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Just Diagnosed T2 2 Days Ago And Feel Lost

B

beep

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I’ve been prediabetic since my late teens but I’ve always managed it by staying away from sugar and fruit. But with the pressures of drama, stress being placed on me and my husband not by our own making, ive been comfort eating through a lot of depression this year

I went for my annual diabetes test and it had gone from years of results of 38-42 to a whooping 68

I was shocked and horrified and of course broke down

My doc sent me straight to the nurse to explain stuff but apart from saying I’d have some appointments to attend ie foot and eye appointments and of course gave me a radickulas diet booklets telling me to eat 3/4 of my plate with starchy carbs and fruit and veg.
And 500 mg metiform once a day to move to 500 x2 a day after a week

That’s it, no other info

I started the keto diet yesterday and started the metiform diabetic meds
So far no side affects

The blood glucose testing things, do you get it for free on the nhs or do you buy it?
How do you know if you’ve got to much glucose or not enough in your blood

I’m told I will have another diabetes test in 10 weeks

I’m really hoping I can get my results back down

Yesterday and today I ate
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs 2 slices of ham
Lunch: 3 quick fry thin beef steaks with tomato pesto and cheese
Dinner: half a courgette and half an onion sliced and baked with a sprinkle of garlic, cheese and bacon
 
beep said:
I’ve been prediabetic since my late teens but I’ve always managed it by staying away from sugar and fruit. But with the pressures of drama, stress being placed on me and my husband not by our own making, ive been comfort eating through a lot of depression this year

I went for my annual diabetes test and it had gone from years of results of 38-42 to a whooping 68

I was shocked and horrified and of course broke down

My doc sent me straight to the nurse to explain stuff but apart from saying I’d have some appointments to attend ie foot and eye appointments and of course gave me a radickulas diet booklets telling me to eat 3/4 of my plate with starchy carbs and fruit and veg.
And 500 mg metiform once a day to move to 500 x2 a day after a week

That’s it, no other info

I started the keto diet yesterday and started the metiform diabetic meds
So far no side affects

The blood glucose testing things, do you get it for free on the nhs or do you buy it?
How do you know if you’ve got to much glucose or not enough in your blood

I’m told I will have another diabetes test in 10 weeks

I’m really hoping I can get my results back down

Yesterday and today I ate
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs 2 slices of ham
Lunch: 3 quick fry thin beef steaks with tomato pesto and cheese
Dinner: half a courgette and half an onion sliced and baked with a sprinkle of garlic, cheese and bacon
Click to expand...
Hi, well I fully understand how you feel. I’m in a similar situation. I went for a regular ‘mans MOT’ only to get told I had Type 2 with a reading of 74.
I’ve been a shift worker for 40 years, no excuse, but it makes a regular diet difficult. My weight has steadily increased and tbh, I game little thought to what I ate. All that changed 5 weeks ago. I’ve gone on slimming world and dropped 1 1/2 stone. That’s the easy part. Foot checks, eye checks etc, great, appreciate that, but I’m struggling to know basic stuff. I was put on Metformin, had very minor side effects. Got a glucose meter.
What I want to know is, how often do I test, when and what are good/bad results? I average 5.4 over the last 5 weeks testing before breakfast and evening meal, and then two hours after and then before I go to bed. Am I doing it right?
I think we need to get to out first ‘check up’ and ask the questions there. It’s a scary new world when you’re first diagnosed.
Certainly don’t stress, that already seems to be in your life. Don’t worry about anything that worrying can’t gix. We’re at where we’re at.
Hope you get the answers you need, but you’re not alone.
 
You've made a great start - I just hope that you don't get any problems with the Metformin - I could not stand it.
The meter usually advised to buy is called 'codefree' and comes mail order - from Amazon I think. you can get it free of VAT as a diabetic.
 
Welcome to the forum. Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack offered to all newcomers.
Meters and strips.
Someone will come along soon with codes that save money on strips. Remember to tick the box to say you have Diabetes to make sure you're not charged VAT.

Testing.
FBG. Fasting blood glucose levels should be taken as soon as you awake in the morning, before you rush about getting ready for your day.
Pre prandial and Post prandial readings. Test once before the first bite of your meal, test again two hours after the first bite. The difference between the two readings should be no more than 2mmol preferably less than that.
Record all readings along with what was eaten in your meals. Some people take a reading at bed time but this is optional.

Your readings will teach you which foods are having a good impact and which are best to cut down on or even cut out.

Have a wander around the forum and ask as many questions as you like.
 
Hi @beep and @Al Horn and welcome to the forum. Your experience of lack of much information when you were told you are Type 2 diabetic is unfortunately fairly common. It is a shock when you get that diagnosis and does take a bit of time to get your head around it all.

@beep Type 2 diabetics aren't usually prescribed bg test meters and testing strips unless they are on insulin or humulin (?).
But it is best to get one so you can find out which foods spike your blood glucose levels, and how you are progressing.
The main ongoing cost are the test strips. The cheapest ones are the Code Free and TEE2. I don't have the details to hand, but I expect @Bluetit1802 will post the links.

A lot of us on here have found that adopting a Low Carbohydrate High Fat (lchf) approach to eating has lowered our blood glucose levels. Have a read round the forum and ask any questions you want. The people on here are friendly and supportive.
 
Thank you all for helping to clear up my worries I’m starting to feel better already after reading a lot of this forum. This is a great community

Thank you all
 
Al Horn said:
Hi, well I fully understand how you feel. I’m in a similar situation. I went for a regular ‘mans MOT’ only to get told I had Type 2 with a reading of 74.
I’ve been a shift worker for 40 years, no excuse, but it makes a regular diet difficult. My weight has steadily increased and tbh, I game little thought to what I ate. All that changed 5 weeks ago. I’ve gone on slimming world and dropped 1 1/2 stone. That’s the easy part. Foot checks, eye checks etc, great, appreciate that, but I’m struggling to know basic stuff. I was put on Metformin, had very minor side effects. Got a glucose meter.
What I want to know is, how often do I test, when and what are good/bad results? I average 5.4 over the last 5 weeks testing before breakfast and evening meal, and then two hours after and then before I go to bed. Am I doing it right?
I think we need to get to out first ‘check up’ and ask the questions there. It’s a scary new world when you’re first diagnosed.
Certainly don’t stress, that already seems to be in your life. Don’t worry about anything that worrying can’t gix. We’re at where we’re at.
Hope you get the answers you need, but you’re not alone.
Click to expand...

Hi @Al Horn , frequency of testing is up to you but it's usually recommended that (at least) during the early stages you test your blood glucose before your meals and again 90 mins to 2hrs after eating. This will help you work out what various foods do to your blood glucose levels, and will help you to work out if your're better off avoiding or reducing portion sizes of some foods.
 
@beep and @Al Horn

It is strongly recommended you buy a blood glucose meter. Without one you are working blind. It will help you enormously with your food choices. We can help you use one to your best advantage if you ask.

The most popular meters for self funding T2's are the Codefree and the Tee2 because the strips are much cheaper than other meters, and you need a lot of strips. You can't buy them in pharmacies.

Try here for the Codefree meter
http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk. (applied at the check out stage)
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833

The Tee2 is here and the meter is free.

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product-category/shop/tee2/

Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for either meter)
 
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