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New and lost - any advice much appreciated.

R

rosieposey

Newbie
Messages
3
Hi, I am not exactly newly diagnosed. I have been a gestational diabetic in all 4 of my pregnancies but my 3rd pregnancy was 12 years ago. I got pregnant last year and was diagnosed gestational diabetic as usual but this time the consultant told me that i had probably had type 2 for a while before this latest pregancy and that i would almost certainly have it when i delivered. My son is now 5 months old and the consultant put me on metformin 500mg one in the morning and two with my evening meal. He did this after i had to go back for a GTT six weeks after the birth - i didnt even get that far as i had to have a fasting BG before the GTT and it was 12.3 so that was how i found out i was permanently type 2 diabetic.

I have to confess that i dont know much about it all and i dont know other than this site where to start.No one really gave me much info and I haven't been given a meal plan (but i know to cut out sugar) nor have had any real advice on what to eat. (do i have to cut out carbs as i would like to be able to eat a few if poss?) I have been desperately seaching google for an actual easy to follow meal plan say for one week just to get me used to eating the sort of thing that i should be and i just cannot find anything,(not even on an NHS website) is there anyone that knows of a good link to a diabetic type two meal plan at all :D ?

It sounds silly but until now i have been taking Metformin (but forgetting it sometimes) and i havent really paid any attention to my diet at all :oops: I havent been for an HB1ac (sp?) since i was pregnant either as there is no point it would be too high i know because i havent made any lifestyle changes. I know i will probably need to make an appt with a diabetes nurse at my doctors which i am happy to do just was wondering if anyone had any tips/meal plans/suggestions for me to follow in the mean time.

I know i have been in sort of denial since i had my son but after the nine months of injecting insulin and a rather traumatic c section i was a bit :cry: at having been left with diabetes permanently although because of having it in my previous pregnancys(albeit quite a few years ago), being overweight and my mum and dad having it i sort of knew what was coming.

Ok well thats my story - sorry if its a bit long or if i have posted in the wrong section (im new to all this posting business) but i am ready to take control of my diabetes as i am only 37 have 4 beautiful children and a lovely hubby who i want to be here for :D Any advice, meal plans ect would be gratefully received AND i will make an appt at my GP's to see a diabetes nurse too.

Oh and can i just ask? i randomly tested my BG (i havent since i delivered my son :oops: ) last night and this morning and it was 11.2 last night and this morning before breakfast 9.6 - i know those are quite high and that they are after my 2 metformin that i took with last nights meal, does this mean that the metformin isnt working or that because i had a non diabetic friendly meal last night that it has played havoc with my BG levels? Once again any advice appreciated - Thank you!
 
Hi Rosieposy,

Welcome to the forum - I'm a relative newbie too (diagnosed in May with T2) and know how you must be feeling. I didn't get any help, and still haven't had any from the NHS but since finding this forum I have managed to get my bg numbers under control. I was 12.5 when diagnosed and they are now in the 5's and 6's with the occasional 4.

There is lots of information on here and it does take a while to get your head around but the people are so supportive and helpful and much more qualified than I to give you advice.

The NICE quidelines for bg levels are:

Fasting (waking) between 4 - 7 mmol/l
2 hrs after eating no more than 8.5 mmol/l

If you can do better than this then so much the better. I test between 6 - 8 times a day, as above but also one hour after eating - and before going to bed. This way I can see whether what I am eating is my friend or my enemy.

There are lots of discussions on here about diet - I, personally, decided to go the low-carb route and I think this has been instrumental in my bg numbers coming down and I have also lost nearly 2 stone in weight since being diagnosed.

Have a good look round the forum - there are other Mums on here with children and lots of success stories from people who are managing to control this condition extremely well.

Don't ever feel alone, there are lots of people here to help and give support and ask any questions, however, silly you think they may sound. I've probably asked them already!!

Take care.

Rita
 
Hi rosieposy.
Welcome to the forum. Have a look around the place and when you have questions just ask.

You ask about meal plans. Difficult. There is not one single plan that will do for all Diabetics.

I could tell you what I do but it may be totally unsuitable for you. YOU have to test frequently and keep a food diary to relate to your test results to see what food and drinks send your Bg levels soaring. That's the only way. There isn't a quick fix.

A lot of people who follow the NHS/DUK 'healthy' eating plans are unable to keep tight control so have made their own plans, then there are others who follow it and say it is good for them ?
That is what YOU will have to find out. Is it healthy for YOU ? Look around the food forum, low and non low carb areas.

You ask about your Bg levels and what causes them to be raised.
Here are the 2009 NICE Bg level guidelines for aT2.
Fasting (waking).................between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals................no more than 8.5 mmol/l. If you can get lower than that so much the better.

You need to look at what you ate and see if it can be changed as it may well have been the cause of elevated Bg. You also ask if your Metformin is working ? I'm sure it is. It typically only reduces Bg levels by around 1-2 mmol/l and that is on the maximum dose which you are not on. It also will not work 'miracles'. Your diet or lifestyle has to change as well ?

Hope that helps.

Ken.

