Hi 'Just diagnosed' I was diagnosed in Sep 2010. With 15.5 BG reading. Shock horror! First reaction was to go and buy my own BG meter! A lovely Contour USB and tested myself from then on regularly. Went crazy and started exercise regime of minimum 1 mile power walking plus 5km jogs (until had to back off with slight ligament pain). And eliminated ALL sugary stuff... sweets, fizzy drinks, juices, sugar and switched to complex carbs, pulses, vegetables, sweet potato, porridge lean meat (esp chicken) and my BG dropped now to around 7. But needs to be lower so started on Metformin (1x 500mg per day) which is nudgingit down.
Getting info is a struggle. The internet is a start but there is so much conflicting stuff out there. What I am learning is by using my meter I can see what foods impact my BG. And the other thing is exercise is brilliant at knocking down the BG. Getting weight down is also essential.
It took me 3 months before I really resigned myself to the fact that this was not going away and that it was in my hands to manage it or suffer the long term consequences of migrating from tablets to insulin and other complications. There was an excellent programme on Sky called The Hospital on diabetes which frightened the hell out of me along with one by Oprah. Those two programmes have fixed my resolve to manage this which means sticking rigorously to diet and exercise.
Upside is the exercise is great, gets me out and seeing my local neighbourhood and saying hi to people. Playing with my USB meter and printing graphs etc. I find fun but then I am a closet techie!
And having had the pneumonia vaccination and flu jab also feel 'safer' for it especially given the swine flu epidemic.
Finally, it's great that my two 20 something children are also adopting my diet/exercise lifestyle!
Hope your Doctor will prescribe you regular lancets & strips!
Getting info is a struggle. The internet is a start but there is so much conflicting stuff out there. What I am learning is by using my meter I can see what foods impact my BG. And the other thing is exercise is brilliant at knocking down the BG. Getting weight down is also essential.
It took me 3 months before I really resigned myself to the fact that this was not going away and that it was in my hands to manage it or suffer the long term consequences of migrating from tablets to insulin and other complications. There was an excellent programme on Sky called The Hospital on diabetes which frightened the hell out of me along with one by Oprah. Those two programmes have fixed my resolve to manage this which means sticking rigorously to diet and exercise.
Upside is the exercise is great, gets me out and seeing my local neighbourhood and saying hi to people. Playing with my USB meter and printing graphs etc. I find fun but then I am a closet techie!
And having had the pneumonia vaccination and flu jab also feel 'safer' for it especially given the swine flu epidemic.
Finally, it's great that my two 20 something children are also adopting my diet/exercise lifestyle!
Hope your Doctor will prescribe you regular lancets & strips!