideas or post here with some things you like and people may be able to give you some suggestions.

My thoughts on treats that work for me are:
frozen jelly- particularly in summer and with cream. I found the texture was something different and it also takes time to eat.
cream mixed with peanut butter- okay I know how that sounds but it works for me.
a small amount of nuts
some nice cheese
pork crackling

anyway let us know what type of things you like.

Virtual hugs

 

[Resurgam]

Hello @niaz11 welcome to the forum. Unfortunately as a type there isn't very much support given, but it is almost diagnostic for an ordinary uncomplicated type 2 to see lower blood glucose levels if high carb foods are avoided or eaten in small amounts and not very often.
The good news is that - from my own experience, protein and fat with such things as stirfry, mushrooms or low carb mixed veges make tasty meals which keep blood glucose under control. In the hot weather I often had salad stuff, coleslaw etc with fish or left over cooked meat. These days I use a pressure cooker and make a stew with a little onion, chopped beef steak cooked in a pressure cooker, then a pack of mixed veges added and cooked for a few minutes more. I do add gravy power - it has flour but as everything else is low carb then it doesn't cause problems.
I'm afraid that Reonk's idea of healthcare teams, treatment plans, low fat, wholegrain, exercise regimes and monitoring equipment under the guidance of a professional diabetes educator just doesn't happen - most type 2's are on their own - apart from the internet of course.
I found it easy to go into remission, it is hardly rocket science once the concept of eating low carb is sorted out - a blood glucose meter is very useful, but you'll probably have to self fund - there are ones available mail order with cheap supplies so not too expensive to use frequently enough to see how you react to various meals.

 

[HSSS]

It was an antibody test and was told to keep a low carb diet. Luckily my hospital is one of the top ones in the UK so the endo nurses offer plenty of support.

I’m a little concerned that they have ruled out type 1 solely on an antibody test. It is perfectly possible to be type 1 with negative antibody tests and there are in fact a number of antibodies that might be involved not just a single one that is most common and most commonly tested for (Anti GAD). Whilst a positive result proves type 1, a negative is still inconclusive and does not disprove it. There are also other variants of diabetes that are neither 1 nor 2. Please ask your dr about this? If you are in fact type 1 it entitles you to a lot more tech (cgm/pumps etc) than a type 2 will get.

Do you have any indicators of type 2? Is your ethnicity one at higher risk? Are you overweight? Is/was your diet very carb heavy or full of processed foods? Whilst type 2 at 19 is possible it’s fairly rare and even more so without any of the typical indicators.

 

[Lamont D]

1. Follow your treatment plan: Your healthcare team will create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. This may include medications, insulin therapy, or other interventions. It is important to follow your treatment plan as prescribed to help manage your blood sugar levels.
2. Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help you manage your blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight. This may include reducing your intake of simple sugars, increasing your intake of fiber-rich foods, and eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins.
3. Exercise regularly: Regular physical activity can help you manage your blood sugar levels and improve your overall health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week.
4. Seek support: It can be helpful to connect with others who have diabetes or to seek support from a healthcare professional or a diabetes educator.

If you have any questions or concerns about your diabetes management, it is important to speak with your healthcare team. They can provide you with more detailed information and guidance on how to manage your condition.

1. My diabetes team disappeared in my area due to my doctors surgery losing its GPs and new management.
most newbies don't get a healthcare plan.
2. What you consider a healthy diet, is really bad advice for some T2s who are carb intolerant. All carbs produce spikes and the higher the spike, the amount of produced insulin is required but because of insulin resistance, the insulin levels remain high. Protein is the most important, with natural fats, to be sourced from natural resources but not oils or polyunsaturated and other fats which are the cause of inflammation.
Grains are not advised. A carb is a carb and advising eating carbs is not only had for the patient but illogical.
3. Quite a few diabetics are unable to exercise as you describe, whether it be age, ability, other conditions, disability and weight issues.
4. The majority of posters, contributors and visitors to this site are here because they can't get the right advice for them. And the majority of cases the treatment doesn't work, the diabetic team is stuck in the past. Advising textbooks treatment which have never got to the crux of blood glucose management. And of course using glucometers, insulin testing, tailored treatment for their variation of diabetes and other conditions.
Finally, my health system has ground down and has not got the capacity to cope with patients. And on top of that, our wonderful nurses, paramedics are on strike again this week! Our healthcare is in crisis and the government are playing politics and ignoring the suffering of those people who actually need a decent healthcare system.
So, if I need my team, what do I do?
You have to live in the real world!