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Need support...

Yes things will stabilise but you need to seek medical help ASAP if you are feeling sick.
 
PerfectStorm said:
Hi Simon. I was diagnosed in April and was pretty terrified, angry, shocked and anxious too to begin with. I think it's how most of us react when diagnosed, or like you when we realise we have diabetes. I didn't really tell anyone to begin with, and some people still don't know, but I told my husband straight away and he was a big support emotionally. Sounds like you could do with some real life support, maybe think about telling your partner
Click to expand...
Thanks, yes, I need to speak with her v soon
 
There is life after being diagnosed with diabetes, this whole forum is full of people that are a testimony to that. I know it is scary, but the most important thing is to get a diagnosis and keep reading about it . The diabetes.co.uk site is very informative and is full of useful information. The forum is good for asking questions and find peer support and learn from other people's experiences.
 
Simon1970 said:
Not so much sick

Not sick as such, just low. Talking to you guys has really given me a lift
Click to expand...

I was feeling ill and sick (literally) in january and peeing lots at night, not being able to sleep, my eyesight went blurry and I ended up in hospital even if I thought I didn't need it. Therefore my question if you were feeling sick. I understand you are feeling low though, we all do at the beginning.
 
Simon1970 said:
Not so much sick

Not sick as such, just low. Talking to you guys has really given me a lift
Click to expand...

Hi @Simon1970
Sorry you're feeling a bit rubbish. As everyone has already said - get along to the doc ASAP to get checked and ascertain exactly what's going on and do share your concerns with loved ones.
In the meantime I suggest you pretty much try to avoid eating carbohydrates - so that's potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, anything sugary. That will very quickly help bring your blood glucose levels back into the normal range (if it is diabetes). Think Full English breakfast if you're not sure what to eat yet (eggs, bacon, mushrooms, a tomato and meaty sausages) and you won't go far wrong.

Feeling rubbish and down emotionally is one of the side effects of yo-yoing blood glucose levels - you're not imagining it and it will get better as your blood glucose levels stabilise (assuming that's what it is).
Keep your chin up - a diagnosis of diabetes can seem like a dreadful blow, but Type 1 or Type 2, it's totally manageable with a bit of effort and determination. Chatting to one of my colleagues recently who transformed his lifestyle after diagnosis with type 2 diabetes (now off all meds and to all intents and purposes diabetes 'free' with normal blood glucose levels) he reckons that his diagnosis was the best thing that could have happened to him. He is energised, he feels great emotionally and is in a much better place altogether.
 
mehhh2015 said:
I was feeling ill and sick (literally) in january and peeing lots at night, not being able to sleep, my eyesight went blurry and I ended up in hospital even if I thought I didn't need it. Therefore my question if you were feeling sick. I understand you are feeling low though, we all do at the beginning.
Click to expand...
Wow, sounds like you really went through the mill, so to speak. Really appreciate you sharing.
 
@Simon1970

Hello Simon and welcome to the forum :)

You have done the best thing you could have by becoming a member of this forum. You will make plenty of friends and they will tell you all about how they manage diabetes. It helps when you know more about it rather than not know what it consists of. Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to 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 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.
 
Bebo321 said:
Hi @Simon1970
Sorry you're feeling a bit rubbish. As everyone has already said - get along to the doc ASAP to get checked and ascertain exactly what's going on and do share your concerns with loved ones.
In the meantime I suggest you pretty much try to avoid eating carbohydrates - so that's potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, anything sugary. That will very quickly help bring your blood glucose levels back into the normal range (if it is diabetes). Think Full English breakfast if you're not sure what to eat yet (eggs, bacon, mushrooms, a tomato and meaty sausages) and you won't go far wrong.

Feeling rubbish and down emotionally is one of the side effects of yo-yoing blood glucose levels - you're not imagining it and it will get better as your blood glucose levels stabilise (assuming that's what it is).
Keep your chin up - a diagnosis of diabetes can seem like a dreadful blow, but Type 1 or Type 2, it's totally manageable with a bit of effort and determination. Chatting to one of my colleagues recently who transformed his lifestyle after diagnosis with type 2 diabetes (now off all meds and to all intents and purposes diabetes 'free' with normal blood glucose levels) he reckons that his diagnosis was the best thing that could have happened to him. He is energised, he feels great emotionally and is in a much better place altogether.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much, that's put me in a much better place. I've been needing to sort my health and lifestyle for a long time - now may be the kick I needed. Quick question on breakfast, is fruit and fat free Greek yogurt with mixed nuts a good starting point also?
 
