New but no support yet

[Charly1]

Hi

Just been diagnosed as type 2 two weeks ago after blood test that might be skewered (the GP didnt say to fast) fortunately i hadnt eaten anything for 9 hours but had sucked butterscotch and mint before test. GP wouldnt give results but put me on 1000mg metamorphine daily and a host of other drugs with instructions to see how got on and try adding another one or two in a week! Supposed to see Diabetes nurse last Monday but all were sick! Seeing one on Monday Pretty confused what to do as information seems contradictory. Stopped drinking so much and reduced calories by about 10000 per week. Had two beers last night and felt peculiar this morning and felt myself nodding off in Tesco. Was this a hypo? Drank a bottle of Lucozade and now feel ok. Any advice welcome. GP was hospital doctor on three month scondment and has now left and i feel it might be worth getting a second opinon.

 

[lowedb]

The usual blood test for diagnosis is called A1c (or HbA1c). I thought the same as you as it was just a little later than this time last year and there had been some sweets in the office. What was never explained to me, was that an A1c test actually detects the average level of your blood glucose over about three months, so a mint or whatever won't affect an A1c test. Also, fasting doesn't make any difference to this as far as I know.

Did you get a meter to test your blood? These are different to an A1c and tell you what the glucose is at the time you test. Metformin wouldn't normally drop your glucose quickly, but there are some others that can have this effect. It could be worth listing the others here so people can tell you what they are for and what they do. For some drugs for diabetes, its vital that you test your glucose if you drive, but I'd have expected the GP to have issued a meter if you are on one of those.

 

[bulkbiker]

Hi

Just been diagnosed as type 2 two weeks ago after blood test that might be skewered (the GP didnt say to fast) fortunately i hadnt eaten anything for 9 hours but had sucked butterscotch and mint before test. GP wouldnt give results but put me on 1000mg metamorphine daily and a host of other drugs with instructions to see how got on and try adding another one or two in a week! Supposed to see Diabetes nurse last Monday but all were sick! Seeing one on Monday Pretty confused what to do as information seems contradictory. Stopped drinking so much and reduced calories by about 10000 per week. Had two beers last night and felt peculiar this morning and felt myself nodding off in Tesco. Was this a hypo? Drank a bottle of Lucozade and now feel ok. Any advice welcome. GP was hospital doctor on three month scondment and has now left and i feel it might be worth getting a second opinon.

Would be handy to know what medication you are taking.. apart from Metformin.
Odd that the doc didn't tell you the results of your HbA1c test.. obviously thought you wouldn't understand being a layman and all that tosh. It would be very useful for you to know that particular number as it will give you an idea of how good/bad your situation is. I will tag @daisy1 for our welcome post about how a whole lot of us have made our lives much better by dietary changes. In the meantime have a read around and let us know if there's anything you don't understand. If you are in England it may well be worth registering at your practise to get test results online. Then we won't need to bother the HCP's.

 

[daisy1]

@Charly1

Hello Charly1 and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic 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 answer


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 well over 276,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.

 

[Charly1]

@Charly1

Hello Charly1 and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic 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 answer


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 well over 276,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.

 

[Charly1]

Hi All thanks for the advice i expect the GP didn’t tell me as she thought I knew too much already. Backgound in pharmacy and hospital prescribing but in computers not a clinician. Originally went with a pain in my shoulder and diagnosed with high blood pressureand being treated with 75 mg Aspirin daily and 5mg Amplodine daily. Also she suspects Angina but dont have any symptons of Angina. Then diagnosed with T2 and-on Metamorphine. Not taken yet the other drugs prescribed Atvorstatin, Ramparil, Bisiprolol and Isosorbide Mononitrate. Want to wait until I see the DN on Monday.

 

[Liam1955]

Hello @Charly1 and Welcome to the Forum .

 

[Mbaker]

Hi All thanks for the advice i expect the GP didn’t tell me as she thought I knew too much already. Backgound in pharmacy and hospital prescribing but in computers not a clinician. Originally went with a pain in my shoulder and diagnosed with high blood pressureand being treated with 75 mg Aspirin daily and 5mg Amplodine daily. Also she suspects Angina but dont have any symptons of Angina. Then diagnosed with T2 and-on Metamorphine. Not taken yet the other drugs prescribed Atvorstatin, Ramparil, Bisiprolol and Isosorbide Mononitrate. Want to wait until I see the DN on Monday.

I think it is a smart move not to take the drugs until you have the discussion. It looks like your GP has assessed full Metabolic Syndrome based on the list of drugs; often Type 2's have multiple comorbidities. I would suggest you get the numbers for your HbA1c, your cholesterol (Triglycerides, HDL, LDL and all ratios), Blood Pressure, and ask why the angina medication has been prescribed and details of all sides affects of the drugs should you take them.

Depending on your numbers and your determination, an option is to see if you can reverse these conditions naturally or with minimal medication - many (including me) on this site have "normal" numbers by following relatively simple steps consistently.

 

[Charly1]

Hi thanks for all the advice. My results I found online 10.5 and HBA1C 60. DN was very good horrified with all the drugs I had been prescribed and leaving me on the Metamorfin and the high blood pressure tablets. I would have been in trouble if I had taken them all. Senior GP intervened. Although not necessary for piece of mind gave me a testing kit and adviced i take a morning reading before breakfast and one before an evening meal and she will rveview with me in 2 weeks. Tested at the pracise and scored 7.5. She advocated the low carb diet so I know where i am going next. Hopefully it won’t be too rocky a road

 

[ringi]

Take a reading 2hr after you have started to eat your evening meal, as well as before it. Ideally to readings before and 2hr after every meal, so you can see the effect of your meal chooses on your BG.