Oooops. SNAP. :D :lol:
 
Thanks for the advice - i have been scouting around on the internet looking at low GI foods and can see that i will have to do my homework :) Meanwhile ill have a good look around this site for tips and hopefully will see my BG's start to come down.
 
Remember Rosie
we're all wising you well
As Ken said there's no "one size fits all" and it's not easy.
ultimately it's down to You to be there for your children.
It's a lot to do, whilst caring for a newborn and 3 others. However some of what you learn may help you to make better food choices for your husband and little ones.
Another question
How are you feeding the new baby?
Your own food needs vary according to whether you breast feed or not.
Unfortunately, gestational diabetes does often develop into T1 or T2 eventually. If your healthcare professionals aren't helping you, can you go back to your obstetric team?
GI may be the route that serves your needs best. There are plenty of books available. Some of our members here use the GI Diet book , which has a traffic light coding for carb foods. You can get it from Amazon. A second-hand copy might well be a bargain.
Alternatively, you might want to try just reducing all your carbs.
Using a medication that could cause hypos, eg insulin or the sulphonylureas, could make life difficult with little people depending on you. However, they learn fast
My own daughter saved her T1 Daddy when she was only 4, by telling the manager of our local supermarket what to do for him.
the more you learn, the better choices you can make for yourself
good luck! We'll help if we can
Hana
 
Welcome. I know there is advice that will help you get your blood glucose down, whatever approach you decide to atke. I know how daunting it was when i was just diagnosed as I wanted to be able to eat the same food as my 12-year-old son. I'm also a fairly strich vegetarian, eating eggs and cheese.

The good thing about T2 diabetes is that if you are lucky enough to get an early diagnosis get a few years notice to start making the changes before complications hit you. You need to get your blood glucose down as soon as you can. I think you will notice a change in your energy levels as soon as it starts to fall - I also don't get anywhere near as many headaches these days, and when i do I usually find my blood sugar is high.

I have made several stepwise changes since my diagnosis in February.
1. Cut out all added sugar and junk, by which I mean sweet and fatty treats , except I still had regular lapses (and still have lapses now, although the nature of my sins has changed :roll: )
2. Added fresh and raw most of the time, and made sure I ate breakfast (I stared with porridge with oat bran).
3. Did that for a few weeks while I was looking for a diet I could stick to and looked like normal food.
4. Explored low GI diets and adopted more of the principles of that regime, which is really useful.
5. After a few weeks reading on here I went lower carb - by that I mean I stopped eating bread, pasta, rice and potato and any flour products.
6. After a couple of months I started to weigh stuff to restrict the number of carbs I was a eating, I have been doing this for about a week.

Every time I have made a change I have seen a positive change in my blood test results and the excess weight is falling away with very little effort on my part (I have to be half the woman I was at diagnosis). Initially the blood work was being done at the surgery. I have been testing several times a day for about 2 months with my own meter.

Make a plan. Set yourself smaller and realistic targets and review them regularly. This is bloody hard work, don't make it harder on yourself than you need to be. My focus has always been the next blood test with the doctor. I'm asking for an HbA1c at the end of August and I hope to be closer to 6%
 
I am a little confused though, i too think that low GI is probably the way to go but i am doing slimming world as an attempt at healthy eating and have to say that i am worried about not eating carbs as i have tried this as a method of weight loss a few years ago and i really didnt get on too well with it. I only have a couple of slices of bread , 1 or two potatos a day ect and as i wasnt told to test myself i think that when i make my appt for my HBa1c then perhaps it will become more evident if the metformin is doing its job. I need to get hold of a meter and some test strips so i can see what eating the things that i am currently is doing to my BG levels.

I averaged a very respectable 6 ish when i had my HBA1c done in my pregnancy but that was on insulin and i am sad to say that i didnt take nearly such good care of my diet as i am now so i shall see what the test results are.

Another question?, i am having some real problems with stomach upsets when i take my two evening Metformin, the single one that i take in the morning seems to be fine but when i take my usual two with my dinner i am in agony within a couple of hours - is this normal with Metformin and does it eventually stop when you get used to it?

Im not BFing my son although i was initially, im just hoping that my new healthy eating plan has a positive impact on my next blood test if not i will have to keep on trying new things (like low carb/GI) till i get a decent result :)

Thank you very much for your replies and i am very grateful for all advice recieved :D
 
Hi Rosie and welcome,

You've got your hands full, then! (I have 4 kids myself, so I sympathise).
Sounds like you have the motivation to take diabetes seriously, so I'm sure you'll find plenty of ecouragement here.
You have 2 options in getting your blood glucose back to normal, more medication (insulin) or dietary changes. Option 2 is the better one by far.
I know you had a go at reducing carbs before, but if you take a look at the stickies on the low carb forum, you might feel inspired to try again.

All the best,

fergus
 
Hi Rosie.

Reduced/Low Carbs is not about having NO CARBS it is just cutting back on them to help reduce your Bg numbers and also helps with weight loss. It doesn't have to be high fat either as the purists would do. I have reduced the carbs drastically and still eat low fat and I am low GI. My numbers and weight loss have improved dramatically since doing this. YOU are going to have to try a few things out to see what works for YOU.

Ken.
 
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