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Just been diagnosed

T

TrogloDiet

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Just about to turn 60 and this week was told I have Type 2. Blood tests for a few years showed 40-45 somethings, but it has shot up to 80 somethings. So the nurse said I need to start taking Metformin. So I have just taken the first tablet. I am to move up to 2 tablets per day, get some blood taken in June and meet her again. Only other recommendation was to cut down on carbs.

I have done a little reading about diabetes and am not really sure what this means.

If I take this medication, is it expected that my blood somethings will drop down (maybe to the 40-50 range)? Doing more exercise and losing weight will also help. And if this is the case, and I keep it at 40-50 for the rest of my life, is that it? I understand that if it stays high (the 80 somethings) I am in serious trouble and my foot will need to be cut off or some other horrific outcome.

I also suffer from health anxiety so do not really want to read items online without it be monitored as I will scare myself stiff and will started to get really stressed out.
 
It is possible to put type 2 into remission - I did this by cutting carbs (not just obvious sugar as all carbs turn into glucose in our bodies). There are good substitutes for most foods, eg low carb/high protein bread in moderate amounts if you can't live without it.
I rarely eat bread and never more than 12g of carbs in a day. I do eat eggs, cheese, chicken, turkey, fish, bacon, etc. along with plenty of green veg or green salad, and greek yogurt with a few raspberries.
I still have a chocolate habit but switched to 85% dark and eat much less.
Going low carb, without counting calories, should result in weight loss without feeling hungry,
 
Does going out once in a while and eating what others do, have any lasting affects? Something like being a good boy for a month and then going out for a slap-up meal?
 
Also ... at what point would I need to get a meter. I do not feel unwell but I know that is not the point as diabetes in many cases is unseen (I think).
 
TrogloDiet said:
Also ... at what point would I need to get a meter. I do not feel unwell but I know that is not the point as diabetes in many cases is unseen (I think).
Click to expand...

Personally I would start testing asap. You’ll learn so much about what food or drink spikes your blood sugars. Testing before a meal and two hours later will tell you how good (or bad) that particular meal was for you. As type 2s in the U.K. we usually have to self fund testing. We can help you with the meters which are cost effective
 
Now that I have been diagnosed over 5 years and been in remission a while the only effect of eating a 'normal' meal is the weight gain and the unsettling effects on the rest of the week - but you might be fine. You do need to get to the normal numbers first though - and let the metabolism heal.
I have realised that my supposedly dead thyroid only needed an extended period of normal numbers to come back to life, and I have had to have tests and reductions in Thyroxine for almost a year.
It took me a long time to become diabetic, so 3 or 4 years normal numbers is quite a swift recovery, I think. I told all my GPs that high carb made me feel ill for decades before diagnosis, and was laughed at.....
 
Hi @TrogloDiet and welcome to the forum.
I would expect it's very unlikely that you can get your diabetes under control just by taking even the maximum metformin dose alone. There are more potent medications, but they come with possible side effects and are only treatments - not cures.

Lifestyle changes have a remission rate of around 40 to 50% and the more motivated you are the more likely you are to succeed.
The 2 major dietary ways to remission both tend to cause some weight loss:
1. A Low Carb way of eating - counting carbs not calories, so no hunger. This reduces blood glucose quickly and weight steadily.
2. An 800 calorie diet for 10 to 12 week, then transition to a weight maintenance way of eating which may well be Low(er) carb. There are both real food and shakes based versions of this - see 'Newcastle Diet' or the various books by Dr Michael Mosley.

Here is a link to Jo Kalsbeek's nutritional thingy (about low carb and testing Blood Glucose):
The Nutritional Thingy. | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community
 
Hi. Yes do get hold of a meter and go low-carb. Set yourself a daily limit of perhaps 150gm/day or less. Think carbs not calories. We all binge occasionally and that won't do lasting harm. Don't rely on the Metformin doing a lot but it helps. Exercise always helps but the right diet is key.
 
TrogloDiet said:
Does going out once in a while and eating what others do, have any lasting affects? Something like being a good boy for a month and then going out for a slap-up meal?
Click to expand...
I think your mental health is very important so you still need to live, Ive got my bloods under control by being on a low carb lifestyle change. I still go out but just be mindful of portion sizes, for example if I go out to an Indian il have a bit of rice and naan I try to avoid double carbing like a lot of rice and a naan. It's common sense as long as aren't doing it daily you should be ok, this was the advice my nurse gave me
 
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