Need Help Please

[fibromum1972]

Hello all, Im new here and do need some info from everybody.

I was diagnosed over 6 years ago and was put on Metformin 2 x 500mg slow realise. My levels have always been in levels my doctor have been happy with. Then over 6 months ago I got the constant tiredness headaches and feeling really unwell. I do have fibromyalgia and symptoms are the same so I went to the doctor.
She got me to get my bloods checked for my diabetes and thyroid. My thyroid came back ok but my diabetic levels were high. The nurse told me to cut down on various foods like bananas as they are hidden sugars and told to come back in 3 months.
Three months later I still had the same symptoms but they were taken over my live, i was falling asleep while i was on the computer and reading and a lot of my friends were saying i was slurring my words. I told the nurse this and was given another blood test, again they came back high. Was put on an extra 500mg of Metformin in the meantime my bloods are hitting 12 plus on waking up and 16/17 after food.
Another blood tests and I'm high again and now been put on Januvia, as my prescription was new the pharmacist asked to call me in a week so she did. I told her I wasn't happy as I haven't had any drops in my blood sugar and still waking up with 13 plus and very high BS before and after meals. The pharmacist said I should have seen a change with a few days as it goes into your bloodstream straight away and can come out with 3 days when you stop taking it.
What I need to know is this the normal way to deal with diabetes as Ive never had to constantly go to my doctor as my levels have been good, I also have never been to a diabetic clinic is this wrong?
I have piled on the weight (my doctor did say I need to lose weight) since my blood sugars have been high and am I correct as I've read that if I get high sugars they then don't get broke down and turn into fats so no wonder I have put the weight on.
Im all mixed up, Im constantly angry and biting at my family. I don't feel myself I have no energy I also have tingling in my feet and my tips of my fingers.
I feel that i have been let down by my doctor and nurse for leaving things like this going on for so long. Please can you help.

 

[dawnmc]

Sounds like you haven't yet received good advice. You need to read the forum, and then reduce your carbs. All carbs turn to glucose after we have eaten them. So although bananas are one of the higher carb culprits there are lots of others - potato, rice, pasta, bread. You also need to get a meter, a code free one - the strips are cheaper. Test before eating and 2 hours after.

 

[DeejayR]

Hello, and you're in the right place to sort things out. I'll tag @daisy1 to give you some food for thought (no pun intended). It seems as @dawnmc says that you haven't had the vital piece of info that you need to cut down on carbs and step up the fat in what you eat. Fat in this case doesn't make you fat.
All the symptoms you describe can be attributed to diabetes so now's the time to deal with them.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi,
What sort of foods have they recommend?

You do need to read the low carb forum, they have great recipes and ideas.
Have a look at success stories on the forum.

You can control the condition.

I too am on sitagliptin, and it does reduce your levels but you have to eat wisely as well as eating smaller plate sizes and perhaps exercising more, just an extra half hour walk has great ways of lowering your levels.
Get a meter, it's the only way you know what food does to you. Keep a food diary, it will help in the future.

Hope this helps!

 

[daisy1]

@fibromum1972

Hello and welcome to the forum Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. It gives a lot of advice on carbs which you need to limit. Ask as much as you like and someone will be able to help.


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 over 150,000 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.

 

[fibromum1972]

Hello
I do eat healthy as I've been a diabetic for over 6 years and my HbA1c have been fantastic until just over 6 months ago. Its like the tablets (Metformin) have stopped working. I know i don't exercise as much as i could but i do have fibromyalgia but i am walking when i can over 2 miles every other day and make sure I get out of my bed and have my children dressed and walked to school. I'm also a type of person that can't have a mess in my house so I can be on the go most days.
I feel lost, angry and don't understand what is happening and believe that i should have been referred to the diabetic clinic than left on my own with during the months to deal with it myself.
thanks

 

[DeejayR]

I feel lost, angry and don't understand what is happening

I hear you. We all hear you, I'm sure. We've even got a rant thread where you can let off steam so have a go there as well if you like.
I think when you feel up to it we need to know what your healthy eating actually is. You may be surprised to find it isn't very healthy for a diabetic.

 

[Lamont D]

Hello
I do eat healthy as I've been a diabetic for over 6 years and my HbA1c have been fantastic until just over 6 months ago. Its like the tablets (Metformin) have stopped working. I know i don't exercise as much as i could but i do have fibromyalgia but i am walking when i can over 2 miles every other day and make sure I get out of my bed and have my children dressed and walked to school. I'm also a type of person that can't have a mess in my house so I can be on the go most days.
I feel lost, angry and don't understand what is happening and believe that i should have been referred to the diabetic clinic than left on my own with during the months to deal with it myself.
thanks

What do you consider healthy?
Do have a read around the forum, see if you can pick up differences in what you are doing and what successful weight loss posters are doing.
We are here to help, ask any questions you like.

 

[dawnmc]

Low carbing also appears to aid fibromyalgia too.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Hello all, Im new here and do need some info from everybody.

I was diagnosed over 6 years ago and was put on Metformin 2 x 500mg slow realise. My levels have always been in levels my doctor have been happy with. Then over 6 months ago I got the constant tiredness headaches and feeling really unwell. I do have fibromyalgia and symptoms are the same so I went to the doctor.
She got me to get my bloods checked for my diabetes and thyroid. My thyroid came back ok but my diabetic levels were high. The nurse told me to cut down on various foods like bananas as they are hidden sugars and told to come back in 3 months.
Three months later I still had the same symptoms but they were taken over my live, i was falling asleep while i was on the computer and reading and a lot of my friends were saying i was slurring my words. I told the nurse this and was given another blood test, again they came back high. Was put on an extra 500mg of Metformin in the meantime my bloods are hitting 12 plus on waking up and 16/17 after food.
Another blood tests and I'm high again and now been put on Januvia, as my prescription was new the pharmacist asked to call me in a week so she did. I told her I wasn't happy as I haven't had any drops in my blood sugar and still waking up with 13 plus and very high BS before and after meals. The pharmacist said I should have seen a change with a few days as it goes into your bloodstream straight away and can come out with 3 days when you stop taking it.
What I need to know is this the normal way to deal with diabetes as Ive never had to constantly go to my doctor as my levels have been good, I also have never been to a diabetic clinic is this wrong?
I have piled on the weight (my doctor did say I need to lose weight) since my blood sugars have been high and am I correct as I've read that if I get high sugars they then don't get broke down and turn into fats so no wonder I have put the weight on.
Im all mixed up, Im constantly angry and biting at my family. I don't feel myself I have no energy I also have tingling in my feet and my tips of my fingers.
I feel that i have been let down by my doctor and nurse for leaving things like this going on for so long. Please can you help.

Welcome. I really feel for you. I have fibromyalgia too and it can be hard to figure out whether symptoms are coming from that or something else. I am sure you will feel much better when your BGs come down, and with tweaks to what you are eating that may be possible within a few weeks. It's possible you have another type of blood glucose disorder but it's more likely that you can resolve things with diet changes and that's usually the easiest thing to try first.

Many of us were originally led to believe that metformin or other drugs would be the main way to control our T2. This isn't correct; food can make more of a difference than meds, in most cases. Meds can help though.

Exercise is helpful but it's not the be all and end all. With fibro we need to pace ourselves and perhaps your activity around the house and some extra walking is enough to help with your health at this time. Don't feel pressured to do more unless your fatigue levels can cope with it. I have found aquajogging really good as there is no pressure on joints.

Keep asking questions and we will do our best to help.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Low carbing also appears to aid fibromyalgia too.

I have found this to be true in my case. It doesn't make it go away but it does help.