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Lost and confused

Larissima

Larissima

Well-Known Member
Messages
875
Location
London, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi everybody

My name is Laura and I've been diagnosed with Type 2 a few months ago - in a very lackadaisical manner. "Has anyone ever told you you have diabetes? No? Well, you have it now, just lose some weight, expect a few referrals, off you go!"

The reason I went to see the GP in the first place was to help me lose weight. I've been overweight and obese most of my life, but managed to put on an extra 15 kg or so in the last year, which influenced/caused back pain, plantar fasciitis and tendonitis. I also have PCOS (was diagnosed at 19, am 44 now) for which I used to take Metformin on and off for years. Not recently, though. My older sister also has T2D, diagnosed in her late fifties, and both my mother and maternal grandmother had it as well. My mother actually died at the age of 68 due to diabetic complications (broke a hip in a fall due to neuropathy in her lower legs, died in hospital), so I am well aware of the potential dangers of diabetes. Yet, on the other hand, even though I know how bad it could be, I still seem to be unable to do anything about it that I know I should: eat LC and exercise.

I have since seen another GP who was more helpful, and a diabetic nurse who was not. I've had a liver scan (good, just fat) and have been referred to a local dietitian, a diabetic education programme called Right Start, and bariatric surgery (I don't want actual surgery, but apparently they also offer a lifestyle change programme which I would like to join). These, however, are still weeks and even months away, and I need help now.

I know what I need to do in terms of eating and exercise, but I keep finding excuses or flatly avoid acting in a responsible way. I'm currently reading Dr Bernstein's Diabetic Solution and Say Goodbye To Overeating by Gillian Riley, and I hope that posting here will give me a bit of motivation. I think I'm still in shock from such an early diagnosis (compared to my family), and feel deflated by having to wait for referrals. BTW, I haven't been given any medication or a monitor, because "it's reversible by losing weight". Something of a vicious circle!

Apologies for the long post, and for feeling sorry for myself. I feel angry at myself at the same time, so I suppose they cancel each other! Not even sure why I'm posting this - I suppose I needed to get it off my chest, and also maybe somebody could offer me some advice, motivation or simply understanding... Thanks in advance!
 
Don't apologise, you have made the first step to bring in control, and it can be controlled so that you can have a decent life and you won't follow the path your relatives have.
I've tagged @daisy1 to give you the basic newcomers information.
What we recommend on this forum, and it works, is what is known as a low carb diet with high fat content.
Basically it's the high carbs and sugars that are causing your high blood glucose levels.
Reduce your carbs, you reduce your blood glucose levels and you lose weight, and increase your fats, saturated not polyunsaturated.
Increase your walking and reduce your plate size.
That's it!
Have a good read around especially the low carb forum. Any more questions, ask away, someone will answer, as we've been where you are now. Read about the success stories on the forum. There's a lot of knowledgeable people on here.
Welcome!
 
you will be alright, promise..it is scary at first..and everything doesn't need doing the first week,
there is a wealth of information and people in your shoes here..
@daisy1 will be along with good advice

This gives a simple overview to how it works, very concise and pictures help me :)
For me, the more carbs we eat the more carbs we want. They don’t give up easy and it’s biochemical



a long page and a few good video’s
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm


From the @Southport GP study, who posts here
http://www.practicaldiabetes.com/SpringboardWebApp/userfiles/espdi/file/March 2014/PP Unwin final proofs revised.pdf
 
@Larissima

Hello Laura and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful, in particular with help on diet. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will come along and help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 140,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
Hi @Larissima , welcome :)

Yep, you've been introduced to the condition in a similar offhand manner to most of us, but don't panic, we can help you sort yourself out.

Well done for getting Bernstein, but also have a read/watch of Jack's links and those in my sig below, and ask away when you want. It would be a good idea to get yourself a meter too (SD Codefree is popular as it has the cheapest strips, unfortunately the majority of T2s have to self-fund this, especially if you're on no medication or just Metformin).
 
Hi and welcome. Sounds like you haven't had the most sensitive advice so far. You are right to mention low-carbing as it's the best approach to both weight and blood sugar reduction. Do you know why the GP has not prescribed Metformin for you. It is the right drug to help reduce insulin resistance if you are overweight.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. I spent my adult life being over-weight and not being able to lose it due to metabolic issues which were medically recognised thus my GP, like me, accepted my 'overweightness' but couldn't suggest what to do about it. However, since finding out that in my attempt to be healthy I had actually been eating the wrong things such as fruit, wholemeal bread, jacket potatoes and low-fat foods etc and beginning treatment for under-active thyroid, I'm now eating low carb and full fat and have succeeded in losing about 3 stone since last August and it is still coming off at about 1lb a week. I'm sure once you begin to eat the right foods you will see a difference.
 
Hello and welcome.
Dont get anxious,all will be fine.
Just follow advice,people will help you,
You will be surprised what a change of diet can do ,and it dosent take long,but its different eating for life and not just a few weeks or months.
I havent found it difficult.
All the best.
 
Thanks everyone for you supportive and encouraging posts. I will check out all the links and videos. I'm feeling more positive already!
 
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