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Just wanted to say hello as I am new to this.

S

Sugarpuff1

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2
Hi there,

I've had my suspicions that I am diabetic for 4 years as my mother was diagnosed with type 2 in her 40's. I am 43. I recently had a fasting plasma glucose and was told that I need a retest but the receptionist at the doctors wouldn't say why. I called into the surgery to pick up a repeat blood form and asked what my previous result was. It was 9.8. I am off for my repeat test in the morning so hopefully will find out the result by Monday.

Because my mum is diabetic I have always used sweetners and granulated sweetner. My problem is, is that I love carbs and have never really thought before about them being sugar so I know I am going to have to change my diet drastically as I always reach for the bread, pasta, rice or crisps when I think about food.

I have a Aqua-check aviva which I bought myself so will start to check my sugar levels regularly but the strips are soooo expensive!

Anyway, just wanted to say hi to everyone.

Sugarpuff x
 
Hi sugarpuff, welcome to the forum. Ask lots of questions and check out all the other posts to find out everything you need to know. Someone should be along shortly to give you the newcomer stuff :D I am a T2 diagnosed about a month ago and am hopefully doing really well with my diet so won't need meds just yet - am going to make some low carb muffins when my hubby gets back with my ingredients :) cant wait to try them - yummy.
 
Hi sugarpuff and welcome to the forum :) You obviously have to wait for your official diagnosis but it doesn't do any harm to look after yourself straight away. This is information (the information mentioned by Clairslloyd) which the forum monitors give to newly diagnosed diabetics - even if you are not diagnosed it will help you with your diet which is also very good for general health and wellbeing. Have a good read of this and around the forum too.

Good luck on Monday. :)

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS.
Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Sue/Ken.
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Hi Sugarpuff and welcome to the forum :D
 
Hi all,

I've had my first appointment with the Diabetic nurse today and had my pneumonia jab! It all feels a bit scary at the moment. I am a little overweight so have been advised to try and get that down and eat a healthy diet. Trouble is I'm such a carb junky! Finding it difficult to think about what I can eat other than carbs! I have been put on 1 aspirin a day and also an ace inhibitor, although don't know what that is yet, need to google it.

Nice to know this forum exists.

Sugarpuff xx
 
Hi Sugarpuff, sorry to hear you are now 'in the diabetic club' but its not all bad, honestly, once you get used to eating few carbs and smaller platefuls of food you soon get used to it and you will also find you weight will drop along side the carps and portions, and how bad is that? Another bonus of loosing weight is as the weight drops you will hopefully see a drop in insulin resistance too which means lower blood glucose.

Aspirin and ace inhibitors are prescribed usually for high blood pressure. If the ace inhibitor is Ramipril it can also help protect the kidneys against damage caused by the diabetes.

Loads of support here Sugarpuff, just shout if you have any questions or just want to let off steam about something :D
 
Hi and welcome
Have just made low carb brownies and my kids are gobbling their way through them. Have a fab American baking book( can let you have details if you want). Get Diabetes type 2 the first year by Gretchen Becker ( I got got mine from Amazon) it's a clear explanation of everythin and isn't full of guilt trip stuff!! Just very positive :D
I'm 2 months ahead of you and now feel that it's low carb all the way!!! I feel fab and have lost a stone :D Zumba ( salsa exercise) also helps give me exercise and make me smile!
Get your GP to prescribe the strips. If he argues mention NICE guidance that mentions the link between good blood sugar control and reducing complications.
Good luck and message me anytime

Summermum x
 
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