Hi everyone. I have been reading the forum for a couple of weeks but thought I would join and say hi. Hi! And share my experience with others.
5 weeks ago I went to the Docs with what I thought was a bout of tonsillitis. Was a bit surprised when Doc asked if I drank a lot of water (no), pee a lot (no), hot/sweaty (no), fatigue (no) and then said I was probably diabetic – just like that! No warm up! I did a urine test (BS high), he took a cursory look at my throat and then booked me for a fasting test and the long term average test (didn’t have a test after drinking glucose). He also told me to eat lots of brown bead, brown rice and carbs but avoid sugar – (standard and contradictory advice). I left more perplexed that he didn’t look properly at my throat than the prospect I might be diabetic.
I had tonsillitis or flu for two and a half weeks so postponed test until last week as didn’t like the idea of not being able to drink water, take lemsips etc,. During this time I was adamant that I wasn’t diabeteic and the urine test must have been caused by something else. I thought to myself ‘apart from tonsillitis every four years or so I am never ill’!!! But eventually conceded he was prob right and this was just denial.
By the time I received the results this Monday I had found this brilliant forum so was ready with some questions. I had to ask what my readings were and was told my fasting reading was a 7.0 and my average was 9.0. Started Metaformin Monday at 1x tablet for 5 days, then 2x for the next 5days and then on to 3x (500mg). Asked if I get a meter/test thing but he said no, so I asked why. His answer was that they are only given to people on insulin. He then said I should wait a couple of weeks and book an appointment with the nurse for some further tests (I now assume he means blood pressure and circulation / feeling).
There you have it – business as usual. Don’t panic and carry on! Must have been in the docs office for all of 5mins over both visits! Wasn’t expecting sympathy just some sort of structure, advice and info.
Since first appointment I’ve been on a kind of lowish carb & high GI, low fat, no booze, no sweets diet and increased the gym visits. Have done pretty well and also lost some weight. Obviously I cannot see what effect any of this is having on my BG yet. Feel very good though.
I have ordered a BG meter and am going to start on a low carb diet which makes perfect sense to me as we learnt in school chemistry that carbs are just complex sugars (doc didn’t!). This leads me on to a couple of questions.
I have read the fantastic introductory advice but If I was on a low carb diet and then one night I drank a load of beer or had half a pizza would it undo all of the good work that week, or worse!? In fact going further can you be a ‘fairly low carb’ dieter eating meat, cheese and fats then have a brown roll? Or does it not work like that and the fat you are eating gets stored (prob answered my own question then). Is there such a thing as a ‘mostly low-carb with non-fatty foods’ diet?
I will test when it arrives but when I go to the gym in the morning do you think I should eat or wait until after? Have always had a banana on the way out of the front door. Now I have read that BS is usually high in the morning so a little confused.
And finally, my pee has been very dark ever since I can remember is this linked to diabetes and will change on the meds? Seems to be the same however much water I drink.
Still feel very philosophical about it all really but I guess that will change from time to time and with the onset of associated health problems. For now can’t help feeling this condition might be a saviour in some ways as it has made me determined to be much healthier; eat better, fewer late nights, no alcohol, no bacon sarnies the following morning and cut out takeaways. I do go to the gym and drank a lot of fruit juice but this was only ever a poor attempt to compensate! If only I had a time machine.
My ‘Extreme Biking’ career is dead!! Long live the Veg!
Ted
5 weeks ago I went to the Docs with what I thought was a bout of tonsillitis. Was a bit surprised when Doc asked if I drank a lot of water (no), pee a lot (no), hot/sweaty (no), fatigue (no) and then said I was probably diabetic – just like that! No warm up! I did a urine test (BS high), he took a cursory look at my throat and then booked me for a fasting test and the long term average test (didn’t have a test after drinking glucose). He also told me to eat lots of brown bead, brown rice and carbs but avoid sugar – (standard and contradictory advice). I left more perplexed that he didn’t look properly at my throat than the prospect I might be diabetic.
I had tonsillitis or flu for two and a half weeks so postponed test until last week as didn’t like the idea of not being able to drink water, take lemsips etc,. During this time I was adamant that I wasn’t diabeteic and the urine test must have been caused by something else. I thought to myself ‘apart from tonsillitis every four years or so I am never ill’!!! But eventually conceded he was prob right and this was just denial.
By the time I received the results this Monday I had found this brilliant forum so was ready with some questions. I had to ask what my readings were and was told my fasting reading was a 7.0 and my average was 9.0. Started Metaformin Monday at 1x tablet for 5 days, then 2x for the next 5days and then on to 3x (500mg). Asked if I get a meter/test thing but he said no, so I asked why. His answer was that they are only given to people on insulin. He then said I should wait a couple of weeks and book an appointment with the nurse for some further tests (I now assume he means blood pressure and circulation / feeling).
There you have it – business as usual. Don’t panic and carry on! Must have been in the docs office for all of 5mins over both visits! Wasn’t expecting sympathy just some sort of structure, advice and info.
Since first appointment I’ve been on a kind of lowish carb & high GI, low fat, no booze, no sweets diet and increased the gym visits. Have done pretty well and also lost some weight. Obviously I cannot see what effect any of this is having on my BG yet. Feel very good though.
I have ordered a BG meter and am going to start on a low carb diet which makes perfect sense to me as we learnt in school chemistry that carbs are just complex sugars (doc didn’t!). This leads me on to a couple of questions.
I have read the fantastic introductory advice but If I was on a low carb diet and then one night I drank a load of beer or had half a pizza would it undo all of the good work that week, or worse!? In fact going further can you be a ‘fairly low carb’ dieter eating meat, cheese and fats then have a brown roll? Or does it not work like that and the fat you are eating gets stored (prob answered my own question then). Is there such a thing as a ‘mostly low-carb with non-fatty foods’ diet?
I will test when it arrives but when I go to the gym in the morning do you think I should eat or wait until after? Have always had a banana on the way out of the front door. Now I have read that BS is usually high in the morning so a little confused.
And finally, my pee has been very dark ever since I can remember is this linked to diabetes and will change on the meds? Seems to be the same however much water I drink.
Still feel very philosophical about it all really but I guess that will change from time to time and with the onset of associated health problems. For now can’t help feeling this condition might be a saviour in some ways as it has made me determined to be much healthier; eat better, fewer late nights, no alcohol, no bacon sarnies the following morning and cut out takeaways. I do go to the gym and drank a lot of fruit juice but this was only ever a poor attempt to compensate! If only I had a time machine.
My ‘Extreme Biking’ career is dead!! Long live the Veg!
Ted
I'm glad you've already read the basic information I give to new members - I hope you found it useful and interesting. I'm glad you got yourself some testing equipment - you will need it a lot at the beginning to see what you can eat, and afterwards you can test less often. If you have the occasional treats it won't do any harm but get back on track straight away afterwards. If you have any questions, please go ahead and ask as there is always someone here to help.