daisy1 said:
@Simon1970

Hello Simon and welcome to the forum :)

You have done the best thing you could have by becoming a member of this forum. You will make plenty of friends and they will tell you all about how they manage diabetes. It helps when you know more about it rather than not know what it consists of. Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to 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 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.
Click to expand...
Hi Daisy, thanks very much. Very helpful
 
Simon1970 said:
Hi there,

I'm very new at this and haven't even been diagnosed as yet - officially with any kind of diabetes. I'm feeling pretty low at the moment and unable to turn to anyone and talk about my situation. I'm looking for some reassurance really, don't know how my partner will take the news. Any support would be very welcome. Thanks, Simon
Click to expand...
I am admittedly a world class neurotic. Not long ago, I felt as if I needed weeks worth of post traumatic stress counseling for something as meaningless as a paper cut, so if I can accept the life changing fate of a diabetes diagnosis and the management it involves, anyone can do it. The most significant improvement in my life since being formalized as a diabetic two months ago is that I am acquiring the tools to get my health under control for the long term.

You will be able to properly guard your health by getting a diagnosis and the education that comes with it if you take the initiative. And it is extremely supportive on an emotional level to turn to others further along in the journey as well as those just staring out, who share this condition, which you have done so well by posting here.

You are going to be okay.
 
Simon1970 said:
Thanks so much, that's put me in a much better place. I've been needing to sort my health and lifestyle for a long time - now may be the kick I needed. Quick question on breakfast, is fruit and fat free Greek yogurt with mixed nuts a good starting point also?
Click to expand...


A better choice would be natural full fat Greek yogurt, when they take the fat out they add lots of sugar to compensate for the lack of taste. The mixed nuts are fine but be careful with fruit its full of sugar, so just a small portion of berries would be your best bet.
 
catinahat said:
A better choice would be natural full fat Greek yogurt, when they take the fat out they add lots of sugar to compensate for the lack of taste. The mixed nuts are fine but be careful with fruit its full of sugar, so just a small portion of berries would be your best bet.
Click to expand...
Great, thanks. Very informative
 
Type2Guy said:
I am admittedly a world class neurotic. Not long ago, I felt as if I needed weeks worth of post traumatic stress counseling for something as meaningless as a paper cut, so if I can accept the life changing fate of a diabetes diagnosis and the management it involves, anyone can do it. The most significant improvement in my life since being formalized as a diabetic two months ago is that I am acquiring the tools to get my health under control for the long term.

You will be able to properly guard your health by getting a diagnosis and the education that comes with it if you take the initiative. And it is extremely supportive on an emotional level to turn to others further along in the journey as well as those just staring out, who share this condition, which you have done so well by posting here.

You are going to be okay.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much. This forum is very, very supportive
 
Simon1970 said:
Thanks so much, that's put me in a much better place. I've been needing to sort my health and lifestyle for a long time - now may be the kick I needed. Quick question on breakfast, is fruit and fat free Greek yogurt with mixed nuts a good starting point also?
Click to expand...

@catinahat has given you your answer @Simon1970. :)
Full fat is a better option - nuts perfect just go easy on any fruit. - See, you're getting there already! One step at a time - you're going to be fine.
 
Hi and welcome to the very large world of diabetes. We've all been thru the same process starting with shock. Quickly you realise you are not alone and this website in particular is an endless source of up to date information. Although contributions vary with regard to advice it generally follows a similar line so you shouldn't see to much conflict. Ignore any advice from professionals to have lots of carbs with your food; Daisy's post is very relevant. The good thing about diabetes is that it can be managed very well even though potentially serious. Just have a sensible diet, medication where needed, exercise, use the glucose meter to check how you're doing and that's it. Even if you end up on insulin which I am and many others are, it's not a problem and gives excellent control.
 
Daibell said:
Hi and welcome to the very large world of diabetes. We've all been thru the same process starting with shock. Quickly you realise you are not alone and this website in particular is an endless source of up to date information. Although contributions vary with regard to advice it generally follows a similar line so you shouldn't see to much conflict. Ignore any advice from professionals to have lots of carbs with your food; Daisy's post is very relevant. The good thing about diabetes is that it can be managed very well even though potentially serious. Just have a sensible diet, medication where needed, exercise, use the glucose meter to check how you're doing and that's it. Even if you end up on insulin which I am and many others are, it's not a problem and gives excellent control.
Click to expand...
Following from the 'ignoring professionals' would that be the nurse on my initial consultation? I suppose you want to hear from people who are actually experiencing diabetes? Here's the best place to start
 
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