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Just diagnosed, unsure of foods.

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David104844

Member
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8
Hi, I was diagnosed yesterday at the GPs, had problems i.e.thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, after no foods/drink overnight had a blood test taken reading 16.7 after a gluscose drinkand two hours later, they took another reading which was 28.9. the doctor has given me a prescription for Metformin 500mg one breakfast one teatime, Simvastatin 40mg one at night, also Dispersible aspiring 75mg once daily. Started the tablets last night, I see the practice nurse tomorrow but in the meantime unsure of foods to eat, love bread, potatoes, fish, steaks, cereals, semi skimmed milk, eggs, bacon, are these safe. Thank you.
 
Hi David. If your BG (blood glucose) level remains that high over a short period of time then they should provide insulin for you. It sounds as if you need that however they may decide you are best on tablets as are trying to figure out if the tablets will kick in and help your natural insulin absorb into your system. If they don't work chances are you don't produce insulin anymore and that means you will have to inject. Of course now is very early so it's difficult to be able to tell. No doubt you will have been told you have to try to keep your fasting (before eating) BG levels between 4mmol and 7mmol and not above 10 mmol after meals. I would stick to lots of veg and fruit and low carb until you speak to the nurse. I would then ask her what types of food you can eat and how you can get your BG's to the level above. They should also refer you to the diabetic clinic as soon as possible. Try not to panic too much. I know when I was first diagnosed they kept me on a low fat diet i.e fish without batter, no chips, that sort of thing. However low carb is probably good too although it depends if you are Type 1 (need insulin) or Type 2 (diet and tablets only no insulin) and on a number of other factors before they can decide what diet you should follow.
 
Hi David ,welcome to the forum.To get your blood sugar (BS) levels down,cut out all obvious sugars and cut down a lot on bread,potatoes,rice and pasta and any flour based products.The complex carbs in these things break down 100% into glucose. Read labels,always look at total carbs in the food.The sugars raise you BS quickly but the carbs will also raise your BS,but more slowly.Anything with no carbs is good,fish,meat,eggs ,bacon. etc,be careful of the cereal because there is usually a lot of sugar in these..See what your PN says tomorrow.Come back and tell us how you get on.
 
Hi David,
you don't tell us how old you are, but with getting fairly strong symptoms, yyou may be a type 1 (usually young, but not always)diabetic. Type 2s may have only very slight symptoms and often no weight loss. If you are T1, Metformin won't help you and they'll find out fairly quickly and put you on to insulin.
Did they give you a Blood glucose meter or tell you it isn't necessary for you to test yourself?
Anyway, one thing that can help T1 AND T2 is to cut down on the carbohydrates you eat. Carbohydrates are the nutrients that turn to Glucose in blood and it's going to help if you have less.
that means cut out sugar and sugary foods ( If it's sweet and doesn't have artificial sweetenr, don't have it) cut right back on floury foods. Anything that started as a grain, or starchy root vegetables like potaotoes or parsnips.
Eat as much as you want of meat, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs, tofu, TVP and green leafy vegetables.
Be careful of fruits. (If it's sweet, it contains sugar.!) You can have cream and butterBut be careful what you put them on
Our favourite snack is Macadamia nuts. Brazils and almonds are almost as good.
You are on a steep learning curve. the quicker you find out what suits you, the quicker you will be able to get back to non-diabetic blood sugar levels. It's the target to aim for and IT CAN BE DONE.
 
Hya David,
i was in a similar position to u where id weightloss,extreme thirst and feeling awfull etc etc,i went to lloyds and my bs was high teens so dr made me an app for 10 days later to have the gtt,in the meantime i was feeling iller and iller and honestly felt as though i was dying so had a neighbour buy me a blood tester,my bloods were 28mmol so i foned the gp and was told to go to casualty,on arrival my blood was tested and was still very high and also id plus 4 ketones,i was put straight on a drip and was told by the specialist if i hadnt tested myself and got help i probably wouldnt have made it thru the weekend :cry:
i am not meaning to frighten u but do advise u to check your blood and if it goes high or u start to feel worse u could have ketoacidosis and u need to take yourself to your nearest casualty department,
good luck and let us know how u get on
 
Hi, Many thanks for the replies, I will proably have to keep asking questions till I get the hang of this, I am 62 years old, my Mother and two brothers got it later in life, the Doctor said yesterday that the Practice Nurse would probaby give me a monitor to keep a check, hopefully she will give me a diet sheet tomorrow too when I see her, I can't say I have felt really ill, just lately been very thirsty, skin it itching, eyes sometimes go blurred or I get double vision, I am more tired than usual, also I have been getting cramps in my calves in the night for the last three weeks, but someone reccomended bananas so I have been having one every night which has helped. I don't smoke and only drink about two pints of lager total in a week.
I'm not looking forward to having insulin injections, but I suppose will get used to it if I have to.
Last year when my blood sugar was checked. the nurse said I was borderline diabetic and not to have cake, sugar, biscuits or fizzy drinks, I have kept to this but she didn't mention any other foods, hopefully tomorrow I will receive a full list.
Had fish and veg for tea as reccommended also coffee with sweetener and coffee mate, I will miss potatoes more than anything, is Smash instant potato ok?
Also is there any kind of bread I could buy as I will really miss bread too.
Thank you everybody for all the helpful replies. Best regards David
 
PS
If you are a T1 diabetic, things can happen fast and you can get very ill.
If you feel bad, go to A&E and tell them you've just been diagnosed.
 
Thank you, will do, since I started the tablets last night I don't feel as tired, I havent had the raging thirst and for the first time in ages didn't keep waking to use the loo, in a way even if its diabetes 1 and not diabeted 2, I'm glad that I know what is wrong.
 
HI, just a quick update, saw the practice nurse whos specialises in diabetes at the surgery, they have their own clinic there with three specialist nurses which is good, I went at 4.20 and had last eaten at 12.30 lunch time, she took a reading and it was down to 15.6, she spoke with the GP and have increased the metformin to 3 times a day, she has given me a testing machine called Freestyle Lite and a booklet that I fill in 7 times daily with readings, I go back to see her in a week.
She said if the readings go over 15 to ring within 24 hours and over 20 to ring immediatley.
Will do my next reading at 8pm so fingers crossed its not gone much higher.
She also did a urine test which was negative. Have got loads of info on diets and a quick and easy diabetic cookbook, also stocked up on the way home with allowed foods.
I feel like I have joined a special club now! Will certainly come back for advise if I am unsure about anything.
 

Uh=oh, just what were the allowed foods? Starch, starch and more starch?

(Just being cynical, some authorities have a much better grasp of diabetic dietary needs than others)

Have a read here

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/d-day.html
 
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