• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Lurker - time to introduce myself.

S

sallylondon

Well-Known Member
Messages
82
Hi, my name is Sally and it looks like I have the same story as many of you.

Diagnosed type 2 in 2004 (eventually)
Told doctor several times I was tired all of the time. No tests. Her response - What do you expect, you are a teacher.
Specsavers appointment - told to get investigated for diabetes.
Doctor' response was sceptical but she sent me for tests which came back positive. Her response - You didn't look like a diabetic.

Group dietician appointment: Don't eat chocolate. Must eat carbs. etc. etc. etc

Constant weight gain. More medication. Feeling out of control and overwhelmed and constantly guilty, sometimes rebellious.

Doctor's response. Do more exercise, eat properly (ie carbs), medication. (every time)

Exercise a bit of a problem as I needed a knee replacement for several years but was too young to get it - constant pain, little sleep. Went private, new knee, no pain, time for changes.

Went to discuss what I had been reading about research and reports in the papers with doctor with a view to experimenting. Told - "Don't read the articles - I don't" :crazy: Disapproving look about my testing (I pay for my strips myself).

Got angry. Came home and found this site and felt less alone because there are so many stories like mine. It doesn't make the way we were treated okay but I certainly feel less isolated.

In the last three weeks since finding this site I have started low (ish)-carbs and lost 8 lbs. I have finally begun to understand a lot more and question lots. All of the information and opinions are a bit confusing at the moment but I will continue to work my way through it all.

As of today, at 14 stone 4lbs, I am merely 'overweight' and no longer 'obese' :lol: My bloods have come down from out of control and ranging between 9 -17 in a day to being below 10 at all times and usually around 7 but now going lower. Still too high but a dramatic improvement in a short time. I feel happier and healthier and, more importantly, somewhat in control (which is empowering).

Thank you to all who contribute to this site. I have read so many posts and you have made a difference to my life. I can't thank you enough. :clap: :wave: :thumbup:

On Januvia, Glucophage SR, Ramipril, Lipitor, Aspirin, Amlodipine
 
hello ,this is my 1st day taking metformin 750 m/r tablets...this is due to in the last 6 months...my weight has gone up by a stone and my blood tests came back at 19.8 and a increase in chol from 8 to 10 also a high reading on my liver..(i do not drink ) nurse booking me in for a tummy scan ...im just so confused at the moment and would welcome any help or advice ..nurse did say the tablets strength should be 2000 a day but started me on 750..i have to go back in 8 wks for bloods ..i have been taking ..ramipril 2.5 and simvastatin 40mg daily for last 6 months.....xxx
 
Hi both of you

welcome to the best place in the world.

Daisy will be along soon with the welcome advice.

You will feel so much better now you can take control.

You're going to go through all sorts of emotions, take your time and read and ask lots and lots of questions, there's no such thing as a daft one.

Mary x
 
Hi Sally and Uno and welcome to the forum :)
Sally, since you have been lurking for a while (as I did) you may have already read this information written for new members but I hope that you will both find it useful and ask all the questions you like.
Uno, I expect some members will be along shortly who have had similar problems to you to give you some advice.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS


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 well over 30,000 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 ... rains.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 blood glucose 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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
Click to expand...
 
thank you for above info ..hello lurker sorry i added to your post but cant work out how to put a :( post on lol
 
No problem uno. I have trouble navigating around the site as there does not seem to be a 'home' button that can take you back to the beginning. I suggest you copy the post where you introduced yourself above and then somehow find the 'Greeting and Introductions' forum and paste there. Nice to 'meet' you though :lol:
 
Ah yes I was a lurker myself for quite a while, happy to read all the useful info found here...

But welcome now to life in the limelight!
 
Hi Sally and welcome. :wave:

So if you've been lurking then no point posting my tome as in any case looks like you're well on the way to cracking it.

Take care

Steve
 
Welcome to the "real world" of dealing with diabetes! 8)
Truly astonishing how some medicos behave. As I often say maybe if a few of them actually had DM (not that I would wish this on anyone) then maybe we would get some more sympathy. I have yet to meet one who is.
My story is less dramatic and I thank my guardian angel GP for insisting I have the requisite tests. This is in itself worrying that the response to ill health is so uneven... but it does not end here... keep reading, keep learning from this forum, question everything, find the happier medium that suits you and never give up!
This forum helped me immensely - I just wish more people could find their way here sooner. I am so glad I did despite the indifference or even discouragement from my NHS contacts.
All the best one and all. 8)
 
Just an update so I keep a record of my progress.

2/7/2012 - My blood sugars were 6.4 this morning still showing a constant downward movement with very few serious spikes. I am monitoring pre/post meals so anything that does cause spikes is easy to see and eliminate from future meals. I have an increasing amount of energy in general although I do feel tired sometimes. I think that this feeling will reduce as my body gets more used to this new way of eating.

Following information I found on this forum I have severely cut down on the potato, pasta, rice carbs and am enjoying what I eat. The hints about some berries for a pudding is a good one as they do not spike me like other fruit.

My weight is now 14s and 2 lbs so it is coming down slowly but it is coming down. I haven't been this low in many, many years so I am really excited. Next goal is to get below 14 stone - the possibility of being in the 13's is so exciting!

I find it interesting that my family have noticed how much more up-beat I am and how I now bounce around the house. I think that finding the strength to disagree with the doctor about diet and my testing regime so taking more control of my diabetes has left me empowered at the moment.

I keep reading the information posted but I do have trouble understanding the high-fat intake = reduced cholesterol idea. So much information has been ingrained over the years and to find out it may not be accurate is confusing. A lot of information is conflicting/confusing which I find frustrating. The postings on this forum are uplifting, upsetting and sometimes just downright funny. This community has left me feeling less isolated which has helped a lot with the loneliness and feeling of 'no-one understands' which in turn has supported me on this journey. Thank you!!!!
 
sallylondon said:
I keep reading the information posted but I do have trouble understanding the high-fat intake = reduced cholesterol idea. So much information has been ingrained over the years and to find out it may not be accurate is confusing.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean. I ate real butter on a (very small) piece of toast yesterday and previously apart from cooking with it, I've avoided butter like poison. My father died of heart disease and it became family folklore that it was his high fat diet (and particular love of butter) that killed him. As a result I'm hard wired to distrust the stuff. I guess you have to look to your lipid results over time and make your own decisions.
 
Back
Top