 

[Charly1]

Thanks will do as soon as i get used to pricking my fingers

 

[archersuz]

Hi Charly1

Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before pricking your fingers. Rinse the soap off well and dry hands on a piece of kitchen towel or a clean hand towel to avoid 'contamination'. I use a different finger each time (I test 3 times a day and generally use the index middle and ring finger in turn). I don't use my little finger as it bleeds far more than the others!

Good luck with the testing and let us know how you get on

Suz

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Sounds like after a bit of a shaky start your practice has come good.
Not everyone gets such good advice plus a tester.

Don't think that you had a hypo; that would be very unusual for someone just on Metformin.
I personally wouldn't be boosting my sugars with Lucozade; perhaps look for another reason for feeling tired.

If you come down from very high levels to almost normal levels you can have a "false hypo" where your body reacts to a lower level of glucose (but not dangerously low) and you have reduced your calorie intake by about 1,350 a day (if your "10000 per week" is correct) and that is one hell of a lot. Some of us here barely eat more than that, let alone have the leeway to cut that much out. So if you have dramatically cut back on your food you might have had a brush with a false hypo.

 

[Daibell]

Hi and welcome. A few points. The HBa1C is non-fasting which avoids getting up early! Your DN sounds good. Statins are typically offered without reference to your lipids breakdown which is wrong. Looks like your DN may have looked at those results and the ratios. Always check your blood pressure at home with your own device and give the DN a collection of the results which she will average and enter into the system. Thru this I was able to stop my Ramipril. Yes, don't drink full bottles of Lucozade or any glucose unless on insulin or Gliclazide. These can cause low blood sugar and that's when glucose can help bring BS back up. Yes, go for the low-carb diet (you do have a good DN) and forget calories as they are of no use to us; just think carbs and have enough proteins and fats to keep you feeling full. Metformin is a good safe drug but doesn't have that much effect on blood sugar; diet is the key if T2.

 

[woodywhippet61]

Sounds like after a bit of a shaky start your practice has come good.
Not everyone gets such good advice plus a tester.

Don't think that you had a hypo; that would be very unusual for someone just on Metformin.
I personally wouldn't be boosting my sugars with Lucozade; perhaps look for another reason for feeling tired.

If you come down from very high levels to almost normal levels you can have a "false hypo" where your body reacts to a lower level of glucose (but not dangerously low) and you have reduced your calorie intake by about 1,350 a day (if your "10000 per week" is correct) and that is one hell of a lot. Some of us here barely eat more than that, let alone have the leeway to cut that much out. So if you have dramatically cut back on your food you might have had a brush with a false hypo.

I had false hypo's for a long time - years. I was a carb junkie so my life was spent with highs and lows. I either felt buzzing and a bit high and next thing wham I felt terrible, shaky, weak and my brain was screaming at me to eat something. I went up and down like that all the time that I was awake.

 

[Charly1]

Hi Charly1

Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before pricking your fingers. Rinse the soap off well and dry hands on a piece of kitchen towel or a clean hand towel to avoid 'contamination'. I use a different finger each time (I test 3 times a day and generally use the index middle and ring finger in turn). I don't use my little finger as it bleeds far more than the others!

Good luck with the testing and let us know how you get on

Suz

Thanks I will start testing Wednesday when I stop travelling

 

[Charly1]

I had false hypo's for a long time - years. I was a carb junkie so my life was spent with highs and lows. I either felt buzzing and a bit high and next thing wham I felt terrible, shaky, weak and my brain was screaming at me to eat something. I went up and down like that all the time that I

Sounds like after a bit of a shaky start your practice has come good.
Not everyone gets such good advice plus a tester.

Don't think that you had a hypo; that would be very unusual for someone just on Metformin.
I personally wouldn't be boosting my sugars with Lucozade; perhaps look for another reason for feeling tired.

If you come down from very high levels to almost normal levels you can have a "false hypo" where your body reacts to a lower level of glucose (but not dangerously low) and you have reduced your calorie intake by about 1,350 a day (if your "10000 per week" is correct) and that is one hell of a lot. Some of us here barely eat more than that, let alone have the leeway to cut that much out. So if you have dramatically cut back on your food you might have had a brush with a false hypo.

six bottles of winse several lagers and Chunky kit kats excluding cakes soon adds up

 

[wiflib]

Hi Charley. Do you mean metformin and not metamorphine? If it is, it’s worth googling all the drugs you take as some are given for no really good reason, so you’ll need the correct names.

 

[Charly1]

Hi Charley. Do you mean metformin and not metamorphine? If it is, it’s worth googling all the drugs you take as some are given for no really good reason, so you’ll need the correct names.

Its ok just my dyslexia coming through

 

[Charly1]

Sounds like after a bit of a shaky start your practice has come good.
Not everyone gets such good advice plus a tester.

Don't think that you had a hypo; that would be very unusual for someone just on Metformin.
I personally wouldn't be boosting my sugars with Lucozade; perhaps look for another reason for feeling tired.

If you come down from very high levels to almost normal levels you can have a "false hypo" where your body reacts to a lower level of glucose (but not dangerously low) and you have reduced your calorie intake by about 1,350 a day (if your "10000 per week" is correct) and that is one hell of a lot. Some of us here barely eat more than that, let alone have the leeway to cut that much out. So if you have dramatically cut back on your food you might have had a brush with a false hypo.

DN has banned Lucozade